International Spelling Bee Contest (September)

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

The Challenge Factory has decided to host a spelling bee. The winner will have the opportunity to compete in the 2027 International Spelling Bee. (Just pretending :)


How it works:
Each month, five spelling words will be posted. Each word will have 7 or 8 letters. Choose one word to spell out.

You do not need to read 7 or 8 books to spell out your word. A book can generate a lot of letters.

How your book might generate a letter:
the publisher's name
the author's first, middle, or last initial
the MC's first, middle, or last initial
the narrator's first, middle, or last initial
the month that the book was published
the first word of the title (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the first word of the series name (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the name of the location where the majority of the book is set
the book's MPG (like: Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Romance)

Example:
If the word I am spelling is EMPATHY, and I choose to read Pride and Prejudice, the version of the book I read would produce -
E - set in England, or MC's first name (Elizabeth)
M -
P - first word of the title, or publisher's name (Peter Pauper Press)
A - author's last name (Austen)
T -
H - tagged 'Historical"
Y -

* If I can find a book that will fit all the remaining letters (M, T, Y), then I am finished for the month.

The next month:
Each month you participate in the Spelling Bee challenge, the higher your score will be and the more likely you will win the Spelling Bee. If you don't really care about points, feel free to participate as often as you would like.

At the end of the year the person with the highest points will be our (pretend) delegate the 2027 International Spelling Bee.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

Scoring:
If you are able to spell out the word, you will receive the total amount of points, plus a 10-point bonus.

If you are unable to spell out the word for the month, you will still receive points for the letters that you managed to complete.

The letters will receive points depending on how it would score in a Scrabble game.


Extra points:
If you find the word you are spelling out in one (1) of the books you read during the month, you will get an extra 10 points. The word cannot be changed; i.e., from singular to plural, from present to past tense, or to a possessive form.

Please indicate in your signup post your final score for the month.

Rules
Books must be 140 pages.
Graphic/anime books are okay but must be 240+ pages.
Audio books must be at least 3 hours long.

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

September's spelling words are:
acrylic, extinct, brazier, haggled, apology

[Aspa]

International Spelling Bee Contest (September)


☑ B: (3) author (David Barnett)
☑ R: (1) title (Rabbit Test and Other Stories)
☑ A: (1) title (Astral Library, the)
☑ Z: (10) author (J Zachary Pike)
☑ I: (1) series (Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti, the)
☑ E: (1) author (Meg Elison)
☑ R: (1) title (Republic of Memory, the)

word in text:
➲ The Astral Library (31% in ebook):
❝... a skinny old man leered, lurching up from a dully glowing brazier. ❞

September Points: letters ➛ 18 of 18 | word found in text ➛ 10 | word completion ➛ 10
(view spoiler)[
Yearly Total ➛ 349
Jan 39 | Feb 38 | Mar 40 | Apr 41 | May 40 | Jun 38 | Jul 40 | Aug 35 | Sep 38 | Oct 00 | Nov 00 | Dec 00
(hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Spelling Bee
September 2026

B Rhys Bowen - In Like Flynn 09/05
R Sara Rosett - Murder in the Alps 09/02
A Andy Weir - Project Hail Mary 09/01
Z Zuma - Makeup and Mayhem 09/18
I Irina Shapiro - Murder on Platform Four 09/18
E Elephants Can Remember 09/07
R David Rosenfelt - Hounded 09/07

=18

Letters +18
All words found +10
Word found in a sentence +10
"...in black tie and ball gowns in front of braziers..." pg 159
The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts 09/23
---------------
Total from previous months: 251
Total this month: 38
Grand total: 289

[Gabby]

Spelling Bee
September 2026

★B(3) Blood & Thorns 4/9
★R(1) MPG Romance: Our Nanny is a Vampire 2/9
★A(1) Annette Marie: The One and Only Crystal Druid 3/9
★Z(10) Zoe Chant: Firefighter Griffin 21/9
★I(1) Imagine Wagons 11/9
★E(1) Sophie Escabasse: S'Witch Back 1/9
★R(1) MPG Romance: Locks & Lies 4/9

★"brazier" in text - Small Magics 28/9
"The kid moved forward, struck a match, and dropped it into the metal brazier." p259

This month's score: 18 + 10 + 10
Yearly Total = 349
Jan 39 | Feb 38 | Mar 40 | Apr 41 | May 40| Jun 38 | Jul 40 | Aug 35| Sep 38 | Oct | Nov | Dec

[Catsalive]

September International Spelling Bee Contest

B- Bird - Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce 3/9 4★
R- Romance - A Dangerous Compromise by Shannon Donnelly 1/9 2.5★
A- A Touch of Magic by Juliette Leigh 8/9 2★
Z- Zebra Regency - A Dangerous Compromise by Shannon Donnelly 1/9 2.5★
I- In Death - Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb 7/9 4.5★
E- Emmy - Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce 3/9 4★
R- Roarke - Faithless in Death by J.D. Robb 7/9 4.5★

"brazier" in text - "hands held towards the brazier" p.76

Score: 18 + 10 + 10 = 38

(YTD: 39 + 38 + 40 + 37 + 40 + 38 + 40 + 35 + 38 = 345)

[Susan]

Spelling Bee
September 2026

B(3) Baby Proof by Emily Griffin - 9/2/26
R(1) Romance Genre - Baby Proof - 9/2/26
A(1) Aelin - Kingdom of Ash - 9/12/26
Z(10) Head of Zeus (Publisher) - The House of a Hundred Whispers - 9/4/26
I(1) Ivy - Dead Witch Walking - 9/14/26
E(1) Emily Griffin - Baby Proof - 9/2/26
R(1) Romance Genre - Kingdom of Ash - 9/12/26

Brazier in text - Kingdom of Ash, pg36, "brazier and fed a few dying fire"
Brazier point total +18+10 = 28

Total from previous months: 27+15
Total this month: 28

[Caraina]

International Spelling Bee Contest (September)
Duration: September 1, 2026 - September 30, 2026

You do not need to read 7 or 8 books to spell out your word. A book can generate a lot of letters.

How your book might generate a letter:
the publisher's name
the author's first, middle, or last initial
the MC's first, middle, or last initial
the narrator's first, middle, or last initial
the month that the book was published
the first word of the title (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the first word of the series name (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the name of the location where the majority of the book is set
the book's MPG (like: Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Romance)

Extra points:
If you find the word you are spelling out in one (1) of the books you read during the month, you will get an extra 10 points. The word cannot be changed; i.e., from singular to plural, from present to past tense, or to a possessive form. The Greenest Branch - P.K. Adams 9/29/26 (pg. 225 – I blew out the candle, added charcoal to the brazier, and left for the convent.)

Rules:
Books must be 140 pages.
Graphic/anime books are okay but must be 240+ pages.
Audio books must be at least 3 hours long.

Total Monthly Points: 38
YTD Points: 338

B (3): A Beautiful Mind - Sylvia Nasar 9/26/26
R (1): Rachel Wesson - Orphan Train Escape 9/27/26
A (1): Amalie Howard - The Beast of Beswick 9/8/26
Z (10): Zoey Redbird (MC) - Marked - P.C. Cast 9/5/26
I (1): Ilona Andrews - Steel's Edge 9/1/26
E (1): Everglades Gold: A Tale of Historical Adventure Featuring Aristocrats and Con Artists in Florida's Everglades in the late 19th century. - Harold Silver 9/2/26
R (1): The Raven's Call - Emma C. Buenen 9/14/26

[Lanelle, Production Chief]

I'm in.
Duration: Sept. 1 - 30, 2026

E - MC Elizabeth Lovely in Her Bones 9/9 ***
X - Xarissa, Diana's Aunt Bessie Invites 9/29 ***
T - tagged 'Thriller' Lovely in Her Bones 9/9 ***
I - AFN Ilona Clean Sweep 9/5 ****
N - Not Yet Drown'd 9/8 ****
C - MC Catherine Not Yet Drown'd 9/8 ****
T - AFN Tom Who's Afraid of Beowulf? 9/12 ***

'extinct' in the text: "They're extinct..." Who's Afraid of Beowulf? loc. 2,873
This month's score: 16 +10 + 10 = 36
Total score so far: 39+37+40+37+40+38+40+35+36=342

[LaurLa]

International Spelling Bee Contest
September 2026

My International Spelling Bee Challenge (msg 11)

Books Read ❱❱ 7

Scoring Total ❱❱ 38
Word points ❱❱ 18
Word completion ❱❱ 10
Word in text ❱❱ 10

Year Running Total ❱❱ 349

BRAZIER



💥B ❱❱ Broken at Love ❱❱ 09.24 ★★★★
💥R ❱❱ Rage and Redemption ❱❱ 09.22 ★★★★
💥A ❱❱ Alison Kent ❱❱ The Sweetness of Honey ❱❱ 09.29 ★★★★
💥Z ❱❱ Zane Kendrick [char] ❱❱ Wolf Rising ❱❱ 09.17 ★★★★
💥I ❱❱ Immortal in Death ❱❱ 09.05 ★★★★
💥E ❱❱ The Ex Hex ❱❱ 09.12 ★★★★
💥R ❱❱ Roberts, Nora ❱❱ The Hollow ❱❱ 09.18 ★★★★

brazier ❱❱ Mitch walked through with another brazier of refried beans. [loc 61.3]
💥The Sweetness of Honey ❱❱ 09.29 ★★★★

[Denise]

September spelling bee

Brazier
B: CFN BROCK Vineland Thomas Pynchon 5 Sep
R: The War of the Worlds: H. G. Wells' Sci-Fi Invasion Classic H.G. Wells 20 Sep
A: CFN ALICE The Last of the Mohicans James Fenimore Cooper 12 Sep
Z: CFN ZOYD Vineland Thomas Pynchon 5 Sep
I: LOC: IRELAND Castle Rackrent Maria Edgeworth 20 Sep
E: Castle Rackrent Maria Edgeworth 20 Sep
R: Margo's Got Money Troubles Rufi Thorpe 18 Sep

[Jamie]

International Spelling Bee Contest - September
September 1-30, 2026
- 18 points possible (brazier)

★

B - Ballard (CLN)|The Frozen River|9/4/26|★★★★
R - Rhys (CFN)|A Court of Wings and Ruin|9/3/26|★★★★★
A - Azriel (CFN)|A Court of Wings and Ruin|9/3/26|★★★★★
Z - Zabini (CLN)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire|9/25/26|★★★★★
I - Isaiah (CFN)|The Frozen River|9/4/26|★★★★
E - Ephraim (CFN)|The Frozen River|9/4/26|★★★★
R - Robin (AFN)|Assassin's Quest|9/5/26|★★★

Word in text:A Court of Wings and Ruin|||pg.596 "It was Nesta who said from her seat across the room beside the faelight brazier, 'Because we insulted him.'"

*Completion bonus = 10 pts
*maximum in book = 10 pts

Total Points: 18+10+10 = 38

YTD: 39 (Jan) + 37 (Feb) + 40 (Mar) + 37 (Apr) + 40 (May) + 38 (Jun) + 40 (Jul) + 35 (Aug) + 38(Sep) = 344

How your book might generate a letter:
the publisher's name
the author's first, middle, or last initial
the MC's first, middle, or last initial
the narrator's first, middle, or last initial
the month that the book was published
the first word of the title (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the first word of the series name (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the name of the location where the majority of the book is set
the book's MPG (like: Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Romance)

[Mrs W]

September Spelling Bee


How your book might generate a letter:
the publisher's name
the author's first, middle, or last initial
the MC's first, middle, or last initial
the narrator's first, middle, or last initial
the month that the book was published
the first word of the title (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the first word of the series name (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the name of the location where the majority of the book is set
the book's MPG (like: Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Romance)


Kristin Harmel Read 9/8/26 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Elizabeth Goddard Read 9/16/26 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lori Copeland Read 9/23/26 ⭐⭐

APOLOGY

A (1)
P (3) Poland setting of most of the book deep in the forest of eastern Europe (Poland) - The Forest of Vanishing Stars
O (1) One title One True Love
L (1) Lori author Lori Copeland
O (1)
G (2) Goddard author last name Elizabeth Goddard to the book Storm Warning
Y (4) Yona --MC The Forest of Vanishing Stars...from the moment she first saw the light over Berlin, that the child was to be called Yona, which meant dove in Hebrew. p6

(possible 23pts ---13 for letters + 10 complete all letters)

Use apology in the text - 10 pts.

"Bina," Oscher murmured, but there was no time to discern whether he meant to offer explanation or apology, for time was of the essence. The Forest of Vanishing Stars p300

3+4+10=17
17 + 2 = 19
19 + 2 = 21

Jan - 24
Feb - 37
Mar - 29
Apr - 39
May - 15
June - 6
July - 14
Aug - 9

YTD: 178

[Elle]

Spelling Bee
September 2026

B
R
A
Z
I
E
R

Brazier nut in the text:

[Laura]

Prior months: 306 points

✔️ B Killer in a White Coat: The True Story of New York's Deadliest Pill Pusher and the Team that Brought Him to Justice 9/3 (author's last name: Bismuth)
✔️ R Red Famine: Stalin's War on Ukraine 9/14 (title)
✔️ A Gone Girl 9/10 (main character's first name: Amy)
✔️ Z If at Birth You Don't Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny 9/16 (author's first name: Zach)
✔️ I If at Birth You Don't Succeed: My Adventures with Disaster and Destiny 9/16 (title)
✔️ E The Night Circus 9/13 (author's first name: Erin)
✔️ R Out Stealing Horses 9/5 (narrator's first name: Richard)

Extra points: "She spied several unused incense sticks lying by the altar. She lit the end of one of them by dipping it in the brazier and then waved it experimentally in the air." - from 5% of The Poppy War 9/28

September Points: 18 + 10 + 10 = 38
YTD Points: 306 + 38 = 344

[Zenobia2016]

International Spelling Bee Contest (September)
Duration: September 1, 2026 - September 30, 2026

You do not need to read 7 or 8 books to spell out your word. A book can generate a lot of letters.

How your book might generate a letter:
the publisher's name
the author's first, middle, or last initial
the MC's first, middle, or last initial
the narrator's first, middle, or last initial
the month that the book was published
the first word of the title (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the first word of the series name (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the name of the location where the majority of the book is set
the book's MPG (like: Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Romance)

Extra points:
If you find the word you are spelling out in one (1) of the books you read during the month, you will get an extra 10 points. The word cannot be changed; i.e., from singular to plural, from present to past tense, or to a possessive form.

Rules:
Books must be 140 pages.
Graphic/anime books are okay but must be 240+ pages.
Audio books must be at least 3 hours long.

B (3):Biography genre: King: The Life of Martin Luther King by Johnathan Eig 9/3/26
R (1):
A (1): Alabama-location: King: The Life of Martin Luther King by Johnathan Eig 9/3/26
Z (10):
I (1):
E (1): Johnathan Eig author: King: The Life of Martin Luther King 9/3/26
R (1):

Sept total= 5 Points
Aug =12| YTD total=17Points

[Suzanne]

The Challenge Factory
International Spelling Bee Contest (September)
Duration: September 2026

Progress: 0 out of 7

The Challenge Factory has decided to host a spelling bee. The winner will have the opportunity to compete in the 2027 International Spelling Bee. (Just pretending :)

How it works:
Each month, five spelling words will be posted. Each word will have 7 or 8 letters. Choose one word to spell out.

You do not need to read 7 or 8 books to spell out your word. A book can generate a lot of letters.

How your book might generate a letter:
the publisher's name
the author's first, middle, or last initial
the MC's first, middle, or last initial
the narrator's first, middle, or last initial
the month that the book was published
the first word of the title (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the first word of the series name (you can use or ignore A, An, The)
the name of the location where the majority of the book is set
the book's MPG (like: Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Romance)

The next month:
Each month you participate in the Spelling Bee challenge, the higher your score will be and the more likely you will win the Spelling Bee. If you don't really care about points, feel free to participate as often as you would like.

At the end of the year the person with the highest points will be our (pretend) delegate the 2027 International Spelling Bee.

September's spelling words are:
acrylic, extinct, brazier, haggled, apology

H
A
G
G
L
E
D

[Denise]

COMPLETED:
September spelling bee

Brazier
B: CFN BROCK Vineland Thomas Pynchon 5 Sep
R: The War of the Worlds: H. G. Wells' Sci-Fi Invasion Classic H.G. Wells 20 Sep
A: CFN ALICE The Last of the Mohicans James Fenimore Cooper 12 Sep
Z: CFN ZOYD Vineland Thomas Pynchon 5 Sep
I: LOC: IRELAND Castle Rackrent Maria Edgeworth 20 Sep
E: Castle Rackrent Maria Edgeworth 20 Sep
R: Margo's Got Money Troubles Rufi Thorpe 18 Sep

YTD: 176

[Meg]

Completed, pls see https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Jamie]

completed - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[LaurLa]

Complete!
Updated post: My International Spelling Bee Challenge (msg 11)

Books Read ❱❱ 7