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Paper Fury

163 Questions You Asked Me (!!!) Part 2 (Because You’re So Nosey)

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Ready for Part 2 of my most massive Q&A??

I swear, after this you’ll know everything about me, you nosey kumquats, * and no one will ever speak to me again. You can catch up on Part 1 over here, if you wish it.

And if I’ve given too small of an answer, or you want more details, or I DIDN’T EVEN ANSWER IT PROPERLY = just yell at me to talk further about it in the comments. Yell nicely though. I’m a precious fragile dandelion. **

Giveaway is still going too, so don’t forget to dash to the end of this post enter. Bless your fantastic faces.

 

 

* I’M JOKING BY THE WAY. You have no idea how honoured I am by all the questions!
** When I’m not eating souls or whatever darkness I get up to on Tuesday afternoons which is my chill day.

72. YOU HAVE AN ETSY BUSINESS, RIGHT?

RIGHT. GO BUY MY STUFF.

   

Actually you can’t buy my stuff because I’m on holidays due to moving and losing my paper and my left elbow and the will to succeed, but REMEMBER I EXIST and then buy it later.

73. DO YOU LIKE BEING OUTSIDE?

74. DO PEOPLE EVER CALL YOU CAITY?

Only if they want to die.

75. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR MUSICAL CAREER?

  • Age 9: forced by parental to learn the Devil’s Instrument, aka the recorder. HATED IT.
  • Age 12: begged parental to teach me piano.
  • Age 13: begged parent to teach me violin, parent ASKED FOR MERCY, none was given.
  • Age 14: realised hate hate hate hates performing and the anxiety levels are akin to death.
  • Age 15: got professional piano lessons because had been largely self-taught since parental doesn’t actually play piano. Teacher pleased that self is a tolerable pianist. Then notices self has no concept of FINGERING. Teacher quits job and flees the country.
  • Age 16: bought a cello. WHY.
  • Age 16: got serious about violin, with 2+ hours a day of practise, but also had Teacher From Hell who terrified self into hating music.
  • Age 17: quit violin and started cello lessons with Purest Nice Cinnamon Teacher.
  • Age 18: realised hate hate hate hates performing and the anxiety levels are akin to death
  • Age 19: quits lessons because is not planning to perform or teach so feels is wasting money, PLUS wants to concentrate more on writing.
  • Age 20: pretends to still practise
  • Age 23: is still pretending will take up practise again (and would like to!!)

76. ARE YOU IN A RELATIONSHIP?

Only with my bookshelf. <3 Otherwise, I’ve yet to feel romantically attracted to anyone of ever.

77. WHAT ABOUT THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF ATTICUS?

There isn’t much to tell, except I bought him in Sydney as a smol pupper and named him Atticus Bean (after To Kill a Mockingbird and Ender’s Game) and expected him to aspire to greatness.

He’s scared of other dogs, people, wet grass, the air, and pens clicking.

So that backfired.

78. CAN WE SEE YOUR FACE?

No, unfortunately, I lost it. These days I’m mostly a stack of books on legs.

 

79. DO YOU LOVE ME?

80. ARE YOUR ARCHIVES ACCESSIBLE?

Wait while I just…burn them…to the ground…

Ah nope, I don’t think so.

81. DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST ARC SENT BY PUBLISHERS?

I do! It was Hate Is Such A Strong Word by Sara Ayoub and I loved it which was such a relief otherwise #awkward.

82. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO REACH A WIDE AUDIENCE?

I blogged for about 3 years before I understand what social networking was. Then I spent like ALL of 2015 rabidly commenting on blogs until I lost 9 of my eyeballs. It really paid off though! For me, finding followers was a mixture of commenting, being accessible and friendly, and posting consistently a lot over 6 years.

83. WHAT TYPE OF POSTS DO YOU LOVE DOING THE MOST?

All of them! I never never never blog about something I don’t want to!

84. HAVE YOU EVER INTERVIEWED AN AUTHOR?

YES. I’VE RUBBED ELBOWS WITH FAME…like:

85. WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LIKE YOUR BLOG?

I’m still trying to figure it out. IS IT BECAUSE I SHOUT AT YOU IN ALL CAPS AND THREATEN TO DESTROY YOUR PLANET? Or because I’m super adorable?

It may also be that I reply to comments and try my very darndest to be friendly. And also try to support YOU. I know I fail sometimes, but I try to visit all your blogs and provide you with fun content to read and also steal your cake. *

 

* Obviously, as I keep saying, I JUST MOVED HOUSE. So I’m abhorrently behind on everything in the internet realms. Forgive me? I’ll catch up, I swear! And just thank you thank you for still reading even when I’m swamped and can’t comment back. MY HEART. <3

86. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CLASSIC?

Peter Pan! My truest INSPIRATION.

87. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SHIP?

  • Pynch from The Raven Cycle
  • Puck and Sean from The Scorpio Races
  • Julian and Emma from Lady Midnight
  • Matthias and Nina from Six of Crows
  • Percy and Monty from The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
  • Me and Kell’s coat

88. WHAT CHARACTER WOULD YOU MARRY?

Kell, so I could hit him on the head and steal his coat and run off.

ME, RUNNING AWAY INCONSPICUOUSLY WITH MY STOLEN KELL COAT.

89. WHICH WERE YOUR FAVOURITE BLOGS BEFORE YOU STARTED YOUR OWN?

I didn’t even KNOW what a blog was when I started! I’d never even ever read one!

Pro Tip: do not be like me.

However…here are some of my favourite blogs * currently though!

* And I avoid doing lists like these because I love hundreds of blogs!! I do!! And it pains me not to have mentioned everyone’s that I read and adore. So consider this a smidge.

90. DO YOU WATCH BOOKTUBE?

I prefer to read an article than listen to people.

91. IF YOU WERE AN ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?

92. HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO READ THAT MANY BOOKS EVERY YEAR?

WITH MY 9 EYEBALLS.

Reading is also a priority for me. I want author to be my career, so I read, okay!?? You wouldn’t expect a chef not to eat. I must fuel my little mind. Books > most things.

93. HOW DO YOU READ AND DO SO MUCH?

There are actually twelve of me.

HAHA JUST KIDDING. But really.

I don’t have a life?

94. DO YOU HAVE AN AUSTRALIAN ACCENT?

OF COURSE I DO, YOU CABBAGE. I LIVE HERE, DON’T I.

Although while we’re divulging my life’s secrets: my grandparents on one side and great-grandparents on the other were all Italian and German. So I’m not that far removed from Europe! Immigrant ancestors! No convicts! So surprising!

95. WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING DEATH YOU’VE EVER DONE TO A CHARACTER?

Gee, you guys are morbid coming at me with all these fun totally dastardly questions.

I do many interesting deaths, including:

  • turning people to glass from the inside so they slice themselves to pieces inside out
  • the normal hanging, beheading, stabbing, etc.
  • throwing off top of very tall tower
  • death by telekinesis head snapping
  • caught someone in a spell circle that broke all their bones
  • stabbed someone with Davy Jones and then they got dragged into the sea
  • set on fire
  • general unhappiness

However, I prefer to hurt characters instead of just kill them, because it’s much more painful for the reader.

 

96. WHEN CAN I EXPECT ONE OF YOUR BOOKS TO BE PUBLISHED?

Let me know when you know.

(Also I plan to traditionally publish, so it’s out of my hands! I do have an agent though.)

97. HOW DO YOU GET TRAFFIC TO YOUR BLOG?

Sometimes I sit in the middle of the road and wait for a car to hit me.

Other times I participate in linkups, comment wildly on many many many other blogs. I give a brief tutorial of that here.

98. WHERE DO YOU FIND THE MOTIVATION TO KEEP POSTING FOR 6 YEARS?

Obsession. PURE AND SIMPLE OBSESSION. And also my #1 goal for blogging was always to develop an army who’d buy my book if I ever got published. So that’s motivating.

Other times I HAVE NO MOTIVATION and I flop around the house and whine about it.

99. HOW DOES A DRAGON EVEN FLIP THE PAGES OF A BOOK?

I ask the book nicely to turn pages itself.

100. WOULD YOU EVER STOP EATING CAKE IN FAVOUR OF EATING A BOOK?

No. The book will wait. Cake will not.

101. HOW DO YOU READ IF YOU DON’T HAVE A FACE?

102. HOW DO YOU FIND SUCH AMAZING PROPS FOR YOUR PICTURES?

I buy my flowers at opshops / thrift stores and I make a lot of the other props myself! Origami is my go-to, aaaand I either use scrapbook paper for backdrops, or I zentangle it myself.

103. WHAT CAMERA DO YOU RECOMMEND?

I use a Nikon D3200!

104. WHAT IS YOUR ACTUAL JOB?

LORD RULER.

Also freelancer, if we want to be boring. I don’t fully quite support myself yet, hence I live with my parents, although also for health and other reasons I shan’t tell you. #hairflip

105. HOW CAN I GET FREE BOOKS TO KEEP FOREVER WITHOUT HAVING TO TRADE MY SOUL?

Excuse you, your soul IS MINE.

Also you can inquire to publishers about ARCs! This stands for “advanced reader copy” and they’re given out in exchange for reviews. I suggest googling it. You’ll get a thorough tutorial. I’ve found publishers are super generous and easy to contact in Australia, nooooot sure about other countries. Also I use Netgalley and Edelweiss for e-galleys.

Also, it’s not free: but second hand stores! MOST of the books I own are from 2nd hand stores and library sales…and it peeves me when people assume I’m mega-rich. No, sir. I am not.

106. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FREAKING PUBLISH A BOOK?

107. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR NEW BABY BOOK BLOGGERS?

YOU’RE SO CUTE THOUGH. SO CUTE AND TINY AND WELCOME TO BLOGGING!  Ahem, sorry, wait…helpful tips, okay heeeelpful tips…

  • Network! Comment on blogs and join in meaningful discussions.
  • Follow others and support them.
  • Get active on a social media site…you don’t have to be on ALL of them. Focus on one and work at it!
  • Offer something different or fresh if you can. This seems hard, but it can be as simple as having a unique blogging voice.
  • Have a nice blog design. You can get TONS of clean and functional free ones, so you don’t have to pay. Just google. GOOGLE IS YOUR FIREND. Remember: white clean backgrounds and plain black text. If you have a black background or curly fonts as your text — THIS STARSHIP IS FALLING, SIR.
  • Keep going! You might not have 100 followers in your first year, but it’ll happen. I had less 50 followers for about, erm…3 years.
  • Join in linkups to connect with other blogs.
  • Don’t forget snack breaks.
  • Start off blogging in YOUR style and YOUR voice and in YOUR way. There’s no rules and you’ll get bored if you try to do exactly what everyone else is doing.
  • Don’t copy your heroes! Be unique and yourself.
  • Write the blog you want to read.
  • And talk about food. 10/10 will read a blog that discusses food.

108. HOW MANY SIBLINGS DO YOU HAVE?

I have 4 sisters and 1 brother and they’re on sale, so just tell me the date/time and I’ll post them to you.

109. DO YOU LIKE THE ACOTAR SERIES?

I think it’s incredibly sexist and the relationships are abusive and it’s nOT YA even though it’s been labelled as it. For me, it’s also completely cliche and all the faerie growling, male dominance, and sex ain’t my thing. I also have problems with Sarah J Maas books in general for how whitewashed they are and how they kill off POC and cut out characters with disabilities.

I’m also 500% okay if YOU LIKE IT. We are not the same person and we don’t have to think the same way. I mean, thank goodness.

110. ARE YOU GOING TO CREATE A BOOKTUBE CHANNEL?

But I don’t have a face.

111. DO YOU HAVE SOCIAL ANXIETY OR ANXIETY IN GENERAL? AND IF YOU DO, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT AND STILL BE HILARIOUS AND OUTGOING IN YOUR POSTS?

I have BOTH. Because why get hit with one when you can have two? Haha haha HAHAHA HAHA.

I’ve always been better at communicating through writing rather than talking. So HELLO internet, which allows me to write my little heart out. It’s a safe place for me because (a) I have can formulate replies in my own slow time, (b) I choose when and how often to put out content to control anxiety-induced-exhaustion, and (c) it’s just easier to talk to people online rather than in-person!

But yes I get anxious about posts! You might notice I rarely blog about anything controversial because the anxiety-levels do not handle. I get worried about making new friends, so PLEASE: you come to me and throw gifs and chat about cake and read The Raven Boys with me. I will instantly adopt you.

I don’t try to “hide” my anxiety, but I do only put some of myself out on the internet. It’s my decision! I don’t blog about anxiety but that doesn’t mean it’s not a huge part of my life.

Also practise. After 6 years of making terrible puns and shouting in all caps about books, I’m just very used to it.

 

112. FAVOURITE MUSICAL?

The one with no singing.

113. HOW DO YOU DESIGN BOOKMARKS?

I have no idea as I do not. Probably with witchcraft.

114. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WISH YOU’D DONE DIFFERENTLY WITH YOUR BLOG?

I do wish I’d gone with a pseudonym, believe it or not! I had a lot of very personal attacks last year with people smearing my name around (with complete trash fire lies) and it would’ve been nice to say “Okay that is The Dragon Queen over on the internet, but CAIT is logging off and chilling now.” Just for a bit of a severing there.

Also I dislike my name. *

 

* DON’T TELL MY MUM.

115. WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T A WRITER?

Probably crying in a hole.

116. DO YOU BELIEVE IN UNCONVENTIONAL CAKES (EG. AVOCADO, GINGER-LEMON-CARAMAL, CHEESE AND ONION ETC.)?

I do, actually, I do very much. Although I’ve not had the latter two, but there is this absolutely delicious avocado and chocolate pie that is just TO DIE FOR. Also, due to allergies, all the cakes I eat are sugar/gluten/grain free and mostly healthy too, so #noregrets.

117. WHAT IS THE CRAZIEST THING YOU’VE EVER DONE WHILE LISTENING TO AN AUDIOBOOK?

Laughed like a demented chicken so badly that my dog left the room.

118. HOW DO YOU REPLY TO PEOPLE WHO TELL YOU THAT YOU READ TOO MUCH IRL?

I eat them.

119. HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT GETTING YOUR OWN WEBSITE?

I feel awfully guilty but…I DON’T KNOW. I have a relative who set it up for me and in return I babysat his children. I literally sat on the children. I think they’re okay now, though.

120. DO YOU LIKE CEREAL?

YES. But I don’t eat it because I eat eggs of the unborn for breakfast.

121. HOW DO YOU SIT YOUR REAR DOWN AND WRITE SO MUCH AT A TIME?

OBSESSION. Possibly a touch of manic obsession… I get hyper zoned in on writing and can do it for hours. It’s also (a) I’ve been writing for 7 years so #practised, and (b) I want this to be my career so EATING FOOD AND BEING ABLE TO LIVE IS MOTIVATING.

122. WHY IS USING A WRITING PROGRAM IMPORTANT AND HOW HAS IT HELPED YOU?

I wrote an ODE to the beauty of Scrivener here if you want to see. But briefly:

  • Scrivener keeps all my files together so I don’t have 9389 word documents up at one time.
  • It breaks up chapters which makes editing and flipping back and forth SUPER chill.
  • It autosaves and autobacks up.
  • I can write little notes to myself before each chapter with the corkboard feature.
  • IT’S NOT EVEN COMPLICATED OR HARD TO USE.

123. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE A POST?

Generally a few hours. I fluff around a lot making graphics and organising the photos. My posts are generally about 1,500-words too. Sooooo loooooong.

124. HOW DO YOU SORT YOUR BOOKS BY COLOUR IF THE SPINES ARE MULTIPLE COLOURS?

Mostly you just weep tears of blood and bitterness. I sometimes break up a series like a monster. OR I put them in my secondary bookshelf which isn’t quite rainbow themed.

Like, please, I’m not breaking up my Schwab or Stiefvater shrines.

125. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRETTIEST BOOKS YOU OWN?

   

126. WHY DON’T YOU HAVE A PAGE OF WIPS ON YOUR BLOG ANYMORE?

IT’S A SECRET. But you can see my WIP boards on Pinterest.

127. WHAT IS IT LIKE HAVING A SIX YEAR OLD NOW?

I got confused for a moment and though maybe perhaps I had a child in the world I had no knowledge of — AND THEN MY BRAIN CAUGHT UP. Yes yes, my six year old blog child is very nice. It’s well adjusted to society and I can even leave it for a week and the stats are still fine. Which leads me to believe people love me best when I’m not blogging.

It’s okay. I’m not crying.

THAT’S JUST TEARS OF VOLCANIC ASH.

128. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING NOVELS?

I started truly writing at 15! Because that time I plagiarised The Three Little Bears when I was like 6? Yeah, let’s not count that.

So 7 or so years.

129. WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST EMBARRASSING MOMENT IN BLOGGING?

  • As a newbie blogger I tagged an author in a negative review…I just…I CAN’T EVEN.
  • I’ve requested a book to the wrong publisher.
  • A favourite author thought I subtweeted them and I SO SO DIDN’T and I’m still distraught over that.
  • I thought two bloggers were the SAME PERSON for absolutely ever.

130. WHILE READING YOUR REVIEWS, I NOTICED ONE CRITIQUE THAT COMES UP A LOT IS THAT YOU DIDN’T CARE ABOUT THE MAIN CHARACTERS, AND THAT PREVENTED YOU FROM FULLY ENJOYING THE NOVEL. I ENCOUNTER THAT PROBLEM A LOT, TOO. SO WHAT DOES IT TAKE YOU TO CARE? DO YOU NOTICE CERTAIN STYLES/PATTERS/CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTS THAT CAUSE YOU TO CARE MORE THAN OTHERS?

I’m partially pleased and partially embarrassed that you noticed! But yes, I am a a peculiar little felon and don’t relate to people very often. In books. Out of books. Ya know. The whole works.

For me it’s mostly a personality thing. Being Vulcan and INTJ and extremely introverted. However, some authors (Schwab, Stiefvater, Ness, Clare, etc.) make me care about ANY character — proof of excellent writing that can melt even my dead Vulcan heart!

But here’s a smol list of characters I’ll always care about:

  • siblings who are very close
  • soft, kind, sweet boys and sharp, intelligent, heartfelt girls
  • characters with accurately portrayed anxiety
  • tragic smol cinnamon rolls
  • characters whose first love are also books and libraries
  • slightly psychopathic characters who just WANT TO BE LOVED
  • sweet characters forced to do dark/bad things
  • anyone who is sassy, let’s be real here
  • characters who care SO FIERCELY about others
  • characters who like cake, obviously

131. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC SCHEDULE FOR YOUR BLOG?

USUALLY (but just not this weekend #irony) it is:

  • Monday = review
  • Tuesday = Top Ten Tuesday linkup
  • Friday = maaaaaaaaybe a tag or an extra review or me shouting about a grape but usually NOTHING
  • Saturday = discussion or list of bookish nonsense

I also post at 7:00pm EST Australian time. On the dot. Schedules and consistency are my friends.

132. HOW DO YOU PRIORITISE YOUR TIME WITH WRITING/EDITING/FORMATTING BLOG CONTENT, TAKING PHOTOS, WRITING NOVELS, AND SEEING FAMILY AND FRIENDS?

  • I DON’T. I FAIL. ALL THE TIME.
  • When I’m writing, that comes #1…but I don’t write all the time! I binge write for 4 days and do nothing else and then I take 4 months off. Erm…don’t be me.
  • I only write 3 posts a week and the reviews are super easy at least.
  • I do most reading at night or early morning.
  • I take photos only on weekends and do a MASSIVE photoshoot.
  • What do you mean “see family and friends”.
  • explain yourself

133. WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM IN LIFE?

To walk into a bookstore, point at a beautiful book on display and say, “YES I WROTE THAT. THAT IS MY CHILD. I DID IT AFTER 12 YEARS IN AZKABAN AND NO ONE COULD STOP ME.”

 

134. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU RECRUITED FOR YOUR PLAN OF WORLD DOMINATION?

Roughly 50,000 of you online. I suspect some of you are doubles and robots though.

And my dog.

135. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE DAY TO READ / WRITE?

When I write: it is ALL THE DAY.

I’d rather read in the morning when I know where my eyeballs are, buuuut it rarely happens that way. Because LIFE COMMITMENTS.

136. HOW DO YOU STAY PRODUCTIVE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AROUND?

I give myself only certain times I can check it. And if myself throws a tantrum, myself gets a lecture and no one wants that do we.

137. GIVE ME 3 REASONS WHY MY NEXT READ SHOULD BE THE RAVEN BOYS?

  • It is magical and sassy and full of complex characters who will break your heart.
  • There are dead boys and feminist girls.
  • IT’S MY FAVOURITE SERIES AND I SAID TO READ IT.

138. DO YOU SOMETIMES THINK “WOW THE WORLD IS SO BIG”?

Yes. Particularly when I drop something small on the floor and can’t find it again.

139. DO YOU NEED ANY MORE BETA READERS?

HA, SNEAKY.

Maybe. I have 3.5 critique partners. The 0.5 is my sister who, left alone, will take 3 years to read one of my books. I think she’s trying to tell me something…

I just finished writing a book however, and I’ll be looking for some specific sensitivity readers. I’LL LET YOU KNOW SOON.

140. WOULD YOU EVER CO-AUTHOR A BOOK WITH SOMEONE VIA THE INTERNET?

141. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT SELF-PUBLISHING?

It’s not for me! Too much work / pressure to get it all perfect…alone. And like I said: BOOKSTORE DREAM.

I have nothing against self-publishing, obviously, it’s just not what I want.

142. DO YOU GET RID OF BOOKS YOU DON’T LIKE?

Only if forced. Like during this move I must’ve gotten rid of at least 100+ books…

143. HOW OLD ARE YOU, IN DRAGON YEARS AND OTHERWISE?

The humans refer to me as in my 23rd year.

144. WHOSE BOOTS ARE THOSE?

146. WHICH OF YOUR BOOKS ARE YOU GOING TO PUBLISH FIRST?

It’s a surprise.

147. HOW MANY YEARS OF PRACTISE DID IT TAKE TO WRITE SO MANY WORDS SO FAST?

JUST KIDDING. Only 7 years! I heard once that after 1 million words, you start to be more confident about what you’re doing. #agreed

I have written….so many words. I wrote 500,000 this year alone.

148. WHAT BOOK HAVE YOU BEEN TELLING YOURSELF YOU’LL READ FOR AGES BUT STILL HAVEN’T YET?

  

149. DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY YOU TRAUMATISE YOUR READERS?

150. WORST BOOK RELATED MISHAP?

I tried to take a photo of a book perched on a verandah. IT DID A SHERLOCK AND LEAPED. Into a mud puddle. I’m still…traumatised.

151. WHEN PACKING, DID YOU FIND A BOOK / DUPLICATE YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU OWNED?

YES. AND I’M ASHAMED. I kept some pretty duplicates because #collector, but I had NO idea I had two of Ally Carter’s I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have To Kill You. I don’t even like that book. HOW DO I HAVE TWO.

152. IS KELLY REALLY YOUR FAVOURITE BLOGGER?

153. WHAT’S THE BEST PART OF CAKE? FROSTING? ACTUAL CAKE? PRETTY PICTURES? THE DELICIOUSNESS?

Excuse you I believe in equality in all things.

154. WERE THERE ANY SPECIFIC MOMENTS THAT GOT YOU WHERE YOU ARE NOW WITH BLOGGING?

I have definitely had some HUGE moments, but I don’t know which ones contributed to me being the delightfully deranged cyclone I am now? Recently I got interviewed by Bookstr which was PRETTY BIG and some of my tweets have gotten 6,000+ likes!

155. WHO IS YOUR ABSOLUTE INSPIRATION IN LIFE?

Definitely L from Death Note. Let’s be real here.

156. CAKE ISN’T GOOD. WHY DO YOU LIKE CAKE?

157. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR QUERYING EXPERIENCE.

The short version is:

  • I wrote a query.
  • I got many critiques.
  • I sent it out and it got rejected.
  • I wrote more queries and got more critiques.
  • Several people (including FREAKING PROFESSIONAL AUTHORS WHO HOSTED A CONTEST) told me my book would never work and to stop.
  • I sent out more queries.
  • After 10 months of querying, I signed with an agent.

158. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FRENCH FOOD?

I was going to say “French fry” but apparently they’re from Belgium. THAT’S NOT CONFUSING AT ALL.

159. DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC?

When I’m plotting novels: YES. I have a playlist of insanity that will range from things like Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack, to Sia, Neon Dreams, Preedy, Gjan, Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons, Stahl, Sean & Bobo, Marianas Trench, Axhello, One Republic, and Clean Bandit.

When writing: no. I want silence. SILENCE.

160. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BOOKS BEING TURNED INTO MOVIES?

161. CHOOSE BETWEEN (A) DRAGON HATCHLING, (2) $1,000,000 OR (3) MAGICAL INVISIBLE HOUSEHOLD SERVANTS TO COOK/CLEAN FOR YOU?

Obviously (a) because then, when it is grown, my new child can eat what parts of the world deny my rule. As queen and lord of all, I shall need not mere coin.

162. BEST AND WORST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU IN YOUR BLOG REIGN?

BEST: making some simply amazing friends, being given books (!!!!!!!), realising that people like my intermittent shouting and strange humour, watching the arrow on my main page shoot across the screen because simple pleasures, ok.

WORST: being attacked for not liking a book which consequently lead to a lot of people (who I thought were friends) blocking me without EVER asking me what had happened…it would not have taken much to send me a DM and say “Hey Cait, I heard people saying you hate diversity, what’s up with that?” I would’ve explained most happily why some spiteful people decided to try and ruin my online presence. Because as a marginalised person myself, of course I support and love diversity. ANYWAY. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again. My anxious soul took months to recover.

163. NIGHT OWL OR MORNING PERSON?

 

BOTH FOR I DO NOT SLUMBER.

 

 

Oh look, here’s that tremendous giveaway again.

And tremendous cake which I’ll actually share at least 2 crumbs with you. Anyway, same as before: 3 prizes for 3 winners! Open INTERNATIONALLY.

  • (1st Prize) Amazon ebook of your choice! (Up to $10 Australian!)
  • (2nd Prize) A mini bookish necklace!
  • (3rd Prize) A 10,000-word critique of your writing from ME. (If you trust my opinions mwhaha…but I’ve done 3 professional writing courses, I’ve written 25 books, and I’m signed with a literary agent.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

okay it’s finished, i promise!! THAT WAS A WILD, WILD TIME. and i want to thank you 500% if you submitted questions!! if i didn’t answer yours, shout it in the comments!

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Comments

  1. Oh my gosh, I”m so flattered that we’re one of your favourite blogs. Thank you so much <3. I really appreciate all the enthusiasm (mostly for cake, sometimes for books) that you bring to this community, and I'm looking forward to many more years of paper fury (also I'm SO SO SO ready for whenever you become a famous published author. I'm definitely going to buy your books, don't you worry.)
    Shanti recently posted…Wanted: Settings from Elsewhere (ideally, ownvoices)My Profile

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  4. I attest that I do really enjoy you screaming at us in all caps! Pynch is magic.
    And I do also find it crazy that you can read that amount of books a year! I struggled last year getting to 100! Mostly because I procrastinated till October but still…
    I want to hear your accent! And I can’t wait to read alllll your books.
    Too bad your siblings are on sale! I wanted to sell mine to you! One brother and one sister haha.
    I’ve recently starting thinking, or maybe just seeing or developing mild social anxiety. It’s very strange and hard to deal with since, although I did have my introverted moments, I used to be very much more outgoing and less anxious.
    WHY do you dislike your name?!?! Is it short for Caitlin or…? Caityyyy?
    The Raven Boys was magical and amazing and thanks to you and my best friend I fell IN LOVE.
    Also how do you pick beta readers? That would be amazing!!
    What;s your favorite song right now?
    Last thing, that cake gif killed me. I am so hungry. But I HAVE NO CAKE!!! I love this post
    xxxxx

    Reply

    • I’M SO GLAD THE ALL CAPS IS NOT A BOTHER BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT’S HERE TO STAY.😂 And haha, I mean, I do read fast and I’m totally obsessed with it.😂 But I definitely haven’t been reading as voraciously as other years. I get distracted by soooo much these days.

      No no I’m selling my siblings TO YOU. I will take 20cents by this point. Pls. I’m desperate.

      It is hard to deal with Social anxiety and I’m sorry you have to go through it too. *sad noises and gives you cake* It’s very a very confusing thing because I do think it can get worse the longer you have it? Which sucks.

      I JUST DON’T LIKE MY NAME. DON’T YOU COME AT ME WITH CAITY THOUGH OR I’M TAKING AWAY YOUR CAKE.

      Reply

      • IT REALLY ISN’T!! I LOVE IT.
        FINE! That’s a fair price. The only thing is can they bake and dust bookshelves well?
        Thank you…it is funny how much more yourself you can be on the internet sometimes. Really??? I did not know that; I’ll probably have to do some more research.
        NOOOOO not my cake! Never shall I use that again. I don’t quite like my name either (thank you Mom).

        Reply

  5. Oooohhh ooohhh my blog is one of your favourites I feel so hounoured if you want me to think you’re a fearsome dragon you’re really going to have to try harder, I’m afraid. (but really: thank you. Your words mean a lot. <3 <3 <3) . Also, half of what this post has taught me is that people on the internet suck. I guess part of this is the danger of being FAMOUS and SUCCESSFUL like you are but truly you shouldn't get haters and why are people dumb. (Example: one time I was searching for performances of a flute song I was learning and I found one that sucked a lot but did I comment that? No. I thought it without having to say it because I'm a sensible person. anyway)
    Also, your musical career is interesting! I'm still trying to decide what to do now I've finished school and which of my two instruments to prioritise (spoiler: ALWAYS FLUTE. Mime and I would probably get on.) (also I have a ukulele baby but I … can't really play it? I should practice more. *shrugs*). Anyway, that was a herculean effort so well done on 163 questions Wow <3 <3 <3
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    • *squishes you* I’ll be nice today and then go back to eating people tomorrow. This is a solid plan and I’m sure it’ll work. *nods*

      And ugh yes it IS a complete downside to growing your blog/audience is that you encounter a lot of people who think you’re horrible for it. I mean, half the time people are cruel it’s unprovoked and completely mind-boggling. I see stuff I disagree with ALL the time online, but mostly why does it even matter??? Especially if it’s a book or something. I mean, iT’S JUST A BOOK, PEOPLE, CHILL.😂😂 But luckily for me, I have the most lovely internet friends of ever. <3

      HEY IF MIME AND YOU WOULD GET ON WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY HER SHE'S FOR SALE.

      Reply

    • Ugh I know. People can be awful. But I think maybe I tick people off easily and accidentally because I’m a bit brutal with how honest I am over stuff. 😭 I DON’T MEAN TO BE I JUST AM AN INSENSITIVE VULCAN AT TIMES.

      L is who we should all aspire to be.

      Reply

  8. Haha – I’d never read a single book blog before starting my own either! Glad I’m not alone.

    I think in some ways it was a good thing b/c I do some things on my blog still that I started right from the beginning and I don’t really see on lots of other blogs. And in most other ways it was terrible b/c I could have come up the curve much faster!!

    Reply

    • At least we figured it out eventually, right?!?😂 Although I might not’ve spent 3 years floundering around if I’d KNOWN how to book blog from the get go. But ahhh well.😂

      Reply

  9. I made it! It was good of you to answer so many, I don’t think I could have done it.

    My worst book related mishap was having one of my books fall into the bath. I was running the bath and put the book I wanted to read during my bath on the side of the bath for some reason I cannot understand, I normally do not put my book on the side of the bath before I hop in. My book decided it wanted to have a bath too. It took me days to dry it out.

    I love your query story, love that you didn’t give up when people told you they thought your book wouldn’t work.

    Congratulations again.

    Reply

    • Omg the bath!! THAT’S TERRIFYING. *weeps for dear dead departed book*

      And I’m so glad you survived reading all of this.😂 It was intense omg. And YES. I’m really glad I kept going even though people were telling me to stop. It really will never cease to bug me that professional authors would host contests and then tell people their book doesn’t work. Like whatttt. Crushing dreams is just a good way to look silly *points at Harry Potter’s publishing origin story*

      Reply

  11. I loved all these gifs, especily the ones from movies that I recignised! that loki gif, i love loki! he’s so anoying and I hate him so much but he’s also one of the best bad guys ever like what am I saying I’m confused. I also don’t remember what I asked you, except for the one on the first post, where I was going to ask your favorite book, but I didn’t want to be that cruel. hmmm. if you are a dragon, what color are your scales? I can turn into a dragon sometimes, and I have purple scales. very shiny.
    Most crazily, ~Olive
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  12. Great answers again!! I really enjoyed reading these :). I also express myself way better in writing than in talking. I find it easier, having time to think about things before I type them. It’s nice to read you feel the same way :). *hug* for the anxiety. I’m a pretty anxious person myself and life can be very difficult. Also a *hug* for when people attacked you, no one deserves to be treated like that. I’ve put The Raven Boys on my wishlist a few days ago, I think I might buy that soon :). I really liked reading these answers :)! I hope you had a nice weekend!

    Reply

    • I’m SO glad you liked the posts!!😂 And now we all get to take a 5hr nap after surviving all this, right?!😂 And aww, I’m glad we both understand the struggles but sucks that we both have to go through anxious lives. *shares cake with you*

      I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE GOING TO READ THE RAVEN BOYS.

      THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING. YOU MAKE MY DAY. 💕💕

      Reply

  13. Ok, so I’m currently applauding you for answering all these questions. How long did that take you?

    Also, I want avacado and chocolate pie now. I don’t actually like avacado on its own? But I adore it in stuff because it makes everything super smooth and creamy and amazing. So, yeah. And I must correct you on another food-related count: you do not eat “eggs of the unborn.” The unborn cannot produce eggs; however, eggs are the unborn. So, thus, you eat the unborn, not “eggs of the unborn,” unless you secretly have a time machine and use it to go into the future and get eggs from chickens (or other birds; I don’t judge) that haven’t been hatched yet. I wouldn’t have said anything, but eating the unborn sounds much more World Conquering Dark Lady Dragon-ish than eating the eggs of the unborn and I figured you’d want the best possible image, right?

    Finally: being turned into glass from the inside out sounds like a fabulous death. Fabulous in that it’s exciting and dramatic and horrible, not fabulous as in I want to die that way. (I want do die in bed, having just dropped off to sleep after having finished rereading my favorite book.) However, I want to know how you stab someone with Davy Jones? Assuming I’m interpreting that correctly, as in “using Davy Jones to stab someone,” not “you and Davy Jones stab someone together.”
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    • DAYS. 😂 No really, it took forever haha. I’m blaming this on why I have only read like 4 books this whole month.😂 Ahhhem. And avocado and chocolate is actually totally DIVINE but we rarely eat it because my sister hates it. What’s wrong with her.

      How dare you correct me here.😂DETAILS DETAILS. The image is important though, so true.

      Agreed that it would be a fabulous way to go. But like, not for us personally. Just for characters. Because we’re mean. (I want to just not ever die. Immortality ftw.) And you shall just have to wait and see about my Davy Jones stabbing. I’m proud of that one too. :’)

      Reply

      • Pfff. Sisters. What do they know? Mine doesn’t approve of pecan or pumpkin pie or cheese on eggs, so clearly lack of good food judgement is a common trait.

        I only correct you because I desire to help improve your reign, O Dread Queen of the Bookdragons.

        In the words of Inigo Montoya: “I hate waiting.”

        Reply

        • MINE DOESN’T LIKE PUMPKIN PIE EITHER!!! It’s a sister conspiracy obviously. We need to ask ourselves why they turned out this way. Did we raise them wrong??? It’s so bizarre. (Although I don’t eat pecans, but I’m mildly-allergic to nuts so I have excuses. Also my sister doesn’t eat eggs [unless they’re in something] so like I despair of her.)

          Reply

  14. I love your blogging advice. All of that stuff is so true. Also, I’m very curious about Scrivener. I know a lot of people who love it, but I’m still using Microsoft Word for everything. I’m afraid of change and not patient enough to learn new computer stuff. I need to get over that.
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    • I definitely do think Scrivener isn’t that hard to use! Like I was scared when people told me it was a mega learning curve and I’m like “why”😂 I probably don’t use all the features but I have a lot of fun/ease with what I do use!

      Reply

  15. You know you can eat cake WHILE you read, right?? They are both very important tasks and can be done at the same time. It’s not necessary to sacrifice one for the other. No need for that nonsense.

    About the pseudonym thing… I used my real name on my blog until last year or the year before when I read a post from someone I follow about why they use an alias. I don’t like my real name anyway so now I get a bit of anonymity and a cool internet name! But I totally get why people with bigger blogs wouldn’t want to suddenly change their name – it’s a bit of a brand, right?
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    • I AGREE. If one can’t multitask cake AND reading, what are they doing with their life?? Hmm??

      I totally get that! I would’ve switched to an alias but I only figured out I wished I had one last year and by then it was a bit late.😂 Too many people know me as Cait and like I’ve been querying/trying to be published as my true name, so if I DO get there, I want people to connect my blog + my book. *sigh* it gets so complicated gahhaha. I just wish 16yo me had been wiser.

      Reply

  16. Oh look, two of my questions made it! ^_^
    Loved reading your Q&A, the whooole wild thing, but the cake crumbs were gone by the time I got here D:

    YOUR NAME IS COOL, WHY DON’T YOU LIKE IT

    One question, since there’s obviously no way you could possibly be tired of answering stuff, do you make a habit of eating your world domination army? I need to prepare accordingly.

    Reply

    • OH GOOD!! I actually don’t know who asked what because I messed up the form.😂 So I’m glad I answered yours! And sorry about the cake crumbs but the cake WAS delicious. *tries to be regretful*
      *is not*

      I actually try NOT to eat my army? Like sometimes things happen, so I’m not going to sit here and promise 100% safety from being devoured. But I TRY.

      Reply

  17. Peter Pan <3
    THE 2003 VERSION <3 <3 <3
    Also.. *cough* potential beta reader right here *cough*
    Sorry about that, I have a cold.
    Simi

    Reply

  18. Awww, you answered both of my questions 😀 let me just dance into the sunset now.

    And I think you forgot to mention that good writing has been crucial to your success, woman. I mean, we both know that you write well and people would not read you if you didn’t 🙂

    Also, fingering totally sucks! The enemy of all late learners, gah. Also, you’re probably ONE OF US with tiny tiny hands, right? That hurt both my piano and guitar playing xD #whywesosmol

    And I am SO glad you prefer blogs as well,as opposed to booktube. I do and I feel so backwards 😀 like I’m an old lady xD but I just don’t have the attention span for a YouTube video! (THAT MEANS I HAVE TO PUT AWAY MY READING.)

    Wow, your cakes are free of all of that? How do you get away with that? I once had to go on a diet like that FOR A LONG TIME and it was plain deadly cause there was nothing to eat. But then again, my body doesn’t do rice at all. The gluten part gets tough if you can’t use rice 😀 and it’s also hard to shop here for stuff that doesn’t contain those things. Do you have any awesome cake recipes you could share though?
    Evelina recently posted…Sunday post #10My Profile

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    • OH GOOD! I messed up the form I set up and couldn’t figure out who asked what question.😂So I just whacked ’em all on and hoped for the best.

      Aww, THANKS. *blushes* That is so so super nice to know you think my writing is good. I’M JUST GONNA FLAIL . NOW THANK YOU.

      I do have terribly tiny hands *growls at life* And also double-jointed thumbs, which really killed me on the violin because I couldn’t hold it for some positions with my thumb sticking out all wrong. And my pinion teacher was constantly like “Um, can you put your thumbs flat?” And I’m like “UM NO.”😂 I clearly wasn’t born for music.

      I don’t have the attention span for youtube either! And like there tends to be a lot of repetition and “ums” and I just can’t handle it. Blog posts are more concise.😂

      I don’t actually eat rice very often either.😂 Mostly stuff like seeds? I don’t eat nuts either hahha, so yeah. But my mum is like a SUPER QUEEN for allergy cooking and I can’t even with how we eat such good and delicious food and I’ve never felt like I’m missing out. (Except, perhaps, on bread-y things on occasion.)

      Reply

      • Hahaha, I asked those two 😀 “do you love me… errr, what was your first ARC” :DD

        Double.. jointed thumbs? *googling* lol, okay, THAT’S what it’s called. I just have straight ones. I thought double jointed is better, cause you’re like a transformer that can do anything and you’re flexible? 😀 turns out it’s not..?

        Yes, and I don’t like seeing pretty people on Youtube either, so there xD blogs don’t make me feel bad about myself! Okay, so they do, but.. In a different way xD in a way where I can do something about it 😀 you can’t change the face you’ve been born with, after all (although you might not have that problem, cause you said you were born without one ;DDD)

        (BTW, there’s this favorite Super Mario games streamer me and bf like… There’s a meme going around that “he’s got no legs” because, well, he’s obviously always sitting. So you’re not alone :D)

        Wow! Your mom should have a blog and SHARE WITH US. Because gosh. Cakes WITHOUT rice and grain and sugar? #missionimpossible
        Evelina recently posted…Sunday post #10My Profile

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  20. I loved this post soooo much! Getting to hear your answers to all of these amazing questions was just so much fun and so enjoyable. I want even more! Also, in terms of books you want to read but haven’t yet, READ THE LOOSE ENDS LIST! I loved it so much! Also, it was the first book review I published on my blog, so it will always hold a special place in my heart 🙂

    Congrats on 6 years of blogging, and I hope you have many more!

    Reply

    • Ahh I’m glad you liked The Loose Ends List!! I actually hard TONS of bad stuff about it, hence I’ve procrastinated it.😭 So I’m keen to try it out now since you loved it.😂

      THANK YOU, DARBY! I hope to blog until I’m 904.

      Reply

  21. YOU MUST READ THE HOBBIT!!!!!!! ^_^

    Also, I do love your sassy, adorable answers to these questions ^_^. You go, girl!

    Reply

  23. Anxiety sucks. I have it too, and writing is so much easier. I tried to have a booktube channel but that combined with physical issues…didn’t work out. I like focusing on my blog instead 🙂 Also I have ordered The Raven Boys, i’ve never read a Maggie Stiefvater book before but i’ve heard so many good things about The Raven Boys I decided to finally check it out!
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    • Writing is SUCH a glorious blessing to this universe. <3 It so helps us anxious beans not feel isolated. And my sister tried to get me to booktube and I've never been more uncomfortable in my entire life. 🙈 Least to say: solid no there haha.

      AFJDSKLAD I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE GETTING THE RAVEN BOYS. THIS PLEASES ME RIDICULOUSLY SO.

      Reply

  24. I got that, “Wow. It’s finished. Now what?” feeling that I get when I finish a book I really like. You know, that warm feeling where your head is empty and your face is blank and you just stare at the wall?? THESE TWO POSTS DID THAT TO ME. So, needless to say that I enjoyed it 😉
    This was lovely, it answered lots of questions I had regarding you/whatyoudo/yourblog/I’mTotallyNotStalkingYourWholeLife 😛

    I suppose that now I should go read a book?? Or maybe I’ll just reread your posts…
    No, I’m not procrastinating. I’M ENJOYING MYSELF.
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    • OMG, KRIS. THAT’S LIKE THE NICEST COMPLIMENT. *flails* *blushes* I’m glad you enjoyed them! (And survived, like, this practical novel of a post omg everyone’s going to need a 2 month break from me now) 😂😂

      NOW I HAVE NO SECRETS! (ok maybe a few) LIKE ONCE I DID EAT A CARROT CAKE AND LIKED IT BUT WE DON’T TALK ABOUT THAT.

      Reply

  26. So I have been blogging for about 9 or 10 months now I’m still a noob!! It is a travel blog not a book one…. I’M NOT WORDY ENOUGH FOR A BOOK BLOG I WISH THOUGH!!

    Also my favorite cake is all cake but gun to the head I would have to say cookie cake or cherry chip… but also maybe carrot? Why do I have to choose it is like choosing my favorite child!!!!!

    Reply

  27. Cait, you will forever be hilarious and relateable. If I weren’t taking over the world myself, I would 100% help you. Live long and prosper.

    Also; if indeed you ever do become published, I shall 100% endeavor to fangirl over them as extensively as I fangirl over the DC Cinematic Universe. (When you say cinematic, do you think covered with cinnamon? because I do.)
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    • DAISY, YOU’LL FOREVER MAKE ME FLAIL FOR 900 YEARS WITH HAPPY. THANK YOU. I will totally give you a smol square of sand to live on once I take over the whole world now. :’)

      I think cinematic is a direct reference to cinnamon. Let’s be real here.

      Reply

  28. Great post! I hope u get sum cake soon

    If u liKe fallout boy u should listen to panic at the Disco!1!!!1
    Also, which of ur books did you query?¿

    Reply

  29. Oh god, people are awful…. *feeds you cake to heal your sorrows* Paperfury was one of the first book blogs I found (like you I didn’t know there was a book blogging community when I started blogging) and it’s always gonna be one of my favorites. I love your sense of humor and writing style, and can’t wait to read your first book!
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    • *eats all the cake* People can be awful, but I’ve found SUCH nice friends online!! So it balances out!! AND AWWW, I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKE MY BLOG THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY I CAN’T EVEN. 💕💕

      Reply

  30. Wow, Cait, 163 questions? I’m curious why 163? I loved reading this (however, my sister would argue that pineapple IS NOT an acceptable pizza topping.)
    My question: WHY DO YOU SORT YOUR BOOKSHELF BY COLOUR???? it looks pretty, but how do you ever find anything? Especially when you have 657 books?? I only have 182 books (give or take a couple of hundred. I’ve no idea how many books I have, never counted, would frighten myself if I did) and they are sorted by the author’s name in alphabet and I still can’t find anything!
    Also, I’d love to enter the giveaway (Is it wrong that I desperately want to win the third prize???) does it matter that I don’t have twitter, tumblr, or even goodreads?

    Reply

    • Because I was asked 163. 😂😂

      I can find every book in my bookshelf with no worries at all! Even when I take them out for photoshoots, I know exactly where I’ve put them and I put them back in exactly the same order. Easy. 😇

      And no worries, just enter the entries you can! There are options that don’t involve social media there too. 😜

      Reply

      • I’m not actually sure if I am in the giveaway or not, there doesn’t seem to be a submit button when i feel there should be. maybe there isn’t though, I don’t know. 😛

        Reply

  31. May I just say, you have excellent taste in GIFs? Always the best. 🙂

    Except, now I want cake and I’m entirely too tired to make it. We don’t have cake delivery systems here. ;_; Why hasn’t Kiki becomes a real person yet to fly cakes directly to my balcony?!
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    • OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH!! And congrats on surviving these mammoth beasts of posts. 😂 I promise i’ll go back to sane-sized posts after this!!😂

      AND AWW, THANKS! THAT COMPLETELY MAKES MY DAY!

      Reply

  33. #73 [YES TO THE BILBO GIF] and #118 [people who criticize bookdragons DESERVE to be eaten] are life.

    And we love your blog because you yell at us and threaten to to destroy our planet and that’s adorable because you’re just a smol shiny rainbow-black dragon who (I’m guessing) doesn’t come out of her book-cave too often. (And we know we could bribe you with cake and more books if you started flaming a little too hard.)
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    • HOW DARE YOU SUMMARISE ME SO EASILY AND ACCURATELY.😂😂 Also yes…that is so 500% right. So you like me because I’m smol and fierce but haven’t actually bitten anyone yet so everyone is just smiling because I am all bark and no bite. *sigh*
      *goes off to eat Jupiter instead*

      Reply

  34. Caitttt, you mentioned little old ME!! You are too sweet! I am bursting with pride. Hey, who is that person who doesn’t like cake? That seems like someone we should probably not trust. Also, I am really, really sorry about your worst moment. That is seriously messed up on so many levels. But I am also happy for all the amazing things that have happened to you to offset it.

    I also love that you can’t have a booktube channel because you don’t have a face. That is pretty accurate. OR you can have one but with some voice distortion and a book covering your face at all times. That would be… interesting 😉 Your pictures are SO pretty too. I aspire to have the level of pretty books you have one day. Even if I still don’t bother taking pictures of them because Instagram stole my soul and I needed to quit to get it back. Happy blogoversary again, my love!! ♥♥♥
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    • YOU ARE THE BEST, SHANNON. NEVER STOP BLOGGING OR I WOULD BE LOST. #noPressure

      Also I don’t really trust anti-cakers? I think they just seem super suspicious let’s be real here.

      I’m pretty sure it would be an interesting booktube channel without a face tbh. I might get famous for my efforts of being a stack of books walking around, let’s be real here. Ajfkdslad THANK YOU about the photos. <3 You kind bean.

      Reply

  36. So nice to read through ALL your questions. Oh my! Do your hands hurt with all the typing? Hope you have moved into the new place and settling down well. Cannot see new posts from the new room. And good luck with the book (s). Don’t fret about that super popular author who discouraged you because who knows! Years from now you both would be in the same panel and she (she? he?) will go,” Have I seen you before” and you can say “Hell, Yeah!”

    I love that you are super friendly to the people who comment on your posts. And I am a bit of a shy person myself, not as outgoing as the other bloggers for meet ups and signing etc. So hey! We are comfy in the small internet space. About confusing bloggers, was it Jenna and Jeann? I always used to confuse them especially since they both write at Happy Indulgence and their names are so similar. Now I have got my facts straight though

    Reply

    • I’ve trained my hands to type super long and fast after writing so many books. 😂 But these did take a while! And a lot of panicking over how long they are.😂😂 BUT AHH THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING, YOU KIND SOUL. I appreciate it so so enormously. <3

      Bahha, yes, that would be the day, right?😂 And I just think it's really ridiculous for authors to host critique contests and then use that space to tell people their books aren't going to work?? I mean, they're supposed to be here to HELP and GUIDE not to discourage like that! I hope I am never that kind of author. 🙈🙈

      Ahh, yes Jenna and Jeann are both GREAT and just two letters switched in their names is so fun. 😂 I've not gotten anything mixed up though because I've known Jeann forever at least!

      And aww, I'm so glad we both agree the internet is a great place to meet people when we are secret shy beans. It's just so much easier to take the TIME to convey your thoughts in a blog post instead of being swamped by people, right?!

      Reply

  37. Again. Delightful.
    I have a not unsimilar musical career trajectory… only I never got the cello. I just coveted the cello. I regretted the violin. I still sometimes smash my inadequate paws on the ol’ ivories because I love the piano despite my lack of actual aptitude for it.
    (I also hated performing and would stop practicing when parent/teachers tried to push me into performing…)

    I find it amusing someone asked if you have an Australian accent…

    Okay. I have to say. I appreciate that someone asked you about the ACOTAR series, because I love to see different opinions. I actually resisted picking it up until I saw a negative review (silly idea where I needed to know if I didn’t like it someone would still like me 😉 )… but most importantly I am glad to see you claim it is NOT YA. I am like 3 chapters into book #2, and I am actually enjoying the series so far, but the chapter I just read made my old soul go “HOW IS THIS YA?! I WOULD NOT WANT MY (never going to have) TEENAGE DAUGHTER READING THIS GOOD GRIEF!” and maybe I’m ridiculous but whatever.
    I like the sass. So far book 2 is less sassy and more sexy and ick. No thanks.

    Yay anxiety! I to have always been better at communicating through writing. I would legit have no friends if I lived in a computerless world…. all my best friends I have met through blogging 🙂
    (fun fact: despite being sent to professionals repeatedly throughout my life for a variety of reasons, I was nearly 30 and being treated for PTSD after a bad accident before a professional finally said “oh hey, you know you have all the symptoms of generalized anxiety and it sounds like you have had this YOUR WHOLE LIFE.” . . . *sigh*)

    I am sorry to read references to a time of people got mean at you for sounds like foolish reasons 🙁 I have spent too many hours of the past 24 dealing with people making malicious claims about my person online, never a good time… the internet is a wonderful thing for bringing people together, but it can also embolden them to be mean little shits 🙁

    anyhow. i had other thoughts, but I am on hour 10 of a 12 hour shift and I get crazy rambly with the tired. Point is, I think you’re swell, Cait, and I am late to the party but glad you’re still blogging 6 years in so I could catch up and find you 🙂 You’ve been a big part of the inspiration for me to get back into blogging (which might seem insane if you saw my very-not-bookish blog… but your tips about consistency resonate across genres 😉 )

    Reply

    • Agh to our musical career flops.😂 BUT AT LEAST WE TRIED, RIGHT?!? Performing is just such a pure nightmare I used to make myself so thoroughly sick over it. Like is there a concert in 3 months? Sure I’ll NEVER SLEEP AGAIN UNTIL THEN. *wails*

      I’m a bit baffled by the accent question, I admit.😂

      And sorry for not liking a series you like! I kind of went into it expecting to adore it because up until then I’d completely enjoyed ToG, so it took a while for me to realise why I was so unhappy with it. But yeah, like it’s not YA???? I’m FURIOUS that ACOMAF won the Goodreads Young Adult choice…like what the heck. This is so unfair and it’s misleading. 14 year old me would NOT have been okay reading that.

      All my friends are on the internet too! BEST WAY TO MAKE FRIENDS.

      *sends cake of comfort for the anxiety and ptsd* I’m sorry you have to go through this too…it sucks. But at least there are so many of us who understand, right?

      The internet kind of is a good AND bad place because the anonymity makes it easier for us shy/anxious people to work, buuuut, it also gives the trolls a lot of power too. *sigh* I wish people would remember there are ALWAYS others behind the computer screen!!

      THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING, THIS IS SO SO LOVELY OF YOU.

      Reply

  39. I’m almost afraid to tell you this, but I hate cake. Well, I hate frosting (it’s disgusting and too sweet and it makes my stomach hurt), and the cake without anything one it is just okay. 🙂

    Reply

  40. i have a question
    is ‘cinnamon scroll’ a typo or an aussie term
    because either way it’s now irreversibly a part of my vocabulary

    Reply

  41. I’ve been blogging for…4 years (I had to go check, heh). My enthusiasm is starting to wain, I’ll admit though. There’s just not enough time in my schedule anymore. I’ll hold on, b/c I’d love to announce an agent/book deal/book celebration stuff some day, but after all that, I’ll prolly just go to a website, and use Instagram & Twitter for my social media presence. Facebook = meh, for me. Anyhoo, fun learning more about you! And not like cake? Please. On Sunday I took home two pieces of cake from a wedding shower and before I got home, I’d eaten both pieces. #noregrets

    Reply

    • I totally get that! Blogging IS a huge time commitment and I don’t think we’re all supposed to last forever. Although I probably will blog until I’m 93 because I’m in the habit.😂 But 4 years is still aWESOME so congrats to you!!! My biggest love of keeping my blog is that I’m searchable. Like people continually find me while googling for reviews, which is nice, and that doesn’t happen if I just used social media. 😜 But at the same time social media can be WAY less of a commitment and lots of fun. SO YEAH. Good luck with whatever you decide!!

      Also hey should you not have shared that cake with me, sheesh, Leandra.

      Reply

  42. I’m pretty sure my comment will be similar to a lot of these, but this post (and part 1) are absolute perfection!! Never stop your intermittent shouting, it’s adorable! I went with a (kind of?) pseudonym for my blog because I wanted to keep my writing and my actual, real life career separate. I say kind of because I did keep it quite close to my actual name, which I hope doesn’t come back to bite me in the butt some day! As for all of the mean people in the world–you’re a dragon! Just squash them with your dragon claws. Then eat some cake. Cake understands. Cake accepts.

    Reply

    • THANK YOU, JESSICA. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HAPPY THIS MAKES ME. <3

      And I totally do get that with the pseudonym! I think it can be totally fine and safe to use one's real name online, and like especially for me with wanting to be an author someday. It makes sense to have my platform = real name be the same. BUT ANONIMITY IS SO NICE. *sobs* 😂

      All the cake for you. :')

      Reply

  43. Hi Cait!
    At question 87. the last answer you gave (“Me and Kell’s coat) I was starring at the sentence actually one minute and were trying to figure out which book theire out of. I laughed so hard when I finally UNDERSTOOD ! Fell right into your trap.

    Cait, do you have any short stories or anything (beside blog posts) that one can read online? I’d love to read an original work of yours.

    Reply

    • AHH I’m sorry!! I should’ve said it was from A Darker Shade of Magic.😂 I forgot because this was originally two posts and I’d answered another question similarly but said it was from ADSOM I’m the worst.😂

      I’m so pleased you asked! But I don’t have anything online except my blog for now. Maaaybe that might change someday. :’)

      Reply

  44. Musical–the one with no music. This is me. XD

    “IT DID A SHERLOCK AND LEAPED.” I. I. I. HOW DO I RESPOND TO THIS WITH MY FEELS AND YOUR GENIUS. *puddle of feels/laughter*

    I will stop now because otherwise I will accidentally quote the entire post and no-one wants that. XD (Because it would probably break the comment section. *cough*)

    I loved this post and it was SO FUN TO READ! 😀 Thank you for sharing! ^_^ (I kept reading bits aloud to my brother and we kept chuckling and it was great. XD)
    Deborah O’Carroll recently posted…Spring Ishness! {2017}My Profile

    Reply

    • I’M SORRY. WAS THAT SHERLOCK REFERENCE TOO SOON.😂 That was pretty harsh omg. haha. And also you make me smile so much!! I’m sooo glad you enjoyed the post! SO GLAD. I’M LITERALLY A PINEAPPLE OF GLAD.

      Reply

  45. I’m definitely going to use all these fabulous blogging tips you’ve provided! I loved reading all these questions! So much cake, aaaaaaalll the cake!! I’m a baby blogger, so I’m quite new to your blog, all the new info pleases me. I know so much more about one of my favourite bloggers, yay!!

    I appreciate all these GIFs muchly. Don’t mind me while I just go watch the live-action Peter Pan and cry in a corner… wahhh.

    Now to check out all these blogs you’ve recommended. Happy blogging! ^.^

    Reply

    • AHHHH I’m so pleased some of this was helpful!! <3 *gives you all the cake* AND OMG FAVOURITE BLOGGER? YOU'RE MAKING ME BLUSH.

      (Also I shall cry with you over the 2003 Peter Pan. IT IS MY LIFE. <3)

      Reply

  46. I read this post yesterday but couldn’t comment and now I have NO idea what I wanted to say??? Let me just like… casually skim over the post…

    I hope you get back into music! I’m a pianist (not a very good one, mind you), but right now my teacher’s on vacation. So I guess I’m happy??? But DUDE 2 HOURS OF PRACTICE??? That’s crazy. I practice like fifteen minutes a day. XD

    I can’t listen to music while writing either! I mean, I just sorta did… but very quietly and it was instrumental. If it has words, I just CANNOT FOCUS. One time I think I actually wrote down the lyrics to the song I was listening to. 😛 But when plotting, it’s definitely very inspirational!

    And I find it funny that you wish you’d gone with a pseudonym! May is a pseudonym (gosh I feel like I’m going to misspell that XD), and I wish that I had gone by my real name! I HATE talking about my blog in real life, like absolutely HAAAATE, but for some reason, I think I want to “merge” my personal self and my blogging self together. It’s weird. XD But I can definitely see your point with “okay, May is that person being attacked by trolls, but here’s [name] lying in bed all safe and sound”.

    THIS WAS A FUN POST EVEN THOUGH IT TOOK ME PROBABLY TWENTY MINUTES TO READ. #NOREGRETS
    May @ Forever and Everly recently posted…Genre Recommendations With the Lovely Sarah @ Between the PagesMy Profile

    Reply

    • Awww, that is true dedication to read the post twice.😂 YOU GET LIKE 9 CAKES NOW, MAY. Also omg yes I did make a huge effort with my music.😂 I DID. I had vague ideas of being a teacher but yeah…solid no to that. I would MUCH rather be a writer or a dragon or a terrifying conqueror. And music can be super distracting while writing?!? I found my writing improved like 100 x when I stopped listening to music.😂

      I have seen people with screen-names change to their real names! So you could totally do it if you wanted haha. It just depends on the person right?!? I love being anonymous but I didn’t know I loved it until too late.😂 And I think the trolls like to eat me because I’m a bit terrible at being too blunt.😂

      Reply

  47. 72. Whaaaaaa??? 😀
    78. 🙂
    91. Of COURSE you’re a dragon. You tell people this all the time. Don’t they listen? lol
    95. Dang.. Thou art an evil genius *bows*
    118. an excellent response
    156 BLASPHEMY

    Reply

  48. YOU DO HAVE A FACE, CAIT. I’VE SEEN YOUR VLOGS. DON’T TRY TO HIDE FROM ME.

    Omg can you imagine your 12-year blogaversery though? It’s going to have like 300 questions. Also I still don’t know how to spell bloggovarstlry.

    Pls publish a book soon thank you. Also I am v. interested in reading all of your books.

    Reply

    • SHHHH EMILY DON’T LET THEM KNOW I’M A LIAR.😂

      Omg my 12 year blogversary will not include a Q&A.😂 It will just include me eating cake and taking a nap because I’ll be so old.

      Also if we just go Blogveryghgyrygy we should be fine, right?

      Reply

  49. (I’m a bit late but…) Happy Blogversary!!!! Also, I’m reading The Raven Cycle right now (I’m on The Raven King), partly because of you! I think because you mention it so often, you brainwashed me into picking it up… I don’t care about the brainwashing, though, because the series is FREAKING GREAT!

    Reply

  50. Well I can tell you why I love your blog : it’s beautiful, omg the pictures, omg the books, omg the colors, CAKES AND CAPS, gifs, “Copyright © 2017 Paper Fury read. write. world domination” and yes, you’re adorable. And your reviews are awesome, even if *sobs* at least half of the books you’re talking about probably won’t make their way to France. I’M SICK OF DYTOPIAS AND TEENS ROMANCES. GIVE ME NEW THINGS S’IL VOUS PLAÎT. Like Fairy Tales retelling. Those are nice. I’m writing one actually. But considering I have nothing but the original tales and The Lunar Chronicles as an example of retelling, I’m lacking inspiration (SERIOUSLY FRANCE, PUBLISH. MORE. FAIRY TALES. RETELLING. FOR GOD SAKE. or really anything that isn’t zomg YA romances disguised (or not) into dystopias because it’s getting old)

    – Someone who’s hungry

    Reply

    • N’AWWW. I TRY TO BE ADORABLE. 😇 Just kidding haha. 😂

      And I’m ssaaaad for you that France doesn’t get in all the cool books. THAT IS MONSTROUSLY UNFAIR. *stamps foot* I’m super glad you’re writing a retelling though!! SQUEE. I love retellings an enormous amount.

      Reply

  51. Congratulations on six years of blogging!

    I’m sorry to hear that you were attacked for not liking a book. It’s ridiculous that people get so enraged at different opinions – what would be the point in being book bloggers if we all agreed 100% of the time?!

    Just know that no matter what happens, you’re always going to be my favourite. I’ve only been following you for a couple of years, but whenever I’m having a bad day with my anxiety I know I can come to your site and read your enthusiastic flailing over books and it makes me so happy 🙂
    Alyce @ Everything Alyce recently posted…WTF Did I Miss This Week? #36 (w/c 05/06/17)My Profile

    Reply

    • THANK YOU, ALYCE. *gives you cake* And YES people can get so ridiculous…It’s the biggest form of silencing to ask people to all think the same way, and it’s worse when it comes from people who call themselves bookworms. Like isn’t a huge part of being a bookworm the experiencing of other people’s viewpoints?!? That shouldn’t finish when we close the book!

      ANYWAY YOU ARE SUPER KIND AND I JUST LOVE THIS COMMENT SO MUCH THANK YOU. <3 Also totally understand the anxiety struggles. <3

      Reply

  52. Cait, you’re pretty awesome. I only discovered Paper Fury like maybe a week ago, but it doesn’t feel like that because I just read exactly 163 questions and answers and I, like, know stuff now. Except for the one thing I’ve been wondering about since I first laid eyes on all the pretty pictures: HOW DO YOU EVEN TAKE THOSE.

    Like, do you climb up the bookcases? And don’t books fall out then? And do you have like a safety rigging system? And how do you take the picture even? Or is there someone else? And how do those books stack without falling on your non-existent face? And if you take the books out, how do you know where to put them back? And how come you aren’t constantly reading when taking photos (I can’t order my bookshelves, I always get distracted and NEED to read that one book/quote/page). And why isn’t there cake in your header? Or in your avatar? Or like, anywhere? Me needs da cake. SO. MANY. QUESTIONS.

    Also, I think it’s awesome you don’t have a face. I’m super anxious about anything and everything online, especially people being able to identify me online (I use only part of my ‘real’ name, so I’m pretty much untraceable), and I can’t tell you how happy I am to find a blog that’s HUGE AND COOL AND HAS CAKE where the blogger isn’t pasting his/her face everywhere and going to events where you, like, have to legit talk to people. So just … thanks <3

    Reply

    • AWW INGE. YOU MAKE MY DAY. *gives you all the cake*

      Also teh book stakes sometimes do fall on my non-existent face, which is a big reason I don’t pursue the idea of having a face. I just keep losing it. And my bookshelf is like all cubes so it’s easy to climb up the back.😂 DON’T TELL MY MUM. I agree that it’s a big life failing that there’s no cake in my header tho omg. So rude of me. So fail.

      Eeeep, that’s nice of you to say!!😂 I mean I have NO problems with people putting their face online but I’m sooo way too shy. And I love that bit of anonymity. Also it is kind of cool to know I can have a really far reach with my audience and still maintain some anonymity!! I have the nicest followers honestly. <3 <3

      Reply

  53. Hahaha…I’m definitely not a fan of musicals either. My only exceptions are the classic Disney movies of my youth. Movies ruining books is basically the foundation of my blog!! Thanks for the words of encouragement for us baby book bloggers!! <3 🙂

    Reply

  55. All our questions answered! Yes we are nosy.

    I finished the Raven Cycle this past month!!! Noah though. He was my favorite. </3

    I notice you had The Raven King twice as one of the prettiest books you own. So I will ask an 164th question: do you think it is the prettiest?

    I have been blogging for… time. Three years? I think.

    Alexa
    thessalexa.blogspot.com
    verbosityreviews.com
    Alexa recently posted…Beauty and the Beast tagMy Profile

    Reply

    • Hehe, but it’s the nicest thing to be asked so many things haha.😂 AND FAJKDSL NOAH IS AN ADORABLE DARLING. <3 Ronan will forever be my favourite BUT NOAH. And yes I do think The Raven King is the prettiest. That blue tho. 😍😍

      Reply

  56. That little bit about your blog schedule is helpful! I was honestly confused about how to go about setting my schedule and what to post, so yeah, you saved me. I’m also very excited for the giveaway even though the third price is intimidating hahaha anyways, it’s nice to find another bookworm, cake loving blogger to connect with!
    Patricia Camille recently posted…[Book Review] THE DANDELION YEARS by ERICA JAMESMy Profile

    Reply

    • I’m so glad it was helpful! And like setting schedules is different for everyone, but if I’ve been helpful at all, then I’m haaaaappy. :’) Bahhaah, don’t worry about entering for the 3rd one then.😂 IT’S FINE.!!

      Reply

  57. So, if you’ve already lost 9 eyeballs and you read with 9 eyeballs – what is wrong with your body???

    And it is definitely “BECAUSE I SHOUT AT YOU IN ALL CAPS AND THREATEN TO DESTROY YOUR PLANET?” 🙂

    “Keep going! You might not have 100 followers in your first year, but it’ll happen. I had less 50 followers for about, erm…3 years.” Oh. Goodness. This sounds incredibly sadistic, but that is very encouraging.

    STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND GO READ THE HOBBIT!!! Although I should probably go ahead and read books 2 and 3 of LOTR….

    https://teensliveforjesus.blogspot.com

    Reply

  59. No offense meant (as a fellow anxious writer who FEELS YOUR PAIN)…but the Schindler’s List gif? Ack.

    Reply

  60. Hi, Cait!
    It’s so funny. Thank you for all those answers. I’m constantly amazed by your precicion concerning gifs. 😀

    I have never seen Psych but I’m being followed by pineapples and to counter whatever power they have over me I made it my mission to learn as many facts about pineapples as possible. Did you know that pineapples are actually a lot of berries fused together?

    And where did you move to? And, HEY, if you moved who’s going to throw all the neighbor’s chickens back over the fence!? And whose chickens are you going to throw in the future?!

    By the way, I decided to adopt you as my Australian cousin. Since I actually have relatives in Australia not all of whom I know. You might be one of those unknown cousins. 😀
    Have a great day, cousin Cait.

    LG, m

    Reply

    • PINEAPPLES ARE OBVIOUSLY THE BEST. I love Psych so much I had to turn to pineapples to show my appreciation. :’)

      I moved to a different state haha. Pretty far away. *sobs* No more throwing chickens or awesome backyard full of koalas.

      Reply

  62. The progression of your musical career sounds extreeeeemely #accurate.

    Atticus sounds like my dog. I think she is actually a cat in disguise???

    AWWW YOU MAKE SUCH A CUTE BABY DRAGON!!!

    Also YES to what you said about networking!! I didn’t know that was a thing until maaaannny years into my blogging career and I wish now I’d known about it sooner so that people could’ve known my blog existed??? Also because I would’ve found so many awesome blogs SOONER!!

    The gifs in this post were perfection. 😉

    Fellow INTJ!!! *waves distantly*

    YOU HAVEN’T READ THE HOBBIT????? WHO ARE YOU????? *GASP*

    Reply

    • Sometimes I think my DOG is actually a cat. 😂 He absolutely hates water and won’t step on wet grass and has such a snobby attitude. I can’t even.😂

      I’LL READ THE HOBBIT SOMEDAY.

      Reply

  63. sugar/gluten/grain free ??? CAIT IS WHAT YOU EAT EVEN CAKE AT ALL. I SWEAR ITS GRASS.

    (ALSO YES I’VE DONE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE EMBARRASSING THINGS BEFORE. like I actually tagged maggie steifvater in a twitter threads discussing the parts of one of her books that I didn’t like? #cringe)

    also yes, I haven’t read the hobbit either! It’s only been on my to-do list for what, like, five years?

    Reply

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2018 Reading Challenge

2018 Reading Challenge
Cait (Paper Fury) has read 12 books toward her goal of 200 books.
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