Hello from your wayward writer creature who dresses to blend with their bookshelf.
As anyone would want to. Obviously. Now I have been a little absent from blogging last week due to writing and general panic over Writing Shaped Things™ that I can’t talk about. And I swear, if you thought I was annoying before, I’m just going to get more annoying with all these secrets I’m supposed to hold onto. Someone stuff me in a box.
also (!!) I’m going to be hosting a #bookstagram photo challenge in June!
It’ll be themed around my booooook with daily prompts + I’ll do giveaways of copies of A Thousand Perfect Notes. Signed?! I’m thinking annotated too! Because my pithy commentary on my own book is going to be something to behold. Keep your eyeballs on my instagram!
My exciting news of the month is: I’M BEING TRANSLATED INTO POLISH!
Well, my book is. (I only speak one language and sometimes I have to fake that.) But regardless, at least one of us is going to be well travelled. It’ll be out in Poland in March, 2019 and I’m just a little bit flaily here because this is so amazing. I am just a smol author™ but my book is already running on out there and being independent. I’m so proud.
UM ONLY 39 DAYS TO GO?????
You can preorder via: Book Depository, Amazon, Booktopia, Hachette Australia, Hachette UK, Waterstones, Wordery!
- POLAND.
- There’s a 67% chance I will get to announce more Exciting News™ in May and I shall hyperventilate a little until then.
- I swear my life is just waiting 20 years to tell you things, but it’s worth it.
- Also for everyone asking if it’s coming out in the USA…nope! Not as of yet!
- I’m also thoroughly stressing out in anticipation for June 7th, aka, release day.
- There’s just that whole awkward moment when you are both “YAY SOMEONE’S GOING TO READ MY BOOK” and also “OH NO SOMEONE’S GOING TO READ MY BOOK.”
The internet has been crying at me very much enjoying ARCs of my happy book. No one is a ruin.
EVERYONE IS FINE AND HAVING A GOOD TIME.
I aim to read 18 books per month, buuut I only read 16 (and 3 were novellas!) so hello your immortal ruler has wobbled.
I relate to this taco more than I relate to most humans.
I do have the excuse of being caught up with a visiting sister and I wrote a book this month. Just, ya know, just a whole book. Just the little things. No big deal.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin, Penguin AUS, Hot Keys, and Bloomsbury!
Aaaand my LOVELY publishers, Hachette, sent me this ARC of Legendary and holy heck, it has my name !! on the cover !! The book is talking to me. Also 10/10 for getting your name on a book cover with none of the hard work. I’m here for this.
This edition of Ace of Shades is from the @owlcrate box (I’m a rep and you can get 10% off with my code “FURY” by the by). And I bough Tyler Johnson Was Here (so good tho) and Obsidio (I’M SCARED TO START)!
FROM EDELWEISS OR AMAZON OR LIBRARY!
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If you hover / scroll over these they’ll flip to show my mini-review and star rating! Click to go to the full review!
SO I DRAFTED A NEW BOOK! Which is also the 30th book I’ve written!
My first new and fresh project of the year…which feels so odd, because last year I’d written 3 books by now. But not every year is for first drafts!! I must remind myself of that!! And while this wasn’t an “official” Camp NaNoWriMo project, I did get 50,000-words written in April!
(And no! This book isn’t about to be published or contracted OR ANYTHING. It is just a draft I wrote for me!)
- Instead of my usual 30K = 1 day for tackling first drafts…I actually wrote slower.
- This is how the mortals do it yes???
- So I finished up feeling like I’d written a 2nd draft because it’s so NEAT and actually intelligible and I’m oddly proud!
- (The reason I did it this way is because I’m really tired. I am a puddle. My health hasn’t been great this year.)
- I won’t say TOO much but it’s (a) genderbent Sleeping Beauty retelling, (b) it’s about storytellers and bookworms and mental health and making horrible mistakes and falling, (c) it’s really emotional and I had emotions writing it.
- ugh
- It’s written in a past vs present, split timeline, which WAS REALLY HARD. DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU OTHERWISE.
- I’ve been trying to write this book for nearly two years so it finally came together and ugh #more #emotions.
- 55,000-words. What a baby child.
- Obligatory pinterest aesthetic:
I’m kind of just proud of me for writing a draft differently AND loving the finished product AND challenging myself with a split timeline. I have no idea what’s next for it, but like??? This new problem son mine omg. I like.
Just so you know I write really sensible and professional outlines.
- I watched Season 2 of Netflix’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events and OH YES IT WAS PERFECT. So many childhood memories. So much relived trauma. A+ forever a fan.
- Unfortunately I only ever watch shows when my sister visits??? Which is like 4 times a year?? So no more Netflix UNTIL JULY, I GUESS. I miss Brooklyn 99 while I wait for her to come back, dannnngit.
- My dog Atticus exists to be cute. And also blends with the furniture?? Also is 0% help with writing.
- Corn chips are really tasty. Just a friendly update.
- Also insomnia???? Can we talk about how it absolutely sucks. You know you have it really bad when you get excited over 5 (still broken tho) hours of sleep in a night. Whyyyyy.
- I did a publishing Q&A post if you want more details about how A Thousand Perfect Notes sneaked into this world.
- And I’m also giving away a copy of Bring Me Their Hearts so get thee onto that!!
- I blogged LIKE THE DEAD this month, meaning I just stopped posting for a while because: writing. But I wanted to do both. Why aren’t there 15 more hours in my day. It pains me when I can’t multitask 50 x million things.
- Overachiever problems.
- Aaaaand I reached 23,000 on twitter WHICH IS A BIT RIDICULOUS! I’m so honoured people like my mad sense of humour. It’s a worry. But I appreciate it.
- Speaking of twitter though…I’ve noticed a LOT of authors either tweeting less or leaving twitter completely…which is so sad! But understandable?! Maybe fans/readers need to back off in how much we demand from authors?
- The internet is exhausting.
- How do we all not deserve more naps.
- I know most people don’t like the cold but I LOVE IT. My frosty heart yearns for it. Unfortunately I live at the top of Australia, so the weather is more like, “LOL @ WINTER”. But I got to wear a light jacket this week. So nice. So pleased.
- AND LASTLY: If my blog’s format looks weird through bloglovin’ or your WordPress feed — just go straight to the address (paperfury.com) and it’ll look right. I’M SO SORRY ABOUT THIS. Working on it!
I LIVE FOR THESE POSTS
I AM SO GLAD.
I hope you keep getting enough sleep (I feel sleep deprived on less than 7!) and that your health improves. That sounds like no fun (but yayayay for the slow book draft YOU ARE A LEGEND! The sneak peeks were great (I think it’s peek as in mini-look and not peak as in mountain but not 100% sure about that). Yeah, I saw Becky Albertalli left twitter and that seems really sad because it has so much potential for being a way for authors to interact with fans but also wayyy too much potential for overwhelmingness and hate 🙁 .
That’s so cool that you’re going to be translated into polish! Congrats and you deserve all the love <3 Part of your soul can travel abroad while you stay at home that's super awesome!
I only really watch movies/tv with other people and I don't have netflix, but I would like to watch more Brooklyn 99. It's very very good.
ALSO read Obsidio it's really good and will only wreck you slightly and I'm pretty sure you'll like it and it's really well done. #justsayin (pls be peer pressured)
There is basically 0% chance of getting more sleep.😂 BUT WE CAN ALL DREAM. (Did I misspell “peak” omgggg.😂 I’M SO GREAT. I’m sure everyone is super reassured to read my books in the future when I can’t even spell.)
And yes I’m so sad about Becky Albertalli (and I saw Mackenzie Lee just left too)…I feel like a lot of authors are really nice and want to please everyone and fans just get so rife with demands?? It must be so hard. I will miss her flaily tweets. 😭😭
(YES. Being translated = the beginning of my horcrux for sure.)
I’m suuuuuper excited for Obsidio and trying to tell myself not to procrastinate forever.😂 I’M TRYING.
I started out this month so hopeful that I’d be able to revise, seeing as I had holidays for like two weeks but hahaha nope life gets on top of you. But I do know how to revise my story so that’s good. I had quite a good stoial life this month though haha. I literally finished reading it an hour ago, but I loved The Islands at the End of the World this month! can’t think of a worst book but there were a lot of eh ones. but good for you drafting! and I’m so excited for whatever news is coming. When your book gets trnaslated, do you communicate with the translator at all or not? Ugh messy first drafts I guess? but I’ve never really revised a novel (though I have rewritten the same very flawed plot) so I don’t really know. (8chants to self: writing is a journey writing is a journey its ok that you’re not perfect yet stay teachable slow breaths*) I have been doing lots of writing for my uni student magazine though which is challenging and fun, so it’s not like I’m not writing.
Ohh life likes to do that doesn’t it. Like I still am kind of shocked it’s April and I feel like I’ve done so very little this year.😂
And for the translations, I don’t think so.😂I’m hoping I get sent a copy though, haah, because that would be super awesome. (But the translation rights means they tend to just do all of it amongst themselves.)
(And yesss it ok that you haven’t edited/rewritten much yet. YOU WILL GET THERE. *sends cake* And honestly I’m struggling with this “I’ve only written one thing this year” buuuut I’ve been editing my eyeballs out AND blogging, so of course it’s still all writing! We have to be reasonable to ourselves!)
okay so now we’ve got that out of the way!! I was torn between Legendary and Ace of Shades…but CAIT LEGENDARY IS JUST,,,,AMAZING!! It’s like not hard to read and so addictive and so good I am so heartbroken it is over you will absolutely love it oh my gosh I CANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT!!! AND OH MY GOSH SUMMER BIRD BLUE I NEED TO REQUEST THAT EEK!! love the taco gif, excited for all the news!!
OKAY THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY also very impressed Legendary wins of AoS because I know how much you love that one too!! I just need to read them both this week, right?! I’m so excited. *flails*
(Also I know you’re hiatusing a bit, I saw on twitter? So I hope you’re doing okay!!)
(Aos is so good as well but shfjgjfg i love them both so much HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME CHOOSE!!)
and yeah. i feel like twitter makes me procrastinate so much and i just need to refocus on things bc i have a reading slump and my mental health is slowly getting worse so I just wanna take a break from it (so far so good!!) I will miss your tweets though!!
(I HAVE 2 EYEBALLS, SURELY I CAN READ ONE BOOK WITH EACH EYEBALL???)
It’s important to take care of yourself !! and ugh twitter can be really awful for mental health so I totally understand. 💕💕
Sorry I don’t have too much time now to comment on depth BUT OMG POLAND!!! That’s so cool, go Poland!! It’s so random though, how did it happen? Did they like, ask, or was your agent looking for translations? Not that I know how it works xD
Another thing – I find it really cute and funny how your book is just soooo aligned with international bookworm values 😀 comes out in UK, then Poland, and NOT in America xD like FOR ONCE they get to be in our international shoes when nothing comes out and you have to wait xD so ha. There!! 😀
Seriously, you cool you’re getting translated, congrats Cait!!
YAS POLAND. I’M JUST HAPPY IT’S BEING TRANSLATED OK THIS IS SO BIG.😂 (I mean, it’s probably actually not that big, but anyway.) My publisher in the UK has world rights so I guess if other countries want to buy rights, they ask for it!
LOL LOL but yes look at me go!😂Although I won’t lie…I’d love if America bought rights to it too? But yes this is literally the book for Europe and nooo one else apparently.😂 (It’s got lots of German in it too by the way!)
Ah, I see! I have no idea how this publishing stuff really works, what with the translations 😀 to be fair, I’m surprised at America not asking. Your book is kind of trending right now. But I’m sure they will, let’s first let the book get published, at least 😀 hey, I bet you have blog readers in Poland who work at that publisher’s – they must have sped things up 😀 I can definitely see that happening. And maybe the Americans are just a little harder to talk into stuff. LOL xD cause I’m sure people have been asking.
Lots of German! Every time I hear anything about it, I get sorry about not asking for an ARC, cause I’m like… at first I was like “nope, it’s a book by a friend, it will be weird, and squee anxiety about having an actual opinion”, I mean I’m sure you know what I mean, second I was like “but what if I get turned down for Cait’s book, that would be SUPER embarrassing. So let’s just not.”… xD and now I’m like “WELL THE TRAIN DOES NOT WAIT….” xD so here I am.
When it eventually gets translated into Lithuanian though 😀 hehehehe
Again, it’s so cool it’s getting translated into Polish. Go you!
Lol looool I mean I would like to tHINK my book is famous but I don’t think it’ll be very big.😂I talk about it all the time and my followers are still mostly like: “what book”.😂 (I think I’m horrible at promo?!) So we can hope for America haha.
I do understand the nerves of wanting/not wanting to read a friend’s book. BELIEVE ME. It’s kind of terrifying.😂
Duuude you are so good at promo! Like, you promote it enough without being obtrusive. Plus, I guess it’s like with the comments on my blog – there are so few followers, but more comments than on blogs with loads of followers. Weird comparison, I know xD but what I mean is, I think it’s probably better for you to have a smaller book fandom, but one that really loves your book – because it would then open up better paths for your later books as well, with all those true fans rooting for you 🙂 I’ve been seeing your book EVERYWHERE, like literally, so I think it’s doing great. Although it might be just in our specific book blogger sector. But that’s okay, cause like I said. small fandoms are usually more active and loving 🙂
Omg this makes me feel a LOT better. 😂😂 *collapses in a puddle of relief* I don’t want to be irritating you know?! But I also want to sell the jolly book lol lol.
Nope, the balance is definitely good, so you’re a’okay 😀
Congratulations on being translated into Polish!! That is awesome.
The best book I read this month was Eliza and her Monsters by Francesca Zappia (I mean, if I had to choose just one..). I really liked this book, I loved the characters.The worst one was the one I abandoned, a Dutch book called Pindakaas & Sushi 3 by Roderick Leeuwenhart (I really liked the first two books in the series, but the main character seemed to make such stupid decisions in this one, and I didn’t like where the story was going. I read half of it and then just couldn’t read any more).
I love the snippets :).
I voted for you to read Obsidio (the only one I’ve read), because I’d like to know what you think of it. I read it and liked it a lot, though there was one thing I was disappointed with. Though there are also several other books on the list, which I haven’t read, but which sound good, that I’d like to see reviews of lol.
I missed your blogging, but I totally get you were busy writing and all that. Well done on drafting a whole new book! That is awesome :D.
AHHH THANK YOU! It’s kind of surreal honestly?! 😱😱
Also I liked Eliza and her Monsters too! The anxiety rep was so good omg. 😭And nooo I’m sad that series you used to like started disappointing you. Honestly that’s the worst when that happens, it feels like even more of a let down?! (I have a series I’m “reading”…but I have been paused on it since February because the 4th book just took such a downward spiral.😭)
I’m hearing such mixed things about Obsidio?!? I need to stop procrastinating and just READ IT.
(Also aww you’re SO NICE. But good news is I’ve got the entire week’s posts scheduled right now and I’m feeling really organised.😂)
Ahhh your book is being translated!!! So cool!!
I never thought I would hear you say you wrote a book slowly, haha, but well done! The story sounds AMAZING and my heart is dying to have more than a peek. I love genderbent retellings! 😀 The fastest I’ve ever written a first draft is in three months, so I would hope they’re at least a little bit neat. 😛 I do tend to be faster at editing, though, which is a blessing!
I’m reading Invictus by Ryan Graudin at the moment and it’s fabulous! If you like time travel and colourful characters I highly recommend it. xD
Have a wonderful May! <3
I’M SO HAPPY?!? AHHHHH. It’s kind of surreal. I never thought I’d get published let alone TRANSLATED too. *sobs happily*
And omg I’m here to change things up, aren’t I? Shock everyone continually.😂My debut is actually a genderbent retelling too (and my second book lol lol) so you can definitely say I have a thing for them.😂 And that’s awesome you do the neat drafting too! I’m trying to work out if it saves time or not.😂
I NEED to read something by Ryan Graudin sometime!
Ummm well I only read two books this month because I have been deep in end of semester assignments/exam revision and why does Uni have to take over my life? Anyway, since I’ve only read two books (technically one and 3/4, since I haven’t actually finished the second one yet), it feels bad to choose a best and worst! Hero At The Fall disappointed me, I was expecting so much more from a final trilogy book. I’m reading Language of Thorns at the moment and really enjoying it though. I cannot wait for my exams to be over next week so that I can dive back into reading and writing, I left off my revisions of my novel before all of the end of semester stress started, and I’m excited to get back to it, as I was nearly at the end! My first drafts are definitely messy, I kind of wing them and see where the story takes me and then go back to iron out the creases later, I did actually take a different approach to my latest WIP, I wrote chronologically for my first one, and this one I’ve written out of order, which did work for a bit, but now I’ve got stuck with the middle of my story so yeah,,,,,not great!
Eeeek, I can imagine balancing exams + reading would be so hard!! You are incredible for getting anything done omg.
I actually haven’t even bothered with Hero At The Fall because book 2 was a huge disappointment to me.😂BUT I LOOOVE LANGUAGE OF THORNS that one just stole my heart with such whimsical beauty I’m still not over it tbh.
*sends cake for all the exam stress*
Loved hearing what you’ve been up to! Out of curiosity, now that you’ve tried writing a book slowly, do you think you’ll go back to your normal method for your next book? Or will you try slow writing again?
Also- wait, what? Your book isn’t coming out in the US? But- but- but- *sad puppy eyes of sadness* Ah well. I shall have to look for alternate methods to get my hands on it.
I am very sorry about your insomnia. Hopefully it dies down soon, if that’s a thing. *doesn’t really know how insomnia works*
Ahhh thank you, Sarah!! That honestly means a lot to me.💖✨ *flails* And actually?! I might draft slowly again! I miss the thrill of writing fast, but it was also EXHAUSTING and I wore out my laptop 2 x hahhahaa. So…that was a problem. Ahem. At least until my health gets a bit better? (I legit end up laying down several times a day which isn’t great if one is trying to write 30K.)
Book Depository and Wordery will have it for free shipping too! Let’s hope America wants to buy rights.😂 So far they don’t love me lol lol.
I don’t know how typical insomnia works, but mine is just like MY LIFE. 😂It just seems really bad at the moment? I usually sleep better in winter though and that’s coming so *fingers crossed*
You’re welcome! And now I’m torn between feeling excited that you’re joining the rest of us, however temporarily, and sad that you’re feeling so bad health-wise. I hope you feel better soon.
Oooh. That’s good, then. And America obviously needs to get its act together.
Got it. Well, let’s hope winter comes soon for y’all.
Assuming the Amazon site is correct, the Kindle version releases in the USA on June 7. But maybe you want a REAL BUTTERFLY ON YOUR SHELF in which case I dunno.
(also I just noticed it says “Customers who viewed this item also viewed Bring Me Their Hearts” – sounds like a great duo of cheery fun summer reads)
Depends on the price of the Kindle book. If I’m going to be paying $8+ anyway, I’m honestly more inclined to get the paper-and-ink version.
(Haha . . . yeah, no.)
LOL I can assure you mine is not like Bring Me Their Hearts!😂😂 I promise.
And yeah I don’t know why the US amazon gets the ebook?! I know nothing.😂
Okay I cannot get over that cover but also the fact that HOLY SHIT YOU HAVE A BOOK COMING OUT!!!1!11!!!!!! Aaaaand every time you say you’ve drafted a book I want to print my two pages which have been sitting there for a century and eat them with how eay you make this look *cries in a dark, dark, really dark corner*
YOU LOVELY THING THO THANK YOOOOOU. I’m a bit in love with the cover myself. *heart eyes*
I swear this is not easy though.😂 This is 7 years of writing lol lol. 😂
I read Here Lies Daniel Tate this month. It was not okay. I was not okay. Talk about a bittersweet ending! But also kinda perfect too? Undecided. Still crying inside. And outside.
It boggles my mind that you can write so much so quickly. It made me wonder why I’ve managed to write, like, 100 words of my WIP this week…and then I realised my 20953723769 uni assignments might have something to do with it…
I’m not sure whether I’d classify myself as a neat or a messy first drafter. I don’t think I’ve actually written and finished enough first drafts to know quite yet. What I DO know is that I think I’m writing “neatly” while I’m on the first draft, and then I read it when I’m done and…nope. Messy. Messy messy messy. I’m inching my way through the third draft of a WIP right now (the first time I’ve ever persisted to a third draft!!) and only now am I starting to think “neat” again hahaha!
OMGGG I LOVE THAT BOOK!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! The ending made me want to scream into a brick wall for 70 days but isn’t that how all books should make us feel?? Clearly. *sobs*
I think the fact that writing was my biggest priority of the week IS a huge thing to mention.😂😂Like I’m not balancing school or an outside job with it! (I work from home so I just take time off when I want to draft.) Ha! But yes I definitely relate to the “I thought it was good but now it’s not” feeling.😂 That’s meeee. There were several days where I wrote a chapter only to rewrite it the next day.
All books should make us feel like that, yes. Except I dont know if I could take it if EVERY book ended that way. I’d never read again!
And working from home sounds SO awesome… #lifegoals
That draft is so dang relatable, I to would fake my death to get out of library fines.
The best thing I read this month is hard because I rated quite a few 5 star books but I’d have to say Eliza and Her Monsters was my favorite and my least favorite was Insurgent which I just found super boring.
Also for your read next list i haven’t read any of those yet but I hear Fawkes is pretty good and sounds very interesting so maybe try that one???
And oMG YOUR DOG IS SO CUTE!!!!!
I’m so glad you like it ahh!! 😂 And same though?? Like who wants to pay library fines, they were indeed given an opportunity.
Also I’m glad you like Eliza and her Monsters! (That would be like a comparative title for my new book actually.😂Anxious writers ftw.)
Fawkes looks AMAZING and the author is my friend so I’m already sure I’m going to love it!
My dog knows he’s cute omg he wields it like a weapon.
The internet is super exhausting. I didn’t realize how exhausting it was until I stopped reading my Twitter feed and left Tumblr and suddenly my mental health isn’t crashing???? I mean, it still is for other, school-related reasons (yay sexual harassment case GOING NOWHERE 🙁 ), but the internet is no longer adding to that crash. So mostly I just stick to my personal instagram where I really only post photos of the food I’m making at school and it’s actually non-exhausting.
And my first drafts are SO MESSY. It’s awful. There’s a grand total of one person I allow to even peek at them and I trust her to not make me cry and that is literally the only reason why.
Okay, I haven’t been reading a lot over the last few months because of the whole crashing mental health thing, but now that it’s getting a bit better I’ve been reading again, and I just finished Leah on the Offbeat last night and I loved it. So good. SO GOOD. Except now I’m sad that we won’t be getting more of these characters.
Ok firstly though that sexual harassment case going nowhere is not good and I really feel for you. 😔😔 *sends cakes* And also social media is really exhausting?? And sometimes overwhelmingly negative? Like early this year I totally CRASHED with how much people on twitter where saying what you can/can’t write and it was so wild and nasty and people were trashing books for not being ownvoices and I just freaked out. I ended up tweeting but then not scrolling for a while…which was good! I need to remember it’s ok to do that too. (And I like to tweet happy/funny things, so hopefully they make some people smile too. 😜)
Generally I wouldn’t even let a DEAD BRICK look at my 1st drafts but this one is so cleeeean, Aine. I CAN’T EVEN. It’s readable?!? It’s like a 2nd draft but 1st. *shrieks*
(Now wishing my copy of Leah was here already omg)
And I hope your mental health stops kicking you around so much. It really sucks when it’s in a bad place, I totally understand. 😭
Your story sounds super interesting! 😃 Is it like, set in modern times, or back in the time that the actual Sleeping Beauty kind of was? And Thomas just sounds like a character I’d love so much if I could get my hands on the book.
I started off on Camp with the decision to hit page 100 in the rewrite of my story, The Triad of Caosdif. That meant I’d have to do 24 pages. I had the first week off from school (Easter break!) and got 23 pages done. After that, I was doing it in between school. I happened to read some blog posts from some people I’m subscribed to on plot… and I realized that, 104 pages into this rewrite, my plot of seriously lacking. 😖 In utter frustration, I turned to rewriting a different story of mine, and have gotten just over 6k words done within a week. But I just feel unmotivated to type anything, because it feels like I’m fighting against playing the comparison game?? *face desk*
So! Much help needed on my end. Please send chocolate. 😂
It is modern! I probably should’ve mentioned that haha. But yes modern contemporary / genderbent Sleeping Beauty and i’m so glad it even WORKED because the split-time-line thing just had my head in two different planets.😂
Nooo I totally understand the frustration and comparing. I DO. I mean even now, I literally have a book coming out, but I’m so frustrated with other things of writing and wondering if I even know how to do this??? So I think that kind of struggle never fully goes away, but you CAN get past the lumps. *sends all the chocolate* And it took me 2 years to figure out how to tell this Sleeping Beauty story, so!! Sometimes we just need more time to think right?!
“Oh I just casually wrote myself a novel for fun at a leisurely pace of within a single month” <– WRITER GOALS. (Although I get the whole drawn out pre-writing struggle too, and yay for getting past that!)
My favorite book from this month (that I am now telling every kid at the bookstore to read) was "Ice Wolves" by Amie Kaufman. It has like everything awesome: shapeshifting ice wolves and scorch dragons, twins on either side who get pulled apart (and really shouldn't even be twins in the first place), a boy who will do anything to find his sister again, and a war that doesn't really feel quite right.
I'm super excited for your photo challenge! I just hopped on to Book Depository to find out how it works so I can order your book and of course when I went to search it I automatically just typed in "paperfury". Whoops.
I’M SO ANNOYING I KNOOOOW.😂😂 But like I definitely think it’s important to note that I write fast BUT I take a long time to plan.😂 This book is like literally 2 years in the hashing out?!? I’m so glad I finally got there holy heck it was worth itttt.
Yay that you loved Ice Wolves! I’m trying to decide if I want to read it because I LOVE Amie Kaufman but I never seem to do well with MG. But it sounds so good!
Hahahaha that makes my day.😂 Unfortunately I’m not being published under paperfury but like I should be, right?😂
Best: The Silent Boy by Lois Lowry
Worst: Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
My 1st drafts are always messy because I don’t write in order and bringing cohesion to my scatty MS takes longer than writing the story.
I wantttt to read The Silent Boy !! I keep forgetting about Lois Lowry’s books even though she was one of my favourite childhood authors.😂
That was EXACTLY me with my 1st drafts before this! It was so weird editing as I went + writing neatly?! And like somedays I just rewrote yesterday’s work, so it felt really slow.😂
The best book I’ve read this month was definitely Obsidio–it was such an epic, crazy, emtional rollercoaster of a finale and I have still not recovered.
Oooh that makes me NEED to read it more then, doesn’t it?! I need to stop procrastinating.😂
I think the best thing I read this month was probably Renegades, and the worst, possibly Spark? I really liked Ink, so I think I just had higher hopes for this one then it delivered.
Messy first drafts. Just get my thoughts on paper, and I can deal with the rest later. Once I had this plan for what felt like an epic book in my head and I started writing and covered every plot point within 10,000 words. I was just left shaking my head and wondering where on earth the book I had planned went.
I hate changing routines. Even just when I have a new job and have to plan different times to eat, it gets to me. Possibly because my ideal eating schedule is 10am, 12pm, 5pm (with obvious extra snacks) but jobs seem to think it should be 6am, 3pm, 7pm???
I’m glad you enjoyed Renegades!! And I used to be like that with messy 1st drafts, so it was weird doing it as a clean one (editing as I go too) this time?! I liked how it turned out but it still was stressful.😂 But then when is writing NOT stressful lol lol.
(I loooathe changing routines too. I eat like so punctually as well so *hi fives for that*)
I love your blog! It’s well written and fun to read. I am hoping we’ll get to read lots and lots of books authored by you in the coming years!
Also – I just visited Australia for the first time (I’m from the USA). I went to Cairns and LOVED it! There was like rolling hills of rain-forest foliage. And so many fun adventure activities – Rafting, Canyoning, Snorkeling, a natural waterside in the rainforest… Yassss! And I got to meet people who were traveling there from all over the world, which was super cool. So the north of Australia seems like an awesome location! (Although I totally would miss the season of Fall and seeing snow from time to time. But the trade offs are probably worth it).
Anyways thanks for posting on all your book recommendations, book writing progress, and everything else – I love it!
Aww THANK YOU, ALLIE!💖✨ That literally makes my day, it’s so nice of you!!
And loool, you’ll never believe it but I live 1 hour away from Cairns. 😂 So yes! It is super pretty up here but I actually loathe that that winter is such a joke, *cries* I love the cold haha. But today I’m going up to Port Douglass and it’s like 27 Celsius so WHAT IS WINTER😂
The best thing I’ve read this month so far (there’s still time!) is The Color Purple by Alice Walker. I didn’t even know it was a classic until after I read it? This might just make me explore classic literature more…
And the worst, well, obviously obligatory reading for school because analyzing every other sentence makes me just hate the book itself.
Shaking up my routine at times definitely increases my productivity! I especially love going to new places to work on my projects… It just makes everything 32958239x more exciting! Also, eating pie while working on something in a coffee shop is among the greatest small pleasures of life.
Ahh that’s so awesome you enjoyed a classic! I honestly never read classics (unless they’re children’s classics like Peter Pan etc) but I’m glad you loved one! And I kind of hate obligatory reading tbh too. 😭 Takes the fun out.
Eating pie x doing anything makes it 10000% BETTER.
AH Cait I’m glad your novel is getting translated!
I can’t believe that 16 books a month is bad for you… If I read more than 5 books in a month I’m elated 😂 But hey I guess this is just all part of you mysterious power as a crazy dragon creature.
Good luck with all of your writing (I’m proud of you for actually taking a bit more of your time while writing. Now you know how the rest of us feel 😂)
Thank yoooou. That’s so kind of you! 💖✨
And ah ahah I know! I’m a massive overachiever I swear. It’s a problem. 😂One of my goals for this year is just to SLOW DOWN, so I’m getting halfway there?!
THESE POSTS ARE MY FAVE. *flails*
Ahh it must be so surreal to have ATPN being translated! I am so so excited ahhh!! I read 10 books this month, which I was happy about bc I’ve read wayyy more books than I planned, especially with Camp NaNo. I’m finishing my book and I’m so excited but a little sad, too.*sniff* Your book looks so cute and the aesthetics are so so pretty!
Quick question… For reviewing ARCS, Owlcrate/Litjoycrate etc., is it best to post a review on a blog, IG, or YT channel? Does it matter?
Hope you have a fantastic week!
THANK YOU, CHARIS. YOU KIND BEAN.💖✨ And it is totally freaking surreal to be translated!??? Like I’m a trANSLATED AUTHOR HOLY HECK. (Well not yet, but soon. 😂)
Congrats on reading so much eeep and honestly multitasking reading + writing is actually so hard and any of us who do it ought to be given so much cake?!
Usually ask whoever sent it to you what they’d like! For ARCs ask the publicist, and for book boxes, it depends if you’re being sent them for free to review or not? If you bought them, then do whatever you want! If you were sent them for review, ask the owners!
AW you’re welcome dear! <3 aHH yes ik it must be so amazing…. Like it's realy happening! 🙂
Haha thanks. 😉 I know it's so hard for me to balance reading + writing and also somehow manage to get some sleep. XD But yesss, we all need more cake!! (Side note: All my siblings' birthdays and mine are within 6 weeks so there's SO MUCH CAKE (!!!) but now it's over and I'm so sad bc it's going to be awhile before I get more homemade bday cake. *wails*)
Okay, awesome! Great to know, thanks! 🙂
DUDE THAT’S A LOT OF CAKE. THAT IS LIKE INTENSE CAKE WEEKS. Which is an excellent thing.😂 (Except I guess there might be a little cake deprivation the rest of the year?!)
Congrats on your Polish publication!!! And I LOVED A Series of Unfortunate Events season 2!!! So glad you got to enjoy it!!
The best book of the month was by far a re-read of The Book Thief!! I love that story so much and it felt great to revisit it and to finally own it! And then the worst read was A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’engle. It just didn’t work for me and I was 200% confused 😂😂
Eeeep thank you! 💖✨ I’m so freaking excited haha. And ASOUE S2 was so perfect right?! I can’t believe how closely and epically they follow the books. It’s PERFECT. Also I want to reread The Book Thief someday…because why hurt once when you can hurt twice.
I haven’t really had a great reading time this month. There was a week’s hospital stay with the youngling (testing, he’ll be fine, borderline epilepsy diagnosis), but as much “free time” as there was in there, it was NOT conducive to reading.
The worst of the month has to be White Rabbit so far. It’s painfully boring and unhealthy (relationships). I just really don’t care about anyone, but at 61% I figure I can skim it to figure out the killer so I’ll know that at least.
The best thing is that I got an arc for What If It’s Us! 😀 I’m really chuffed about that. ^_^
Omg I hope your family is doing okay with that? that’s really huge. Best of luck to your littley too.😭 I can imagine that would definitely make not much time/room for reading, and rightly so!
(Also eeek that’s really frustrating because I literally just ordered White Rabbit.😭😭) I’M SO HAPPY YOU GOT A WHAT IF IT’S US ARC!!
OMG that taco gif is the most adorable thing ever!!! 😀 😀 😀
And well I just finished Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly and the ending was a little disappointing but it was still cute. And I’m in the middle of DOn’t Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout and it’s really interesting so far! 🙂
And I guess I normally try to do neat first drafts but they always take me forever especially while doing Nano so I’m trying to just write and not think about it to much and clean it up later and stop being such a perfectionist. 😛
Isn’t it just?! SO relatable. I am a taco.
Oh I want to read Don’t Look Back at some point!! I like that author and I’ve only read like one of her books whoops.
It’s hard being a writer + perfectionist right?!😭😭
Wow, a whole book! That is pretty exciting 🙂 Congratulations! I can’t believe you have written 30 now! That is a pretty monumental effort!
I am also really interested to know what your secrets are….
To answer your drafting question, mine are MESSY! 🙂 Really freaking messy, with lots of weird notes that say ‘somehow they get from A to B’ so I can add those parts in later. It’s all about just getting to the end of that first draft for me.
My exciting news is I am going to be published!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My debut contemporary will be out next year, and I feel pretty strange about it (like wonderful strange – like a dream coming true!). When you work so hard towards something it is pretty surreal when it begins to happen though.
So yeah… I’m feeling pretty happy this month! 🙂
Thanks for the interesting post, Cait, I always enjoy popping around to read them 🙂
AHHHHH POPPY I’M SO EXCITED FOR YOU THIS IS AMAZING!! We’re taking these steps in conquering the world, aren’t we? *hi fives* 💖💖 It’s such an amazing feeling ajfkdlsa I swear I’m still not over the fact that mine is happening and it’s just a month away! Can’t wait to see/hear more about your book. 😀
Thanks so much Cait! 🙂 Hehe. I feel very happy.
And I can’t wait to read your novel! So close now too 🙂
I’m hope your book’s going to be coming out in the US sometime in the future.
I’m going to be reading Obsidio pretty soon and I’m so nervous – I don’t want this series to end!
Lauren @ Always Me
Fingers crossed we can always hope right?!💖
Poland, yay! I cannot wait to see this, it is so exciting, and then MORE exciting news in May perhaps!? LOVE. I seriously cannot believe how soon your book is going to be out in the world, but I am NOT surprised at how much people are loving it already. Because of COURSE they are.
Let’s answer your questions, yay. Okay so best book of the month? Hmmm Byegone Badass Broads. Worst… that’s hard because I disliked most of them this month, whoopsie. (Or maybe not even disliked as much as “felt nothing about”?) Okay, I decided, it was All of This is True. I really want you to read Obsidio so you can tell us what you think! Though I voted for Honor Among Thieves because I enjoyed it the most and really, I only want good things for you Cait.
Well I’m glad one of us isn’t surprised because I AM SURPRISED.😂I’m still sitting here like 87% sure everyone is going to hate it lol lol. Literally I have an agent and editor who are like “This is amazing!” while I sit here like “BUT DO YOU HATE IT SITLL.” 😂😂 I need help. A holiday. A new brain also.
Ohh I want to read Byegone Badass Broads even though it takes me 2 years to remember the order of the B words in that title.😂 But sucks about a meh month! Honestly I don’t even remember half of what I read this month but I didn’t rate it low? I think I was distracted. No idea why.😂
N’awww, looking after me. What would I do without you. 💖💖
Best book I read this month was P is for Pearl which just is amazing but got so many bonus points bc I’m Tasmanian and get pretty homesick in summer (curse Sydney heat)
Ah I’m glad you enjoyed that one! I haven’t heard of it before but yay that it’s set in Tasmania, that’s so cool!
CONGRATS!!!!! WATCH THAT BOOK FLY WITH PRIDE!!!! Like a baby dragon going to explore….so cute.
OOooooo, my first drafts are always really messy… I have two different stories and their rough first drafts are on my desk now and when I read them, I’m so confused??? Why does it sound wrong???
Then I run away crying and read books instead…
It’s safer. (Lol, not really)
I’ve binge read the Illuminae files this month, still reading Obsidio….is very gooooood….. A+ for little baby AIDAN!!! Such a star. Such a bean.
I might just need this gender-bent sleeping beauty story….Thomas seems suber relatable.
Take care and eat loads of cake!
LITTLE BABY ALL OFF TO EXPLORE THE WORLD LOOOOOK AT IT GO 😍 I’M SO PROUD OF HOW IT GROWS.
That used to be me with my 1st drafts! SO messy. I’d literally change/add characters mid draft too and it was so bad. 😂So actually having a neat readable first draft is ODD and I kind of like it?!
Illuminae is the BEST but I’m worried about my heeeeart. AIDAN is actually my favourite character. 😂I’m not sure what that says about me.😂
39 days omg when did this happen????? I remember hearing this book get announced in, like, October and it felt like forever until I’d read it, but it’s so soon now!! Color me excited.
Okay, but I must know, what food was prominently featured in your genderbent sleeping beauty retelling? Inquiring minds would like to know.
I’ve noticed a lull in the author Twitter game, too, and my guess is it’s probably getting harder to find the time to write and keep up on social media, especially as authors get more popular and need to crank out more books, but the demanding fans can’t help, either. I’m honestly surprised authors have spent as much time on Twitter as they have already.
I DON’T KNOWWWWW HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??!?!??!? I swear I’ve been waiting for this for 3 years adn now it’s nearly. here. I’ll just panic. Happily. But also panic.
(There is SO much cake in this new WIP. I even edited cake out of a scene at one stage because I’m like: there is too much cake.😂 And that takes a lot for me to say that omg. I also have a lot of mint tea and biscuits in this one?!)
Yes for sure. :O I think twitter can be a bit of a time-eater, but then I use it like mad for writing breaks. So I feel like if I wasn’t on twitter, I’d just be on pinterest or something else.😂 I think all the constant repetitive questions are wearing on them too? Like I see VE Schwab basically turning grey when someone asks her per month why there’s no third Archive book. 🙈
OH MY WORD, THAT SLEEPING BEAUTY RETELLING THOUGH. I want. I need. *gimme* But also I’m still waiting for A Thousand Perfect Notes and I AM SO UBER EXCITED ACK!!!! Like yes. I am ready to have my heart blasted into smithereens. I AM PREPARED!! (I hope…)
I’m DEFINITELY a clean first drafter. I try not to edit as I go, but I like to make all my sentences flow properly as I’m writing, which probably isn’t the best when it comes to first drafting, but whatever. That is how I do things. XD I have yet to master the art of writing an enTIRE BOOK IN A SINGLE MONTH, THOUGH????? Like how??? How did you say you did that, again? XD
ALSO THAT TACO IS LITERALLY ME. That is me. I am a taco. XD
THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY KENZIEEEEE. *tackles you* And I’m bursting my little heart into smithereens too so we can just be fun messes together.
Bah hhaah hey at least I didn’t write the entire book in 3 DAYS so I’m improving ok?! But like for this draft I was editing as I went! And I’d start off the day by editing (or fully rewriting lol sob) the last day’s chapters. It was a weird experience but also coming out at the end with a draft I could send to my critique partner is…weird?! I’m hoping maybe this has saved time.😂
TACOS ARE RELATABLE.
I hear you with the insomnia, it’s going to send me to an early grave, As I type this, I’ve had three hours of sleep in the past two nights combined and I’m even trying natural sleeping tablets made from valerian root and they’re helping me to relax but still not sleeping. I was talking to a blogger the other day who was lucky enough to have nabbed an ARC of your beautiful book baby and she loved it. The excitement is so very real and can’t wait until my copy arrives!
It’s sad that authors are having to make the decision to leave social media. In one way it’s great because they can interact with readers but in the last few years those lines between reader and author have become so blurred that it seems readers place these ridiculous expectations on authors and believe it;s their right to have access to them beyond the pages of their books. Authors are too nice to ask readers to back off too for fear of being labelled as rude. It’s concerning to say the least.
Noooo I HEAR YOUR SUFFERING. And I raise you more suffering. So much suffering for us all. I mean I like to say: ‘WHO NEEDS SLEEP!” But spoiler: I do. 😭😭
And awww!! I’m so excited that the ARCs are going out!! Is Date A Book going to send them to all the bloggers do we know??? I feel like I should flop into their mentions and ask. 😂
yeeeeah, I’m worried about the things readers say/treat authors these days. It’s like everyone thinks authors have to write the PERFECT book and anything less isn’t just a failure, it’s the author stabbing the reader in the back. It’s WAY overboard. I swear. And there’s no forgiveness anymore either? I saw Mackenzie Lee make a mistake on twitter and people were dragging her for DAYS even though she write an entire apology for it. Like what’s the point of all this if you can’t even apologise and learn?!
I’m passing by really fast to say that those snippets were gold! 😂
THAT MAKES ME SUPER HAPPY AHHH THANK YOU
I’ve seen photo challenges on Instagram, but I’ve never participated in one. I’ll have to check yours out. I’m glad you liked Tyler Johnson Was Here because I need to read that. I hope you’re having a good May!
Aww eeep! I’d be so honoured if you joined in mine!! There’d be no pressure haha, but hopefully I can cobble together a fair few prizes.😂
I would love to have an annotated copy of your book. 😂 And I can’t wait to read your new novel!
Omg would you?😂 Because I can do that.😂 (And someday you’re going to run screaming with all the novels I throw at you. 💕💕💕)
Is it just me or is this update a bit shorter than the usual ones? This is still my favourite thing you post tbh. I’m in love with the mini-reviews and all the updates and everything else too.
Also, did you only read/receive books with amazing covers last month??? I want to check out like 10 books right now just because they look SO good! (like Salt or Tyler Johnson Was Here – for the latter you accidentally linked to the Opal review though)
I noticed that the formatting doesn’t always get messed up when I try to access your blog via WordPress. There’s about a 50% chance it’ll work fine. So… improvement?
Anyway, I’m really excited for your book, even more so that I’ve seen these comments… can’t wait to have my heart broken!
It is actually shorter haha.😂I’m trying to write smaller posts because I’m a bit worried I ramble on tooooo much and scare people off.😂 Is it alright do you think?!
AND OMG. The covers have just gone up hugely in recent years right?! I’m in LOVE. Tyler Johnson was so good, but bleh @ me for mis-linking it haha. I’ll go fix that. Thanks for letting me know!!
I loved all parts of your #amcurrently posts and I really enjoyed reading all these many updates so I love the long versions. I get not wanting to ramble but come on, it’s not that bad ^^
Aww thank you! That’s so kind and encouraging of you to say tho!!
Congrats! That is so awesome! You have no idea how cool that is (well, you probably do, but still XD). It’s honestly a dream!
I try to write my first drafts as cleanly as possible, but they end up getting pretty messy anyways. By the time the second draft is finished, I’ve smoothed out most of the kinks.
I’M FLAILING A LOTTTTT. It’s just so wildly surreal tbh. 😍 And YAY For clean first drafts! I never thought I’d be the writer who did it, but hey it didn’t turn out too badly.😂
-patpat- Move to Georgia. Our state can’t decide if it’s winter, summer, or spring. It’s been a fun four months.
Firstly, the new book sounds awesome! I hope you do get a contract for it.
I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY COPY OF A THOUSAND PERFECT NOTES. -stares at bookdepository- I think my favorite thing about being an adult and working is that I can finally buy things which means supporting authors I’m excited about and love (whoot; yeah for adulting).
And, yeah, I petition that we have more hours during the day. It’s hard having to be gone 8-12 hours of my waking day at work and coming home and being like “Hi family-people” and then sleeping. Of course food is in there somewhere, but but I want to write. And draw. And lay on the rocks like my natural lizard/dragon self.
Noooo that sounds terrible.😂 I need weathers to be solidly the RIGHT weather. Like it’s nearly winter here and I’m still wearing shorts haha. (Although I put on socks today so like WOAH it’s getting cold clearly.😂)
Squeeeee I’m so happy to hear you’re excited for ATPN. No joke, it makes my day. 😍😍
Also I will sign this petition for more hours. We absolutely deserve it. It’s not fair that we have to adult PLUS find time for the fun things omg.
xD We had no Spring this year. We maybe had one or two days, but it was super duper cold then nice but freezing at night and now it’s getting really hot. -.-
😀
Exactly.
CAIIIIIT I’m so excited to read your book and I just want to read all your words honestly.
BEEEE. THANK YOU. 😍😍😍
April was a nice reading month and I loved everything I read! Most notably To Kill a Kingdom (!!) But I’ve been so terribly busy and haven’t even finished A Series Of Unfortunate Events yet, which is very sad indeed. But I’ll finish it after exams, so that’s a definite goal for May. Also ahhh your book is completely my out in a little more than a month and I’M SO EXCITED!
*I meant the Netflix version of ASOUE not the books btw. But I do plan on rereading the books too since I last read it when I was 12 (aka very tiny) haha.
I just finished To Kill A Kingdom!! 😍 OMG WASN’T IT SO FANTASTIC?!? 2018 is blessing us afjdkslad.
(how did the last month till my book’s release come up so fast?!)
So glad ou liked To Kill a Kingdom too! 2018 has been amazing so far. And yay to your book’s release date coming up so soon 🙂
Wohoooo congrats Cait! I really can’t wait for your book to come out.
And wow that genderbent Sleeping Beauty retelling sounds totally awesome! I’m so jealous you can draft books in a single day while I’m sitting here on my ass for like 6 months 😧
My April was pretty hectic, and the first week of May has been so as well. I’m really hoping the rest if tye month goes well!
Lol lol not a single day!! 😂😂 I mean this was one of my longer projects (well for a first draft, lol). 😂
Ahh I hope the rest of your month is amazing too, and not *too* hectic. 😀
Seriously, my life would not be complete if I didn’t check out your monthly wrap ups! Glad that your book is getting off the ground (POLAND!!! Who would have thought)? I’m also seriously trying to wait for my copy of your book to come around, but the wait is seriously KILLING ME!!!! I need your book like RIGHT NOW!!! Hope your book goes PLATINUM!!! That would be the ultimate goal for any author! 😀
N’aww, you lovely bean!! I’m so excited about my book, eeeep, and Poland!! AHH!! And only a month to go now. 😉 Today exactly, haha, since it comes out on the 7th of June! 😊
(Hahah, I will just be happy if people like it.😂)
“like exams” omg 😂
one month away from A Thousand Perfect Notes! I can’t wait!!
😂😂 I’m glad you liked that line. (Socialising is HARD.😂) afdjsaklfd I can’t believe ATPN came so fast.
Hii!!!!!!!! I come sooooo late to read this 🙁 Aaand now I somehow find Poland very interesting XD Btw, I saw the snippets you post in Instagram Stories about this draft and I FREAKKING LOVE IT. Lately I’ve been feeling like a walking dead cuz I’m editing a book and procrastinating the ending of another book and feeling so bleh cuz I want to use a magic wand and have my books done. I don’t imagine how am I going to feel when (if) I get published and they set me deadlines, will I be better at writing or I’ll always have to improvised cuz calendars just hate me? AND CONGRATS FOR THE 23K ON TWITTER. AND THE 55K ON THAT DRAFT. AND ATTICUS FOR BEING SO FREAKING CUTE. Idk why but I see the name ‘Dove’ and I remember Dove Cameron. Did you think about that actress when making the character? Oh is it just me who connects characters with rl people? And I like Thomas already. A+ to your pinterest board and ALL OF THE OTHER BOARDS, I LOVE THEM.
No doubt I’m a fangirl 100%, heh?
Ahh I’m so glad you enjoyed the snippets!😂I had a lot of fun haha. And agh editing really takes it out of you right?! I get so so exhausted during edits. My little brain turns to mush and it’s all so much fun. *screams into the void* 😂
(I haven’t had any problems with deadlines so far haha. It’s all been very relaxed and flexible so far!)
I don’t actually know the actress Dove Cameron. 🙊🙊I hadn’t heard of her till now.