Unfortunately, Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight and I are no longer speaking for various reasons. I don’t want to get into the nitty gritty details, but it started because I still haven’t read The Serpent King and Shannon was pretty angry about it. I’ve been promising her for years that I would read that book, so I can’t exactly blame her. But then the emails started getting weird and spiraling out of control … again, I don’t want to go into too much detail because it’s not fair to anyone.
At any rate, because of this, I’ve made the difficult decision to no longer host the Book Blog Discussion Challenge.
I know there are going to be a lot of disappointed people because of this, and I’m really sorry. To make up for it, though, I’ve come up with a brand new challenge…
The Book Counting Challenge!
This is going to be so much fun, and I can’t wait to count books with you!
Every month, we will count the number of books on our shelves and then create a post announcing that number. Link the post up in the monthly link-up and you will automatically be entered to win a giveaway. The person who owns a number of books closest to mine will win a book! I warn you, this will be tough, because my book-buying habits are erratic.
Looking to spice things up a little? Try counting the number of books at your local library. Or maybe at your closest indie bookstore. Anyone who counts at least 500 books automatically wins a prize. (I will have to verify the number, though, so it might take a little while for verification, and I might possibly have to reduce your prize amount because of verification expenses—still, it will totally be worth it, I promise.)
OR a couple of other variations – You could count only books that start with a specific letter or books of a certain color. There are SO MANY fun ways to count your books!
Here’s All You Have to Do:
- Create a sign-up post announcing your intention to participate and link up below.
- Please link back to this post and include the challenge button in your sign-up posts.
- The challenge runs until December 31st, 2019.
- Share it! The more people we get to participate in this, the more books we can count. Who knows, maybe we’ll manage a world record!!
- On the 1st of every month, a link-up will go up right here where you’ll leave your links for that month’s book counts. Every month, I’ll update this 2019 Book Counting Challenge Page with the links to that month’s Challenge linky–so you’ll always know where to find the latest link-up!
- Use the hashtag #LetsCountBooks2019 to share your progress and connect with other participants on Twitter.
- Have questions? Feel free to ask in the comments!
Monthly Link-up & Giveaway Posts:
None yet, but keep watching this space!
Use the Linky Below to Sign Up!
APRIL FOOLS!!
Don’t worry, the Discussion Challenge is safe and sound (I am a bit late with the link-up this month—it’ll go up later). And Shannon and I are doing just fine (though she probably is getting sick of me telling her I’m going to read The Serpent King and not doing it).
As thrilling as the book counting challenge sounds, it’s not a real thing. You can feel free to sign up for it if book counting’s your thing, but I don’t think I’ll be participating. LOL!
Hope I had you there for a minute!
And check out my past April Fools’ posts if you haven’t seen them!
Amber Elise @ Du Livre
Omgggg. You really dedicated yourself to this PRANK Nicole!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This was actually a quick one. Some years I’ve really gone all-out. 🙂
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight
I am honored to be a part of your epic April Fool’s prank! You always come up with the best stuff! I have only done it once cause it’s a lot of work- and also wayyy too many people fell for it ?
You’re going to end up with a legit group of people running around counting books bwahaha.
Also, read The Serpent King ?
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This is the sort of thrilling challenge our community really needs, right? Who doesn’t love book counting?
(And, yes, I promise to read it. For reals.)
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
Ha! Good one! Yeah, you’re welcome to come count all the books on my shelves. I knew at one time how many were on my TBR shelves, like 300, I have way more than that now just on my TBR, not to mention what I have read. Glad you and Shannon aren’t really fighting. As for reading The Serpent King, it wasn’t a favorite of mine, although I understand why it was for others. I just didn’t enjoy that much.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I’m glad me and Shannon aren’t fighting too. That would be terrible!
Stephanie
I am actually laughing hard enough that my daughter is asking what’s wrong. Counting the books at the library did me in! This is probably the best April Fool’s prank I’ve seen yet! Well done! (You had me going for a bit with the whole not being on speaking terms with Shannon!)
My math skills are terrible and my book collection is huge. I will not be counting anything! 😀
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I would be a mess at this challenge too. Way too much to keep track of. 🙂 Glad I could give you a hearty laugh!
Trish
OMG you totally had me! I was trying to figure out how the hell that would work! 😀 😀 Good one!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Yeah, I would have to rename this The Nightmare Challenge (or maybe The Most Boring Book Challenge Possible?).
Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog
Ha! I was like oh no they aren’t speaking! What was in those emails. And then the challenge was like hmmm. Good one lady!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Those would have to be some wacky emails, right? Could you just see me and Shannon duking it out over The Serpent King?
Jen
You totally got me! I was so sad for you about your loss of friendship and then when you started talking about counting books I was like uhhhhhh was she drinking while writing this post? LOL! Thanks for the laugh today! My husband and I are both home sick with the flu, so a laugh was definitely appreciated!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I love it!!
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight
The book counting challenge ?
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
You totally want to join, right? Who doesn’t want to count their books every month? This is the height of excitement.
Erica Metcalf
Arrrrghhhh I fell for this.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Mwahahahaha!
Stephanie Jane (Literary Flits)
OK, I actually did count my books because I am that gullible, but (fortunately for you, grrr!!) we’re in the campervan right now so I could easily see I have 4 books here. Does that win a prize? 😉
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Oh, I’m glad you only have four. I don’t want to have people getting mad after they’ve walked around town counting books at their local library. Quite a chore! 🙂
Nicole @ Thoughts Stained With Ink
I can’t believe I totally and utterly fell for this. 😛 And I thought I was going to survive the day not falling for anything…
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Woo hoo! That’s what I like to hear. 🙂
Sam@wlabb
I almost fell for this, until I saw the part about TSK. Nicely played, Nicole.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
You weren’t fooled for long then. What, you don’t think Shannon and I would get into an all-out feud over TSK? You think way too highly of us. LOL!
Kathryn Trask
OKAY!! You had me fooled. First time taken in by April Fool’s prank for a long time!!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
YAY!!! I love hearing that. 🙂
Ronyell (a.k.a Rabbitearsblog)
LOL!!! I was actually thinking that you and Shannon actually had a falling out. But then I realized what day it is and man, did you had me fooled! Awesome prank!!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Shannon would never be so mean! (But I’m glad you believed it for a minute.) 🙂
ShootingStarsMag
I ACTUALLY remembered this year that you do these pranks and I didn’t fall for it! But it’s probably the first year that’s happened. LOL And oh boooyyy…I do not want to count all the books I have in my house. 😉
-lauren
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I knew some of you would definitely be ready for me this year. 🙂
Aj @ Read All The Things!
Haha, you didn’t fool me because I came here to see what you posted for April Fools, but this is a good one. I actually know how many unread books I own! (It’s 47.) I have no idea how many read books I have. Hundreds. Also, I signed up in the Linky because I could. Hahahaha.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I figured there would be a few of you who would be coming over knowing I was up to something. And I was actually sort of hoping people would randomly link up. I mean, come on, aren’t we a joining society? Let’s join!
Wendy @ Falconer's Library
I had a brief moment of panic when I saw “sad news about discussion challenge” but then I remembered the date and your talent for fooling us. Phew! I like to think the whole “Shannon and I had a falling out” thing would have given it away anyway. You two are both so awesome, and it would be unlike you to do even the slightest bit of bad talk about another blogger.
And yes–read The Serpent King, please.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Ha! You know me so well. Any sad news on April 1st is bound to be … interesting.
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
Oh my gosh, this was epic, Nicole! And anyone who knows Shannon knows that you using The Serpent King was the perfect pick. LOL
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
She really HAS been telling me for years to read that book. I bought a copy on her recommendation, and I keep saying I’ll pick it up soon. (Soon never seems to come, though.) Could you just imagine her getting angry about it and sending me nasty emails? Hey, sometimes we get passionate about our books! (I should have said I started insulting The 100 next–that REALLY would have gotten her. LOL!)
Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books
Oh my god I almost fell for it DAMN IT hahaha. I’m glad this is not happening, because…. me and numbers aren’t friends at all and counting…arghhh haha. That was such a fantastic idea for a prank hahaha. And… well, aerm, you should read The Serpent King, just saying 😀
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
LOL! Glad I almost had you there for a minute. Yeah, I think counting all my books would just be an exercise in madness. 🙂
Tina @ As Told By Tina
OMG! So I came over here to blog hop and I was on the phone with my husband and I honestly don’t know what he told me because I started reading this and I was like oh no this is terrible. And also like wow, what was in those emails? Then I scrolled, so you definitely got me!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Hahaha! Tell your husband I’m sorry for distracting you!
Daniela Ark
HA! I KNEW it! As soon as I read the first sentence I knew this was April’s fools. 🙂 No way you would post something like that 🙂 BUT I LOVED that way to introduce a brand new challenge! 🙂 Sounds fun so I’ll try to participate!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
The challenge isn’t real, unfortunately. I mean, you can go ahead and start counting your books for the fun of it, but I won’t be tracking anything. 😉
Daniela Ark
Hahaha you did get me at the end lol I thought only your fight with Sharon was the prank lol my adhd brain got distracted after “April fools” ?
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
🙂
Dani Eide
You crazy girl – I almost fell for it! Laughing like a loon, and finally had to stop to catch my breathe. When I realized you would have to verify… Great Prank! ??
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Yes, it would be quite the task to verify those counts, right? I’m not quite sure how I would do that…
Annemieke
I was like o______0 and then … and now I want to smack you both. (Not really but don’t do this to my heart again okay, haha)
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
It’s even worse for people who see the post well after April Fool’s because you are not at all on your guard. 🙂
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra
It’s not even April Fool’s anymore and I still fell for this, lol.
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Sometimes I think it’s harder when you come across a post later—you’re not on your guard for a joke. 🙂
Olivia Roach
Oh my days, I cannot deal with this prank DD: I was worried there for a minute! Funny about this challenge idea though, because I am actually in the process of counting and documenting all of my books for the first time DD:
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I just saw that you counted your books in your wrap-up. How funny! Guess you’re all set for the challenge! 🙂