Hi all!! If you’re a reader who likes to check out each of the authors before heading to an event, we’ve got just the thing for you! Also, if you’re a reader who likes to win cool prizes just for reading, we’ve got just the thing for you, TOO!!

Starting July 1st (yes, the same day the registration for #CMCon17 begins), we’ll be starting our Coastal Magic 2017 Featured Authors Reading Challenge. There’s a spreadsheet available HERE (and it’s posted in the new CMCon17 Featured Authors Reading Challenge Facebook group, as well), with a listing of a good “first read” from each of our Featured Authors. Of course, if you’re already reading an author, you’re not limited to the titles listed on the sheet – any single book that you read on or after July 1st, from that author, will count toward the challenge.

So, here’s how this is going to work…

Level 1 — If you read & review 7 books (equivalent to 1 book per month, 7 different authors) between July 1st and January 31st — you will get a small package of swaggy goodness. This will be available to EVERY reader who  completes level 1.

Level 2 — If you read & review 14 books (equivalent to 2 books per month, 14 different authors) between July 1st and January 31st — you will get a small package of swaggy goodness AND a small gift from one of our Featured Authors. This will be available to EVERY reader who completes level 2.

Level 3 -HALF WAY THERE!- If you read and review 30 books (that’s 30 books, 30 different authors) between July 1st and January 31st — you will get a small package of swaggy goodness AND a prize pack of cool stuff from select Featured Authors.

Level 4 -ALL THE WAY THERE!- If you read and review 60 books (that’s 60 books, 60 different authors) between July 1st and January 31st — you will get a small package of swaggy goodness AND a prize pack of cool stuff from select Featured Authors AND be entered into a drawing for a GRAND PRIZE of AWESOMENESS (TBD – but it’ll be good!)

So, there are the objectives. Hopefully there’s a level that is comfortable for everyone’s reading agenda. And don’t let the “review” part scare you. You can leave your thoughts about the books you read (good, bad, or just so-so) on your own blog, on Goodreads/BookLife/LibraryThing/etc., or an online retail site like Barnes & Noble or Amazon. You’ll just need to post your links in the handy-dandy Google form, which is HERE, and also posted in the new CMCon17 Featured Authors Reading Challenge group. (All in one place, for easy tallying.)

We’ve got a Featured Author (Tawdra Kandle) and a Featured Blogger [(Tamye from “Books, Coffee, and Crafts News” blog) <– That’s me] to help guide people, answer questions, and keep us all motivated! You’ll see them in the group pretty regularly, and I’ll (Jennifer Morris – she runs the whole shebang) be popping in from time to time, as well. So be sure to ask questions if you need to. (And you never know — we may have a few Featured Author guests come by to chat between now and the end of the challenge!)

We’re so excited to get the ball rolling on this, and we can’t wait for you all to “get to know” our Featured Authors a bit better through their stories. We’re sure you’ve all got some favorites, already — but get ready to add a few more to that list!

Good luck, everyone… and Happy Reading!!

(Disclaimer:  Copied and slightly edited from Jennifer Morris’ post on http://CoastalMagicConvention.com.