Bibliofreakblog

2010 New Author Challenge

The year is almost over, and some of us are already looking forward to the reading challenges we’ll be doing next year.

Jackie at Literary Escapism is hosting the 2010 New Author Challenge.  This challenge is to read new-to-you authors.  Here’s what Jackie Says:

The idea behind this is to find new authors that you’ve never tried before.  They can be in your genre of choice or be brave and try something new.  You never know what you’re going to like until you try it.  If you’re looking for some suggestions, you can check out the Author page here at Literary Escapism or the 2009 Challenge page.  With over 1000 reviews posted, I’m sure there will be something there for everyone.

Here are the guidelines:

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
2. Since this is an author challenge, there is no restriction on choosing your novels. They can definitely be from other challenges. However, the authors must be new to you and, preferably from novels.  Anthologies are a great way to try someone new, but only a third of your new authors can be from anthologies.
3. I want this to be an easy challenge, so you can pick to do either 15, 25 or 50 new authors.  It all depends on how fast you read and how adventurous you want to be.  For me, I’m trying another 50 new authors.  If you reach your goal halfway through the year, don’t stop.  Any new author you try can be added to Mr. Linky.  We all want to know about your new experience.
4. After reading your new author, write your review and then come back here and add your link to Mr. Linky.  Make sure you include your name and the author, but adding the title is completely up to you.
5. Bloggers or Non-Bloggers alike are welcome

Once you reach your goal, you don’t have to stop.  Any new author you try, go ahead and head back here and add it to the list.  Introduce us all to whoever you find.  Afterall, there’s no reason to stop trying new authors, right?

Since I’m not totally crazy, I’m going to choose 15 authors.  I’m also not going to make a regular challenge list (which is kinda sad, because that’s really my favorite part).  I’m going to list authors that are on my lists for challenges that don’t end until sometime in 2010 and authors for whom I have multiple books but haven’t read, or just really need to get around to reading (some of you may be shocked to see what’s on my list).  The rest will probably be ARCs and other challenge books:

1. Lisa Mantchev
2. Gary D. Scmidt
3. David Wroblewski
4. Helen DeWitt
5. Neil Gaiman
6. Stephen King
7. Isabelle Allende
8. Herodotus 
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15. 

Any suggestions for authors I simply must read?