Can you believe it July is next month, and half of the year is over?

I've noticed that almost everybody is 3/4 done with their A-Z Book and Author challenges. Most are just like me, trying to squirrel out the more difficult letters.

So to add more to the mix, I'm launching another A-Z challenge, this time for characters' names. I think even the difficult letters will be easy with this one, so I'm going to make this good only for six months.

Same rules apply. You can used books you read for other challenges. Name can either be first name or last name of a major character in the book. One name per book...so total books to be read is still 26.

Challenge Duration:
July 01, 2009 - December 31, 2009

I'm definitely in. Will just have to put together my list.

But only one name per book, right? And it's got to be the main character, the protagonist - I assume.

One name per book..that is correct...doesn't really have to be main protagonist..but at least a major player in the storyline...so heroes, heroines, villains and major secondary characters are all acceptable.

when it comes to difficult letters, I'll take side characters. lol I'm in but will fill in as I go.

Oh crap. I am in too. I love these type of challenges.

I'm in, I have a ton of books to read.

I was planning on doing this as a personal challenge as I was getting close to the end of the other A-Z's. I'm glad you made it an official challenge... Any excuse to pick up old Favourites aswell. I can see some time being spent with Zarek for this one.... ;)

I haven't tried any of the A-Z challeges before but have been really enjoying Yz's challenges in the Paranormal Romance group so I'm really looking forwarded to giving this a go.

Looks like another fun one, Yz! I'm in.

I want to try this! Ill be checking out my TBR list for sure

I'm in, too.

I'm in

I'm definitely in. This will probably be a fill-it-in-as-I-go challenge. I'm reading a book right now whose main character is named Zara. That would have been perfect!

Melissa wrote: "I'm definitely in. This will probably be a fill-it-in-as-I-go challenge."

Me too!

I'm so excited! This looks like a ton of fun. Can't wait for July to kick in. :)

U, V, W, X, Y, and Z will be difficult letters for me. I know it. I don't know if I'll like it but I know I have at least one book where a character had a Q last name.

For X can we use any name with an X in it somewhere? I don't know how I'll find a book otherwise.

I'll join in with this one aswell- I've kept a list of authors first and last names and first word of titles. This one will be a new challenge and allow me to use some books that won't fit into other categories!

Oh, this looks like fun. Great idea, Yz!

ok was doing my list and all I need is U and Y and then I got them all.

Maria V. Snyder's Study series heroine's name is Yelena, I think.

Isn't there a Kenyon book with a Urian as a hero?

hmm...I guess, we can make suggestions for those difficult letters.

Thanks Yz. I have Snyder's books so that takes care of Y. The only thing I can think of for X is a place not a person, and that's the Xanth scifi series.

Briansgirl wrote: "Thanks Yz. I have Snyder's books so that takes care of Y. The only thing I can think of for X is a place not a person, and that's the Xanth scifi series."

Most of the X's I can think of are Paranormal which you don't like. You could always read a buffy book... or something else with a Xander. Luna's Dad in Harry potter has a name beginning with X, or is that too small a part?

Yz wrote: "Maria V. Snyder's Study series heroine's name is Yelena, I think.

Isn't there a Kenyon book with a Urian as a hero?

hmm...I guess, we can make suggestions for those difficult letters."

Phoebe's husband is Urian, Cassandra's brother-in-law?

I read that one recently so I was looking for another U one but I did find one and I found a Y its like a middle name is that ok?

Do we post our books on this thread too?

Lauren wrote: "I read that one recently so I was looking for another U one but I did find one and I found a Y its like a middle name is that ok?

Do we post our books on this thread too?"

do you like Anita blake? there's a Ulysses in Narcissis in Chains.

This is fun :D
Do titles (lord of..., duke of...) and nicknames count? ;D

I do like her I am starting the first one Guilty pleasures ... can u read them out of order

this is my U i found -Ulrika Taming the Fire

and the Y check this name out-Lady Elyssa Yamato Amaterasu Wentworth -The Vampire Queen's Servant

I found everything but one for Q... Didn't think Q would be the one I'd be stuck on LOL

audball wrote: "I found everything but one for Q... Didn't think Q would be the one I'd be stuck on LOL"

If you like paranormal there's a Quinn in the Sookie stackhouse books but not until book 9? I think

audball wrote: "I found everything but one for Q... Didn't think Q would be the one I'd be stuck on LOL"

Deborah Cooke's first book in her Dragonfire series, Kiss of Fire, the hero's name is Quinn. If you like paranormal romance, with sexy shapeshifting dragons, you might give this a try.

Annvelwis wrote: "This is fun :D
Do titles (lord of..., duke of...) and nicknames count? ;D"

I'm not strict..so for me, that is okay.

Lauren wrote: "I read that one recently so I was looking for another U one but I did find one and I found a Y its like a middle name is that ok?

Do we post our books on this thread too?"

Yes, we post our books here. You can use the same format as in the other A-Z challenge threads.

You can do it either way: put your list up in advance (revisions along the way is fine) or you put your letters up and just fill them up as you go.

Whichever works for you.

Lauren wrote: "I do like her I am starting the first one Guilty pleasures ... can u read them out of order

this is my U i found -Ulrika Taming the Fire

and the Y check this name out-Lady Elys..."

I wouldn't recommend reading them out of order, so much happens in the books leading up to it. It wouldn't make much sense without reading them all.

Is anyone brave enough to do a Male A-Z AND a Female A-Z?

Thanks Michelle and Yz for the suggestions. I look at both of them.

Michelle wrote: "Is anyone brave enough to do a Male A-Z AND a Female A-Z?"
LOL. What a feat. If I can find enough books for two lists, I'm game :)

Yz wrote: "audball wrote: "I found everything but one for Q... Didn't think Q would be the one I'd be stuck on LOL"

Deborah Cooke's first book in her Dragonfire series, Kiss of Fire, the he..."

I really enjoyed that book, keep meaning to buy the rest of them

Michelle wrote: "Is anyone brave enough to do a Male A-Z AND a Female A-Z?"

In six months? That would be hard ;D Especially with ton of other challenges...I think I may be swayed, heh.
I'm not sure if I can find female character for Q and U...?

Ursula? Would the little mermaid count? lol

Michelle wrote: "Ursula? Would the little mermaid count? lol"

LOL.
For a girls U, I have Chloe Underwood from Black Ice by Anne Stuart.

audball wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Ursula? Would the little mermaid count? lol"

LOL.
For a girls U, I have Chloe Underwood from Black Ice by Anne Stuart. "

I have a few of her books that I haven't read yet. Are they any good?

Michelle wrote: "Is anyone brave enough to do a Male A-Z AND a Female A-Z?"

Or maybe we can reserve that for next year?

Yz wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Is anyone brave enough to do a Male A-Z AND a Female A-Z?"

Or maybe we can reserve that for next year?

"

Whatevers easier Yz, do you think it's a bit much? Any excuse to read more is fine by me! :)

Yz wrote: "Or maybe we can reserve that for next year?"

I like the ides of separate Male & Female AZ character lists. But yeah, I'd hold on to that for the next year, and for now - do the mixed one (since we're already almost half way through 2009).

With the holidays coming at the end of this year, it's going to cut into reading time. I don't know if I could do a male and female A-Z but will save that attempt for next year. Between the 3 A-Z challenges, quarterly challenges, monthly challenge, read the month challenge, and read my lifetime in books challenge.... I'm kinda full. lol Most definetly cross challenging. I'll filling this one out, as I go, as I read for other challenges. When I get near the end and find letters I havn't filled yet, I'll come back and ask for suggestions.

Yeah, when you put it like that, there's a ton of challenges running here as we speak.

Kasia wrote: "Yeah, when you put it like that, there's a ton of challenges running here as we speak."

And silly me is in them all. lol

I've seen a few people saying that they read less books towards the end of the year aswell. I don't mind when we do it to be honest, just something I'd like to attempt. Waiting gives me time to buy more books! Not that I really need an excuse... lol

It's a great idea.

I'm streamlining by using books I've already earmarked for my life-time of books challenge... so I have some of the tricky letters sorted out... and, yes, they're a mix of male and female.

The X name is Xavier Xonora, the 'baddie' from Hover Car Racer.