Your host:

• Welcome! I am a mystery enthusiast and pleased to serve as your host for this challenge. Here is my personal web page and my Mystillery blog. You can email me at rickmills9@gmail.com - Rick Mills

Instructions:

• Rent some ugly shoes, grab a slice of greasy pizza and a warm beer.
• You start with ten pins. The goal is to knock them all over, using as many books as you need. Knock over a pin by any of these methods:
  • Exact method: Read a book with that number in its title.

  • Addition: This requires reading one or two books, the sum being the desired pin number.

  • Subtraction: This requires reading one or two books, the difference being the desired pin number.

  • Multiply: This requires reading one or two books, which multiply to the desired pin number.

  • Divide: This requires reading one or two books, which divide to the desired pin number.

  • Wild Card: Read a book with a zero in the title. This book may be used to knock over any pin of your choice.

  • Wild Card: Read a book with eleven or greater in the title. This book may be used to knock over any pin of your choice.

  • Wild Card: Read a book with a fractional or decimal number in the title. This book may be used to knock over any pin of your choice.

  • Be creative: Figure out some other way to come up with the pin number!

• Ready? (submit once for each pin).
• NEW FOR 2024: To liven things up a bit, the "Score" is now the sum of all the numbers in your submissions. (Previously it was just a count of the books).
• Reviews are not needed, but if you include a URL a link will be provided.

Rules:

1. This game is seasonal, and is open now through March 31 2025 (it alternates with Abra Cadavers).
2. Any genres may be read, fiction or non-fiction.
3. Any reading done from Jan 1 2024 to March 31 2025 qualifies. Can't remember? Check your Medical Examiner clipboard or Six Shooter Gallery!
4. You can reread books from previous years.
5. You may use each book only once (if title has two or more digits or numbers in it, you may use it twice, and so on).
6. You can replace entries in order to maximize your score. Just submit the form for the pin again, the new info will replace the old info.
7. You can use books already used by others.
8. You can change or reorganize your books/pins. You may find this necessary to get all the pins down. Just submit the form for the pin again, the new info will replace the old info. If it is complicated, just email me.
9. You can use each of the methods as much as you like.
10. Print books, audio books, radio dramatizations, short stories, or e-books may be used.
11. Bloggers are welcome to any images for your blog.

FAQ:

• Does a variation of a number count? For example, Thrice for Three? Second for Two? Or does it have to be the actual number?
  Yes, any variation ihat indicates a quantity is OK. Here are some examples - there are certainly more:
  • for one: one, once, first, single, each, solo, etc.
  • for two: two, twice, second, double, both, twins, couple, duo, pair, etc.
  • for three: three, thrice, third, triple, trio, etc.

• Can I replace a previous entry with a new entry to increase my score?
  Certainly. Just resubmit the form for that pin. For example, you could replace Four Blind Mice with Valley of the Four Hundred to dramatically increase your score.

• My niece says 1 AND Zero makes 10. Does this ring true in the challenge under the "be creative"?
  This question flummoxed me for a bit until I realized she meant "spelling out" 10 with a 1 and 0. Certainly it is creative! Of course, you can use just the zero as a wild card to do the ten pin, and save the one for another pin too.

Archive:

• 2021-2022 Ten Pins Game
• 2022-2023 Ten Pins Game
• 2023-2024 Ten Pins Game

Messaging:

If you wish to contact another challenger, first try the Goodreads message system:

1. Click on the Goodreads icon on the challenger's line on the main page. This brings you to their Goodreads profile.
2. Click the MORE button (with the down arrow)
3. Click MESSAGE. This - hopefully - brings up a message form. Just fill it out!
4. If the challenger does not have Goodreads, or is not accepting Goodreads messages, send an email to me (rickmills9@gmail.com) indicating who you wish to message. I will inquire of that challenger if they wish to message with you.

Privacy:

• Your name: You can choose how you wish your name to appear. If you wish to change it, just let me know.
• Your preferred pronouns will be used if provided.
• Your image: You can choose your icon image. Initially, this is set to a publicly available image if I can find one (Google account, Goodreads profile, etc.) If you do not wish your image to appear, a generic icon may be used. Just email it to me. Keep in mind they are tiny (50 px wide).
• Your location is optional.
• Your email address is never posted, and is not shared with other challengers unless you specifically allow.

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Back to the challenge page • Revised Mar 17 2025