Today, I offer you the list of books that were read for the New York Challenge. If you’re looking for a book set in New York, check out these reviews:

• Amanda – Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist
• Kathy – Harriet the Spy
• Care – Typhoid Mary
• Dawn – her daughter’s book
• Lynne – Brooklyn
• Lynne – The Last Illusion
• Taryn – Forever
• Seredipity – Brooklyn
• Julie – Size 12 Is Not Fat
• Heather – Teacher Man
• Jenna – The Spare Wife
• Literate Housewife – Let the Great World Spin
• Rob – Tea and Sympathy: The Life of an English Tea Shop in New York
• Wendy – Brooklyn
• Diane – The Girl Next Door
• Mee - The Contract with God Trilogy
• Books in the City – Brooklyn
• Softdrink – New York and New York Sawed in Half

Okay, so I totally stole that title from Care, who was one of the few brave bloggers to complete the April mini-challenge, in which I asked people to write a poem about New York. Despite the fact that it was National Poetry Month, I had a whopping five submissions (note to self: evidently, you have many, many friends who don’t care for poetry, either).

Care wrote an awesome ditty about going to New York. Please go read it. And Billy is a bit jealous that Copley is in a poem.

Heather chose to write a limerick, and I’m just envisioning her laughing the whole time.

Taryn‘s haiku features truck tacos, and she deserves a huge round of applause for that.

Kathy also wrote a haiku, and despite her claims, she has nothing to be embarrassed about! Go show her haiku some love.

And Jenna wrote a cinquain. Bonus points for writing in a form that I had to Google.

Despite that fact that the rest of you all are cowards , I think this was my favorite of the mini-challenges. I just loved all the poems that these five brave souls wrote.

Yesterday I highlighted the submissions for the February mini-challenge, to give you all a glimpse into things to do and see in NY. Today, I’m going to focus on the posts written for the March mini-challenge, which were about women from New York:

Taryn wrote a lovely creative non-fiction piece about her mother’s teenage years.

Heather also wrote about her mom, who was born and raised in Brooklyn.

Kathy featured a new author, Alexandra Lebenthal.

And Books in the City wrote about Jackie O.

When you think of New York, what women pop into your head?

Back when I first conceived the idea of the New York Challenge, I thought that the mini-challenges and the reviews would give me some fodder for blog posts while I was in New York.

And I was right (for once)! Over the next few days, while Billy and my mom and I are gallivanting around NY and BEA, I’ll be sharing links to all of those people who played along with the NY Challenge. In other words, I’m offering a little glimpse of New York for those of you who can’t be here.

Today, let’s start with the February mini-challenge, which asked for a list of ten things about New York. This is what people came up with:

• Lynne wrote about 10 things she likes in/about/from New York
• Jenny offered 10 things she loves about New York, including the subway
• Heather‘s 10 things she loves includes some delicious looking food
• Colleen wrote about 10 Great Places to Read in NYC
• Kathy‘s list of 10 includes things she wants to do while in NY
• Molly also discussed 10 places she would like to go to while in NY
• Jenna‘s list features her top 10 city experiences over the years
• Topping Sharla‘s list of 10 places she would go in NY is BEA
• Amanda‘s list of 10 things she loves in NY includes pictures
• Taryn provides 10 Places to Visit (Off the Beaten Path)
• Care‘s list is really a justification of why she needs to return to NY
• Rob offers up some deals
• Molly listed 10 independent bookstores in NY. And now that you have something to read, go to these tea houses and settle in with your books.
• Dawn suggests 10 books set in NY

So if you’re jonesing for a taste of NY, be sure to visit these fabulous posts!

Apples are red
Curse words are blue
I just wrote a poem about New York
Now…how about you?

Dude, I never claimed to be a poet. And you don’t have to be either to participate in the April mini-challenge! This is part of the larger NY Challenge that I’m hosting (and if you’ve read your book, don’t forget to post the link here). In February we made lists. In March, we celebrated National Women’s History Month, NY-style. This month, we’ll be writing poetry. The good news is, it doesn’t matter how bad it is (hello, did you notice my lack of skill?), you’ll still get an A for effort. Well, you’ll get an entry into the giveaway, at least (this month it’s a Strand mug).

You can write a haiku, a limerick, or heck, even a sonnet (overachiever). Your poem can rhyme, or not. You could even parody a song (and heck, if you do that, I’ll give you two entries!). It just has to be about New York. Because, you know, this is a NY Challenge.

Once you’ve composed and posted your masterpiece, come back here and sign Mr Linky. Then check back on May 1st to see who’s the lucky winner.

Did you know that March is National Women’s History Month?

So for the March mini-challenge (part of my larger NY Challenge, if you need some back story), we’re going to focus on women, New York, and history. All you have to do is write a post that features those three things. You could discuss Eleanor Roosevelt (she was born in NY), Lillian Wald (possibly the first public health nurse, who worked in NY), Zoe (an orange Muppet who lives on Sesame Street), even your great-aunt Gertrude (as long as she has some connection to NY).

Once you’ve written your post, come back and sign Mr Linky. And once again, I have NY-themed loot to give away to one lucky participant. I will draw a winner on April 1st (no joke). And thanks again to everyone who is playing along!