It's Jólabókaflóð!

Hello, dear readers!

We're really excited, because it's time for our annual Jólabókaflóð book exchange event! Here at Busy Nest News, we love books and reading. We've always been enchanted by the Icelandic tradition of gifting books throughout the winter holidays. Last year we decided to join in and host a book exchange. It was new, it was scary (what if no one did it??), it was fun, it was international! In short: it was a success, so we've decided to do it again.

So how does this work? It's pretty simple, really.

Step 1: Fill out our quick survey with your contact info and reading preferences. We only share your info with the person assigned to gift you a book. We won't even add you to our newsletter list unless you opt in. Anyone who wants to participate has to submit their survey answers by November 12th, 2021.

Step 2: We match you up! You'll be given the name and survey responses of another participant.

Step 3: You send your assigned person a book. It can be new or used. Your recipient might prefer an ebook, audiobook, or a classic paperback; this preference will be noted in the survey responses. The deadline to mail your book out is December 6th, 2021.

Step 4: Wait for your book! The whole thing is super fun, but this part might be our favorite. We love seeing pictures of the books everyone gets as they arrive in the mail.​

Take the survey now!

​It's really pretty straightforward, but let's address some FAQs.

Q: Is this one of those, send one book and get eight back pyramid deals?
A: No. You will send a book to one person, and another person will send one book to you. It's 1-to-1.

Q: How much will this cost?
A: As much or little as you want, though we ask that you keep it under $25 (USD) to keep it fun, including shipping costs.

Q: Do I have to spend a total of $25?
A: No. If you can find a cheap, gift-worthy book and ship it to your assigned person for $8, that's cool, too. We just need to cap it somewhere for those inclined to over-gifting.

Q: Do I have to buy the book from Amazon?
A: No. In fact, if you're sending a print book we encourage you to patronize your local independent bookstore. Independent bookshops are good for the world, and buying from them is the best way to keep them around! This has the added benefit that you can physically obtain and ship your book much more quickly. With supply chain issues on the rise, buying something that's already on the shelves is a good idea.

Q: Can I send more than one book? Or an ornament? Or a bookmark?
A: You're so thoughtful! Yes, you can include additional gifts, notes, greeting cards, books you got a good deal on (or just couldn't decide between!). Just please, try to keep these extras modest and below a total of $25 (USD). We don't want some people to feel like they hit the jackpot and others to feel shorted. 

Q: I can't wait to join the festivities! How do I share in the fun with everyone else?
A: You can follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/busynestnews and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/busynestnews. If you post pictures, we have some tags to help us all see your awesome packages and books! You can use: #bnnbookswap #busynestnews and #readgrowconnect

Q: Do I have to be in the United States to participate?
A: No! We've had participants from outside the U.S. since the beginning. Mailing books is pretty straightforward, so it's really not a big deal. Plus, we have experience with overseas mailing, so we can help you troubleshoot any problems that might come up.
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Take the Survey