I have not blogged at all in the months since the last read-a-thon. I also have barely read anything since January. I have managed to finish exactly one book in four months.

This read-a-thon I want to get re-energized about reading and writing and blogging again. I miss all of it a lot but just haven’t felt right about it. I don’t feel like I can talk about what’s been happening, it’s just too personal, but I hope I get swept up in the excitement of the rah-rah-read-a-thon. I really hope that happens. That would be great.

For my fellow read-a-thon participants I have put together some things that have helped in past read-a-thons.

• Instrumental Reading Music Stations
• Free Short Stories Available Online
• October Read-a-Thon Buttons & April Read-a-Thon Buttons

Now to start reading. I don’t really have a list, I’m just going to wing it and see what happens.

As you might already know from my read-a-thon post yesterday I am very ready, and very excited for this read-a-thon! I have a mix of short stories, graphic novels and fast paced fiction to get me through the day. I also have a pinterest board set up dedicated to my favorite reading music (including genre stations for science fiction, fantasy, romance, historical and post apocalyptic) and another one set up dedicated to my favorite short stories (including one fantastic pod cast reading of a bayou fairy tale and a full cast radio drama for my favorite geek post apocalyptic story “When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth”). Finally I also have all new buttons that I made for this read-a-thon. Not as good as the ones from eons back but they are pretty.

It’s that special time of year again. Time to drop everything and for 24 hours do nothing but read, read, read. What I want, whatever I want. I’m really looking forward to it! I’m also planning things out a lot more this year than I normally do. Here are my plans for the day:

For short stories I have Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse, which I hope to be able to finish tomorrow, with Kisses From Hell waiting in the wings. For graphic novels I plan to finish reading the sequel to Persepolis and then dive into the manga series Battle Angel Alita. For fiction I was recently turned on to the idea of The Knife of Never Letting Go thanks to Aarti from Booklust. I also have some short stories related to The Forest of Hands and Teeth I would love to read before diving into the sequel The Dead Tossed Waves. I’m planning on starting with a sort of rigid rotation, short story, graphic novel and then 50 or so pages of straight fiction but I give myself permission to break those rules wantonly if a book drags me under.

I haven’t participated in Dewey’s Read-a-Thon since… October 2010! Last April I was in the middle of a move during the read-a-thon and last October I had signed up for an awesome indie bookstore cruise to get acquainted with some of the great indies in my new home town. I am so glad to be back though, it’s been a while and I’m looking forward to this!

So I signed up for this read-a-thon eagerly some time after Christmas. I then proceeded to lose the link to it in the midst of traveling and have been on and off searching for it ever since. Thank goodness the read-a-thon host, Michelle at The True Book Addict, was kind enough to come and check on me and remind me about it so I can participate! Thank you!

It has been a very sorry start of the year as far as reading goes. I hate winter, and cold, and grey and all of those things are in abundance and it’s had me down in the doldrums all month. I have not managed to finish one book yet this year, not one! I’m hoping this read-a-thon will change that.