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C.G. @ Paper Fury

Moxie’s Caramel Brownie Waffle Recipe from The Boy Who Steals Houses (Ft. Giveaway of A Literary Tea Party Cookbook!!)

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If you’ve read The Boy Who Steals Houses…chances are it made you very very hungry.

Look, my books exist to make you cry and make you fiercely crave whatever food my characters are obsessing over. And if I feature a food in my books, there’s a 90% chance it’s because I, personally, was eating it a lot while writing. (I’m really that imaginative. I KNOW.)

In The Boy Who Steals Houses (which has been out 4 months now!) there are whole scenes dedicated to the devouring of caramel brownies and/or waffles, as is the De Lainey special. We are not sure if Sam was in love with the De Laineys or the habit of feeding him. Understandable. 😌He is precious.

So I was so so stoked when my friend Alison Walsh (author of A Literary Tea Party cookbook!) agreed to invent a recipe based off The Boy Who Steals Houses!

And today I get to share it with you. I am just !!!! 😍 THIS excited. 😍

I’m also going to be giving away a copy of her cookbook so 👀 keep reading.

Last year she also created a recipe for A Thousand Perfect Notes, featuring August’s almond fruitcake (which my family still gushes over with enamoured delight because it’s just that good). So Alison is a gift to my life and I cannot be more grateful. I hope you’ll go follow her blog and see all the incredible bookish recipes she shares!

Thank you so so so much Alison!! ✨😘

Moxie’s Caramel Brownie Waffles

by Alison Walsh (author of A LITERARY TEA PARTY)

Makes 9 mini waffles

 

1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 tsp vanilla

¾ cup flour

¾ cup cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

Whipped cream, caramel sauce, and sprinkles (for garnish)

 

  1. In a medium saucepan, heat the butter on medium-high heat until boiling. Pour into a large mixing bowl. Whisk in the sugar with a fork until well combined. Using a hand mixer, beat in the eggs and vanilla on medium speed until smooth.
  2. Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Stir with a spoon until well combined.
  3. Pour ¼ cup batter onto a waffle iron heated to the lowest setting (do not grease the waffle iron). Close lid and cook for 2 minutes. Gently transfer to a serving plate when finished.
  4. Repeat Step 3 for remaining batter.
  5. Top waffles with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and candy sprinkles. Serve warm to a crowd of hungry De Laineys!

— chapter 7 | The Boy Who Steals Houses

1 x winner will get an Amazon eBook of A Literary Tea Party!
open INTL

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goodreads | Amazon

Tea and books: the perfect pairing. There’s nothing quite like sitting down to a good book on a lovely afternoon with a steaming cup of tea beside you, as you fall down the rabbit hole into the imaginative worlds of Alice in Wonderland, The Hobbit, and Sherlock Holmes . . .
Fire up your literary fancies and nibble your way through delicate sweets and savories with A Literary Afternoon Tea, which brings food from classic books to life with a teatime twist. Featuring fifty-five perfectly portioned recipes for an afternoon getaway, including custom homemade tea blends and beverages, you will have everything you need to plan an elaborate tea party. Cook up and enjoy:
Turkish Delight while sipping on the White Witch’s Hot Chocolate from The Chronicles of Narnia
Drink Me Tea with the Queen of Hearts’s Painted Rose Cupcakes from Alice in Wonderland
Eeyore’s “Hipy Bthuthday” Cake with Hundred Acre Hot Chocolate from Winnie the Pooh
Hannah’s Sweet Potato Bacon Pastries and Jo’s Gingerbread from Little Women
Tom Sawyer’s Whitewashed Jelly Doughnuts from Tom Sawyer
And more!

 

* NOTE: Moxie’s recipe isn’t in this cookbook! So MORE recipes to try!

 

And if you haven’t read The Boy Who Steals Houses yet (you want tooooo) it’s available on Amazon ebook now! Plus Book Depository, Booktopia, Barnes & Noble, and Wordery.

| what do you think? |

what’s a book that made you REALLY hungry? and you wanted to try the food the characters’ were eating? are you going to have a go making these waffles? (share on social media and tag me if you do!!!)

 

63 Of The Best YA Books About Siblings (So Many Siblings! All The Siblings You Could Want!)

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Because I have very little chill, I have made an immense list of YA books about siblings.

I could have listed ten or so?? But NO. I had to list as many as I possibly could (and I was still skipping some at the end of this!). I feel like YA has an unfair reputation for starring only-children. And while a lot of the famous YA books do fit snugly into that category — there is an inexhaustible amount of sibling rep in YA. All types. Older sisters, younger sisters, twins, brothers, etc. etc…

I absolutely love this.

I have far too many siblings myself and would trade them all for a single grape, but, fictional siblings are just so much better and I also can’t seem to write a novel without them. The relationships are complex, messy and often fractious. But I love the types of siblings who’ll fight each other but also fight for each other.

So let’s tumble in, shall we?

Caraval | Goodreads

I am starting off strong with one of my ever-favourite series! I adore Scarlett and Tella’s relationship because they manage to be so loyal and loving BUT…they also fight. 😂Scarlett is the sensible one, Tella the headstrong. Hufflepuff to Gryffindor. And look, I definitely like Tella more (she enjoys dresses and murder) but Scarlett is working through a lot of traumas and I respect that. These two.💛😫

Call It What You Want | Goodreads

One of the narrators is Meagan who has this really ferocious older sister who is the Perfect College Child…until she gets pregnant. And they are like CHALK and cheese but they end up really leaning on each other and AHHH. We stan this arc.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before | Goodreads

Possibly my most favourite wholesome sister trio ever. Yes trio. I do love when there are more than two siblings!! Lara Jean is the softest Hufflepuff who likes baking and scrapbooking and avoiding crushes but just writing letters to them she’ll never send. Kitty is a total energetic snark and sassball. Margot is a typical annoying older sister. 10/10 she is just what an older sister is like.

The Hunger Games | Goodreads

Okay probably the most obvious and famous sister pairing but hey ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I love them so they deserve a mention. Also Katniss is older, Prim younger. And they have a very “i would die for u” relationship that is super sweet and very unrelatable. 🤗

Grace & Fury | Goodreads

Here we have two sisters, both narrate, and the lovely older one is supposed to end up in a contest to win the prince’s hand, buuuuut the rebellious little sister gets in instead. It totally flips tropes and it’s really intriguing and I loved it!

ruined | Goodreads

SISTER POWER. Actually literal power, as the younger sister (Olivia) has powers that can snap spines. Ahem. So Olivia is actually captured in the first book and Em (tragically non-powerful) is doing everything to get her out. They are sisters you will…have mixed feelings about. Very different morals. Fascinating dynamics. Morally grey, bring it.

Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now | Goodreads

Tiffany was an only child…until her mum dies and she has to live with her dad and his new family and it’s like = instafamily, she now has about four sisters. I loved this book and Tiffany is amazing (also has an anxiety disorder), but it was really hard to read at times because her father is really strictly religious and abuses the power. That’s the point of the novel! It’s just upsetting and I ached for her!!

Ramona Blue | Goodreads

Ramona is the younger sister who’s just trying to figure out who she is, what her sexuality is, and if she’ll ever move on from this small claustrophobic town. One thing pinning her down is her pregnant older sister and Romana is so protective of her.

Things I Should Have Known | Goodreads

Basically Chloe is trying to find Ivy a boyfriend. Ivy is autistic and Chloe is the super loving and protective younger sister and I loooove them both. They’re not always understanding of each other, but they TRY and 😍I love positive autism rep.

Enchantee | Goodreads

This is set in France in 1789 and it’s about a girl with a magical DRESS and she ends up playing cards to rob rich people to pay enough to keep her house. She has a drop-kick older brother (we hates him) and she loves and dotes on her younger, fragile sister. Also did I mention MAGIC DRESS.

Odd & True | Goodreads

This is a paranormal/historical fiction and here there are monsters and girls who will fight them. It truly is an odd book but I really adored it and especially loved Odette and Tru as they try to save and love each other enough to make up for their terror stricken past.

 

(Surprisingly…I have NOT read many brotherly books. Which is tragic?! If you have recs, please let me know!)

The Boy Who Steals Houses | Goodreads

Oh hello; it’s my book. 😌I actually have an intense amount of siblings in here, with the love interest having 5 brothers/1 sister as well. BUT, Sam narrates and his fractious relationship with his older brother Avery is the heartbeat of the book. Sam would fite ‘n’ die for Avery, but he feels like Avery doesn’t love him enough. They really don’t take a breath to understand each other.😫THEY BREAK ME. These two autistic loveable disasters.

Reckless | Goodreads

Ok these are amazing and completely underrated I feel!! They’re translated from German, but this is the author if Inkheart!!! Jacob and Will are tragic brothers and they don’t talk, but they privately want to protect each other. And there are vicious fairy tale worlds and magic and it altogether stole my imagination.

White Cat | Goodreads

AGH I love these. Super underrated from our fame fae queen: Holly Black. This series has people who can curse you with a touch, and basically a motley pile of Slytherin brothers who are backstabbing and scheming and I freaking love it. Cassel is the youngest.

Ultimatum | Goodreads

hello hello to very messy brothers who do n o t get on. The book is a lot about them healing, to be honest, and about how you choose how you act and you can choose to change. They’re basically watching their father die in a hospice and having to reconcile their ugly pasts with each other.

These Gentle Wounds | Goodreads

Actually these sTABBING WOUNDS in my heart because this book will softly wreck you and not even apologise. It’s about mental illness and trauma and features half-brothers…Gordie basically relies on his older brother to keep him breathing after everything they’ve been through. It’s so sad. 😭💛

The Raven Boys | Goodreads

Shout out to the LYNCH brothers who are utter chaos to the core. Ronan and Declan, if left alone too long, would probably kill each other and Matthew is perfect and everyone loves him. I adore their fractious dynamics and honestly, this series is my favourite in all the world so I will [slams fist on the table] gush forever. Just you wait. Also Call Down the Hawk is going to feature the messed up bros more and I AM READY.

 

The Poet X | Goodreads

Brother/Sister twins; and they’re very close but in a desperate way because they’re mother is super religious and borderline abusive. Xiomara has to hide herself, her poetry, her personality because it’s being crushed out of her. Xavier has to hide that he’s soft and loves gentle things and is gay. They are written so so tenderly….this is an amazing book.

The Cruel Prince | Goodreads

Shout out to our favourite wildly terrible SISTERS — Jude and Taryn. (They also have an older sister, Vivi.) Their parents were murdered by their mother’s ex-husband, also a fae gentry, adn they’ve been raise din the lavish and gorgeous and vicious world of Faerie. Oh these are not the “nice” sort of sisters, but they’re complex and you root for them and rage at the same time?! Also this book is a Slytherin DREAM. I am obsessed.

One | Goodreads

This is about conjoined twin sisters and it’s all written in verse. It’s really bitterly heartbreaking and also sweet at times. It’s been a while since I read it, but I feel like the disability rep was thoughtful and respectful. It’s tragic but you know it’s going to be when they’re conjoined.

I’ll Give You The Sun | Goodreads

Jude and Noah are extremely different people and oh oh the book starts with you knowing something terrible happened between them, but you don’t know what. They’re artists of different kinds, Noah is gay, and Jude is grieving and the story is honestly phenomenal with the writing. I reeeeally need to reread because I haven’t picked it up since 2015!!

Fangirl | Goodreads

We can’t forget Cath and Wren…literally Cather + Wren so that their names ARE ONE NAME!? Ok, not happy with their mum either. But they’re off to college and Wren was Cath’s safe space, her crutch, but Wren sort of “dumps” her and just goes off to have a solo college experience. I’m still angry at her tbh. 10/10 felt everything for Cath but I love her arc and how she coped with social anxiety.

The Upside of Unrequited | Goodreads

Again twin sisters with Molly being the soft homebody while Cassie is more sharp corners and a go-getter. They definitely don’t mesh all the time, but they’re stronger when they lean on each other.

This Side of Home | Goodreads

Again I do not remember this one well enough except black twin sisters who feel like they’re drifting apart as they what they want begins to differ and they feel like they don’t understand each other anymore. These kind of growing-up-and-apart stories are really important for sisters too!!

Summer of Salt | Goodreads

We have sister twins who are, coincidentally, magical witches and they’ve got very different personalities but they’re not constantly at war. It’s on a rainy island and life is changing now that highschool is over and it’s very deeply about grief and recovery. (Also f/f romance!)

The Foxhole Court | Goodreads

Ok this is cheating because the twin brothers are secondary characters BUT their relationship is pretty integral to the plot (they absolutely hate each other’s guts; we are talking the infamous Minyard twins, Aaron and Andrew). They try to switch places on Neil just once. Only once. Because they FAIL. Neil can tell who his boi is, u fools.

Ink & Bone | Goodreads

Twin brothers who absolutely do n o t get along and never will. Jess is the bookworm and Brendan would rather put out his own eyes. He’s Slytherin to Jess’ Ravenclaw. I just, argh, I love their terse relationship but how they’re still there for each other. Lots of rivalry though. 👀

The Lost And Found | Goodreads

This has a really soft brother/sister twinship where they stick up for each other a lot because he has an anxiety disorder and she is an amputee. It’s also a gentle magical realism and will totally make you FEEL things about internet friends who cross half a continent to meet.

Two Can Keep A Secret | Goodreads

Here we have twins and MURDER…not the twins, uh, doing the murdering. They’re actually fairly close and loving and I thought their relationship was amazing — with a backdrop of solving murder mysteries. 🤗

Aurora Rising | Goodreads

Sci-fi time! We have Tyler and Scarlett who are twins and also utterly badass with their skillsets. He’s like the golden boy leader, she is the diplomat who knows how to get her way around anything and anyone. 🙌🏻This has such a solid misfit squad to save the doomed world. Bring it.

Slayer | Goodreads

This is a Buffy the Vampire Slayer story, but you can actually enjoy it without having seen Buffy (*cough*it me*cough*). We have Nina (soft, nerdy one) and her twin Artemis (tough badass fighter one) and how their roles get reversed and CHAOS. Also monsters and blood and quite a lot of sass.

White Rabbit Red Wolf | Goodreads

This is a mind-twisty thriller and I totally adored it but also was a bit “??!!??” the whole time. Peter has a anxiety panic disorder and Bel is the solid one of the two…but they get caught up in a government conspiracy and it’s madness and delicious to read.

 

 

A Thousand Perfect Notes | Goodreads

Am I going to nominate my own book? You get I am. 😌Beck is 15 with a 5yo half-sister who is basically a peppercorn on legs and he’s soft and depressed and beaten down by the world. He would 10/10 do anything for her and puts her wellbeing before his own ALWAYS. Sometimes she tries to bite him. But you know. Sibling bonds.

A Curse So Dark And Lonely | Goodreads

Harper has an older brother and he doesn’t come in heavily in the book till later (and he brings his doctor boyfriend 😌) but WOW I love these two. Super protective sibling bond and they get really angry at each other for risking their lives. Also Beauty and the Beast retelling but with way way worse monsters. 😏

Half Bad | Goodreads

Look if you want siblings that are actually horrible 🙌🏻look no further. Nathan is the bastard of the family, half black witch, half white witch — a terrible sin. And his older sister is MURDEROUSLY cruel while his older brother is super soft and lovely. Ughhghgh I love this book. It hurts me.

The Scorpio Races | Goodreads

Aka ONE OF MY LIFE FAVES. Puck has an older brother as well as a younger one, but Gabe’s pretty much moved on, while Puck and Finn are just trying to survive and hold their family home together. Also murder horses, sea aesthetic, it’s dreamy and bloody and gorgeous.

The Rest Of Us Just Live Here | Goodreads

Ok SUPERHEROES…but also the book is about the background kids who are just trying to cope. It has anxiety/depression and eating disorders rep and Mikey has an older and younger sister. They really really love each other and feel so alone.

The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice And Virtue | GOODREADS

Older brother/younger sister here too and WOW they do not get along or understand each other. Bless them. But their relationship really propels the book a lot. Felicity (15) is arguably more sensible than Monty (18) and they grow grudging repsect for each other in between being chased by pirates, armies, mercenaries and getting shot at during a 17th century rope around Europe.

Autoboyography | Goodreads

The sibling relationship isn’t the forefront of the story but Tanner does have a younger teen sister. They mostly view each other as heinous nuisances. But I freaking love this book because the romance is just😭💛Super cute and will make you sob. Tanner is bi and Sebastian is Morman and they shouldn’t even look at each other, but yEt–

The Unbecoming Of Mara Dyer | Goodreads

Admittedly I do not remember this as well as I want to (reread is due!) BUT. I do remember Mara had an older brother and their relationship was really solid and kind. Also this story messes with your head and it’s sinister and thrilling!

You Asked For Perfect | Goodreads

This one is just TOO CUTE. Ariel is an overachieving stressaholic and it kind of rubs off on his little sister. And while he obsesses unhealthily over school, he gets such a wakeup call when he sees his 10-year-old sister doing it. They are PRECIOUS.

Spin the Dawn | Goodreads

This is a loose Mulan retelling but with tailors! And Maia goes off to be the imperial tailor disguised as her younger brother. So there’s not a lot of sibling bonds in the book, but it heavily depends on them existing! Maia super loves her family and it’s amazing.😭💛

The Last Namsara | Goodreads

Asha is the younger sister and her older brother is Dax and heir to the throne, but her father abhors him because he’s “stupid” (I suspect dyslexic rep) and they don’t interact a lot in this one, but he narrates book two and ajfkdlsad I love them both SO MUCH. They are badass siblings.

Starworld | Goodreads

Half of this one is narrated by Zoe, who is like the “pretty perfect nice girl” that everyone loves but no one really knows…and it’s really strongly about friendship and identity and it’s heartbreaking. Zoe also has a severely disabled younger brother and she loves him so much just how he is. 😭💛

Afterward | Goodreads

This is dual narrated between a boy who was kidnapped and returned…and a girl whose younger autistic brother was kidnapped but they found him before he was abused. It’s really dark and heart-wrenching and really really well written.

Princess Of Thorns | Goodreads

Aurora is disguising as a boy to find and free her kidnapped younger brother! Their relationship isn’t on page the whole time but they intensely love each other…and gee, her younger brother goes through hell. I was ready to beat my way into the book and rescue him myself.

Lady Midnight | Goodreads

So the entire The Dark Artifices series features…THE BLACKTHORN FAMILY, which has brothers and sisters of all shapes and sizes. They all make me cry desperately because I’m just that attached to them. It’s most intensely about Julian’s relationship as being the surrogate father for his younger sisters an brothers. And also his x Mark’s…Mark who is supposed to be older but was kidnapped by faeries and hasn’t aged and is totally suffering from PTSD. It’s also got A+ autism rep and is basically my all time favourite series haVE I GUSHED ENOUGH YET–

Darius The Great Is Not Okay | Goodreads

Darius is the older brother and his little sister is about 8 maybe? But anyway she is a bucket of sunflowers and he’s trying to deal with depression and feeling alone because he’s ostracised at school for being biracial. It’s such a beautiful book and mostly set in Iran too. #Ownvoices! He is so sweet to his sister!!

A Very Large Expanse of Sea | Goodreads

Older brother / younger sister! Shirin sort of resents her older brother a bit since her Muslim parents respect him more…she is like a bitter espresso and I couldn’t love her more tbh. But ultimately her brother invites her to join their breakdancing group and they are all BADASS. I love this book. It’s not exactly underrated, but, I think it deserves as much love as Mafi’s Shatter Me books!

Words In Deep Blue | Goodreads

Older brother/younger sister again. Also BOOKWORMS. Also George is really tough and bitey and sensible (reminds me of Blue Sargent a bit tbh) while Henry is just a little too whimsical and romantic and off getting his heartbroken brutally at all times. He’s such an idiot but I love him. Also this is set in a bookstore?! YES.

Little & Lion | Goodreads

These are adopted siblings! Suzette is bi and black and Lionel is white and has bipolar. The story takes off with them having been away for a while so they’re no longer sure how they fit together, but they love each other fiercely as siblings. And I think it’s important to have wholesome adopted sibling relationships too!!

Eliza And Her Monsters | Goodreads

Okay she has two younger brothers and she thinks they’re ALIENS because they like sporty stuff and being rowdy and she is like the wraith in the walls, drawing and doing fandom art, and hissing at sunlight. This one is about social anxiety and fandom culture!

On The Come up | Goodreads

Bri has a brother who is quite a lot older so sometimes he squishes in as an extra parent (she would like to whack him for that) but they have such a good relationship. And he sacrifices a lot to help keep the family together. Their family is in such strife, but they are SO CLOSE and loving. 😫

The Cresswell Plot | Goodreads

Looking for a big family who is also part of a cult and their dad basically keeps them locked up in the woods? That’s a very specific request, I realise, but hey…LOOK NO FURTHER. This one is for you. I really loved this book, and the siblings who were really tightly close for survival sakes.

My Sister Rosa | Goodreads

I am leaving this here for all of us who are secretly terrified of our younger siblings. 😘Okay but TRULY: This one is about Che who is an Aussie living in America and he’s 90% sure his adorable cherubic 10-year-old sister is a psychopath. This is chilling and really extremely well written. I’m still thinking about it three years later.

The Graces | Goodreads

I’m so obsessed with the aesthetic of this book. Lowkey witches and contemporary heartache. The Graces are the family everyone is secretly in love with. It’s actually narrated by Rain, who is an only child, but the book is super heavily about Fenrin and Thalia (twins) and their younger sister Summer. I, too, am in love with them. 😌

The Brilliant Death | Goodreads

Oh this one completely stole my heart! Italian-esque mafia fantasy world, and Teo has a huge family but she’s super close to her younger brother and I cry for them and their pure relationship. Also genderfluid magicians and an absolutely epic plot. Teo can turn people into objects btw. Love this life skill.

Charm & Strange | Goodreads

Omg I can’t forget this one…I’m rather obsessed with it and how it WRECKED ME. It’s brutal and dark and is deeply about mental illness spirals and delusions. Drew is the youngest in a super rich family (his older brother is amazing and makes me cry) and he goes through some dark stuff…it’s raw and gut-wrenching and such a good book.

And I Darken | Goodreads

And here is our disaster historical fiction retelling of Vlad the Impaler…but if he was a girl. Lada would literally stab your face and lick the knife, whereas Radu is younger and soft and gentle (and also a scheming Slytherin; I adore him). THESE TWO. I totally adore this trilogy.

Salt | Goodreads

Indi has an older sister, younger brother and younger sister and I LOVE THEM. Monster-fighting sibling squad who are looking for their missing parents. And it’s gut-wrenching and beautiful and full of the ebb and flow of tumultuous sibling feelings.

Here Lies Daniel Tate | Goodreads

This is slightly cheating to put on this list because technically Daniel is (a) not even Daniel because he’s faking being this missing kid, and (b) his siblings aren’t *really* his siblings. But they have the FULL dynamics there and he dotes on his littlest sister so much it’s adorable and I cry. Even if he is faking being their long-lost brother. It’s insanely twisty and so cleverly done. Also older brother/sister heavily involved in the plot.

 

 

| what do you think |

help me out and add to the list!! what are your favourite sibling books? do you have any brother recs because i seem to have a need here

 

What Happened In July? (Ft. Inky Awards Shortlist, Lemon Meringue Pie, and Procrastination!)

by 56 Comments

goodbyeeeee July, you industrious month of quality procrastination and writing.

I accidentally instigated a #ProcrastiBAKING cult on instagram and, no, I am not sorry. It has amused me very much. Yes ProcrastiBAKING was already a thing; but I keep posting about it and now my instagram friends are baking instead of writing and ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ look. I’m so proud of the quality chaos I spread.

I mean, I laugh about the procrastinating levels I go to; but it’s a sobbing laugh because I’m stressed 🎉 depressed 🎉 and at least well dressed. Hence the procrastination. But I consider it a successful July. 😌

  • For like exactly half a minute, I caught up on my Goodreads challenge. (Lol I’m behind again now.)
  • I wrote an immense amount on a secret WIP. It was supposed to be an “edit” but I ended up rewriting every second sentence because apparently I hate myself.
  • I’ve been working super hard with Melissa from @thereaderandthechef helping host @mtmctours! This is a tour company where we promote books (indie + traditional authors welcome!) and we make a sensational team if I do say so myself. #Humble.
  • Instagram royally spat in my face by taking away likes as a “test” for select countries. Sometimes I hate instagram. 🙃I posted my reasons here in a tidy little rant.
  • I’ve been freelance blogging with Hooked To Books which is fabulous. And you can see my latest posts about How To Read More Books and 50 LGBT YA Book Recs.
  • I have recently made a lemon meringue pie and also chocolate ice cream and these are reasons to live I swear. 🙌🏻

exciting news!! The Boy Who Steals Houses is now available on Kindle and Nook in the USA!

I’m CHEERING. I was so disappointed when this didn’t happen for so long (no don’t ask me why it took 3 months 😒 overlooked small author life apparently) and I’m always terrified people will just go pirate it. Aka leave me with less chance of more book deals. So this is a relief, sweet sweet relief.

You can find TBWSH on Amazon USA here!

My first book, A Thousand Perfect Notes, should also be available on kindle. And oh wow if you want to leave reviews? I would be so so so so so grateful. Every review and photo and tweet helps an extraordinary amount.

And A Thousand Perfect Notes has has been shortlisted for an Inky Award!

Which is pretty surreal 😍This is an Aussie award and the judges are all teens — I love this because this is exactly the audience who my books are for and knowing they’re reading and loving it is intensely special. If you’re between 13-19 you can vote for me here. I’m up against BIG NAME AUTHORS so kind of freaking out!

I’m super lucky to have had some incredible moments this month. THIS in particular has been so encouraging.

And then I get constant messages from incredible people on instagram, reading and supporting and cheering for my books. 😭💛 It means the WORLD to me. My mental health is really rough, my next two books have been rejected and I’m honestly very low and blocked. But I’m just happy/sobbing that I’ve been writing again. It’s giving me hope when I’ve been so stalled. 💛 I’ve only been an author for one year (ONE YEAR!!) and these author boots are overwhelming to wear; but I’m still so grateful for the chance.

 

So someone gave me library access again and I am UNSTOPPABLE 🙌🏻 Also…I have borrowed too much and my ARC tbr is yelling at me. But then when is it not.

Still behind but catching up. Fear me.

And I also am floundering trying to remember when/where/WHY I have received books so…um, bear with me.

 

(all covers link to goodreads)

BOOKS BOUGHT…

From library

FOR REVIEW…

Vote and help meeeee!

What Should I Read Next?

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here is a round up of my reads and thoughts!

JADE CITY | Absolutely the BEST of the month and I’m totally obsessed and freaking out over the Kauls. This is adult fantasy and it’s clever, political, family-centric, and punched me in the mouth. Several times. Hilo is my favourite, I won’t deny; he would fite, will fite, and is waiting to fite.

SPIN THE DAWN | This solidly takes second place for favourite of July! It was so so good. Whimsical and also full of the most perfectly hysterical banter. Edan x Maia are one of my fave ships of 2019. Also the ending??? So rude??? I just got hit yET AGAIN and I am bruised and need the sequel.

CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT | Another Kemmerer favourite to leave me sobbing with emotions. It was soft and powerful, and also the friendships in this one. 😍I am forever in love.

ALL OF US WITH WINGS | A controversial one in the community and I had a lot of detailed thoughts about what was being called problematic. 👀It’s a story about grief and healing; but also contains a lot of adult things and a creepy romance. I DON’T think it was YA but I think it’s an important very #ownvoices story from a POC author that shouldn’t be dismissed because it’s dark.

HEARTSTREAM | a super twisty and messed up thriller about the terrifying obsessive levels people go to with boybands/social media. It was pretty clever, but also…not my fave content? So I recommend still.

MOONCAKES | the actual cuuuutest graphic novel!! It was so SOFT and the art is beautiful, whimsical, and just homey. It’s not out till October, but it was Read Now on Netgalley if you want to try it! It’s queer, nonbinary love interest, both main characters are POC, there are werewolves and witches and 🤗It’s good.

HUNGRY HEARTS | The anthology of my DREAMS. 😌13 stories, ALL food based (although tbh it needed more desserts but ok) and they all interconnected so cleverly I’m in awe of the authors. Anna-Marie McLemore’s story was my favourite; but there is so much diversity, love, and heart in them all. Some are also super dark lol. I loved it.

SORCERY OF THORNS | I expected to love this but 😔It felt like a rehash of The Infernal Devices, and I just had no connection or interest in Elisabeth. Meanwhile Silas/Nathaniel had the most intriguing demon/sorcery backstory, connection, and dynamics but they always took a backseat. I wanted the whole book to be about them, oops.

YOU ASKED FOR PERFECT | ok this was CUTE. It’s a soft contemporary about this over-achieving, super stressed straight-A and violinist student who is just…cracking under the stressed. I was so so stressed reading it ok. Softly queer with #ownvoices Jewish rep too. It was just lovely…when Ariel and I weren’t panicking about a test.

 

OTHER BOOKS READ

So I have this deep adoring love of fanart…

And I decided to splurge and get a few pieces of Redbubble!! Which is really affordable if you buy postcards. I do wish I could support artists more because they deserve it. omg the talent. Anyway I have to show you because I’m so excited. 😂I’ll link all the photos to the artists’ accounts!

Am I a little obsessed with The Raven Cycle? WHO CAN SAY. But these are just freaking everything. 😍😍

 

| WHAT DO YOU THINK |

how was your July? tell me your BEST read? and did anyone do camp NaNo and how did you go???

 

24 Young Adult Enemies To Lovers Books You’ve Been Searching For

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If you have a quiet craving for more enemies-to-lovers romances…oh, do I have a list for you. 😌

It’s no secret that this is a very beloved trope. Oh the chemistry, the sexual tension, the angst! That question we all ask ourselves as we read: “WILL THEY KISS OR STAB??? WE DON’T KNOW!! EXCITING!!”

I do think there’s a lot of lures to this trope that makes it addictive to read. For instance:

➢ we have the good old “will they/wont’ they” going on which causes a lot of plot tension
➢ it generally equates two VERY opposite or VERY similar personalities, hence the clashes, and it’s fascinating watching two people learn to fit together, despite differences.
➢ often times it’s about overcoming a centuries old hate or prejudices, which can be powerful
➢ the rest of the time it’s just one person being super ornery and the other being a huge flirt 😘
➢ there’s usually BANTER; then the bickering turns to flirting
➢ just here for that moment when it turns from “I would kill you” to “I would kill for you”.

 

Give me a bejewelled sWORD, sir, and I shall ride into the wars for this trope.

Now before I go further, I do want to pause and talk about how this trope can be problematic and how there’s a difference between “enemies” of circumstance, etc, versus actual abusive relationships that are inherently unhealthy. When I say I love enemies-to-lovers, I’m N O T talking about a boy systematically abusing a girl because “he likes her”. I’d say you can take your toxic masculinity and pour it down the void, but even the void doesn’t deserve that mess.

Now that we have that cleared up… 🤗 onwards.

 

The Last Namsara | Goodreads

This series fills me with such pure delight because both it and the sequel have different versions of Enemies-to-Lovers and both are utter gold. In the first book we have Asha, who’s grown up forced to slay dragons to make up for a sin she committed as a child VS Torwin, a slave in her father’s household and is just going to charm her out of being an ornery thorn in his side. They’re both rather slaves to her father, the king, so there’s no problematic power dynamic. Just THEM; learning they need people on their side and you don’t have to fight the world alone.

Six of Crows | Goodreads

There are three romance threads in this but one is our fave Nina vs Matthais. A witch vs a witch hunter. It’s hugely about letting go of prejudices and being indoctrinated with hate as a child. And they also have the added bonus of Nina being super flirty and Matthias blushing if you suggested peeling an apple would make it naked. UGH I LOVE THEM. Forced to work together and realise their passionate hate is…not hate. 😍

Ruined | Goodreads

This is like a Soft version, because they’re only enemies by birthright: Em is a Ruined (her people have magic powers) and Cas is not (his people want hers dead) and she’s faking being his bride only to kill him. But Cas is like A SOFT CINNAMON ROLL and Em melts for him. She has that decision of kill-an-innocent-prince vs help-save-her-people. Which is always delightful.

An Enchantment of Ravens | Goodreads

Look my heart @ belongs to fairies so excuse me while I profess undying love for Rook x Isobel. She’s a human painter and he an Autumn Prince who commissions her for a portrait: but she paints him “too human”. So he whisks her off to his world for a trial for this offence..but hahhahahahhhah. They totally fall for each other along the way. It actually unpacks the difference between attraction/instalove vs actual love based on knowing a person. Also there are faeries. And Rook offers to fight a teapot for Isobel’s honour at one stage. I don’t know what to tell you except I love it.

The Cruel Prince | goodreads

Obviously we would be remiss to not mention one of the most famously hyped trilogy of late, with our iconic Jude and Cardan who (truly and genuinely) hate each other and it converts into a very problematic lust relationship. 🤗I know this one often gets slammed as promoting toxicity being romantic — but I believe it’s more than that. I think the whole series is a study in anxiety, in letting fear rule you until you chose to become “worse” than your fear. Jude’s mantra is “If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.“ And the book REALLY looks into that. There’s a lot of sexual frustration, naturally, but it’s also about vulnerabilities and feeling like love will destroy you if you admit that’s what it is.

To Kill A Kingdom | goodreads

I already mentioned this one in the intro BUT — here it is again. Just to confirm it is both splendid and darkly vicious. Siren hunter meets siren = ROMANCE. It’s got the kind of banter that you will die for; it’s just that funny. It’s also a bit of a Little Mermaid retelling! High stakes, magic, rogue princes, doomed lovers…pls read this and thank me.

Princess of Thorns | goodreads

Ahhhh I love this book. I did read it back in 2015 though so I’m forgetting details (tragic; i need to reread) but I remember absolutely ADORING the banter. Aurora is dressed up as a boy for a quest (to rescue her brother) and Niklass (a roguish youngest prince) ends up accompanying her and they BICKER the whole way. They also have a potato eating contest, if I recall correctly. In retrospect I don’t think either of them is entirely straight and this just pleases me more.

The Wrath And the Dawn | Goodreads

It’s a retelling of 1001 Arabian Nights were Shahrzad’s has to tell the sultan a story every night, but leave him on a cliffhanger so he doesn’t kill her in order to keep hearing the story. I mean SMART. I also would delay mass destruction for another chapter of a good book. Anyhow, we have the monstrous boy-king vs a smart girl here to kill him. Except there’s monsters BEHIND MONSTERS and honestly…it’s epic. 😏

Spin The Dawn | Goodreads

This is actually one of my favourites for this year because I am obsessed with Edan x Maia. It’s also a one-sided-enemies because she just hates him INSTANTLY for being a magician; whereas he is like “here is an entirely adorably cute crossdressing creature whom I am going to annoy into adoring me.” It also works. He does annoy her into liking him. He literally doesn’t shut up the whole book. He wears all black and yet is a popsicle of sass.

Carry On | Goodreads

Ok true; the beginning does read like Harry x Draco fanfic. Basically if you did wash Drarry had sailed, just go read this book. But Baz is a vampire and Simon is the “chosen one” (his opinion on that is “i don’t wanna”) and they are school roommates AND enemies AND…freak out when the other gets hurt. 😘I am so overdue for a reread with the sequel coming out so soon.

Starflight | Goodreads

Now let’s hurtle ourselves into SPACE to meet Solara who is a con running away who kind of kidnaps this extremely rich snob boy (stun guns him, we’re talking T R U E enemies after that). They end up accidentally on a whirlwind escape wherein he gradually gets soft and she gradually stops stun-gunning people and it’s altogether adorable. Also hilarious. 10/10 for the banter.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely | Goodreads

Of course Beauty & The Beast always champions this trope…with a side-dish of Stockholm Syndrome usually [eye twitches] But NOT SO here. Honestly Rhen (the beast) is so depressed by the time his kingdom kidnaps Harper from the “modern world” to see if she’ll be his true love to break the curse…that he doesn’t even try. He just follows around Grey saying “how do I make her like me” while Grey says “hm, not sure, why don’t you try BEING CIVIL TO HER”. Grey deserves a freaking medal in this book.

Linger | Goodreads

Look, this is cheating, since it is a sequel. But you should read the first book ANYWAY. But Cole x Isabel are absolute gifts to the snarky universe with their absolute disdain of each other. It’s the kind of hate-to-love that is just born of people who have really similar personalities and believe the other is so so so annoying. I love it. 😂I partially think they kiss just because they’re bored but you know. This SHIP. I swear.

Legendary | Goodreads

ANOTHER SEQEUL. But you know what? I just am the worst. 😘Anyway my heart belongs to Tella x Dante specifically because they both have such Slytherin souls and they are determined to BETTER than the other. More cleverer, faster, outwitting the other. The fall for each other while all the while being liars and I just 😫💛💛I STAN. It’s got to be one of my all-time favourite books!

Teeth | Goodreads

This is not, surprisingly, about dentists. Which tbh is a relief because that would be a traumatic story. Instead we have a quietly depressed Rudy who moves to this super depressing island because apparently eating fish will help cure his extremely sick little brother. No friends. No life. Nothing to look forward to. Except…the half-fish boy waging war on the sailors and being part legend, part abused, until he’s going to kill himself without help. It is softly gay and softly tragic and somehow also viciously toothy. I love love love this one.

White Rabbit | Goodreads

Look I’m counting this one but it’s technically LOVERS = ENEMIES = LOVERS. It’s set over the course of one night and Rufus is super super angry at his ex, Sebastian, but they get tumbled into this horrible mystery involving murder and drugs and Rufus’ sister is involved and ahhhhhh. He and Sebastian end up leaning on each other again and it’s just. 😭💛Also I’m not sure what your life looks like, but you definitely need more queer thrillers in it. 

The Love Interest | Goodreads

I am waaaaay behind with reading this, because it was a 2017 release and I only read it this year. And I freaking LOVED IT. It’s such a satire, not not in an irritating way? It’s about two spy boy detectives, sent in to “woo the girl”. The bad boy vs the good boy. Loser gets terminated. So they’re in this contest to win this girl and they hate each other for survival reasons. BUT then…they end up helping each other out. I just laughed myself out of my chair when they’re like “We should practise kissing [nod nod] so we can kiss her better.” Yes you two are very straight for s u r e. Anyway it’s #ownvoices and really endearing as well as picks at old tropes.

Peter Darling | Goodreads

All I need to say is HOOK x PAN. And then you should be trotting off to find this one. It’s also #ownvoices for trans rep so, doubly important to support this author. It’s quite short too, practically a novella, and definitely twists the old Peter Pan story in ways you haven’t seen it before but that you really really deep inside wanted the story to go. 😌

Disruption | Goodreads

Again it’s been a long time since I read it…but I could swear it has a super good enemies-to-lovers. I just can’t remember WHY they hate each other lmao. (My memory has bucket sized holes.) Anyway read this though. It’s a 5-star (thanks for reminding me Goodreads) and features my favourite badass, totally terrifying girl who will stop at NOTHING to protect her family. And I believe she’s using Quentin for her masterplan but ends up kind of liking him (when he’s the son of the bad dude; therefore “should” be evil).

Letters to the Lost | Goodreads

ALL TIME FAVOURITE BOOK ALERT 🎉I swear I can’t love on this book enough. Plus it has a fantastic twist on the trope where Declan and Juliet are enemies in-real-life…but really close as anonymous penpals. And they’re only enemies IRL because of expectations. He’s known as the gruff, problematic loser who causes trouble and is doing community service. She’s the prissy “good girl” who is really standoffish. But what isn’t on the surface: both are suffering extreme loss and dealing with grief and depression. I sob over this book. Every time.

Making Friends With Alice Dyson | Goodreads

This one is like a very very Soft™ “enemies”…more like Alice is this Straight As perfect student and Teddy just ANNOYS HER by breathing wrong. And they do a spontaneous dance off in the street which goes a bit viral and she’s scared it’s ruining her image of being sensible. While Teddy is over here being a huge loveable dork. 😍This one is cute. Not hardcore like some on this list, but we are here for diverse types of this trope HURRAH.

When Dimple Met Rishi | Goodreads

Dimple wants a career and her parents are lowkey pushing her towards a Good And Nice Indian boy, aka Rishi. So look it’s an “enemies to lovers” based on circumstance; it’s not even personal the whole time. Dimple just doesn’t want to be TOLD to marry someone. Then the first time they meet, she throws her coffee at him. 🤗 So I don’t know what you’re waiting for but I am HERE to say this is a quality romcom where they are side-eyeing each other before…they realise they actually sort of quite like each other.

Blood Red Road | Goodreads

I cannot forget my absolute power couple of Saba and Jack. They’re in this rough post-apocalyptic world where it’s all desert, cults, and has a definite Mad Max vibe. Saba is off to save her family and she gets tangle dup with Jack and just hates him on principle. DO NOT TRUST STRANGERS. Especially smooth-talking sassy pretty ones. Obviously I ship them hard. I love the spiky girl x flirty boy trope. It just gives me life.

The Foxhole Court | Goodreads

And you better believe I saved the best for last because HELLO TO MY FOXES and the most inherently problematic Andriel (Andrew x Neil). You also really truly need to get through three books before it happens because this is like quality slowburn as well. The hate stems from just them both being so psychologically damaged and traumatised they can’t possibly trust anyone, let alone each other. But Andrew is the kind who will absolutely 100% either kill Neil or kill FOR Neil and even Neil isn’t quite sure at any time at all. I really like how the series unpacks PTSD and how love isn’t a cure = but being supported and finding a home, a family, is a good way to start learning to breathe again.

| what do you think |

please hit me with your favourite books with enemies-to-lovers in it too!! one can never have too many good recs

 

How To Stay Motivated When Writing Your Book

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In a shocking turn of events, writing is very hard and it is a lot easier to take a nap.

And look, I’m admitting this when I’ve written 30-full-length novel drafts, had 2 books published by Hachette, and am neck-deep in currently editing a draft that is 100,000-words long. I write a lot and it is, still, very hard.

“c.g., listen,” you say seriously between bites of toast because I always mention food on this blog so you’re getting a headstart, “you are doing a very terrible job at talking about motivation.”

I am terrible. 😌 But I have only just begun, so sit tight.

I get asked a lot “how do you stay motivated to write?” and it is a valuable question that I think about a lot, but usually answer very badly.

“Uhh, I just do?”

Not particularly helpful.

The truth is: I want to be an author, and that want usually outweighs my need to merge languidly with the carpet. But there are still a lot of smaller things that all tie into my need (and want) to keep myself motivated to write. Because a lot of the time my #1 thought is: “I DON’T WANNA.”

So I thought it would be most helpful to list them for you and maybe you’ll find a trick or two that will give you that extra motivating shove.

And if it doesn’t, let me know and I’ll give you a shove 🤗 off a small cliff hehe

➢ treat writing like a job

I do have the absolute privilege (backed with an intense 10 years of unpaid hard work) of being a published author. I can walk into a bookstore and pick A Thousand Perfect Notes and The Boy Who Steals Houses off the shelf because I finished them. THAT is motivating.

But ok ok, say you haven’t gotten there yet. You’re a green author and don’t know what you’re doing. Or maybe you’re an old-hand author, been writing for years but you never seem to get where you want to go. Maybe you’re in the middle. Either way, you can still consciously choose to treat writing like something to prioritise.

I haven’t been prioritising my blog recently (SORRYYYY) and you can tell. Sporadic posting. More reviews. I keep using emojis because writing is hard. (Spoiler: you can’t???? use emojis??? In your novel??? Shocked and dismayed.) I used to treat blogging like a job and I murderously protected my time that I needed to put into it. I’ve swapped and am channelling that to writing (more important for me right now; but I’m not quitting blogging!). Sometimes you have to make the conscious effort to do this: prioritise writing, make it non-negotiable that you have to work on it.

And stop calling yourself ASPIRING. You are an author. If you want to be published, you need to treat yourself like a professional, not a potato.

 

➢ Make yourself

You can’t just NOT show up to work. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Look sometimes I don’t want to write. I hardcore procrastinate. Instagram is currently teasing me for #ProcrastiBAKING, and tbh I am well fed but there are no chapters written. 

But I just make myself. I write a chapter even when I don’t feel like it.

“But won’t it be bad quality???” you say.

Maybe? Maybe not? If you only wait until you’re maddeningly inspired in a hot rush, you won’t get much writing done. Some of my best chapters have come in the midst of a writing session where I told myself to work.

 

➢ Actually figure out why you don’t wanna

If I whine “I don’t wanna” there’s usually a reason tucked behind it. And not just that I am a lazy bucket. Because I’m not?? I’m a hardcore SlytherPuff overachiever and I want to work HARD and also achieve EVERYTHING. 🙌🏻Except….for when I don’t. My top reasons for not wanting to write are usually:

  • I’m scared I’m writing it wrong and it’s not good enough. (Translation: self doubt and anxiety. Usually the fix is to tell myself to shut up and finish the draft anyway. You get better by writing more.)
  • I don’t know how to do this scene. (Ok fair, don’t write yet. Purposefully brainstorm. I go for walks. Unless I can visualise the scene beforehand, I usually get really stuck on it.)
  • It’s gonna be haaaaard work. (Translation: yer a lazy, Potter. The cure is to just go do it)
  • I’m no longer invested in what I’m doing. (This rarely happens to me…because I don’t start a project unless I’m obsessed with it and have been for a looooong time. But if it does happen, I figure I need to backtrack or reboot this draft.)
  • I’m tired. (Translation: burn out is here, can you take a day off? refill your creative well? Make a new playlist, read some books.)
  • It takes me so long to get into the zone that when I finally get there, writing time runs out and I have to stop. (Big mood. I am still waiting for a fix for this. But sometimes it genuinely comes down to just accepting your process and STOP comparing yourself to how other writers do things.)

 

➢ Bribes 🎶 bribes 🎶 bribes

Hey no shame if you need treats to get through. I legit bribed myself with chocolate last night to edit 3K. I even edited it down to 2.5K to get to the chocolate faster. (Which is actually a good thing because this current WIP is far too long.) But do not underestimate the power of the treat. Do you deserve cake? YOU DO.

Obviously food rewards aren’t always helpful (for like, lol, your waistline) so bargain with yourself to buy a new book when you finish a draft, or watch a specific TV show, etc. (I get to watch Stranger Things 3 when I finish this draft.) If you finish this chapter, you get to scroll Twitter for 10mins. Or go hardcore and tough like: yOU GET LET OUT OF YOUR CHAINS IN THE BASEMENT IF YOU WRITE, DAMMIT, GIZELLDA.

 

➢ Make sure you’re writing what YOU want

I find it very motivating when I actually am proud of my work. When I want to write because I can’t wait for that next delicious scene. It might seem obvious, but sometimes we need to stop, breath, and consider if we’re writing what excites us. Are you facing putting your characters on a long desert roadtrip and you’re like “bleh don’t wanna write today”?? Consider it’s the SCENE you don’t want. If it bores you, it will bore the reader.

I once heard an author say leave yourself tasty cookie crumbs through your plot. (I feel like it was Susan Dennard but I’m not sure?? Correct me if you know!) Make sure there’s always a scene coming up that you’re 😍dying😍 to write. For me it’s usually a bantery scene.

 

➢ get a writing buddy

Writing can feel so lonely…but it honestly doesn’t have to be! I have incredible writing friends and we talk craft and swap chapters and yell encouragement at each other. We hype each other up as well as listen to the low times. We get competitive and keep up our daily word counts. This year has been so rough and low for me…I pretty much wouldn’t be working on my current draft without @cosyreads encouragement.😭💛

Now, yes, it can be hard to find someone to be a really close writing friend with you. But if you do = invaluable. I think this is why things like NaNoWriMo work so well! It feels like one big writing club.

 

➢ sticker charts

This is also a direct result of @cosyreads 😌she uses sticker charts which inspired me to use a calendar (I think Schwab also does this too). Right now I’m ticking off working days on a calendar in my notebook (it is a pretty calendar which is important) and you’d be amazed at how inspiring it is to not want to break a streak.

 

➢ focus on your ultimate goals

Write them down if you have to. But what do you want? Do you want to be a published author? Then 🗣 write 🗣 the 🗣book. Motivation for me boils down to: it’s really rather addictive to see my books on the shelf. I want that again and again. So I need to write. Even when writing sucks for no good reason. (And sometimes that happens too!) But I most desperately want finished books and to have success.

Finishing a book can be the hugest motivation. Keep your focus on that.

| what do you think? |

tell me your tips and tricks to keep motivated? do we have any of the same methods? have you ever realised you’re not writing the book that excites you? 

 

The Boy Who Steals Houses #BookBlitz! (Ft. Signed Annotated Giveaway)

by 31 Comments

Did you know it’s been 2 whole weeks since The Boy Who Steals Houses came out?!

My son! Already so old and accomplished and honestly bringing me great joy. 😭💛The amazing AUSYA Bloggers team hosted a blitz for me last week and I don’t even know how to say how grateful I am! It went from the 19th-21st and I meant to post about it but…ok here’s the truth: I’m moving house and packing everything, including my brain. So I’m late to my own blitz but HI. Am here finally!!

So the most massive thankyou to everyone who joined in!

The buzz on Instagram and across the blogsophere was so so amazing. And it makes the world of difference for my small author self ajfdklsad can I just say how much I love that the blogging community has supported my blog AND now my books?? My heart😭🎉I looooove you.

I also want to give a super quick note that…I hope this post doesn’t come across as bragging. Look I’m not a bestseller, I’ve actually had a pretty hellish time with a lot of things regarding my publishing journey. But I am lucky and nice things have happened to me and I’m blessed by the community, so this is my thank you. 🤗And I am rooting for all you other writers’ successes too, ok?!

 

Anyway! Giveaway will be below! But before we get to that…

10 Favourite Moments of The Boy Who Steals Houses Release So Far!

1. I’ve made people cry ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Alright! Wait wait! Before you go thinking I’m a monster who thrives on tears (because that is not true at all 😌), I actually take so much heart in this because it means my little paperback novel of ink and printed words — has made people feel things. That’s actual magic.

People have sent me photos of tearstained TBWSH pages. When I announced the book, my editor basically tweeted “IT MADE ME CRY” which tbh is a life goal achieved. I’ve had dozens of “Cait!!!! First of all I CRIED” messages. And I just 😍 am thriving knowing my book has given people emotions.

2. It was put in an #AutismAcceptanceMonth Big display in Waterstones!

Curated by an autistic bookseller so like, I HAVE ASCENDED.

3. Some of my favourite authors have flailed over it!

Tbh my impostor syndrome is real. I know a lot of authors struggle with the whole “yeah but I’m not really much an an author” thing and bleashosrhgs I’m sure it comes from a place of anxiety. But this time round, I’ve chatted with several kind authors who didn’t have to take time away from their days to support me…but they did??? 😭They’re my heroes and I am starry-eyed.

So all the love and thanks to Mia Kuzniar, C.R.R. Hillin, Nadine Brandes, Helene Dunbar, Brigid Kemmerer, Mary Weber (also Laini Taylor said congrats to me on release day!!) and Marissa Kennerson!

4. The instagram buzz was SURREAL!

Release day was amazing! I was actually alone for the day and…ok I admit it. I had a pre-release cry. Overwhelm plus disappointment about some things that had gone wrong. I like to talk about the positives, but my string of disappointments and mishaps surrounding TBWSH was long and hard.

But then the 4th of April came and…bookstagram just gave me this intensely soft hug and whispered, “We’re proud of you,” and I just (!!!!) wanted to cry again, but for happy reasons. Thank you so so much to everyone who posted or messaged or cheered for me! If you think it didn’t matter? Pfshsfhsogh NO. It meant the world to me. Every single one.

5. It reached 39 bestseller on Book Depository!

And like freaking BOOK DEPOSITORY gave it a shout out on their instagram page?! I’m still confused as to why lmaooo. It was the best moment but I didn’t think they did that!

6. I commissioned fanart which turned out the actual best.

You’ll be able to win one of these in the giveaway! But I’ll also be giving away more on instagram eventually and potentially selling some?! Hold on for more news about that.

my heart = belongs to fanart.

7. My parents sent me flowers and I had my first magnum in like…5 or something years.😂

I knoooow. How dare I betray cake and not eat it on release day but can you look at this vegan magnum and tell me you wouldn’t want one. It was delicious.

8. It’s in bookstores!!

This is mostly in the UK and Australia…! But BOOKSTORES. Honestly this was the pinnacle of my life goal: walk into a bookstore and see my book. And no I haven’t seen TBWSH in stores myself yet (there are 3 people and 17 cows in our town…and the local bookstore solely stocks Harry Potter and The Hunger Games because nOTHING ELSE has ever been printed since obviously). But I will find it in a store soon! Moving house remember?! Going to the city. Bring it, civilisation.

I’m so grateful for people who send me photos of it in the wild! Better believe I SAVE ‘EM ALL.

9. I’ve had a lot of absolutely heartfelt and touching messages about it.

Like 10/10 I love the ones screaming at me. But I’ve also had people saying how much the autism rep meant to them, how they connected with the big messy De Lainey family, how the book has nestled into a very safe and special place in their hearts and they can’t stop thinking about it.💛I live for this.

Like there are simply thousands of books you could choose to read. But you chose mine. And I’m grateful.

10. So so many asks of “will there be a sequel?!”

Which as of right now: sorry, but it’s a standalone! Like I would want to write sequels, yes yes, but so much depends on sales and a few other things. Honestly at this point it doesn’t seem likely. But just knowing you WANT a sequel has me freaking out with happiness!! Look I miss the De Laineys too. But do you really think I should be allowed near Sam again? Do you reeeeeally. 😂 PART 2 OF RUINING HIS LIFE…ajdkfslad maybe we should all think about what we’re asking. 

And no, my writing career has been far from rainbows — but I enjoy talking about the parts I’ve LOVED!!

So I hope you don’t mind this gushy post!! I’m so thankful for everyone’s support and like??? I probably don’t deserve you all but AHHH. Ilysm.😘 And while I don’t have any more books under contract now (I’m trying but setbacks have been really devastating) I’ve decided to just enjoy TBWSH being out in the world to maximum 10000%. Look at my SON GO. So proud.

FIND IT:
Angus and Robinson, Booktopia, Amazon Australia, Fishpond.
Amazon US, Waterstones, The Book Depository, Wordery.

 

OPEN INTERNATIONAL

a Rafflecopter giveaway

thank you everyone who joined in the blitz!! 😘

and i am moving house so I’m sorry for being The World’s Worst Blogger right now. I will get my life back together in May I promise. (or, lol, I will at least pretend)

 

Happy Release Day to The Boy Who Steals Houses!

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The fact that I get to type out the words “my 2nd novel releases today!” is turning me into a pile of emotions.

I just 😭😍 I’m so grateful and also fiercely fiercely proud that The Boy Who Steals Houses is out today. In bookstores! On shelves! Arriving in mailboxes across the world to slowly and lovingly steal year house too! I fought really hard for this book and the journey wasn’t easy — but it’s here.

Both my books are incredibly special to me. A Thousand Perfect Notes began my publishing journey. The Boy Who Steals Houses wholly contains my soul. And I just want to say thank you to everyone who’s read them, is going to read them, and has let me take up space in your shelves and in your hearts.

And then I just want to say AHHHHHHHHHHHHH because I gotta.

AVAILABLE TO BUY NOW AT

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository | Waterstones

It’s also out in Australia on the 9th! And it’s a UK + Australian release only, so if you’re in the USA you’ll need to order online!

I wrote all my messy emotional thank-yous in the back of TBWSH, but extra love needs to go to:

My super agent, Polly Nolan! Who has to scrape me off the floor on occasion and absolutely believes in my writing. And my editors, Rosie McIntosh and Megan Larkin, who turned my book into something exceptional. Plus the whole Orchard team. So many people go into making a book! SO. Many. It’s incredible and I’m so grateful. 💛

And the most massive thank you to Maraia and Mia…you both omg. 😭💛I don’t think I’d even be here without your support.

And you…you know who you are. All of you supporters of my online work. My followers and cheerleaders. You tell people about my books and recommend them and buy them and blog about them. And it makes the absolute world of difference. I hope you know I can never thank you enough. 😘

 

Just a little bit of news…

 

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚

I’m going to leave you with some snippets and then sprint away into the dusk to eat ice cream in celebration.

I mean, shh, I know as a cake enthusiast, I should really be eating cake. But the world has gifted us with dairy free magnums and I am alive for the purpose of consuming them.

And lastly a peek at the fanart I commissioned of Moxie and Sam!

I’ll be doing a giveaway of prints later (just waiting on them to arrive). It’s by @parvaillust and everything about it is SO perfect, I can’t stop staring! My kids!!!

thank you all for your incredible support for this book that means so so much to me!!

ahhh i’m so tired and happy 😍

 

What Happened in March? (Ft. The Boy Who Steals Houses is Nearly Here + Book Tour News!)

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I realise the title of my recap posts is “what happened in March”…but I am still not quite sure.

Like, a lot happened. But also it freaking d r a g g e d out 50 x longer than a normal month. Because sOMEONE’S BOOK COMES OUT ON THE 4TH OF APRIL WHICH IS OFFICIALLY…

5. DAYS. AWAY.

Only…only 5 days until The Boy Who Steals Houses is hereeeeeee.

(Except it’s actually out in Australia on the 9th so you all need to just suffer quietly in the background there ok. Sorry about that. At some point I will ask why books don’t release on the same dates, but publishing is a mysterious beast.)

So if you can help me celebrate release day on the 4th of April by posting about The Boy Who Steals Houses…I will love yoooooou forever.😍

Like, just a tweet or an instagram post or a mention in your instagram Stories or…anything!!! I can’t even say how much I’d appreciate it. Basically I’m a small author with a small release so ALL the help is appreciated. 🎉

UGH LOOK AT THIS ATTRACTIVE BOI.

PREORDER DETAILS

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository

➸ So obviously I’m freaking out with Author !!! nerves !!! here.

Everything about The Boy Who Steals Houses has been really really different to the lead up from my debut last year (A Thousand Perfect Notes). ARCs went out later, there are less reviews up, it’s not featured in any book boxes so I don’t have that to promote…etc. etc. I’m so nervous about it doing well?! I need it to. I desperately want to be able to write and sell more books — so it’s like all this ajfdskladj < error > ajfdksladjkl pressure in my head.

BUT. I’m also enjoying the anticipation. The messages from people! The excitement! I’ve read some such meaningful and lovely reviews my soul cried happy tears.

I’ve got one author-copy but I’ll get a box eventually and I can’t waaaaait for that either. (I’ve cleared out a place in my shelf haha.)

And I’m just freaking proud of this book, ok? I am. It has my heart and I’m still not fully over being immersed in it.

I’m just so so happy it gets to exist in this world.

 

➸ There’s going to be a UK blog tour!

My publishers organised this and I’m so excited for the content that’s going up!

I wrote a personal piece on Autism Representation in YA + another piece on all the inspiration behind the book. And remember how I was whining about cutting a cute fluffy scene about potatoes??

WELL GUESS WHAT YOU GET TO READ!!!!!

It’s going to be up! Extra content!! So make sure you keep your eyeballs on this tour, ok, and I’ll be shouting out links here + on my social medias. (Even my publicist said it’s super cute ok 😍)

 

➸ And reviews? Reviews are so helpful.

So if you’ve read it or are going to read it = I’d loooove if you reviewed it! Goodreads, Amazon, retailers, your blog, etc. etc. Of course there’s no pressure. But it’s so so helpful and I would give you, like, half the kingdom if I could.

 

➸ I also splurged and commissioned fanart.

I’M SO EXCITED. I’ve got prints coming, so I’ll reveal it when they arrive but ajfdkslad it is the actual most best thing.

 

➸ I also blogged about my publishing journey for The Boy Who Steals Houses!

So don’t forget to catch that here if you want to read it! Plus here are some books to read while you’re waiting for release date. (PS. I recommend these wholly!)

 

➸ Speaking of blog posts…I’ve done some interviews with amazing bloggers, so please do check them out!

  • Over on my publishers blog → I list 10 things you need to know about TBWSH before reading!
  • Reading Anyone → I talk about motivation to keep writing and the pressure of blogging vs writing.
  • Everlasting Library → I talk about the importance of writing books about mental illness and disabilities + my favourite book worlds!
  • Chasm of Books → I give querying tips and talk about my author inspirations!
  • Keturah’s Korner → I talk about how I found an agent and landed my book deal + talk about how many buried book drafts I’ve written.
  • Imi Reviews Books → we do an epic back-and-forth discussion style and both chat about writing styles and writing ownvoices autism rep!
  • Uwadis → super excited about this behind-the-scenes interview wtih Thy Bui, my cover designer! There are some early drafts of the cover here too. Thanks to Etinosa for organising this!!
  • Book Dragonism → am chatting to Rain about why I wrote a genderbent Goldilocks retelling + how I handle the ups and downs of publishing.

(Also PS. if you want me on your blog for an interview?! I WOULD LOVE TO. Just email me cait@paperfury.com and we’ll get it set up!)

 

➸ And lastly…Laini Taylor said THIS:

So basically I can retire now omgggggg.

 

➸ My goals is 18 books per month…but I’m struggling.

yes yes I might also be a bit distracted with book releases etc. But I’m constantly behind on ARCs and I feel bad. Also I used to always read 200 books a year with zero problems?! Now I barely know when to possibly fit in writing time, gah. So I’m probably going to cut back. Even by just a book or two. But #DoNotLike this reality check that I’m not superhuman.

((all covers link to goodreads))

BOOKS BOUGHT…

From library

FROM AUTHORS…

FROM PUBLISHERS…

FROM NETGALLEY / EDELWEISS…

excuse me while I be ridiculously proud that I actually read a ton of these the MONTH I GOT THEM. 😂 The bar for being proud of me is on the ground.

What Reviews Do You Want To See First?

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(hover over covers to flip them for a mini review !! and click to see full-length review!)

 

I really enjoyed doing a full Grishaverse reread before tackling King of Scars too!

I’m still listening to the audio of Crooked Kingdom but hopefully I’ll finish it today or tomorrow. So just imagine it’s here haha. I definitely think Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom are her masterpieces, but I just looove the world. AND NIKOLAI.

Overall it was a good reading month but mostly rereads? And the really only new one I feel completely in love with was Red, White & Royal Blue.

 

➸ And YAY for April because it’s #AutismAcceptance Month! Yeah we’re skipping the “autism awareness” slogan because (a) that’s from Autism Speaks who are confirmed garbage, and (b) people know about autism, they just don’t accept it. I also saw someone call it Autism Pride month and I’m like 💖✨💕😍🎉 to this title too.

Anyway I hope to do some autism posts! I have a collab idea in mind and am gathering some autistic friends to contribute. And I’m gonna give you some book recs too! Also this is like the PERFECT month to read The Boy Who Steals Houses because the main character’s brother is autistic and I love him so.

 

➸ Also…I’m moving house again. Look someone call me out about writing a book where a character craves a steady home while I move around all the time looool (CUE SOBBING IN THE BACKGROUND). No, but I’m keen for this move, I just hate the actual process. I will, however, have a good local library again. That is worth everything. I’m not sure the exact date we’ll go? But probably in a month or so. Watch me spiral into stress. Because you know who handles change well? Not me.😌(And yes, I do still live with my parents for health reasons.)

 

➸ And because of moving house…I had to rearrange my shelves. Ok here’s the story: I had my main bookshelf in the centre of my floor so I could use both sides. I have a lot of books ok. Now apparently this isn’t conducive to selling a house if you try to walk into my bedroom and you have to squeeze through this narrow gap between shelves. (WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM.) Cue entire room rearrange. But it looks good so I’m happy!

And, omg, I had a massive book clean out. We’re talking culling like 140+ books. I donated to the library and the local secondhand stores. It hurt to see them go. But I also didn’t…even…like…those books? Where is the sense, son, where is it.

Anyway I like to contemplate my MORTALITY AND SURE DEATH while sleeping below this. I don’t have a bed, ok, I have bookshelves. (Also you can see my A Thousand Perfect Notes Beck/August fanart! And those are edit notes on my wall…for mysterious things.) And yes there’s a shrine for ATPN. As there should be.

The rainbow shelf is still here of course!

So basically I rearranged everything for photos + selling the house. And in a month I’ll have to pack it all up to do the actual moving-house. So 😂 who’s exhausted already? Meeeee.

I left space for my author copies of The Boy Who Steals Houses!

And you know the real problem here? I did all this and NO ONE brought me cheesecake as a reward. I live in a fallen world.

Now when you think to yourself, “Wow I bet Cait is busy prepping for her book’s release,” you can know I do indeed have 100 things I need to do. I am procrastinating 99 of them by reorganising my shelves.

 

➸ Most of my news goes up on Instagram and Twitter! So do follow me there if you want to know what’s going on. I mean not that *I* know what’s going on. But between the three of us (you + me + the ghosts in the walls) we should figure this out. 🙌🏻

 

right, so what have you been up to in March? what was your best vs worst read? do you often rearrange your shelves? and are you ready for my book to steal your house!!!! 🤗

 

Books To Read While You’re Waiting For The Boy Who Steals Houses!

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With just 10 days to go until The Boy Who Steals Houses is out, some of us just want to read it already.

Enough waiting okay.

Well, “some of us” does not include me, because I have read this book so many freaking times I can close my eyes, point to a page number, and know what scene it is. (Although tbh, if you guess “SAM WAS SAD HERE” then you’re 90% right for every page. But that’s beside the point.)

So it’s time for me to haul out some book recommendations…

6 books to read while you wait for the boy who steals houses!

I did a similar post before A Thousand Perfect Notes came out too, so it is becoming a thing. And I am okay with that. 🙌🏻 I love increasing your TBRs and your chances of being buried alive by good books. I’m just that kind of lovely friend.

Also these are “you might like…” sort of recs. TBWSH is a Goldilocks retelling but still most thoroughly my own monster.

OTHER POSTS TO READ

➸ What Is It Like Having Your 2nd Novel Published?
➸ Q&A About Publishing The Boy Who Steals Houses

PREORDER DETAILS

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository

 

…For big family shenanigans 🗝

One of my favourite things to write in TBWSH was the De Lainey family! They have 7 kids, they’re grieving the loss of their mother, their dad is so Chill™ he legit doesn’t notice Sam living in their house for, um, the whole summer, and there is at least 5 dramas happening at all times. Like I just loved writing this ok?! They are loveable chaos. There is a scene where Moxie rates her brothers on Usefulness Rankings. What can I say.

Anyway…you must absolutely try My Life Next Door which also features a Sam (a female one) and her next door neighbours are the messy and loveable Garrett family. This one is way more fluffy than mine loooool.

 

…For runaways looking for a place to belong 🗝

Am still not over Boomerang and how much it made me feeeel. It’s also about Sean who ran away from a neglectful home life and *found* a better family and a place in the world. Except now Sean has to go back home and he’s leaving people he absolutely loves, but his real-mum wants him back. It’s a book that tugs your heart all over the place. It’s also softly queer and softly stressful.

In my book ➸  Sam also runs away from home, with his autistic older brother Avery. But Sam breaks into houses when the families are home and just lives there. He has so many tragic dreams it’s just !!! kid, you need a hug and a hot drink.

 

…For autism rep 🗝

In When My Heart Joins The Thousand, Alvie is 17, autistic, and living alone and trying to be emancipated. But she is so lonely. Then she connects with this boy with such fragile bones that he can barely move without hurting himself. It’s an amazing story, and I just loved Alvie’s portrayal of autism?! She represents so many of we autistics: she’s got a job, she can take care of herself…but then she falls apart in so many ways that society doesn’t deem “acceptable” for her age.

This is pretty much Avery from my book. He’s vulnerable and naive and Sam basically gets grey hair the whole time trying to explain to keep Avery safe. Avery can hold down a job. He’s verbal. He has a wicked sense of humour and is so Soft™ and literally craves hugs. But he absolutely can’t see BAD THINGS COMING because he still trusts people. 😭 Dammit, Avery. Also these brothers have some co-dependancy issues and Sam is only 15, so he messes up a lot. He’s basically raising Avery, but the line between “protecting” vs “isolating” gets blurred.

 

…For found-family and disaster decision makers 🗝

Look The Foxhole Court is like my favourite thing so I had to find a way to mention it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I shan’t apologise. But look in this book we have NEIL who is on the run from an abusive father…but sacrifices safety because he so badly wants to play Exy and have a family. Have a place. And his team gives him that.

All I’m saying is that Sam and Neil have the same issue. “I don’t need anyone,” they say, while clinging to their new family and freaking out when they hold keys because it means they have a place.

Do their bad decisions come back to bite them? Yes.

 

…For neglected boys 🗝

The Wicker King is actually one of my all-time favourite books. I CRY. 😭 In my top 5, easy. And it’s about August watching his childhood friend spiral down into delusions and mental illness while the adults in their lives fully just neglect them. August and Jack just bREAK me…and their soft realisation that it’s ok to love each other through all of this is just everything.

In my book ➸ Sam has the similar experience of just turning to adults who aren’t there for him. At all. He’s totally ruled by his anxiety (like August) trying to keep it all together by himself. Part of why Sam holds so fast to the De Laineys is that for once he doesn’t have to be the adult. But if he’s not looking after Avery, then who is???

 

…For anyone looking for a Goldilocks retelling! 🗝

I can’t even recommend any other Goldilocks retellings?! I dare say Im not the first lmao, I juts haven’t found any. So HERE is to my genderbent Goldi-Sam-Locks who steals into houses and eats their pancakes, not porridge.

I have a ton of references too, so keep your eyes peeled for the Easter Eggs! Like the fateful Saturday when the book begins, Sam breaks into 2 houses before the 3rd is…just right.

have you read any of these? (and do you know of any ya Goldilocks retellings?) and if you’re a writer ➸ tell me what books you’d compare your current project to? i’m very curious!

 

What Is It Like Having Your 2nd Novel Published? (Ft. I Have A Finished Copy of The Boy Who Steals Houses!)

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In exactly 12 days, my second novel (The Boy Who Steals Houses) will be out in the world.

Why yes I am absolutely 1000% freaking out, how are you. The weeks leading up to release day are equal parts thrilling and terrifying — and I still feel like I’m trying to find my footing after my debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes, came out just last June. Yes. That was only 10 months ago.

Am I tired??? Dude I am Very Tired™.

When I got to make the official announcement for The Boy Who Steals Houses’ release date + title, a lot of people said, “I can’t believe you have a second book already!” But I actually announced I had a 2-book deal right up front! So this was always always coming! I still have to pinch myself that I even landed a 2-book deal in the first place.😍 TBWSH wasn’t even written! It wasn’t even a blimp in my imagination yet! Being trusted — and wanted — like that was such an encouraging way to start my career.

My emotions were !!!!!!!!!!! for days and days.

 

So I thought I’d outline how The Boy Who Steals Houses came to be.

I was going to do this closer to release day but then I realised: “CAIT. IT IS CLOSE TO RELEASE DAY HOLY HECK GET ON THIS.” This is also a good time to admit I have very limited time-and-spacial-awareness. I’m the person who cheerfully believes, every. freaking. time., that I can fit 6 hours of writing into 30mins before bed. And then I wonder why I never sleep, but anyway.

 

Also I hope you are beholding the GLORY that is the finished copy of The Boy Who Steals Houses!! I got sent two (the rest of author-copies will come later) and I may have just cried over my package. (I sent the second one off to my critique partner Maraia who this book seriously wouldn’t exist without.😘)

PREORDER DETAILS

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Booktopia | Book Depository

Also NOTE: It’s out in Australia on the 9th, instead of the 4th! So you get to suffer and wait longer.

I wrote The Boy Who Steals Houses in November 2016.

It was a NaNoWriMo novel! It was also a heckin’ mess. So if that doesn’t encourage you to resuscitate your beloved but also catastrophically messy NaNo drafts — then what will. There is hope out there, in the darkness.

I’d signed my 2-book deal (starting with A Thousand Perfect Notes) back in June of 2016, so I didn’t know what that “untitled 2nd contemporary” was going to be. My plan was to write a ton, cry a bit, and pitch ideas to my editors. I ended up writing two full novels and coming up with a few other pitches. Writing grew strangely hard right then. I had ATPN signed and in edits and there fore I had plenty of time to panic. (Ex: COULD I EVEN WRITE?!?! WAS ATPN A FLUKE!?!? have i ever written a novel in my life).

Am I dramatic?? Pshaw.

Anyway. The pitch that everyone pointed to with a YES was for → The Boy Who Steals Houses.

(What about the other contemporaries I’ve written and pitched? Some got rejected, as that’s the business. And some I’ve scoured their cold corpses and gone through their pockets to take scenes for other books.)

 

TBWSH was officially confirmed to be my 2nd novel around November 2017.

That’s pretty fast ok!! Almost exactly 1 year since it even crawled sulkily into existence.

And next?

edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits edits

Actually the whole process of how TBWSH got to be a final draft felt very different from how it went with my debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes. So basically n o t h i n g is certain. Except cake. Bless cake.

➸ The Boy Who Steals Houses required a rather large edit.

The first things authors do when asked to rewrite something is: cry. I cried. It was a daunting taste and I was a New Green Author Hatchling still (ATPN wasn’t out yet remember). I was also insecure about writing about two things that were very personal to me: (1) anxiety, and (2) autism. When you splatter your heart on the table and people say, “Hm, this needs to be better,” it’s a terrifying moment of: I’m wrong. How could I be so so wrong. I shouldn’t be writing this. Cue me staring into the bottomless pit of despair.

So that life meltdown lasted, um, one day. Then I wanted to work.

The thing with being a traditional author and working with your editor is: they are ON YOUR SIDE. They see your work, they see the imperfections and the gnarly edges that you don’t see. Because you’re way too close to your own vision of the project. Half of my intentions for the story where still in my head. NOT on the page. They kinda needed to be on the page!

So we fixed it. We got MY full vision on the page. I worked with my editors ideas. (My agent is really supportive and close in my journey too and weighs in when I need her!) We made the book 100 x better, kept my vision, polished it, and turned out a book I’m so intensely in love with it makes my heart fit to burst.

Changing your story, your baby, will always be scary. But writing a novel isn’t a one person job. If your editor knows your book’s heart and knows *your* heart, then you’ll both work your hardest to turn this story into a fully incredible novel.

I emphasis this because I get a lot of unpublished writers tell me, “Yeah but I don’t want anyone to *change* me.” And look, I get the stubborn feels? Like I said: this is our baby. Our hardest work. But your editor is here to make it your best work. Not just your hardest. You’ve got the passion. They’ve got the professional knowledge to get your passion into trim shape.

ugh i love just love having people help me with my work lmao otherwise I’m a mess

 

Things That Changed Between Drafts

  • I added in the flash backs!! I LOVE THE FLASH BACKS. These were my editor’s idea.
  • Also fun fact: I legit wrote “backflash” every single time in the manuscript and my editor is like, “Uh did you know it’s flashback?” Well there.
  • I trimmed some scenes. I felt sad losing them, but also…the book was really long and as cute as the scenes were, they were pointless haha. (But you WILL get to see a deleted scene as part of my blog tour! More details will come!)
  • Avery’s character got a large overhaul. He’s my autistic character and I was scared to change him — but also the way he is in the final book? It’s 1000% what I wanted but didn’t quite get to originally.
  • The violence…had to be…toned…down. (Lmao. I swear I’m nice in person in real life.)
  • Approximately 39849839 typos had to be fixed.
  • I actually changed almost ALL the De Lainey kids’ names! The sole De Lainey who kept their name was Jeremy. I named him after A CHILD’S PICTURE BOOK ABOUT A KOOKABURRA.
  • And we did a bit of UK vs Australian translating. Apparently the British do not have “eskys”. What’s wrong with you lot.

Right! So the massive edits were finished! Then what?

Then waiting. Looots of waiting. I’d maybe do a few more tweaks. Copy edits came in. I did a last minute panicked fix of the very final pages.

I got to see the cover! It’s designed by Thy Bui who also did covers for: Shadow & Bone, The Astonishing Colour of After and Everless! I originally did hope it was going to be more yellow, because it’s a Goldilocks retelling. But in the end it’s perfect and I was stoked with everyone’s reactions. The keys are utter perfection and fit in with the story so well!

Acknowledgements writing time: aka when I freak out because WHAT IF I FORGET SOMEONE. I got all emotional while writing them though, so when you read the acknowledgements: picture me with my heart melting like a pot of warmed chocolate.

The dedication? I used a line out of the actual book:

if lost please return to the De Laineys

This captures both everything Sam feels and everything my readers also feel (!!) because, no joke, I am getting constant messages saying “I WANNA BE ADOPTED BY THE DELAINYS TOO.” Mood, my friends.

 

And on April 4th it’s going to be in bookstores 😍 and I’m going to be a happy mess.

This book stole my heart. It is both a story where I wrote vulnerable things and also heart things. There were so many times I thought it wouldn’t make it — but it did. And I just…!! Do you want to get an umbrella so I can cry on you, maybe? Because, me right now.

And look, I don’t know what happens after TBWSH. Being an author isn’t a place of guarantees. I have fingers so tightly crossed that TBWSH will do well, sell well, and be loved — and that I’ll be able to sell another book and keep telling you all my heart’s stories. So we’ll see, OK!?

Right now I’m excited and anxious about release day. I’m in love with this book and I can’t wait for you to meet my disaster son, Sam, and his desperate wish to find the home and family he is looking for.