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October, October
October, October | Katya Balen
291 posts | 3 read | 20 to read
A classic in the making for anyone who ever longed to be WILD. October and her dad live in the woods. They sleep in the house Dad built for them and eat the food they grow in the vegetable patches. They know the trees and the rocks and the lake and stars like best friends. They read the books they buy in town again and again until the pages are soft and yellow until next year's town visit. They live in the woods and they are wild. And that's the way it is. Until the year October turns eleven. That's the year October rescues a baby owl. It's the year Dad falls out of the biggest tree in their woods. The year the woman who calls herself October's mother comes back. The year everything changes. Written in Katya Balen's heart-stoppingly beautiful style, this book is a feast for the senses, filled with the woodsmoke smell of crisp autumn mornings and the sound of wellies squelching in river mud. And, as October fights to find the space to be wild in the whirling chaos of the world beyond the woods, it is also a feast for the soul.
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DebinHawaii
October, October | Katya Balen
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Thanks to #Scarathlon I had a very productive reading month for October. Still working on my event totals to be posted tonight.

I finished 34 books which included 9 audiobooks, 3 children‘s books, 4 horror anthologies, a short story & 3 leadership books for work.

Standouts were The Change, Hemlock Island, Slewfoot, Weyward, The Ivy Tree & The Viper‘s Nest (the latest book in the Sam Quinn series).

I will be posting my November TBR soon.

Andrew65 Awesome 👏👏👏 5mo
Clwojick Such a colourful spread of books! Well done! 🖤🖤🖤 5mo
40 likes2 comments
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Andrew65
October, October | Katya Balen
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October was a very up and down month for me. A great start, a poor ending and not much consistency.

I did finish 32 books for #Scarathlon and on a positive note read over a 1000 pages more than for #Scarathlon2022

Happy to reach November and get in to some different genre of books, once I finish the 1 book unfinished from October.

Thanks to my team #Magicalmonsters and everyone for the support, hope to post my totals tomorrow @Laughterhp

Laughterhp Wow! 32 books! Great job! 5mo
Read4life Great job! 🍁👻🎃 Thanks for participating in #Falling4Books 5mo
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 5mo
Andrew65 @Read4life Thanks for hosting 😍 I will do my final posting for it tomorrow, been a busy day. 5mo
Andrew65 @Laughterhp Thanks. At halfway I was on track for 35 but things got in the way. 5mo
Andrew65 @TheAromaofBooks Thanks 😁 5mo
TheSpineView Still an excellent month! 5mo
AnnR @Andrew65 - That's a great month of reading! Really! It was fun being on the same scarathlon team. 🎃🎉👍😍📚 5mo
Catsandbooks Awesome job! 👏🏼 🧡🖤 5mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 5mo
80 likes11 comments
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kelli7990
October, October | Katya Balen
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I‘m sharing the stuff I received in the mail in October.

Photo 1 - Preordered from Barnes & Noble
Photo 2 - Preordered from Barnes & Noble
Photo 3 - Book sent to me by Riverhead Books
Photo 4 - Preordered from Barnes & Noble
Photo 5 - Ordered this Evergreen Trail Journal from Taylor Bradshaw with creative exercises in it. I‘m looking forward to trying them out. I want to start writing again. I used to write and I enjoyed it.

kelli7990 (Continued in comments) Photo 6 - Ordered this Evergreen Bundle from Taylor Bradshaw that includes a personalized journal with my name on it and pressed flowers inside, the Evergreen Sessions signed cd, a teabag and some cool postcards 5mo
9 likes1 comment
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TheBookgeekFrau
October, October | Katya Balen
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Ugh what a Horrible reading month 😣 First a sick toddler, then a sick household, then me with a damn sinus infection all adds up to a LOT of time laying on the couch binging Cake Boss and almost no reading 😔

bookandbedandtea Oh no! I hope you're all feeling better now. 💗 5mo
TheBookgeekFrau @bookandbedandtea The younger half certainly are 😂 Me and the Mr. are almost there 💕 5mo
bookandbedandtea Figures! 😒 I'm glad you're *almost recovered 😊 5mo
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TheBookgeekFrau @bookandbedandtea Thank you 😊😊 5mo
bthegood Glad everyone starting to feel better 🙂 5mo
TheBookgeekFrau @bthegood Thank you 😊 5mo
20 likes6 comments
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BarbaraBB
October, October | Katya Balen
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#OctoberStats

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
The Young Man
All the Acorns on the Forest Floor

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hotel Iris
I Have Some Questions for You
Do You Remember Being Born?
Monsieur Linh and his Child

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Walking the Americas
When we Fell Apart

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Diary of a Void
Binti

⭐️⭐️✨
We Were Liars

DNF
The Flame Throwers
Should we Stay or Should we Go
Land of Milk and Honey

CatMS I really liked "We Were Liars" unexpected ending. 5mo
Megabooks So glad you loved Acorns too! 5mo
BarbaraBB @Megabooks Really loved it 🥰 I am on the lookout to read more by her 5mo
67 likes3 comments
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kelli7990
October, October | Katya Balen
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Today, I‘m sharing the books I read and what I watched this month. I used Fable for my reading wrap-up and used the Likewise app for my movie wrap-up. I participated in #scarathlon for the first time this year and I had so much fun. I‘m looking forward to next year. I feel like it got me in the Halloween spirit.

Books I DNF‘d

🎃The Amish Matchmakers - Beth Wiseman

🎃Crimson Lake - Candice Fox

#HHC

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Emilymdxn
October, October | Katya Balen
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One of my bucket list items for #scarathlon was getting new stationery in autumn colours and I worried these wouldn‘t arrive in time but here they are! #sleletoncrew

IndoorDame Cute!!! 5mo
38 likes1 comment
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Gissy
October, October | Katya Balen
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#Scarathlon photo challenge Day 16
#October
This is a way to express what this month represents to me....scary spooky read, Yes 👻

I received this print this month for my birthday from @Chrissyreadit loved it!!! 😍

Chrissyreadit 🖤🖤🖤 5mo
25 likes1 comment
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SomedayAlmost
October, October | Katya Balen
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Outstanding October Read-a-thon-28 hours. (Kid‘s books not pictured.) Considering the kind of month I have had, not so bad. #readathon #Scarathlon #spookybooks #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall

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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
October, October | Katya Balen
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This middle grade novel about a girl named October living in the woods with dad. When her dad is injured, she has to go live in London with her mom. I‘m definitely adding it to my Scarathlon 2024 TBR! #scarathlonphotochallenge #october #blackcatcrew

BookwormAHN Good plan 🐈‍⬛️ 5mo
17 likes1 comment
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peanutnine
October, October | Katya Balen
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Lin3han
October, October | Katya Balen
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A double photo for #scarathlon #photochallenge and painting a ghost canvas! I had so much fun doing this for my bullet journal! #creepinitreal #cir

TheBookHippie This is wonderful ! 5mo
StayCurious Oooh I love this! 5mo
Lin3han @StayCurious thank you! 5mo
Lin3han @TheBookHippie thank you!! 5mo
13 likes4 comments
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SomedayAlmost
October, October | Katya Balen
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October at a farm near us in Mass. Photo challenge: October. #Scarathlon #photoprompt #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall

FlynnDewey I bet it smelled wonderful in that tent. Very autumny. 5mo
17 likes1 comment
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Bookworm54
October, October | Katya Balen
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I hadn‘t heard of this book before looking for some #ScarathlonPhotoChallenge inspiration, but it sounds great! And not only is #October in the title, it is the MCs name!

Another one to add to my tbr 😂

#Scarathlon #MagicalMonsters

36 likes2 stack adds
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vonnie862
October, October | Katya Balen
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dabbe 🧡🖤🧡 5mo
26 likes1 comment
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BarkingMadRead
October, October | Katya Balen
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This month‘s page in my Christmas Countdown calendar. #scarathlonphotochallenge #october #teamcryptkeepers

AnnR Interesting traditions.🕷🕸 5mo
31 likes1 comment
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Chrissyreadit
October, October | Katya Balen
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#scarathlon A compilation for points: 2 items from my bucket list- Halloween clothes, Fall train ride with my mom and Owen- this was Oct 1st- leaves were still pretty green- and our train had a table for our picnic. Watched Rosemary‘s Baby- (i‘ve watched a few other movies but forget to take pictures) Also 433. words for week 2 game. #hhc

dabbe 🖤🧡🖤 5mo
Gissy 🍂🍁🤎🧡💛🤎 5mo
63 likes2 comments
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Littlewolf1
October, October | Katya Balen
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I‘ve been on vacation so I‘ve got lots of things to post, so definitely more to come. However, wanted to start with the fact that I have received both my #HauntedHollowSwap and #AllHallowsReadSwap. I will be shipping right now before the end of the week for both.

wanderinglynn Yay! 🎃👻🧡 5mo
13 likes1 comment
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RainyDayReading
October, October | Katya Balen
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Stack for #OutstandingOctober this is definitely ambitious but I hope to get through as many of these as I can. The stack is so big because I‘m not sure what exactly I‘ll feel like picking up but these are all possibilities. Seems like I‘m forever trying to get through library books so I can read the books I actually own 😅 #magicalmonsters @Andrew65

AnnR Wow, that's quite a stack. Good luck! I understand what you mean about library books versus the ignored books we own. There are just so many choices and limited time to read. 🙂 5mo
Andrew65 Great to have you with us, good luck 😁 Impressed with your reading stack. 5mo
31 likes2 comments
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CloakNQuill
October, October | Katya Balen
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@TheAromaofBooks October #BookspinBingo
I'll make the board some time tomorrow.
HAPPY OCTOBER 🧡🍁👻

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 6mo
17 likes1 comment
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Kristelh
October, October | Katya Balen
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 6mo
8 likes1 comment
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BookwormAHN
October, October | Katya Balen
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#OctoberPhotoADay
October 1st Hello October
#Scarathlon #BlackCatCrew

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TheBookHippie
October, October | Katya Balen
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Happy October!!! 🖤🖤🖤

vonnie862 🤣🤣🤣 6mo
Crinoline_Laphroaig Not 🗡️🗡️🤣 6mo
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vlwelser This is so you. Love it. 😘 6mo
dabbe 🤣🤣🤣 I love being called a sunbeam! 🤩 6mo
GingerAntics 🤣😂🤣 story of my life!!! 6mo
60 likes8 comments
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AllDebooks
October, October | Katya Balen
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My favourite month always leads to daydreams of ditching society and retiring to a woodland glade where I can fully embrace my wild side.

LiseWorks What a beautiful place and photo 6mo
AnnCrystal 💕😍👍 gorgeous. 6mo
42 likes2 comments
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MatchlessMarie
October, October | Katya Balen
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I don‘t know about early bird but I am coming in like an 11th hour pigeon to get my #Scarathlon TBR up for #batbrigade before midnight 🦇😝

Catsandbooks Fantastic list! And just in time! 🙌🏼🦇 6mo
KT1432 Yayy!! 🦇🦇 6mo
35 likes2 comments
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Cazxxx
October, October | Katya Balen
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Emilymdxn
October, October | Katya Balen
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The clock has just struck midnight in London which means it‘s #scarathlon for me! I‘ve spent the day enjoying the #20in4 readathon, watching some scary movies and doing my grad school reading. I‘ve got a spooky novella (Babylove by IS Belle) lined up to get a few word search words under my belt before bed. Can‘t wait for the #skeletoncrew to all get started across our time zones 🎃🎃🎃

Bookwormjillk Woo hoo!! 6mo
AnnR Yay!!! 🎃🎃🎃 6mo
48 likes2 comments
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MsRadioSilence
October, October | Katya Balen
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I might be moving halfway through the month but I‘ve specifically pulled these books out so I don‘t accidentally pack them! So excited for #scarathlon, go #teamwhoyagonnacall!!

bthegood 👻👻 6mo
FlynnDewey I almost can't see the Mister Magic title. Gives it an eerier (?) look. 6mo
25 likes2 comments
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RebelReader
October, October | Katya Balen
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Here‘s my list for October…..Less Library holds and more off my TBR shelves!
#bookspin

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 6mo
46 likes1 comment
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Clwojick
October, October | Katya Balen
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Hey my #SpookyGhostClub! Can you even believe that #Scarathlon starts in less than 28 hours?! I‘m so excited! 👻

Just a friendly reminder to keep track of your own points, and to tag me in your totals on October 15th and November 1st. The team rankings will be posted a few days later!

Although this is a competition, it‘s meant to be fun… so if you‘re feeling overwhelmed by all the way to gain points, please just do what works for you! 🖤

63 likes2 comments
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Yuki_Onna
October, October | Katya Balen
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So here's my October 2023 / #Scarathlon #BucketList 🥳
 @BookwormAHN #BlackCatCrew
🐈‍⬛🎃🧡🌰🍂

BookwormAHN Nice 🐈‍⬛ 6mo
19 likes1 comment
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kstadt929
October, October | Katya Balen
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Listing a bunch twice since we are (somehow) getting near the end of the year…love seeing what is picked each month! I have been keeping up more than I thought I‘d be able to since May (when baby girl joined us 🎀) but I‘d also love to read an extra book this month that was chosen in the past so I can catch up some more 🧡#BookSpin #DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 6mo
18 likes1 comment
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DebinHawaii
October, October | Katya Balen
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My #Scarathlon October Bucket List for Team #SpookyGhostClub

We don‘t get fall leaves or much in the way of sweater/blanket weather in October & I don‘t like pumpkin, but here are 10 fall-ish things I will do in October. 🍎👻👻👻👻👻

Clwojick Mmmm fall candles. Anything that smells like men‘s cologne is good for me! If I put out ones that smell like baking, I‘m always sad that I‘m smelling it, and not eating it too 😂 6mo
38 likes1 comment
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DebinHawaii
October, October | Katya Balen
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My October list of what I will be watching for #Scarathlon Team #SpookyGhostClub 👻👻👻

It‘s a mix of classics & annual watches + newer (at least to me) stuff, some scary, some not. I‘m going to focus on catching up on A Discovery of Witches since I only watched season 1 so far. The❓is for what will be added as I come across it & also because, much like my reading, I‘m moody about what I watch! 😉👻

Clwojick What We Do in the Shadows was so much funnier than I was expecting! I definitely need to catch up on those too! 6mo
DebinHawaii @Clwojick it‘s so funny! I have only watched the first in the new season so I plan to start with those! 6mo
Clwojick I think I‘ve only seen the first few episodes of the first season (edited) 6mo
44 likes3 comments
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DebinHawaii
October, October | Katya Balen
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My #Scarathlon #TBR “B list” of extra books I wanted ready in case the mood strikes. The post before this has my “A list.”

I‘m going to try to rack up some good points for Team #SpookyGhostClub 👻👻👻

Clwojick This one was hilarious! I loved it! 💜 6mo
dabbe Wow. Your B-list is incredible. Your A-list my be out of this world! 🤩🤩🤩 6mo
54 likes2 comments
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DebinHawaii
October, October | Katya Balen
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My #Scarathlon #TBR for team #SpookyGhostClub

These 20 books are my “A List”- most of them should get read especially the top row which includes our team #BuddyRead #PemberLittens #JaneAdjacent #SundayBuddyRead #TitkesAndTunes & DiverseCozy books that will work with the spooky season. 2nd row are one for review, next in series & library reads. 3rd row are #BOTM & others I‘m trying to get through & the bottom are all stories anthologies. But ⬇️

DebinHawaii …as I‘m a very moody reader, I am posting my B list of another 20 books. I won‘t come close to getting them all read of course, but I want them cued up as the mood strikes. 👻🤷🏻‍♀️📚📚📚👻 6mo
Clwojick These all look so good! I have a few of these on my B list 😏 6mo
dabbe Aha! 🤩🤩🤩 6mo
Branwen These are great choices! 😍 6mo
58 likes4 comments
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ChelseaM6010
October, October | Katya Balen
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My #Bookspin list for October!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 6mo
8 likes1 comment
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Justmissc87
October, October | Katya Balen
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So many books I‘ve been wanting to read. These are a few of my #scarathlontbr that I plan on reading for #scarathlon2023
I have more on my list if I can get to them.

#scarathlon #blackcatcrew

BookwormAHN The Hacienda was really good 🐈‍⬛ 6mo
10 likes1 comment
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Clwojick
October, October | Katya Balen
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Here‘s my #ScarathonTBR! So many books that I‘ve been meaning to get to, but have been holding onto for October. 🖤 Go #SpookyGhostClub!

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LitsyEvents
October, October | Katya Balen
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Reminder: It‘s almost time for the October #bookspin #doublespin #bookspinbingo hosted by @thearomaofbooks

TheAromaofBooks Thank you for the repost!! 6mo
36 likes1 comment
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Emilymdxn
October, October | Katya Balen
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I am so excited there‘s a second daily photo challenge for #scarathlon this year! Thank you @Eggs and @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🎃

For my #skeletoncrew members - the same rules count for this challenge as the other photo challenge so it‘s:

5 points per photo post on the calendar day (+1 for participation)
15 point bonus if you read a book anytime in October that matches any of the prompts

38 likes2 comments
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mrsmarch
October, October | Katya Balen
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#Bookspin … if I could finally land on one of these fantasy books from #TheBookDrop, that‘d be great 😂

BookNAround You know you just jinxed yourself, right? 🤣 6mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 6mo
AmyG Did you recieve my Modern Witch Swap box? USPS says it was delivered over a week ago. Thanks. 6mo
mrsmarch @AmyG Ohh! It arrived while I was at a conference and my husband put it up where it can't tempt me. I am too short to reach. 😂 6mo
AmyG Thank you! 6mo
25 likes5 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
October, October | Katya Balen
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Here‘s our October challenge! October is my favorite month!!! 🧡🍂

All #Scarathlon folks: Please feel free to utilize the challenge for your point system🍁

Post a photo of a book, poem, song lyrics, quotes, movie, play etc. which best expresses the daily prompt. Use hashtag, and tag us🍁

Please share! And enjoy! Starts Sunday October 1 🍂

#AutumnPlease
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alora Hi! Can I still sign up? 6mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Alora hey! You can participate by posting a quote, book, or anything pertaining to the prompt each day! We would love to see your posts🧡🧡 6mo
Alora @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Sorry I meant for scarathlon! Did I miss the sign ups? 6mo
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Alora oh! I‘m not sure! @Eggs do you know who is hosting that? 6mo
dabbe @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Got-er done! 🤩 6mo
Alora @dabbe thank you so much! 6mo
dabbe @Alora My pleasure! 🧡💜💛 6mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @dabbe you are awesome!! I would love to participate but it overwhelms me!!! 6mo
59 likes10 comments
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Airykah13
October, October | Katya Balen
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This may change but here‘s my October TBR as of right now 😊

#scarathlon #teamwhoyagonnacall

StayCurious Some great choices! Also, you have great handwriting! 6mo
bthegood looks good - 👻👻 6mo
FlynnDewey As a huge Jack Reacher fan, love some inclusion! lol Great list! 6mo
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Airykah13 @StayCurious thank you! I‘ve been working on it 😂 6mo
Airykah13 @FlynnDewey yeah! I‘m working my way through the series 6mo
Airykah13 @bthegood thank you! 6mo
16 likes6 comments
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Airykah13
October, October | Katya Balen
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StayCurious Aw cute! 6mo
bthegood 👻👻 6mo
FlynnDewey Not sure if I wanna boop the snoot, or run away screaming. ;P 6mo
Airykah13 @FlynnDewey boop then run 🤣 6mo
19 likes4 comments
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LiseWorks
October, October | Katya Balen
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Hey #TeamCryptKeepers, Here is another bingo. This one should be fun! Post your post with photos of bingo spots done. I can't wait to see these. Every time you post, you add 1 point. That is for all your posts. 20pts for each line. 100pts for the board. @StayCurious @Clwojick Go Team! @TheBookHippie @JenReadsAlot @BarkingMadRead @kezzlou85 @Marmie7 @Rissa1 @aperfectmjk @Bookishgal71 @Nazgul93 @natsahara

BarkingMadRead This looks fun! 6mo
20 likes1 comment
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booklover3258
October, October | Katya Balen
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I changed up my list to Halloween themed books for October. So excited for the random pick next month!

#bookspin

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Clwojick
October, October | Katya Balen
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It‘s crazy to think we have a little over a month until the start of the 5th annual #Scarathlon! In case you missed it, the sign ups are open, and we‘ll be doing multiple smaller teams this year.

https://forms.gle/xMbdTBiD4qSrEbgX8

Picture found on Pinterest with no direct link to the source or artist, but I LOVE IT.

Charityann Love the #scarathlon 🎃 7mo
RainyDayReading Love this picture! Reminds me of the artist Wobbly Willows, though I‘m not sure this is one of theirs. The style is similar though! 7mo
AllDebooks Love the picture 😍 6mo
See All 6 Comments
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks I signed up weeks ago and haven‘t heard anything? When will we know our teams, etc? I‘m so excited!!! 6mo
Clwojick As soon as tomorrow! 🤭🤫🤫🤫🤫 @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks 6mo
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Clwojick oh yay!!!! Thank you!! 6mo
81 likes6 comments
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MsRadioSilence
October, October | Katya Balen
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It‘s my favorite time of the year! Go head over to @Clwojick ‘s page for the #Scarathlon 2023 sign ups!!

https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2618846

Thanks again @Clwojick and @StayCurious for hosting it this year!! 🥰🥰

#scarathlon2023 #scarathlon23

Clwojick Thanks for sharing! 7mo
22 likes1 comment
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wordslinger42
October, October | Katya Balen
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The new art print for my shop showed up today!!!! Eeek!! 🥰🍁🧡🍂 It will be available soon!

There will also be a sticker & bookmark version 🧡

www.2125Books.com

Read4life Love it! 8mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love it!! I‘ll have to have it too! 8mo
wordslinger42 @Read4life @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you both!! There will be a bookmark & sticker version, too 😊 8mo
33 likes3 comments