#boutofbooks 11: Read-a-Thon Updates

Bout of Books 11 Wrap-Up

Last week I was crazy busy so I had to rely on audiobooks. I didn't meet my visitation goal, but I did meet my reading goal. I'll try to get around to visit some blogs this week.

What was the best book that you read during the read-a-thon?

Day 7

On Tuesday (August 26), I'll be hosting a book blast for FOR LOVE AND COUNTRY by Elizabeth D. Michaels. One of the entries in the book blast giveaway (prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash) is downloading the first book in The Horstberg Saga, Behind the Mask. It's free. I am going to get ahead of the game and download it to read today.

Day 6 

Today I finished My Soul to Loose by Rachel Vincent, The Viscount and the Witch by Michael J. Sullivan, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Truber audiobooks. They are relatively short. I haven't seen the Ben Stiller movie adaptation of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty yet. Have you?


     

So that clears my list of free audiobooks. Now my list of free ebooks is a whole other story. SMH. Maybe I'll tackle them during my next read-a-thon.

Day 5

This morning, I decided that I am going to listen to the free audiobooks on my Kindle for the rest of the read-a-thon. I am not a free book hoarder. I don't care what my Kindle says ;-)

I finished Shark Tank Jump Start Your Business and Gabriel: Zero Point: The FREE Prequel Novella (Evan Gabriel Trilogy) today.



My reading is going well, my visiting five participants each day is not. I might have to do it after the read-a-thon.

I am coming to visit y'all, I promise.

Day 4

Still listening to Shark Tank Jump Start Your Business. I think that I'll do a series of posts about the show next month. I wonder when the new season starts.

Anywho...

Of course, things started to get crazy today. Life seems to find a way to disturb my reading plans, especially during scheduled times like a read-a-thon. I will not be kept down. LOL!

Day 3

Are you a fan of the television show Shark Tank? I don't watch the show consistently, but manage to catch a few episodes from time to time. The audiobook of Shark Tank Jump Start Your Business: How to Launch and Grow a Business from Concept to Cash by Michael Parrish DuDell is free on Amazon right now.

Day 2

I am kicking off the read-a-thon with an audiobook, Sixth Grave on the Edge: A Novel (Charley Davidson Book 6) by Darynda Jones. I won the book in a giveaway. I haven't read the first five books. I hope that I make it through okay. I am a fan of the narrator, Lorelei King.

Have you read any of the Charley Davidson sereies?

 

Day 1: Goals

This time around I am doing a  5 & 5. My goals for the read-a-thon:

• Read five books
• Visit five participants each day

I am going to wing it on this books. I'll pick up whatever calls to me.

~~~~~~~~~~


About Bout of Books: "The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional." - Bout of Books team

For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. 
 

Bout of Books 11 #AllIn

I am all in! I've signed up for Bout of Books 11. Have you?

From the Bout of Books team:

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional.  

For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. 

Bout of Books 10: Read-a-thon Sign Up and Goals

Time Devoted to Reading

40 pages a Day

My Goals

Now that the regular television series season is winding down, I am trying to watch some shows that I missed. I have decided to tackle the books surrounding The Returned. It has been adapted into the ABC television show Resurrection.

Amazon's Book Description -

"Harold and Lucille Hargrave's lives have been both joyful and sorrowful in the decades since their eight-year-old son, Jacob, died tragically in 1966. In their old age they've settled comfortably into life without him…. Until one day Jacob mysteriously appears on their doorstep—flesh and blood, still eight years old.

All over the world people's loved ones are returning from beyond. No one knows how or why, whether it's a miracle or a sign of the end. Not even Harold and Lucille can agree on whether the boy is real or a wondrous imitation. But as chaos erupts around the globe, the newly reunited family finds itself at the center of a community on the brink of collapse, forced to navigate a mysterious new reality.

With spare, elegant prose and searing emotional depth, award-winning poet Jason Mott explores timeless questions of faith and morality, love and responsibility. A spellbinding and stunning debut, The Returned is an unforgettable story that marks the arrival of an important new voice in contemporary fiction."

 

Books to Read

The First by Jason Mott
The Choice by Jason Mott
The Sparrow by Jason Mott
The Returned by Jason Mott

Updates

Sunday 

Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 4
Books: The First by Jason Mott (28 pages), The Choice by Jason Mott (32 pages), The Sparrow by Jason Mott (29 pages), The Returned by Jason Mott (345 pages)

FINISHED *\o/*

Mini challenge today: Retitle Your Current Read -- Oh Magic Hour

If I were going to retitle The Returned, I'd choose:  

Zombies: Kinda Sorta, But Not Really
Reunited
Um, I Thought You Were Dead




I am a little bummed. Looks like the first Resurrection epsisode available is 104 on both Hulu and ABC. I hate not starting at the beginning. Perhaps they will release the first three episodes again during the summer.

Thanks for a great season, #ResHeads #Resurrectioners #Resurrecters! Looking forward to your #Resurrection theories in 3...2...1...
— Resurrection (@Resurrection) May 5, 2014

 
Saturday 

Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books: The First by Jason Mott (28 pages), The Choice by Jason Mott (32 pages), The Sparrow by Jason Mott (29 pages)

I managed to get in one mini challenge today: Show An Author Some Love Bout of Books Challenge

#WorkIt @averyaster | Author of LOVE, LEX | Book Marketing Mogul | #showauthorlove ❤️ #boutofbooks http://t.co/CN79SmrP1W
— Tallulah Scribbles (@madhoydenish) May 18, 2014

Friday 

Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books: The First by Jason Mott (28 pages), The Choice by Jason Mott (32 pages), The Sparrow by Jason Mott (29 pages)

I am bummmed that I will not be able to participate in any of the Twitter chats. Those chats are so crazy and fun. Next time...

Still chugging through The Returned. I am pretty sure that I am going to be able meet my reading goals for this read-a-thon. HUZZAH!


Thursday 
Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 3
Books: The First by Jason Mott (28 pages), The Choice by Jason Mott (32 pages), The Sparrow by Jason Mott (29 pages)

It looks like I am not going to have time to visit other participants this week :-( Next week looks much better so I will try to visit some of you bookish people then. The Sparrow by Jason Mott is free on Amazon right now.

"In this short story by Jason Mott, author of The Returned, one determined couple seeks to reunite a young girl with the father who thought he had lost her forever…" - Amazon

 
Wednesday 

Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 2
Books: The First by Jason Mott (28 pages), The Choice by Jason Mott (32 pages)

These novellas are working out well. I am making a a little bit of progress each day. Slow and steady wins the race. Ha! The Choice by Jason Mott is free on Amazon right now.

"In this short story by Jason Mott, author of The Returned, a man is forced to choose between the life he has now, and the one he thought was gone forever…" - Amazon

Tuesday 

Number of books I've read today: 1
Total number of books I've read: 1
Books: The First by Jason Mott (28 pages)

I have decided to tackle the books surrounding The Returned which has been adapted into the ABC television show Resurrection. The First is free on Amazon right now.

"In Jason Mott's haunting and unforgettable debut novel, The Returned, an impossible miracle is occurring all across the globe. Read how it all begins in this short story, The First." - Amazon

Monday

Number of books I've read today: 0
Total number of books I've read: 0
Books: 0

I plan to read four books during the read-at-thon. Still deciding on what to read.

I am going to do everything on one page to simplify things. It is going to be a busy week for me.

Something else will be returning…#Resurrection will officially come back for Season 2! pic.twitter.com/XmNkYwbc5l
— Resurrection (@Resurrection) May 9, 2014

What are you going to read during the bout?

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

JOIN ME! Bout of Books 10 SIGN-UP! 

Let's Dig In: Examining LEVEL 26 (Cyber-Bridges)

Level 26: Dark Origins by Anthony E. Zuiker (creator of the CSI television franchise) with Duane Swierczynski

The Dark Origins series centers around a rogue serial-killer hunter. Steve Dark is head of a highly secret and incredibly skilled black ops element within the U.S. government, which is tasked with finding and bringing to justice the most brutal and horrific murderers in the world. - The Book Depository

Dark Origins is a three book series that includes Dark Origins, Dark Prophecy, and Dark Revelations. It has video extras* so you can read and watch the stories.

"About every twenty pages, you will have the option of logging in to experience a digital cyber-bridge—a three-minute motion picture scene with A-list actors you might’ve seen in blockbuster films and award winning TV shows. Before your eyes, the characters will spring to life, crime scene details will explode off the screen... "

Check out the cyber-bridges for the book, Dark Origins:

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 1

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 2

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 3

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 4

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 5

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 6

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 7

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 8

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 11

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 10

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 9

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 12

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 13

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 14

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 15

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 16

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 17

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 18

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 19

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Cyber-Bridge 20

I am excited to be reading the Dark Origins digi-novel series during the Bout of Books 7.0 read-a-thon this week.

Be sure to follow my read-a-thon status updates here.

#iamreading | #level26 | #boutofbooks | #sqweegel


* To access various language subtitles, click the CC button the lower right corner of the player and choose your preferred language. Languages available: Czech, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Slovenian, and Spanish (Spain).

Let the Games Begin! Bout of Books 7.0 & LEVEL 26

Let the read-a-thon begin! I am excited to be reading the digi-novel series Level 26 during the Bout of Books 7.0 read-a-thon this week. It is a three book series that begins with Dark Origins.

Be sure to follow my read-a-thon status updates here. I'll also be tweeting using #level26, #boutofbooks, and #sqweegel. Holla at me if you are on "the Twitter" this week.

What are you reading during the bout?

Level 26: Dark Origins

(by Anthony E. Zuiker, creator of the CSI television franchise, with Duane Swierczynski)

 

From the hardcover book jacket (back side):

Unlock a New Level of Fear 

It is well known among law enforcement personnel that murderers can be categorized on a scale of twenty- five levels of evil, from the naive opportunists starting out at Level 1 to the organized, premeditated torture- murderers who inhabit Level 25.

What almost no one knows—except for the elite unnamed investigations group assigned to hunt down the world’s most dangerous killers, a group of men and women accounted for in no official ledger, headed by the brilliant but reluctant operative Steve Dark—is that a new category of killer is in the process of being defined.

Only one man belongs to this group.

His targets: Anyone
His methods:Unlimited
His alias: Sqweegel
His classification: Level 26

Buy:

• Amazon
• The Book Deposoitory (free shipping to 90+ countries)
• PaperBackSwap (buy new)*

*By the way, there are also 20+ used copies (paperbacks + hardcovers) of Dark Origins available for swapping on PaperBackSwap.com right now (including a hardcover that I posted). The hardcover ISBN is 0525951253. Order a copy and read along with me!

#iamreading

LEVEL 26 Exclusive: Anthony E. Zuiker in Toronto [VIDEO]

Anthony E. Zuiker travels to Toronto, Canada to promote the world's first "digi-novel" Level 26: Dark Origins and brings you along for the ride.
 

Buy:

• Amazon
• The Book Deposoitory (free shipping to 90+ countries)
• PaperBackSwap (buy new)*

*By the way, there are also 20+ used copies (paperbacks + hardcovers) of Dark Origins available for swapping on PaperBackSwap.com right now (including a hardcover that I posted). The hardcover ISBN is 0525951253. Order a copy and read along with me!


I will be reading the digi-novel series Level 26 during the Bout of Books 7.0 read-a-thon from April 13 - 19, 2013. Drop by my update page to see how I am doing.

LEVEL 26: DARK ORIGINS Promo [15 Sec. Video]

Level 26: Dark Origins

(by Anthony E. Zuiker, creator of the CSI television franchise, with Duane Swierczynski)

 

From the back of the hardcover book jacket:

Unlock a New Level of Fear 

It is well known among law enforcement personnel that murderers can be categorized on a scale of twenty- five levels of evil, from the naive opportunists starting out at Level 1 to the organized, premeditated torture- murderers who inhabit Level 25.

What almost no one knows—except for the elite unnamed investigations group assigned to hunt down the world’s most dangerous killers, a group of men and women accounted for in no official ledger, headed by the brilliant but reluctant operative Steve Dark—is that a new category of killer is in the process of being defined.

Only one man belongs to this group.

His targets: Anyone
His methods:Unlimited
His alias: Sqweegel
His classification: Level 26

Buy:

• Amazon
• The Book Deposoitory (free shipping to 90+ countries)
• PaperBackSwap (buy new)*

I will be reading the digi-novel series Level 26 during the Bout of Books read-a-thon. Check out the Level 26: Dark Origins book trailer.

*By the way, there are also 20+ used copies (paperbacks + hardcovers) of Dark Origins available for swapping on PaperBackSwap.com right now (including a hardcover that I posted). The hardcover ISBN is 0525951253. Order a copy and read along with me!

#iamreading

#iamreading | LEVEL 26 series | The Bout of Books

I will be reading the digi-novel series Level 26 all week during the Bout of Books 7.0 read-a-thon. It is a three book series that includes Dark Origins, Dark Prophecy, and Dark Revelations. I have been meaning to read the series for quite a while.

What are you going to read during the bout?

The Dark Origins series centers around a rogue serial-killer hunter. Steve Dark is head of a highly secret and incredibly skilled black ops element within the U.S. government, which is tasked with finding and bringing to justice the most brutal and horrific murderers in the world. - The Book Depository

Level 26: Dark Origins

• Authors: Anthony E. Zuiker (creator of the CSI television franchise) with Duane Swierczynski
• ISBN-10: 0451232380
• Paperback: 432 pages

This book has video extras so you can read and watch. Oooh la la!

"About every twenty pages, you will have the option of logging in to experience a digital cyber-bridge—a three-minute motion picture scene with A-list actors you might’ve seen in blockbuster films and award winning TV shows. Before your eyes, the characters will spring to life, crime scene details will explode off the screen... "

By the way, there are 20+ copies (paperbacks + hardcovers) of Dark Origins available on PaperBackSwap.com right now (including a hardcover that I posted). The hardcover ISBN is 0525951253. Order a copy and read along with me.

Dark Prophecy: A Level 26 Thriller Featuring Steve Dark

• Authors: Anthony E. Zuiker with Duane Swierczynski
• ISBN-10: 0451234936
• Paperback: 464 pages

Short Description via The Book Depository:
Steve Dark is a man with a unique talent for catching serial killers. Now he's on a mission to embrace his destiny, unbound by authorities, moral or otherwise, and supported by a mysterious benefactor with unknown goals of her own.

Dark Revelations: A Level 26 Thriller Featuring Steve Dark

• Authors: Anthony E. Zuiker with Duane Swierczynski
• ISBN-10: 0451235975
• Paperback: 417 pages

Short Description via The Book Depository:
The conclusion to the groundbreaking Level 26 trilogy, a series of edgy, unconventional thrillers about an FBI operative tasked with the ultimate search-and-destroy mission: to take down the world's most dangerous serial killers.


ADDED May 13, 2013

Authors: Bram Stoker

ISBN-13: 9780978927097

eBook: 452 pages

Please drop by this blog post during the week of May 13th to offer encouragement, say hello, discuss these books, or just peep at my status updates. 

Goals

• Read 3 books (total of 1313 pages): Dark Origins, Dark Prophecy, and Dark Revelations
• Participate in a Twitter chat. [DONE]
• Visit 5 fellow Bout of Book 7.0 read-a-thon-ers daily
• I realize that I have been a bit of a blog creeper this week. I have been visiting and not commenting. I am going back to comment on the blogs that I have visited. I'll add them to my update comments.

 

Updates

Monday (May 13)

• Number of pages I've read today:  161
• Book currently reading: Dracula (81) , Dark Origins (80)
• Total number of books I've read: 0
• Number of fellow read-a-thon-ers visited: 5
• Leeswammes' Blog
• Sarah Reads Too Much
• The Secret Life of a Bookworm!
   
• Participate in a Twitter chat: Yes

While checking my Twitter timeline, I realized that I had missed the start of Bite-Sized Dracula. So instead of starting Dark Origins... I started reading Dracula. SMH. [I have the Dracula ebook above so I am filling in with Bite-Sized Dracula's extras.]

Do consider joining me in the read-along. It's a neat way to read a classic. The actual text of the novel is posted on the blog, so you don't need a copy. The BSD blog posts a new portion daily (it started May 3). We should able to catch up to the blog by the end of the read-a-thon without throwing off our other reading.

Tuesday (May 14)

• Number of pages I've read today:  100
• Book currently reading: Dracula
• Total number of books I've read: 0
• Number of fellow read-a-thon-ers visited: 5
• Musings of a Bookshop Girl
• Yell's World
• the simplicity
• Aleksandra's Corner

Wednesday (May 15)

• Number of pages I've read today:  67
• Book currently reading: Dracula (67) 
• Total number of books I've read: 0
• Number of fellow read-a-thon-ers visited: 5
• I Talk Books
• Vicki Thinks
• Read Rinse Repeat
• ...On the Shelf
• Harley Bear Book Blog .
• Participate in a Twitter chat:Yes (2)

Thursday (May 16)

• Number of pages I've read today: 104
• Book currently reading: Dracula
• Total number of books I've read: 0
• Number of fellow read-a-thon-ers visited: 5
• Faith Hope and Cherrytea
• Actin' Up with Books
• Just Another Rabid Reader
• Bookish Realm
• Jayne's Books

Well, I realize that I have picked some pretty dark reads for this read-a-thon. I don't usually read books with serial killers or vampires as the primary characters. So I find it interesting that the multi-media aspect was compelling enough to reel me in for the read-a-thon. 

Do you know of any other books that have a multi-media component?

I think that scheduled reading might be best for the Dark Origins series anyway. It is VERY dark. The cyber-bridges are enhancing the novels though - so I am happy that I chose to read the series. 

I am going to need something shiny happy to read next week. Any suggestions?

Friday (May 17)

• Number of pages I've read today: 100
• Book currently reading: Dracula
• Total number of books I've read: 1
• Number of fellow read-a-thon-ers visited: 5
• The Aussie Zombie
• Mom's Small Victories
• In Libris Veritas
• Just Another Story
• The Space Between

Saturday (May 18)

• Number of pages I've read today:  352
• Book currently reading:  Dark Origins
• Total number of books I've read:  2
• Number of fellow read-a-thon-ers visited: 5
• The Books Sphere
• Author Amy
• A Daydreamers Thoughts
• I Read, Ergo I Write
• The Writerly Reader
• Participate in a Twitter chat:Yes (3)

Amen! RT @madhoydenish: A2. Surprised @ how much my TBR list has grown. Shame on you all. You shouldn't tempt an addict. #boutofbooks
— Katherine Nabity (@Katen) May 18, 2013

Sunday (May 19)

• Number of pages I've read today:
• Book currently reading: Dark Prophecy
• Total number of books I've read: 2
• Number of fellow read-a-thon-ers visited: 5
• Three Cats and a Book
• My Life in Books
• Lisa Likes Books
• Dee's Reads
• The Book Vixen

Bravo and Happy Reading to all the #boutofbooks readers finishing up their readathon this weekend!! @boutofbooks boutofbooks.blogspot.com
— Word Hits (@WordHits) May 18, 2013

Overall, I am pleased with my read-a-thon results. I would have liked to participate in more of the challenges. The week just was just too busy. I did get to check out a lot of blogs though. There are so many good book blogs out there. I could spend days reading about books and not actually read one. LOL! I am going to try and visit some more blogs between now and the next bout. I definitely plan to participate in the next one.

Will you be participating in the next bout?

I noticed that a number of bouters are using the Google Friends Connect (at least until it goes away) and bloglovin' widgets for followers. I have added them both to my site. Please follow my blog and I'll do the same for you.

Thanks for dropping by to visit!

#iamreading

I'm In! The Bout of Books Read-a-thon

If you're craving more #readathon fun, don't forget #boutofbooks 13th-19th May, that's just 2 weeks to wait!! bit.ly/X1AqGg

— Hannah (@jaediasrantpage) April 28, 2013

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 13th and runs through Sunday, May 19th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 7.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

 

#iamreading the Level 26 series by Anthony E. Zuiker in The Bout of Books.

What are you going to read during the bout?