Bout of Books 30 Schedule

It's COMING!

Psst. Tell your friends:

For Bout of Books 30, no daily challenges will be hosted on our blog. Instead, we’ll have reading-in-place times!

Reading-in-place times, or reading sprints, happen daily on Twitter. If you don’t have Twitter, make note of these times and report your reading progress on your platform of choice.

All reading-in-place times last 30 minutes.

Daily Reading-in-Place Times

📚 10 a.m Eastern | 7 a.m. Pacific
📚 4 p.m. Eastern | 1 p.m. Pacific
📚 10:30 p.m. Eastern | 7:30 p.m. Pacific

Twitter Chats

(chats last approximately one hour)
TZC = Time Zone Conversion

Monday: 9 p.m. Eastern | 6 p.m. Pacific
Saturday: 11 a.m. Eastern | 8 a.m. Pacific

Bout of Books 30 Sign Up

Are you ready to SIGN UP?
THIS IS WHERE YOU SIGN UP.

Here's what you have to do:

1. Post on your site, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, YouTube, Instagram or Facebook account and declare your intentions to join us. It's EASY. We ask you share info to help spread the word. Please link back to us so others can find us here.

If you're posting on your blog, grab the official blurb (below) and our button (in the sidebar) and create a post. (Need an example? Check out Kelly's (incredibly simple) Bout of Books 30 post!)

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 4th and runs through Sunday, January 10th in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are reading sprints, Twitter chats, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For all Bout of Books 30 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Want to post on Twitter? We've written a tweet for you.

2. Add the direct link to your sign up post to the linky in this post.

3. On January 4th, READ! If you join after that, READ!

Official Sign Up

Remember: we ask that you post a DIRECT LINK to your sign up post.
If you're only participating on Twitter/YouTube, link up your "I'm participating in Bout of Books!" tweet/video, NOT your Twitter/YouTube profile.

A direct link is...

http://yoururl.com/your-sign-up-post
http://twitter.com/YOURHANDLE/status/thenumberofyourstatus
etc.
(And if you have questions on how to find a direct link, we have a post for that!)

Bout of Books 30 Call for Experts

We need YOU.

The #boutofbooks-ers community is mighty. But your hosts are not always able to jump in, answer questions, and cheer everyone on. Also, why limit the fun to Kelly and Amanda?

That's where Bout of Books experts come in.

What makes a person a Bout of Books expert, you ask?

• You've participated in AT LEAST four Bout of Books prior to Bout of Books 30
• You love Bout of Books and want to make sure everyone knows how awesome it is
• You're willing to commit some of your free time to helping us
• You love connecting with fellow book lovers and cheering them on

If you're chosen as an expert, you get to visit #boutofbooks-ers' blogs and comment on their posts--tell them how awesome they are and how well they're doing. WHO DOESN'T LOVE SPREADING LOVE?!?!?

We will be closing this form on December 28th. If you're interested in helping us, make sure you get on our list before then!

Want to help spread the Bout of Books love?

Bout of Books 29 Wrap Up

Congratulations!

You have survived Bout of Books 29!

In this post, we invite you to link up to your overall progress for Bout of Books. You don't have to create a wrap-up post--it can be an update post with day 7's progress.

Whatever works for you, works for us.

We'd like to thank everybody who signed up and participated in the readathon. We're always striving to make this event the best it can be and we couldn't do that without your enthusiastic participation.

Here are important informational nuggets you probably want to know:

Bout of Books 30 will be from January 4th to January 10th.

Following this blog is the BEST way to stay up to date on EVERYTHING.

Seriously, follow us here for the latest news. You can also follow our the Bout of Books Instagram account where we count down the weeks until the next Bout of Books or you can join the #boutofbooks-ers Facebook group to talk books between readathons.

If you’re interested in helping out for the next Bout of Books, we post a call for help about 3 weeks prior to the start of the read-a-thon - which will be around December 14th for Bout of Books 30.

Once again, thank you to everyone who helped make Bout of Books 29 a success! We appreciate that you love books and how vocal you are about sharing it!

-Kelly and Amanda

Bout of Books 29 Day 7

The end is in sight.
Keep reading!

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10 a.m Eastern | 7 a.m. Pacific: Reading in Place
11:30 a.m. Eastern | 8:30 a.m. Pacific: Morning Announcements
4 p.m. Eastern | 1 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

8:30 p.m. Eastern | 5:30 p.m. Pacific: Evening Announcements

10:30 p.m. Eastern | 7:30 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Updates

The way these updates work is that you post whatever you want your fellow readathoners to see TODAY. Whether that's your progress for the previous day, your reading-in-place report, an incredibly witty tweet about the book you're reading, or a hygge reading picture you posted on Instagram, link it here. The linky will be open for 24 hours. There will be another linky tomorrow. Please include a DIRECT LINK to your update so we don't have to go clicking around to find it.


If you have questions, please tweet us @boutofbooks or email us (boutofbooks at gmail dot com).

Bout of Books 29 Day 6

Here is the schedule of events for today:

10 a.m Eastern | 7 a.m. Pacific: Reading in Place
10:30 a.m. Eastern | 7:30 a.m. Pacific: Morning Announcements
11 a.m. Eastern | 8 a.m. Pacific: Twitter Chat 
4 p.m. Eastern | 1 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

8:30 p.m. Eastern | 5:30 p.m. Pacific: Evening Announcements

10:30 p.m. Eastern | 7:30 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Twitter Chat Information

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

There is a Twitter chat today at 11 a.m. Eastern | 8 a.m. Pacific

The chat will be led by Kelly using @boutofbooks

The chat will last one hour. We will use the Q1/A1 system. The host asks the questions using Q1, Q2, and so on. You respond using A1, A2. EASY!

Updates

The way these updates work is that you post whatever you want your fellow readathoners to see TODAY. Whether that's your progress for the previous day, your reading-in-place report, an incredibly witty tweet about the book you're reading, or a hygge reading picture you posted on Instagram, link it here. The linky will be open for 24 hours. There will be another linky tomorrow. Please include a DIRECT LINK to your update so we don't have to go clicking around to find it.


If you have questions, please tweet us @boutofbooks or email us (boutofbooks at gmail dot com).

Bout of Books 29 Day 5

Here is the schedule of events for today:

10 a.m Eastern | 7 a.m. Pacific: Reading in Place
11:30 a.m. Eastern | 8:30 a.m. Pacific: Morning Announcements
4 p.m. Eastern | 1 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

8:30 p.m. Eastern | 5:30 p.m. Pacific: Evening Announcements

10:30 p.m. Eastern | 7:30 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Updates

The way these updates work is that you post whatever you want your fellow readathoners to see TODAY. Whether that's your progress for the previous day, your reading-in-place report, an incredibly witty tweet about the book you're reading, or a hygge reading picture you posted on Instagram, link it here. The linky will be open for 24 hours. There will be another linky tomorrow. Please include a DIRECT LINK to your update so we don't have to go clicking around to find it.


If you have questions, please tweet us @boutofbooks or email us (boutofbooks at gmail dot com).

Bout of Books 29 Day 4

Here is the schedule of events for today:

10 a.m Eastern | 7 a.m. Pacific: Reading in Place
11:30 a.m. Eastern | 8:30 a.m. Pacific: Morning Announcements
4 p.m. Eastern | 1 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

8:30 p.m. Eastern | 5:30 p.m. Pacific: Evening Announcements

10:30 p.m. Eastern | 7:30 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Updates

The way these updates work is that you post whatever you want your fellow readathoners to see TODAY. Whether that's your progress for the previous day, your reading-in-place report, an incredibly witty tweet about the book you're reading, or a hygge reading picture you posted on Instagram, link it here. The linky will be open for 24 hours. There will be another linky tomorrow. Please include a DIRECT LINK to your update so we don't have to go clicking around to find it.


If you have questions, please tweet us @boutofbooks or email us (boutofbooks at gmail dot com).

Bout of Books 29 Day 3

Here is the schedule of events for today:

10 a.m Eastern | 7 a.m. Pacific: Reading in Place
11:30 a.m. Eastern | 8:30 a.m. Pacific: Morning Announcements
4 p.m. Eastern | 1 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

8:30 p.m. Eastern | 5:30 p.m. Pacific: Evening Announcements

10:30 p.m. Eastern | 7:30 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Updates

The way these updates work is that you post whatever you want your fellow readathoners to see TODAY. Whether that's your progress for the previous day, your reading-in-place report, an incredibly witty tweet about the book you're reading, or a hygge reading picture you posted on Instagram, link it here. The linky will be open for 24 hours. There will be another linky tomorrow. Please include a DIRECT LINK to your update so we don't have to go clicking around to find it.


If you have questions, please tweet us @boutofbooks or email us (boutofbooks at gmail dot com).

Bout of Books 29 Day 2

Congratulations!

You survived the first day of the read-a-thon!

Here is the schedule of events for today:

10 a.m Eastern | 7 a.m. Pacific: Reading in Place
11:30 a.m. Eastern | 8:30 a.m. Pacific: Morning Announcements
4 p.m. Eastern | 1 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

8:30 p.m. Eastern | 5:30 p.m. Pacific: Evening Announcements

10:30 p.m. Eastern | 7:30 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Updates

The way these updates work is that you post whatever you want your fellow readathoners to see TODAY. Whether that's your progress for the previous day (today's link would be to your progress for the first day of the read-a-thon), your reading-in-place report, an incredibly witty tweet about the book you're reading, or a hygge reading picture you posted on Instagram, link it here. The linky will be open for 24 hours. There will be another linky tomorrow. Please include a DIRECT LINK to your update so we don't have to go clicking around to find it.

If you have questions, please tweet us @boutofbooks or email us (boutofbooks at gmail dot com).

Bout of Books 29 Day 1

Welcome to Bout of Books 29!

Here is the schedule of events for today:

10 a.m Eastern | 7 a.m. Pacific: Reading in Place
11:30 a.m. Eastern | 8:30 a.m. Pacific: Morning Announcements
4 p.m. Eastern | 1 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

8:30 p.m. Eastern | 5:30 p.m. Pacific: Evening Announcements

9 p.m. Eastern | 6 p.m. Pacific: Twitter Chat
10:30 p.m. Eastern | 7:30 p.m. Pacific: Reading in Place

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Twitter Chat Information

There is a Twitter chat today at 9pm Eastern | 6pm Pacific

The chat will be led by Amanda using @boutofbooks

The chat will last one hour. We will use the Q1/A1 system. The host asks the question using Q1, Q2, and so on. You respond using A1, A2. EASY

Sign up

This is a re-post of the sign up linky. If you've already signed up (with direct link to sign up post/tweet/update!), you're good to go.

If you have questions, please tweet us @boutofbooks or email us (boutofbooks at gmail dot com).

Bout of Books 29 Schedule

It's COMING!

Psst. Tell your friends:

For Bout of Books 29, no daily challenges will be hosted on our blog. Instead, we’ll have reading-in-place times!

Reading-in-place times, or reading sprints, happen daily on Twitter. If you don’t have Twitter, make note of these times and report your reading progress on your platform of choice.

All reading-in-place times last 30 minutes.

Daily Reading-in-Place Times

📚 10 a.m Eastern | 7 a.m. Pacific
📚 4 p.m. Eastern | 1 p.m. Pacific
📚 10:30 p.m. Eastern | 7:30 p.m. Pacific

Twitter Chats

(chats last approximately one hour)
TZC = Time Zone Conversion

Monday: 9 p.m. Eastern | 6 p.m. Pacific
Saturday: 11 a.m. Eastern | 8 a.m. Pacific

Bout of Books 29 Sign Up

Are you ready to SIGN UP?
THIS IS WHERE YOU SIGN UP.

Here's what you have to do:

1. Post on your site, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, YouTube, Instagram or Facebook account and declare your intentions to join us. It's EASY. We ask you share info to help spread the word. Please link back to us so others can find us here.

If you're posting on your blog, grab the official blurb (below) and our button (in the sidebar) and create a post. (Need an example? Check out Kelly's (incredibly simple) Bout of Books 29 post!)

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 17th and runs through Sunday, August 23rd in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. All reading-in-place times, Twitter chats, and exclusive Instagram challenges are completely optional. For Bout of Books 29 information and updates, visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Want to post on Twitter? We've written a tweet for you.

2. Add the direct link to your sign up post to the linky in this post.

3. On August 17th, READ! If you join after that, READ!

Official Sign Up

Remember: we ask that you post a DIRECT LINK to your sign up post.
If you're only participating on Twitter/YouTube, link up your "I'm participating in Bout of Books!" tweet/video, NOT your Twitter/YouTube profile.

A direct link is...

http://yoururl.com/your-sign-up-post
http://twitter.com/YOURHANDLE/status/thenumberofyourstatus
etc.
(And if you have questions on how to find a direct link, we have a post for that!)

Bout of Books 29 - We're shaking things up!

Bout of Books 29 is August 17th through August 23rd

Like us on Facebook

and follow us on Twitter & Instagram

to join the social media fun.

Ready for the shakeup? During the last Bout of Books, we may have let it slip that changes were coming. And then we had the nerve to tell you we weren’t going to say anything yet.

Well, the wait is over. And here it is...

We will not have any daily challenges.

Okay? Deep breaths. The reading? Still happening. Still the focal point of the readathon! Our Instagram-only photo challenges? Yup. Those are staying. And Twitter chats? You know we can’t get rid of those! But the challenges hosted on this blog? They had to go.

The simple explanation is, we weren’t getting a lot of community-submitted ideas*, and rather than having the two of us continue to fill in the holes, we’re going to try something new.

Reading-in-place times. Or, you know, reading sprints.

Y’all have asked for these before and we said no. But removing daily challenges from our readathon workload means that we can devote that time to other activities. Also note that, similar to our daily challenges, you are never required to participate in the new reading-in-place times if you can’t or don’t want to.

You’ll have to let us know what you think. No, seriously. Love it or hate it or want the more in-depth answer for why we’re getting rid of challenges and starting reading-in-place times, we want to know what you think. Send us an email at boutofbooks[at]gmail[dot]com or if you’d like to remain anonymous, use this Google form to submit your comments.

For the reading-in-place times, we’ll post the schedule one week before the readathon starts. Our Bout of Books experts may host additional reading sprints throughout the readathon.

And one more change, just to see if you’ve read this far:

Sign-up will no longer close two days into the readathon. Join us anytime throughout the readathon. Have your friends join us!

*For the people who routinely and consistently submitted ideas (because a few of you did!), we see you and recognize your contributions. Thank you. Seriously, thank you for jumping in and sharing your ideas with us. We appreciate you.

Bout of Books 29 Call for Experts

We need YOU.

The #boutofbooks-ers community is mighty. But your hosts are not always able to jump in, answer questions, and cheer everyone on. Also, why limit the fun to Kelly and Amanda?

That's where Bout of Books experts come in.

What makes a person a Bout of Books expert, you ask?

• You've participated in AT LEAST four Bout of Books prior to Bout of Books 29
• You love Bout of Books and want to make sure everyone knows how awesome it is
• You're willing to commit some of your free time to helping us
• You love connecting with fellow book lovers and cheering them on

If you're chosen as an expert, you get to visit #boutofbooks-ers' blogs and comment on their posts--tell them how awesome they are and how well they're doing. WHO DOESN'T LOVE SPREADING LOVE?!?!?

We will be closing this form on August 3rd. If you're interested in helping us, make sure you get on our list before then!

Want to help spread the Bout of Books love?

Bout of Books 28 Wrap Up!

Congratulations!
You have survived Bout of Books 28!

In this post, we invite you to link up to your overall progress for Bout of Books. You don't have to create a wrap-up post--it can be an update post with day 7's progress.

Whatever works for you, works for us.

We'd like to thank everybody who signed up and participated in the read-a-thon. We're always striving to make this event the best it can be and we couldn't do that without your enthusiastic participation.

Here are important informational nuggets you probably want to know:

Bout of Books 29 will be from August 17th to August 23rd.

Following this blog is the BEST way to stay up to date on EVERYTHING.

Since we can't reach out to everyone personally to remind them about upcoming events (though wouldn't that be awesome?), we do our best to keep this blog updated with the most current information. That means you're responsible for following us if you want to receive the latest news. You can also follow our the Bout of Books Instagram account where we countdown the weeks until the next Bout of Books or join the #boutofbooks-ers Facebook group to talk books between read-a-thons.

For those that are interested in helping out for the next Bout of Books, we post a call for help roughly a month prior to the start of the read-a-thon - which will be around July 20th for Bout of Books 29.

Once again, thank you to everyone who helped make Bout of Books 28 a success! We appreciate that you love books and how vocal you are about sharing it!

-Kelly and Amanda

Bout of Books 28 Day 7

The end is in sight.
Keep reading!

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Challenges

Stretch Goal

It's the last day of the readathon, so today's challenge is to take a look at the goals you set for the week (if you have them) and decide a) how you can stretch yourself to complete them or b) how you can revise them so you can meet them. Because yes, you can revise your goals! If you didn't set goals for the week, set a small one for yourself today!

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 28 Day 6

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

9:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
10am CT (TZC) Twitter Chat with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Challenges

Leave a Review

Did you know? Book reviews help other readers discover new books. For today's challenge, we encourage you to write a review of a book you've read during the readathon (or recently) and publish it where other readers make their purchasing decisions (e.g., Amazon, Goodreads, etc.). Be sure to share it with us.

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 28 Day 5

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Challenges

Share Your Favorites

You've got 'em, right? Share your favorite books, series, author, narrator . . . whatever. If you love it, now's the time to share them. Shout them loud and proud wherever the #boutofbooks crowd hangs out.

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 28 Day 4

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Challenges

Bookish Matchmaking

One of the great things about having so many book lovers in one place is being able to crowdsource recommendations. That's what today's challenge is all about. Have you been looking for a specific type of book? Add your "I'm looking for . . . " in the comments below or on Twitter (use the #boutofbooks hashtag!). Comment on threads with your own recommendations. Let your TBR stack grow larger!

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 28 Day 3

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Challenges

Book to Movie

Which book(s) would you like to see made into a movie (or TV show)? Tell us!

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 28 Day 2

Today is the LAST DAY to GET SIGNED UP.
Are YOU signed up PROPERLY?
_________________________

Congratulations!

You survived the first day of the read-a-thon!

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Please note: the form for the sign up will stay open through TODAY.
It closes Wednesday at midnight (TZC)

Challenge

If This, Then That

Put your recommendations hat on, #boutofbooks-ers. For this challenge, pick a book, author, or trope (or whatever!) from your TBR and suggest similar books.

Example 1: If you like Sarah McLean, try Lenora Bell.

Example 2: If you like a modern day, romantic twist on Greek mythology, try Staci Hart's Hearts and Arrows series.

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 28 Day 1

Welcome to Bout of Books 28!

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CST (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CST (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks
8pm CST (TZC) Twitter Chat with @boutofbooks

Please note: the form for the sign up will stay open through TODAY and TOMORROW.

It closes Wednesday at midnight (TZC)

Challenges

Introduce Yourself #insixwords

The challenge is simple: introduce yourself on Twitter, Instagram, or on this post using six words, no more, no less. Use the hashtags #boutofbooks and #insixwords so we can learn all about you.

Example: "Needed for survival: books, dogs, coffee."

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Twitter Chat Information

TZC = Time Zone Conversion
There is a Twitter chat today at 8pm CT (TZC)
The chat will be led by Amanda using @boutofbooks

The chat will last one hour. We will use the Q1/A1 system. The host asks the question using Q1, Q2, and so on. You respond using A1, A2. EASY

Bout of Books 28 Schedule

It's COMING!

Psst. Tell your friends:

For Bout of Books 28, all challenges will be hosted on the Bout of Books blog. Here. Right here. So keep your eyes on this site to see what's what for the day!

Challenges
**This is the overall list for the challenges offered during Bout of Books 28. Make sure you check the blog each day of the read-a-thon for instructions and details on how to complete the daily challenges**

Monday 5/11
Introduce Yourself #insixwords

Tuesday 5/12
If This, Then That

Wednesday 5/13
Book to Movie

Thursday 5/14
Bookish Matchmaking

Friday 5/15
Share Your Favorites

Saturday 5/16
Leave a Review

Sunday 5/17
Stretch Goal


Twitter Chats
(chats last approximately one hour)
TZC = Time Zone Conversion

Monday: 8pm CST (TZC)
Saturday: 10am CST (TZC)

Bout of Books 28 SIGN UP!

Are you ready to SIGN UP?

THIS IS WHERE YOU SIGN UP.

Here's what you have to do:

1. Post on your site, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, YouTube, Instagram or Facebook account and declare your intentions to join us. It's EASY. We ask you share info to help spread the word. Please link back to us so others can find us here.

If you're posting on your blog, grab the official blurb (below) and our button (in the sidebar) and create a post. (Need an example? Check out Kelly's (incredibly simple) Bout of Books 28 post!)

The Bout of Books readathon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It’s a weeklong readathon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in YOUR time zone. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are daily challenges, Twitter chats, and exclusive Instagram challenges, but they’re all completely optional. For Bout of Books 28 information and updates, visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Want to post on Twitter? We've written a tweet for you.

2. Add the direct link to your sign up post to the linky in this post. You have until Tuesday, May 12th at 11:59pm CST to sign up. (If the linky is closed, you're too late.)

3. On May 11th, READ!

Call for Bout of Books 28 Experts

We need YOU.

Bout of Books has attracted more participants every time we've held it. And as it grows, we're limited as to how many people we can reach and interact with.

That's where Bout of Books experts come in.

What makes a person a Bout of Books expert, you ask?

• You've participated in AT LEAST four Bout of Books prior to Bout of Books 28
• You love Bout of Books and want to make sure everyone knows how awesome it is
• You're willing to commit some of your free time to helping us
• You love connecting with fellow book lovers and cheering them on

If you're chosen as an expert, you get to visit #boutofbooks-ers' blogs and comment on their posts--tell them how awesome they are and how well they're doing. WHO DOESN'T LOVE SPREADING LOVE?!?!?

We will be closing this form on May 3rd. If you're interested in helping us, make sure you get on our list before then!

Want to help spread the Bout of Books love?

Call for Bout of Books 28 Challenge Ideas

Bout of Books 28 is May 11th through May 17th

Like us on Facebook

and follow us on Twitter & Instagram 

to join the social media fun.

We need YOUR help. This post is ONLY for people who want to help plan a challenge.

Please note: if you are chosen, you will be required to provide all pertinent information for your challenge idea before the beginning of the read-a-thon.

Challenges information

• For Bout of Books 28, challenges will be hosted on the Bout of Books blog with credit/link to the site/person who provided the idea.
• Challenges run for 24 hours and run from midnight CST to midnight CST.
• There will be a limit of two challenges per day.
• Challenge sign up will close April 19th at 11:59pm CST.

Things to keep in mind:

Preference will be given to challenges that are NOT genre specific. You will be turned down or asked to change your challenge so it's not genre specific. We want to include EVERYONE. For an idea on what we look at, visit Kelly's post on this topic: The Challenge of Challenges

For those applying, PLEASE keep a copy of both your challenge ideas. We won't retrieve your challenge if you're chosen as a host.

Bout of Books 27 Wrap Up

Congratulations!
You have survived Bout of Books 27!

In this post, we invite you to link up to your overall progress for Bout of Books. You don't have to create a wrap-up post--it can be an update post with day 7's progress.

Whatever works for you, works for us.

We'd like to thank everybody who signed up and participated in the read-a-thon. We're always striving to make this event the best it can be and we couldn't do that without your enthusiastic participation.

Here are important informational nuggets you probably want to know:

Bout of Books 28 will be from May 11th to May 17th.

Following this blog is the BEST way to stay up to date on EVERYTHING.

Since we can't reach out to everyone personally to remind them about upcoming events (though wouldn't that be awesome?), we do our best to keep this blog updated with the most current information. That means you're responsible for following us if you want to receive the latest news. You can also follow our the Bout of Books Instagram account where we countdown the weeks until the next Bout of Books or join the #boutofbooks-ers Facebook group to talk books between read-a-thons.

For those that are interested in helping out for the next Bout of Books, we post a call for help roughly a month prior to the start of the read-a-thon - which will be around April 13th for Bout of Books 28.

Once again, thank you to everyone who helped make Bout of Books 27 a success! We appreciate that you love books and how vocal you are about sharing it!

-Kelly and Amanda

Bout of Books 27 Day 7

The end is in sight.
Keep reading!

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Challenges

Stretch Goal

It's the last day of the readathon, so today's challenge is to take a look at the goals you set for the week (if you have them) and decide a) how you can stretch yourself to complete them or b) how you can revise them so you can meet them. Because yes, you can revise your goals! If you didn't set goals for the week, set a small one for yourself today!

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 27 Day 6

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

9:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
10am CT (TZC) Twitter Chat with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Challenges

If This, Then That

Put your recommendations hat on, #boutofbooks-ers. For this challenge, pick a book, author, or trope (or whatever!) from your TBR and suggest similar books.

Example 1: If you like Sarah McLean, try Lenora Bell.

Example 2: If you like a modern day, romantic twist on Greek mythology, try Staci Hart's Hearts and Arrows series.

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 27 Day 5

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Challenges

The One With the Books in It

Today we're celebrating books with books or book-related professions, characters, and/or plots. Share the title, author, and genre! If you share on social media, please include the hashtag #boutofbooks so we can all see your answer.

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 27 Day 4

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Challenges

Recreate the Scene

Draw or otherwise recreate the scene you're currently reading or the last scene you read.

Thanks Erica @ The Broken Spine!

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 27 Day 3

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Challenges

Bookish Matchmaking

One of the great things about having so many book lovers in one place is being able to crowdsource recommendations. That's what today's challenge is all about. Have you been looking for a specific type of book? Add your "I'm looking for . . . " in the comments below or on Twitter (use the #boutofbooks hashtag!). Comment on threads with your own recommendations. Let your TBR stack grow larger!

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 27 Day 2

Today is the LAST DAY to GET SIGNED UP.
Are YOU signed up PROPERLY?
_________________________

Congratulations!

You survived the first day of the read-a-thon!

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CT (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CT (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks

Please note: the form for the sign up will stay open through TODAY.
It closes Wednesday at midnight (TZC)

Challenge

Share Your 2020 Reading Goals

What do you want to accomplish reading-wise in 2020? Share your goal(s) in the comments here or let us know on social media. Remember to hashtag with #boutofbooks so we can see your answer!

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Bout of Books 27 Day 1

Welcome to Bout of Books 27!

Here is the schedule of events for today:

TZC = Time Zone Conversion

10:30am CST (TZC) Morning Announcements with @boutofbooks
7:30pm CST (TZC) Evening Announcements with @boutofbooks
8pm CST (TZC) Twitter Chat with @boutofbooks

Please note: the form for the sign up will stay open through TODAY and TOMORROW.

It closes Wednesday at midnight (TZC)

Challenges

Introduce Yourself #insixwords

The challenge is simple: introduce yourself on Twitter, Instagram, or on this post using six words, no more, no less. Use the hashtags #boutofbooks and #insixwords so we can learn all about you.

Example: "Needed for survival: books, dogs, coffee."

Instagram Photo a Day

For those of you who use Instagram, don't forget to post your daily Bout of Books photo. Find out more on our Bout of Books Instagram page!

Twitter Chat Information

TZC = Time Zone Conversion
There is a Twitter chat today at 8pm CT (TZC)
The chat will be led by Amanda using @boutofbooks

The chat will last one hour. We will use the Q1/A1 system. The host asks the question using Q1, Q2, and so on. You respond using A1, A2. EASY