April 2026 Reading Challenge: Author Alphabet JKL

The pitter-patter of April showers is the perfect sign to start something new: sci-fi rom, comic, memoir. This month's reading challenge is to read authors whose last names start with alphabet letters J-K-L. The goal is to stay dry, get cozy, and peruse the bookshelves...

Author Alphabet J-K-L

James, King, Long

Here's the line up on my side (with AMZ links included):

1.) The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

2.) The Human Target by Tom King

3.)  My View from the Back of the Bus by Merritt D. Long

March 2026 Reading Challenge: Author Alphabet GHI

Happy March, the month of green! This reading challenge focuses on authors whose names start with the letters G-H-I. I've got a nice genre variety going with a historical fiction, a mystery, and a dark fairy tale.

Author Alphabet G-H-I

Godbersen, Hawkins, Ivey

Here's the line up (with AMZ links included):

1.) The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

2.) The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

3.) Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey

Bonus "G" is The Easter Bunny Mix-Up by Sonja N. Griffing

February 2026 Reading Challenge: Author Alphabet DEF

Happy Valentine's Month! Treat yourself this February by reading authors whose names start with the letters D-E-F. Also to mean: Deliberately Engaging Fiction!

Author Alphabet DEF

Dublanica, Evanovich, and Foley

Here's the line up (with AMZ links included):

1.) Waiter Rant by Steve Dublanica

2.) Manhunt by Janet Evanovich

3.) The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Bonus "E" read: Bad Dreams in the Night: Horror Stories by Adam Ellis and The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens

January 2026 Reading Challenge: Author Alphabet ABC

I'm getting a late start for this month's reading challenge. Normally, I would've skipped it, but I became aware of a friend's author alphabet challenge (Kim Clarke Books) and decided to participate alongside her with books from my TBR shelf. Time to whittle at it as part of my downsizing campaign: Read 'em and then send them out the door to a Little Free Library in the wild.

The ABCs

Andrews, Bearup, and Cameron

Here are the ABCs from my TBR (with AMZ links included) LOL:

1.) The Noticer by Andy Andrews

2.) Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup

3.) Life Lessons: 125 Prayers and Meditations by Julia Cameron

Bonus "B": I also read a childrens picture book called Out of the Blue by Rebecca Bach-Lauritsen.

Fabulous Five: Favorite Reads for 2025

I finished the Goodreads Reading Challenge for 2025! Whoot! My goal was to read 100 books in twelve months and in usual fashion, I had to cram in thirty-five children picture books in two days for the win. I've picked out my five favorite picture books and five favorite reads from everything else. Here's the breakdown (AMZ links included):

BC Library's Mobile Stack
"New Picture Books"

CHILDREN PICTURE BOOKS

1.) Mina by Matthew Forsythe (My new favorite artist! Simply wonderful!)

2.) Fireworks by Matthew Burgess (Vibrant art and great story framing)

3.) When Beavers Flew by Kristen Tracy (Non-fiction)

4.) Our Lake by Angie Kang (A beautifully rendered book on grieving)

5.) How We Share Cake by Kim Hyo-eun (Sharing and math)

101 Books Read for 2025

POETRY

1.) A Bit Much by Lyndsay Rush

2.) You Just Wait: A Poetry Friday Power Book by Slyvia M. Vardel

NON-FICTION

3.) Just Write by James Scott Bell

4.) Whatcha Mean What's a Zine? by Esther Pearl Watson

GRAPHIC NOVEL

5.) Old Caves by Tyler Landry

October 2025 Reading Challenge: Matchy, Matchy

My third blackout poetry and art book, Carried Away was published a couple months ago and is the color palette for this month's reading challenge! Match covers to the Carried Away color scheme: yellow, brown, turquoise, green, and a splash of red. So matchy-matchy!

October Reading Challenge

Matchy, matchy!

Here's the color-coordinated reading list (Amazon links included):

1.) Carried Away: Blackout Poetry and Art by Stacia Leigh

2.) Burn Collector by Al Burian

3.) Sparrow Envy: Field Guide to Birds and Lesser Beasts by J. Drew Lanham

4.) This Is How the Bone Sings by W. Todd Kaneko

5.) A Bit Much by Lyndsay Rush

6.) Two-Minute Mysteries by Donald J. Sobol 

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"The best color in the whole world

is the one that looks good on you." ~ Coco Chanel

Blackout Poetry and Art on Display!

Art Wall

South Bellevue Community Center

Sixteen original blackout poems are framed and hanging on the art wall at the SBCC from now until the end of September. My previous books--Sounds Complicated and Distance Between (Amazon links) are represented as well as my latest book, Carried Away, available today!

Carried Away: Blackout Poetry & Art

by Stacia Leigh