The 50 States & Capitals Points Challenge

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

~ 50 States & Capitals, plus Important Cities Challenge ~

This is challenge and its levels are based on points.

Level 		Points			Your Title
Level I		00 - 30 points		Plucky Pilgrim 
Level II	31 - 65 points		Courageous Colonial 
Level III	66 - 95 points		Rebellious Revolutionary 
Level IV	96 - 125 points		Marvelous Mountaineer
Level V		126 - 156 points	Skilled Surveyor
Level VI	157 - 185 points 	Cleverest Cartographer
Level VII	186 - & > points 	Top Topographer 

Duration: One year from the date you start reading. You may NOT back date books, except if you are starting in the middle of the month, you can count your books you have read so far in the month in which you start.

Rules: Re-reads and audiobooks are fine. You can post as you go, or edit to update you original post. You can up you level at any time. However, you can count a state name as a setting point only ONCE. See points for character names below. ONLY ONE STATE PER BOOK. However, if you decide on a book that has multiple states and find this state you chose later, you may change your mind about which state to count the first book's setting as fullfilling.

A 50 States & Capitals Reference Log is under construction and located at the link. Feel free to add comments to the thread; however, please post your challenges in this thread (the one you are in right now!)

POINT SYSTEM:

Worth 1/2 Point: Moderators' discretion. Summit your vital information regarding the city to your friendly moderators, Lisa Kay and Pamela(All Honey).


Worth One Point:

• Read a book that takes place in one of the 50 states. If you read a book in an era b/f the area was made a state, use the territory name. If the area is wide, and you can pin-point where the state would be in the future, then use the future state. Refer to the territorial map in Post #3. The city/town may in Romancelandia or Real Life.

• If the state name is in the title or the series title, add an additional one point.

• Read a book with a character that has a first name, last name, or nickname name of a state. If the character is named “Eve Dallas” (as in the J.D. Robb’s In Death series which is set in New York, this would give you a cumulative total of 2 points. If you have already read a book set in New York, then you only get 1 point. You can only count a repeating character in a series once.

• A city or town where a Govenor or other VIP will be worth one point. Or if a town is named after a VIP. Make sumission to me (Lisa Kay) or Pamela.



Worth Two Points – these are additional points. (You get one for the state, unless you have already read a book set in that state.)

• Read a book that is set in a city that was previously the capital, but isn’t any longer.

• Read a book that takes place in one of the major cities of that state. Here is the link to that has a wonderful table: Wikepedia US States Info. Note: You can click on the up/down arrows at the top of each column to alphabetize/reverse-alphabetize by any column. The far right column lists the largest population city and the Supreme Court City. Or where a President was born. Pamela and I will count either one of these. Feel free to submit a city for consideration and the reason.

Quick Reference: Leading Population Centers
New York, NY
LA, CA
Chicago, IL
Dalles, TX
Philadelphia, PA
Houston, TX
Washington, D.C.
Miami, FL
Atlanta, GE
Boston, MASS


Worth Three Points – these are additional points. (You get one for the state.)

• Read a book that is set in the city that is the state capital. Refer to Post #2 for the current capital cities.

• Read a book that is set in one of the original thirteen states were the successors of the thirteen colonies that rebelled against British rule.

The original thirteen states/colonies were:
Delaware
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Georgia
Connecticut
Massachusetts Bay
Maryland
South Carolina
New Hampshire
Virginia
New York
North Carolina
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.


Additional single points for federal district, incorporated territory, or overseas territory: one each!

• You can earn one point by reading a book set in one of these locations, or by reading about a character that came from or just visited or moved from one of these locations (such as a military personnel, dignitary, vacationer). District of Columbia, the federal district where the capital, Washington, is located; and Palmyra Atoll, an uninhabited but incorporated territory in the Pacific Ocean. One of the five major overseas territories: Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands - both in the Caribbean; and American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands – both in the Pacific.

• Make note of the capitals or set of government for insular areas of the United States territories; these will also give you an additional point. They can be found below the wonderful table: Wikepedia US States Info. For example. If a book is set in Guam, you get one point; if it is also set in Pago Pago, the de factor capital, you get an addition point for a total of two points for that book.

Same rule applies as state capital. You can read multiple books, but the terriotory only counts once.

***************************************************************************

Example:

You read a book set in Los Angeles, California. You get one point for the state, two points for Los Angles (largest city/population). Total so far: 3 points.

The next book you read is in Sacramento, the capital; you earn another 2 points. Total so far: 5 points.

The third book is set in San Francisco, the seat of the State Supreme Court; you earn another 2 points. Total so far: 7 points.

You read a book set in Stockton, California. Sorry, not additional points! (Note: if you read the Stockton book first, you would receive one point; however, if you then read the LA book, you would only add 2 additional points. You total thus far would still have been 3 points.)

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

The 50 United States, their abbreviations, and capitals. State abbreviations are hyperlinked to specific state in the Reference Log for Keeping Track of Books for 50 States Challenge.

Abb	State		Capital
AL	Alabama 	Montgomery
AK	Alaska 		Juneau
AZ	Arizona 	Phoenix
AR	Arkansas 	Little Rock
CA	California 	Sacramento
CO	Colorado 	Denver
CT	Connecticut 	Hartford
DE	Delaware 	Dover
FL	Florida 	Tallahassee
GA	Georgia 	Atlanta
HI	Hawaii 		Honolulu
ID	Idaho 		Boise
IL	Illinois 	Springfield
IN	Indiana 	Indianapolis
IA	Iowa 		Des Moines
KS	Kansas 		Topeka
KY	Kentucky 	Frankfort
LA	Louisiana 	Baton Rouge
ME	Maine 		Augusta
MD	Maryland 	Annapolis
MA	Massachusetts 	Boston
MI	Michigan 	Lansing
MN	Minnesota 	Saint Paul
MS	Mississippi 	Jackson
MO	Missouri 	Jefferson City
MT	Montana 	Helena
NE	Nebraska 	Lincoln
NV	Nevada 		Carson City
NH	New Hampshire 	Concord
NJ	New Jersey 	Trenton
NM	New Mexico 	Santa Fe
NY	New York 	Albany
NC	North Carolina 	Raleigh
ND	North Dakota 	Bismarck
OH	Ohio 		Columbus
OK	Oklahoma 	Oklahoma City
OR	Oregon 		Salem
PA	Pennsylvania 	Harrisburg
RI	Rhode Island 	Providence
SC	South Carolina 	Columbia
SD	South Dakota 	Pierre
TN	Tennessee 	Nashville
TX	Texas 		Austin
UT	Utah 		Salt Lake City
VT	Vermont 	Montpelier
VA	Virginia 	Richmond
WA	Washington 	Olympia
WV	West Virginia 	Charleston
WI	Wisconsin 	Madison
WY	Wyoming 	Cheyenne

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

U.S. Territorial Acquisitions - with dates!

Orginal :Wikipedia file site. You can see a larger map here.

Also, remember holding your control key down and simultaneously using the + (addition or plus) key will zoom in on the webpage at which you are looking. Holding the control key and the - (subtraction or dash) key will zoom back out.

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Territories, etc.

Insular Area		Capital			Seat of Gov./Lg. Pop.
American Samoa		Pago Pago		Fagatgo
Guam			Hagåtña			Dededo
Northern Mariana Is.	Saipan
Puerto Rico		San Juan		originally named Borinquen
U.S. Virgin Islands	Charlotte Amalie

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

HELPFUL HINTS

A great group that is just for adding books to the bookshelfs and "tagging" with settings is: Settings. They are constantly updating.

A large group that is also doing a challenge similar to this: NbRC 50 State Challenge.

You do not need to be a member to look at the postings/comments or bookshelves for these two groups.

**********************************************************************************
Info on Spaces & Columns moved to the "HEAC GoodReads How To" folder: Advanced: Spaces & Columns.

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Participants:

You name will be "hyperlinked" after you post your set-up or your first book. For your convience, please click on your name below and edit your challenge comment field.

Participant	Points		Current Title		Goal Title
Heather		41/XXX		Courageous Colonial	Done!
Marijayne	???		Plucky Pilgrim
Cheryl		???		Plucky Pilgrim
CaroB		03/XXX		Moved to Australia
Dina		52/52		Courageous Colonial - Done!
Jenn		68/XXX		Rebellious Revolutionary
Pamela		40/XXX		Courageous Colonial
Julie		117/125		Marvelous Mountaineer UpgradeX2! Done!
Lisa		22/XXX		Plucky Pilgrim
Lisa Kay	93/XXX		Rebellious Revolutionary
Dawn		003/125		Start 2/1/12
Sandy		040/XXX		Courageous Colonial

Participants Post #6, updated: 09/09/12 8:03 p.m. PST. Please let me know of any errors. Thanks!

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

How to Hyperlink to a Specific Post

Do you want add a hyperlink from your ~ Reading Goals ~ Folder to your post in a challenge? (This folder may have a different name, depending on which group you post in.) Here’s how:

1. Once you set up your folder, click on the “some html is ok” look-up at the top of the comment box and follow the Link directions.

2. You want to copy the following from the look-up (Note: It will look like the example below, without the first and second asterisks that appears after the less than signs, which had to be inserted so you could see the html code):

<*a href="http://www.goodreads.com">my link text<*/a>

3. Replace the section of html code (in-between the two quotation marks - made bold in the example above above) with the post's link.

4. You can copy that by placing your cursor on the "post's time stamp" (for lack of a better term) located in the beige bar.

5. On the drop down menu, use your right-mouse-click button on “Copy shortcut” and copy link location.

6. Next, change the “my link text” to what you want (such as the name of the challenge).

<*a href=" http://www.goodreads.com"> my link text <*/a>

Example:
<*a href="http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6... ~ The 50 States & Capitals Points Challenge ~ Message #21

Result:
~ The 50 States & Capitals Points Challenge ~ Message #21

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Reserved.

[Heather]

Do we need to post our Level now and do we keep track of points?

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Hi! Heather, you keep track of your own points. I'll post your totals, but I'm going to have to go pretty much on the honor system here, unless something is obviously strange.

You can select your goal level and then post what level you currently place fall into as you go. You can increase your level though-out the year.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Fairy Godmother]

The 50 States & Capitals Points Challenge

Began 9/2/2011
books read 16
points - 47
Updated 6/10/12

1. Texas What Price Paradise by Katherine Allred 9/3/11
State 1
Couple was married in Austin TX (State capital) 2
total 3
2. South Carolina A Killer's Agenda by Anita M Whiting 9/9/11
State 1
One of original 13 states 3
total 4
3. New York Enticed by His Forgotten Lover by Maya Banks 9/13/11
State 1
One of the original 13 states 3
Major city: NYC 2
Former capital: NYC 2
total 8
4. Louisiana Too Wild to Hold by Julie Leto
State 1
Major city: New Orleans 2
Supreme Court: 2
total 5
5. Montana A Taste Of Heaven by Alexis Harrington 9/20/11
State 1
total 1
6. Wyoming The Bride Wore Spurs by Sharon Ihle 10/1/11
State 1
total 1
7. Idaho True Confessions by Rachel Gibson 10/2/11
State 1
total 1
8. California The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton 10/3/11
State 1
Major city: San Francisco 2
Supreme Court: 2
total 5
9. Washington Beg for Mercy by Jami Alden 10/4/11
State 1
Major city: Seattle 2
total 3
10. Missouri Blood Trails by Sharo Sala 10/10/11
State 1
Major city: St Louis 2
Famous landmark: Arch 1
total 4
11. Florida Diamond Bay by Linda Howard
State 1
total 1
12. Kansas The Wives of Bowie Stone by Maggie Osborne
State 1
total 1
13. Georgia Anything But Mine by Linda Winstead
State 1
total 1
14. Nebraska Cool Shade by Theresa Weir
State 1
total 1
15. Virginia Scarlet Nights by Jude Deveraux
State 1
total 1
New Jersey One For The Money by Janet Evanovich 6/5/12
State 1, Orig. 13 3, Capital 3
total 7

[Pamela(AllHoney), Fairy Godmother]

Lisa Kay has done an awesome job of setting this up. Thanks bunches!

[Heather]

50 States & Capitals Points Challenge
Duration: 9/2/2011 thru 9/1/2011

Points: 41

Books Read - 11

1. Sugarland, Tennessee: Under Fire Completed 9/3/11 ★★
     2 point [State (1), 1/2 Movie, 1/2 Country band]
2. Denver, Colorado: Naked Edge Completed 9/5/11 ★★★1/2
     6 points [State (1), State Capital (3) and Major City (2)]
3. Miami, Florida: Stolen Fury Completed 9/7/11 ★★★
     3 points [State (1),Major City (2)]
4. small town, Montana: Prey Completed 9/8/11 ★★
     1 point [State (1)]
5. NYC, New York: Vengeance in Death Completed 9/14/11 ★★★★★
      9 points [State (1), One of the original thirteen states (3), Former Capital of the USA (2),
          Major City (2), Major Character Name after city (Eve Dallas) (1)]
6. Los Angeles, California: Slow Burn Completed 9/17/11 ★★★
      3 points [State (1), Major City (2)]
7. Bluemont, Virginia: True Betrayals Completed 9/20/11 ★★★
     4 points [State (1), One of the original thirteen states (3)]
8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Whisper of Light Completed 9/24/11 ★★★1/2
     8 points [State (1), One of the original thirteen states (3), Former US Capital (2), Major City (2)]
9. Seattle, Washington: Behind Closed Doors Completed 9/24/11 ★★★★
     3 points [State (1), Major City (2)]
10. Dunmore, Alabama: Dead By Midnight Completed 9/26/11 ★★
     1 points [State (1)]
11. Innocence, Mississippi: Carnal Innocence Completed 10/9/11 ★★★★
     1 points [State (1)]

Read:

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

HEAC: ~ The 50 States & Capitals Points Challenge ~

Start Date: 9/1/11

Total Points: 91/XXX     Current Title: Rebellious Revolutionary

Total States: 44/50

Alabama (AL)
Alaska (AK)
✔ How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf, by Molly Harper ★★★★½ PB 1/1
      State = 1 point
      Total for AK = 1 point
Arizona (AZ)
✔ Dog on It, by Spencer Quinn ★★★★✩ OneClickDigital 2/29/12
      State = 1 point
      Total for AZ = 1 point
Arkansas (AR)
California (CA)
✔ Slave to Sensation, by Nalini Singh ★★★★★ audible.com 1/9
      State = 1 point
      Nape, famous wine country = ½ point.
      Total for CA = 1½ point
Colorado (CO)
✔ Colorado Dawn, by Kaki Warner ★★★★¼ PB 1/21 “buddy read”
      State = 1 point
      Total for CO = 1 point
Connecticut (CT)
✔ Judgment in Death, by J.D. Robb ★★★★★ & a Wow! ODA 5/19
      State = 1 point
      Total for CT = 1 point
Delaware (DE)
✔ Train Station Bride, by Holly Bush ★★★½☆ Kindle 6/15
      State = 1 point
  
Florida (FL)
✔ Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo★★★★★ OD audio 9/4
      State = 1 point
      Total for FL = 1 point
Georgia (GA)
✔ Cold Sassy Tree, by Olive Ann Burns ★★★★✩ OD audio 10/13
      State = 1 point
      One of the original thirteen states = 3 points
      Total for GA = 4 points
Hawaii (HI)
✔ Unforgettable, by Meryl Sawyer ★★★★✩ PB 12/24
      State = 1 point
      Total for HI = 1 point
Idaho (ID)
✔ Animal Attraction, by Jill Shalvis ★★★★✩ PB 12/19
      State = 1 point
      Total for ID = 1 point
Illinois (IL)
✔ The Ghost and the Goth, by Stacey Kade ★★★★✩ Library/Kindle 12/7
      State = 1 point
      Largest city (Decatur)in state, per square mile & "soybean capital of the world" = 2 points
      Total for IL = 3 points
Indiana (IN)
✔ Sweet Dreams, by Kristen Ashley ★★★★✩ Kindle 1/14 “buddy read”
      State = 1 point
      Total for IN = 1 point
Iowa (IA)
✔ Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World,
      by Vicki Myron ★★★★✩Library e-book 1/14
      State = 1 point
      Total for IA = 1 point
Kansas (KS)
✔ The Wives of Bowie Stone = Maggie Osborne ★★★★½ PB 4/23
      State = 1 point
      Total for KS = 1 point
Kentucky (KY)
✔ And One Last Thing ..., by Molly Harper ★★★★✩ CDs 3/9
      State = 1 point
      Total for KY = 1 point
Louisiana (LA)
✔ Bayou Moon, by Ilona Andrews ★★★½✩ PB 3/19
      State = 1 point
      Total for LA = 1 point
Maine (ME)
✔ Ice, by Linda Howard ★★★★✩ OD audio-iPod/Touch 1/27
      State = 1 point
      Total for ME = 1 point
Maryland (MD)
✔ The Next Always, by Nora Roberts ★★★★✩ Library CDs 2/15
      State = 1 point
      One of the original thirteen states = 3 points
      Total for MD = 4 point
Massachusetts (MA)
✔ Face the Fire, by Nora Roberts ★★★★✩ OD audio 10/13
      State = 1 point
      One of the original thirteen states = 3 points
      Total for MA = 4 points
Michigan (MI)
✔ Kiss of Fire, by Deborah Cooke ★★★½✩ PB 2/20 “buddy read”
      State = 1 point
      Total for MI = 1 point
Minnesota (MN)
✔ Gingerbread Cookie Murder, by Joanne Fluke ★★★½✩ CDs to iPod/Touch 11/16
      State = 1 point
      Total for MN = 1 point
Mississippi (MS)
✔ Deadly Fear, by Cynthia Eden ★★★★✩ audible.com 2/14
      State = 1 point
      Total for MS = 1 point
Missouri (MO)
✔ Texas Hold Him, by Lisa Cooke ★★★★✩ Kindle 10/10
      State = 1 point
      VIP = 2 point total; They visit St. Louis; Tennessee Williams & T.S. Eliot both born there.
     Home of 1904 World's Fair & Summer Olympics (1st non-European city to host) = 1 point
      Largest pop = 2 points
      They visit New Orleans, LA; Largest pop = 2 points
      Total for MO = 8 points.
Montana (MT)
✔ Trespass, by Meg Maguire ★★★★½ Nook for PC 9/6
      State = 1 point
      They visit Billings, the largest city in state = 1 point
      Yellowstone National Park = 1 point.
      Total for MT = 3 points.
Nebraska (NE)
✔ Land Of Dreams, by Cheryl St.John ★★★★✩ PB 2/2
      State = 1 point
      Total for NE = 1
Nevada (NV)
✔ Defying the Odds, by Kele Moon ★★★★✩ Kindle 2/12
      State = 1 point
      Total for NV = 1 point
New Hampshire (NH)
✔ Murder is Binding, by Lorna Barrett ★★★½✩ PB 10/13
      State = 1 point
      One of the original thirteen states = 3 points
      Total for NH = 4 points
New Jersey (NJ)
✔ Lean Mean Thirteen, by Janet Evanovich ★★★★☆ OD audio 9/2
      State = 1 point
      One of the original thirteen states = 3 points
      Location: Trenton, New Jersey; capital = 3 points
      site of George Washington's first military victory = 1 point
      Total for NJ = 8 points
New Mexico (NM)
✔ First Grave on the Right, by Darynda Jones ★★★½✩ AD & audible.com 12/14
      State = 1 point
      Largest city (Albuquerque) = 2 points
      Total for NM = 3 points
New York (NY)
✔ Glory in Death, by J.D. Robb ★★★★★ library CD to iPod 10/11
      State = 1 point
      One of the original thirteen states = 3 points
      Former Capital of the USA = 2 points
      Major City = 2 points
      Major Character named after city (Eve Dallas) = 1 point
      Total for NY = 9 points
North Carolina (NC)
✔The Peach Keeper, by Sarah Addison Allen ★★★★✩ library CD to iPod 10/19
      State = 1 point
      One of the original thirteen states = 3 points
      Total for NC = 4 points
North Dakota (ND)
✔ My One and Only, by Kristan Higgins ★★★★✩ Library PB 3/13
      State = 1 point
      Total ND = 1 point
Ohio (OH)
✔ I am Number Four, by Pittacus Lore ★★★★✩ OD audio 9/20
      State = 1 point
      Total OH = 1 point
Oklahoma (OK)
✔ Ghost at Work, by Carolyn Hart ★★★★½ HC/library 10/11
      State = 1 point
      Total OK = 1 point
Oregon (OR)
✔ Nightfall, by Ellen Connor ★★★½✩ PB 10/31
      State = 1 point
      Total OR = 1 point
Pennsylvania (PA)
Rhode Island (RI)
South Carolina (SC)
✔ Dragon Bound, by Thea Harrison ★★★★★ audible.com 5/5 [“re-read” via audio]
      State = 1 point
      Total SC = 1 point
South Dakota (SD)
✔ At Grave's End, by Jeaniene Frost ★★★✩✩ OD audio 11/22
      State = 1 point
      Total SD = 1 point
Tennessee (TN)
✔ Blue Dahlia, by Nora Roberts ★★★★✩ OD audio 10/31
      State = 1 point
      Total TN = 1 point
Texas (TX)
✔ The Texan's Wager, by Jodi Thomas ★★★★★ PB 9/2
      State = 1 point
      Location: Cedar Point, Texas = 0 points
      They visit Childress, Texas = 1 point. Named after George Campbell Childress,
      principal author of Texas Declaration of Independence.
✔ To Kiss a Texan, by Jodi Thomas ★★★★¼ PB 9/21
      VIP, 1/2 point; They visit Fort Worth; named for Major General William Jenkins Worth,
      2nd in command to General Zachary Taylor at opening of Mexican-American War in 1846.
      Total for TX = 2½ points
Utah (UT)
Vermont (VT)
✔ Killing Me Softly, by Maggie Shayne ★★★✩✩ PB 10/12
      State = 1 point
      Total points of VT = 1 point
Virginia (VA)
✔ Dark Descendant, by Jenna Black ★★★★✩ Library PB 3/13
      State = 1 point
      One of the original thirteen states = 3 points
      Capital = 2 points
      Total for VA = 6 points
Washington (WA)
✔ Blood Bound, by Patricia Briggs ★★★★½ AD & OCD 11/17 “buddy read”
      State = 1 point
      Total for WA = 1 point
West Virginia (WV)
Wisconsin) (WI)
✔ Dairy Queen, by Catherine Gilbert Murdock ★★★★★ Library-PB 5/9
      State = 1 point
      Total for WI = 1 point
Wyoming (WY)
✔ A Marriage by Chance, by Carolyn Davidson ★★★★✩ PB 2/5
      State = 1 point
      Total for WY = 1 point

OCD = OneClickDigital
ODA = Over Drive Audio

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Read:

[Heather]

Wow, Lisa Kay. That is an impressive start!

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Heather wrote: "Wow, Lisa Kay. That is an impressive start!"


Heather,

Sugar Land: 1974 movie, The Sugarland Express, takes place in Sugar Land. = 1/2 point
Country music band Sugarland gets its name from the city. = 1/2 point.

Add another 1 point to your total. :)

Heather wrote: "Wow, Lisa Kay. That is an impressive start!"

Yeah, Heather, I think those original thirteen colonies are going to rack up the points. You got another point, did you see?

[Pamela(AllHoney), Fairy Godmother]

Hmmm, I guess I need to start getting more creative so I can rack up a few points :)

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Pamela, I think people are going to rack up more points than I thought, so I changed the ranges. Plus, I added the 1/2 point option under the POINTS section - if people submit significant history of a city to us.

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

I'm so stupid, I didn't even remember that Trenton was the capital until I went to Wikipedia. Guess I shouldn't admit that on the internet, right? LOL!

[Dina]

Wow, this challenge is cwazy!!! I can't resist, I have to join, LOL. I don't think I'll be able to read all the states and I know I'll make a mess of tallying my points, but I'm in for the fun. :D

HEAC: The 50 States & Capitals Points Challenge
Duration: September 1, 2011 - August 31, 2012

Points: 52/XXX (Current Title: Courageous Colonial)

AL Alabama (Montgomery)
AK Alaska (Juneau)
AZ Arizona (Phoenix)
AR Arkansas (Little Rock)

✔ CA California - Hotter Than Wildfire by Lisa Marie Rice == 09/05
    state = 1 point

CO Colorado (Denver)
CT Connecticut (Hartford)
DE Delaware (Dover)
FL Florida (Tallahassee)

✔ GA Georgia (Atlanta) - Misunderstanding Mason by Claire Ashgrove
    state = 1 point
    major city = 2 points
    state capital = 3 points
    original colony state = 3 points
    location of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta Airport, the world's busiest airport = ½ point
    home to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr = ½ point

HI Hawaii (Honolulu)
ID Idaho (Boise)

✔ IL Illinois (Chicago) - Something About You by Julie James == 02/23
    state = 1 point
    major city = 2 points
    3rd most populous city in the United States = 1 point
    location of O'Hare International Airport, the 2nd busiest airport in the world = ½ point
    the only city that has had more than one MLB franchise every year since the AL began = ½ point

IN Indiana (Indianapolis)
IA Iowa (Des Moines)
KS Kansas (Topeka)
KY Kentucky (Frankfort)

✔ LA Louisiana (New Orleans) - Dark Needs at Night's Edge by Kresley Cole == 03/13
    state = 1 point
    major city = 2 points
    city named after Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France = 1 point

ME Maine (Augusta)
MD Maryland (Annapolis)
MA Massachusetts (Boston)

✔ MI Michigan - Running Hot by Stephani Hecht == 09/24
    state = 1 point

MN Minnesota (Saint Paul)
MS Mississippi (Jackson)
MO Missouri (Jefferson City)
MT Montana (Helena)
NE Nebraska (Lincoln)
NV Nevada (Carson City)
NH New Hampshire (Concord)

✔ NJ New Jersey - Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston == 03/04
    state = 1 point
    original colony state = 3 points
    site of George Washington's first military victory = 1 point

✔ NM New Mexico - Miss January by Madison Hayes == 01/17
    state = 1 point

✔ NY New York (New York) - Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh == 09/18
    state = 1 point
    major city = 2 points
    former capital = 2 points
    original colony state = 3 points

NC North Carolina (Raleigh)
ND North Dakota (Bismarck)
OH Ohio (Columbus)
OK Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)

✔ OR Oregon (Portland) - Blood and Fire by Shannon McKenna == 03/01
    state = 1 point
    major city = 2 points
    the "Greenest City in America" and one of the world's top 10 greenest cities = ½ point
    formerly home to the Portland Rosebuds, the first professional hockey team in the U.S. = ½ point

PA Pennsylvania (Harrisburg)
RI Rhode Island (Providence)
SC South Carolina (Columbia)
SD South Dakota (Pierre)

✔ TN Tennessee - Kept by Carolyn Faulkner == 01/16
    state = 1 point

✔ TX Texas (Austin) - Jump Start by Lisa Renee Jones == 10/12
    state = 1 point
    state capital = 3 points
    13th most populous city in the United States = 1 point
    VIP - the city was renamed after Stephen F. Austin aka the "Father of Texas" = 1 point
    location of O. Henry House Museum = ½ point
    location of the annual Eeyore's Birthday Party = ½ point

UT Utah (Salt Lake City)
VT Vermont (Montpelier)

✔ VA Virginia - Turn It Up by Inez Kelley == 10/02
    state = 1 point
    original colony state = 3 points

WA Washington (Olympia)
WV West Virginia (Charleston)
WI Wisconsin (Madison)

✔ WY Wyoming - All Play & No Work by Carol Lynne == 09/01
    state = 1 point

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Hi, Dini! Welcome! :)

[Dina]

Thanks, Lisa Kay! Maybe I can learn a thing or two about US Geography and History during this challenge. :)

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Yes, I just learned NJ's capital is Trenton. I bet I never forget that. Now I need to get on "Who wants to be a Millionaire?"

[Lina]

This should be interesting as I have absolutely no idea about U.S geography :-)

50 States & Capitals Points Challenge
Duration: 2-Sep-11 thru 1-Sep-12
Level: Plucky Pilgrim
Points: 3/30

AL Alabama
AK Alaska
AZ Arizona
AR Arkansas
CA California
CO Colorado
CT Connecticut
DE Delaware
FL Florida
GA Georgia
HI Hawaii
ID Idaho
IL Illinois
IN Indiana
IA Iowa
KS Kansas
KY Kentucky
LA Louisiana
ME Maine
MD Maryland
MA Massachusetts
MI Michigan
MN Minnesota
MS Mississippi
MO Missouri
MT Montana
NE Nebraska
NV Nevada
NH New Hampshire
NJ New Jersey
NM New Mexico
NY New York
NC North Carolina
ND North Dakota
OH Ohio
OK Oklahoma
OR Oregon
PA Pennsylvania
RI Rhode Island
SC South Carolina
SD South Dakota
TN Tennessee
TX Texas,Cedar Point: The Texan's Wager by Jodi Thomas, 3-Sep-11, ★★★★☆, (state = 1 pt, H/h visit Childress = 1 pt. Named after George Campbell Childress, Principal author of Texas Declaration of Independence.)Total for TX: 2 pts
UT Utah
VT Vermont
VA Virginia
WA Washington, Tri-Cities: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, 4-Sep-11, ★★★★☆, 1 pt
WV West Virginia
WI Wisconsin
WY Wyoming

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

CaroB! Good for you. We read the same book, - see my point notes - so for sure you'll get 2 points for that instead of one. :) Total so far = 3 points.

[Lina]

Thanks Lisa Kay, I copied from your post above :-)

[Pamela(AllHoney), Fairy Godmother]

is that cheating? lol jk

[Lina]

Lol, Pam! I'm taking all the help I can get with this one :-)

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Love your smiley, CaroB! :)

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Hello all! I "hyperlinked" your names in Post #6. For your convience, please click on your name below and edit your challenge comment field.

(Names there that are not yet linked are for people who RSVP'd, but have posted a set-up or books yet.

[Heather]

I'll go in and update my post in #13. I'll also delete my most recent post so there is no confusion. =)
Thanks, Lisa Kay. That is very convenient!

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

You are welcome, Heather! Glad I finally figured out how to do it.

[Dina]

Oooh, I love the link to my name! It's hard to keep track of these "huge" challenges.

[Lina]

Lisa Kay wrote: "Love your smiley, CaroB! :)"

Thanks Lisa Kay!! Hyperlinking the names is SUCH a great idea, makes it so much easier for us to update :-)

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Yes, these bigger challenges get a bit unwieldy, Dina. Glad I made you happy. :) Just figured out how to do it this morning, and then someone posted an even faster way to do it. There are so many smart people here on GoodReads!

You are welcome too, CaroB! :)

[Heather]

Lisa Kay, just saw your post #15, thanks for the points and tidbits! updated total

[Jenn]

I saw this challenge on a friend's thread and it caught my interest. I think I may have to give it a try :)

[Heather]

Glad you could join us, Jenn!

[Jenn]

Ok, I hope I'm doing this right lol.

HEAC: The 50 States & Capitals Points Challenge
Duration: September 1, 2011 - August 31, 2012

Points: 68
Books Read: 18
Current Level: Rebellious Revolutionary

AL Alabama
AK Alaska

AZ Arizona
- Phoenix: Drive by James Sallis, 1/18, 6 points (state, capitol, major city)

AR Arkansas

CA California
- San Francisco: Torment by Lauren Kate, 9/11, 6 points (state, major city, State Supreme Court, historical event)
- Los Angeles: Pretty by Jillian Lauren, 2/13, 4 points (largest city in the state, 2nd largest city in the US, site of 1984 summer Olympics, Entertainment capitol of the world)

CO Colorado
- Vail : Black is for Beginnings by Laurie Faria Stolarz, 3/20, 2 points (state, second largest ski mountain in North America & home of many cultural events)

CT Connecticut
DE Delaware
FL Florida

GA Georgia
- Savannah : Passion by Lauren Kate, 9/23, 5 points (state, previous state capitol, original state colony)
- Atlanta : Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, 11/12, 4 points (capitol, largest city in GA (9th in the US))

HI Hawaii
ID Idaho
IL Illinois
IN Indiana
IA Iowa
KS Kansas
KY Kentucky

LA Louisiana
- New Orleans: Fallen In Love by Lauren Kate, 2/17, 4 points (state, major city, home of the state Supreme Court)

ME Maine
MD Maryland

MA Massachusetts
- Cape Cod : Silver Is for Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz, 3/18, 4 points (state, original state)

MI Michigan
- Fieldridge: Gone by Lisa McMann, 10/4, 1 point (state)

MN Minnesota
- Minneapolis: Undead and Unreturnable by Mary Janice Davidson, 2/7, 3 points (state, major city)

MS Mississippi

MO Missouri
- St. Louis: Dragon's Oath by PC Cast, 1/3, 3 point (state, major city )

MT Montana
NE Nebraska

NV Nevada
- Las Vegas : I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell by Tucker Max, 1/27, 3 points (state, largest city in the state)

NH New Hampshire
- Amoskeag : Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, 11/21, 4 points (state, original state colony)

NJ New Jersey

NM New Mexico
- Chaparral : Vanish by Sophie Jordan, 12/2, 1 point (state)

NY New York
NC North Carolina
ND North Dakota
OH Ohio

OK Oklahoma
- Tulsa: Destined by PC Cast, 12/31, 5 points (state, character named Dallas, major city, oil capitol of the US)

OR Oregon

PA Pennsylvania
- Huntsdale: Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr, 9/4, 5 points (state, original state/colony & historical event)

RI Rhode Island
SC South Carolina
SD South Dakota
TN Tennessee

TX Texas
- Dallas: The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell, 9/18, 5 points (state, major city, previous capital)

UT Utah
VT Vermont
VA Virginia

WA Washington
- Seattle: Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, 11/1, 3 points (state, largest city in WA)

WV West Virginia
WI Wisconsin
WY Wyoming

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Welcome to the challenge, Jenn! I'm giving you 1 additional point because of a Historical event: Honesdale is home of the first commercial steam locomotive to run on rails in the United States, the Stourbridge Lion (on August 8, 1829)!

Hyperlink added to Post #40.

[Julianna]

OK, here goes nothing.;-)

The 50 States & Capitals Points Challenge
Duration: 9/1/11 to 8/31/11
Participation Level: Plucky Pilgrim
Total Points: 1/30

California
Across Eternity by Aris Whittier (9/5)★★★★
State = 1 point

Read

[Julianna]

Question: The book I'm currently reading has parts that are set in two different cities/states. I understand that I can only get points for one state, but can I use both cities?

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Yes, you can use both cities, Julie!! However, if you go to that same city again in a future book, you can't use the city twice.

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

There are 24 books in the Wagons West series, by Dana Fuller Ross.

I also put this above link in the for post for Log for Keeping Track of Books for 50 States Challenge

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

In the same thread mention above, I am putting in links to series. Here is another one: Harlequin: Men Made in America.

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

Added this series. I haven't read it, but it looks good.

Trail Drive Series, by Ralph Compton

The Goodnight Trail
The Western Trail
The Chisholm Trail
The Bandera Trail
The California Trail
The Shawnee Trail
The Virginia City Trail
The Dodge City Trail
The Oregon Trail
The Old Spanish Trail
The Deadwood Trail
The Green River Trail

[Julianna]

Lisa Kay wrote: "Yes, you can use both cities, Julie!! However, if you go to that same city again in a future book, you can't use the city twice."

Awesome! Thanks, Lisa Kay!:-)

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

I found some more. Also put the links in the Reference Log.

STATE SERIES

Dangerous to Love USA Series. Silhouette; 49 books.

Love Finds You Series. Summerside Press; 44 books.

Romancing America Series. Barbour Books; 26 books.

[Lisa Kay, Tinker Bell]

U.S. 50 States Romance Novel Series, by F.D. Caldwell - New series started this year; 8 books.