Introducing The Stephen King Challenge!

*Challenge sign-up linky is located at the bottom of the post*

As far as I could determine, there are no other Stephen King challenges (yearly or perpetual) going on now. I know that Book Geek blog was hosting a perpetual challenge at one time, but I checked her blog and she has not been active since January of 2011 (hope everything is okay with her).  I'm assuming that the challenge is no longer active.  If I'm mistaken, feel free to let me know.

So...my friend Kate and I (Read 2 Review) were talking about doing a project together and we decided to host a Stephen King reading challenge! Since Stephen King has such a huge list of books, we decided to make this a perpetual challenge.  I know, I know...you're thinking "perpetual?  I never get motivated to complete perpetual challenges."  Well, don't worry.  We are going to have mini-challenges throughout the year with prizes and we will also have read-a-longs during the year as well.  Kate had the idea for our first read-a-long...to read Carrie during prom season.  Clever, right?! As far as the mini-challenges go, the first one will begin at the official start of this challenge, which is February 1, 2012, and the prize will be a brand new hard cover copy of Stephen King's newest novel, 11/22/63! The mini-challenge schedule will work as follows:

Feb | March | April -- mini-challenge
May | June | July -- mini-challenge
Aug | Sept | Oct -- mini-challenge
Nov | Dec -- free months

*November and December are free/non-mini-challenge months due to most of us being so busy during the holiday season.

The first mini-challenge will be to read books within certain themes.  You will choose three themes and read three books that will fit each of the themes during the three month mini-challenge period.  If you complete the three themed reads, you will be entered in the giveaway for the book, 11/22/63.  A bonus entry will be given to any person who reads a fourth book that fits within the fourth left over theme.

Examples:

Fantasy/Post-Apocalyptic
i.e. The Stand, any book from the Gunslinger series, Under the Dome, The Eyes of the Dragon, The Talisman (with Peter Straub), Black House (with Peter Straub), 11/22/63

Ghosts/Hauntings
i.e. The Shining, Bag of Bones, Duma Key, It, Insomnia

Creatures--supernatural (werewolves, vampires, demons/devils, zombies, etc.) or other type (animals, aliens, etc.)
i.e. Salem's Lot, Needful Things, Cycle of the Werewolf, The Eyes of the Dragon, Dreamcatcher, Pet Sematary, Cell, Cujo, It, The Tommyknockers

the mind--psychic, psychological, possession, abuse, etc.
i.e. Misery, The Green Mile, Dolores Claiborne, Rose Madder, Carrie, Gerald's Game, The Dark Half, The Dead Zone, Desperation, The Regulators

You can also earn a bonus entry if you read a book of King short stories.  The books of short stories are clearly marked in the list of King works listed below in the footer of the blog.

To summarize:

• Official start date is February 1, 2012 and lasts...forever! LOL! Stop when you've read all of King's books, could be two years from now, could be five years.  Take a break any time or stop when you've had enough (although I'll never have enough of SK).
• Choose three themes from the list and read one book within each theme during the three month mini-challenge period (Feb., March, April) to receive one entry in the giveaway.
• For a bonus entry, choose one book in the left over theme and read it during the three month period.
• You can also receive a bonus entry if you read a book of SK short stories (you do not have to read the fourth themed book to get this entry).   
• There will be a mini-challenge review page for you to link up your reviews.  This will be the method we use to keep track of who completes the mini-challenge (and who earns the bonus entries).  If you don't have a blog that you review books on, you can link to your reviews on Goodreads or leave your thoughts about the books in the comments (I will allow comments on the review page).

Giveaway rules:  The winner will be chosen via random.org and must be a resident of the U.S.  If the winner is not a U.S. resident, we will purchase the Stephen King book of your choice (under $10) from Better World Books (they ship free internationally) and have it shipped to you.  This book will quite possibly be a gently used book.

The goal of this challenge is to, ultimately, read all of Stephen King's books.  I have posted the complete list of his works in the footer section below.  If you would like to embark on this journey with us, please sign-up in the linky below.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact myself or Kate.  Contact information can be found in the 'About' page.