life

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

4th Aug 2019 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 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!

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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.

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???

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

30th Mar 2019 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 35 Comments

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.

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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!!!! 🤗

#AmCurrently ~ Officially A Published Author (omg) + TBR Is Taller Than Me (oh no)

30th Jun 2018 by C.G. @ Paper Fury 113 Comments

“So how does it feel to be an officially published author now?!” you might be asking.

A Thousand Perfect Notes has been out for 3 weeks now…which is…absolutely mind-blowing?! It’s already been 3 weeks?!? Speaking of which: how is it also JULY.

So anyway. How am I feeling?

Utter mood right now. I’m fiiiiine.

Now let me tell you all about my month! Because wow. It was an intense one. And my #AmCurrently post is my recap of what I’ve been reading, books I’ve collected, life things, and exactly how many times I’ve screamed lately. * So much fun!

Also I hope you appreciate my first photo in this post, where I’m measuring myself in books. It doesn’t take many. I am smol.

* This is a complete lie. One cannot count these.

So my debut novel came out with Hachette UK which is KIND OF A BIG THING JUST SAYING. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m not even exaggerating: 7 YEARS IN AZKABAN AND NOW I HAVE A BOOK. It’s in bookstores. Sometimes it’s featured in bookstores. People actually buy it?!? People bUY IT BECAUE THEY WANT TO???? What is this world.

I’m not…I’m not crying. This is my waterfall cosplay.

I’m so freaking happyyyyyyyyy.

Just in case you haven’t read it yet…

You can find it on Amazon (there’s only 12 left in stock so um, if you’re in America…GET ONTO THAT.) And also Booktopia, Book Depository (free world wide shipping!), Wordery, and add it on Goodreads!

(Also PS. I could really use reviews on Amazon! I need 50 for it to be counted properly / recommended, and I only have 10!)

OMG WHERE DO I EVEN START????
Probably by being so frikkin’ humbled and proud all at the same time. Because I was honestly scared my little book would just be a slight hiccup in time. I mean, I’m an unknown author. It’s a debut…it’s kind of dark (which isn’t everyone’s thing), I’m not able to be physically present or go sign in bookstores or meet people, ergo what if IT ALL JUST IS A QUIET MELLOW RELEASE etc. etc. (Hi, yes, I have anxiety.) But it’s been amazing. I worked really really hard and it worked and I JUST AM !!!!
Cosplaying the waterfall again, look at me go.
So it got to rank 119 on Book Depository (we’re talking out of thousands of YA books)! It also got to “bestsellers in romance” which cracks me up because it’s so unromantic. August says “I like you” and Beck literally sprints 40 miles in the opposite direction. But looooook! I’M NEXT TO BECKY ALBERTALLI. (Probably alphabetically for this list but hush!!)
It also hit #1 on Amazon…for the YA music section lmao…which has like 10 books in it all up BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I’M TAKING IT.
People actually find it in bookstores!!! (THIS IS MY DREAM.) And so many times it’s actually been shelved in prime positions, with cover facing out to catch attention. I am so lucky, wow.
I opened my annual Booktopia newsletter and…IT WAS FEATURED. This was so unexpected?! And I died a little when they’re like “you might know Paper Fury!”… Yeah. I do. She’s climbing the walls currently but ok.
It was featured in the Illumicrate May box! With bookmarks. And signed book plates. It was so fun signing those. And it also had red-stained pages so like…my eyeballs are in love.
I still haven’t gotten my author copies yet, so I literally just have the Illumicrate one. Haha….sob.
But when I do get them, I can do some more giveaways!
I’ve done so many interviews, a twitter chat, instagram takeovers for Hachette NZ and AUS, and it’s all intense and also completely surreal. (Little me?! So many opportunities?! ajfkdasldf)
0_0 <—- mood
mY TWITTER CHAT TRENDED.
The #AThousandPerfectNotes hashtag is wild and I love it and it’s no longer just me! Nice!
MORE PEOPLE THAN JUST MY MUM LIKE IT.
My sisters actually all pulled through and proved themselves useful and bought copies. This is the only reason I tolerate having 4 sisters.
My editors sent me flowers! Which is the actual sweetest thing!!
People have been so kind, and so supportive, and I hope you absolutely 10000% know that I wouldn’t be able have my heart stuffed so full with all this incredible news if it wasn’t for your help.
I LOVE YOU, OKAY.

LOOK I’M IN BOOKSTORES!

(Literally this was the pinnacle of my dreams. My book —> in a bookstore! I have yet to actually go see it myself due to living in a town without a bookstore. And also being too overwhelmed to go to the city right now. BUT SOON I WILL LIVE THAT DREAM.)

AND READERS ARE STILL HAVING FUN.

UM LAINI TAYLOR SAID CONGRATS, SO CLEARLY I HAVE PEAKED AND CAN RETIRE NOW.

I’m so so exhausted haha oh wow. Ok. I’m done. And I PROMISE I WILL NOT ALWAYS GO ON AND ON ABOUT ATPN. It’s just a special time for me right now!! ah!!

Oddly…publishing a book equals less time to read?!

I actually am kind of devastated that this year will be like my least-amount-of-books-read in the last 3 years?!? I know it’s still a lot of books. And it’s ridiculous to be disappointed! But yet here I am. Overachiever me is suffering. I’m still on track for my Goodreads goal but I also feel a little slumpy.

I’m reading less —> but not collecting less books. #OHNO

I also wanted to read a ton of lgbtqia+ books for Pride month and I barely read any. Ughhhhh. So disappointed @ me. I ended up only reading 6.

Review copies vs books I bought!

Actually I say that, but Smoke and Iron is on the wrong side lol lol. I am dysfunctional. Anyway, I’m on the blog tour from that (thanks Berkley Publishing!) so look out for it next week!! SO EXCITED. THIS SERIES IS MY LIFE.

Also thank you Bloomsbury, Flatiron US, Allen & Unwin, Nadine Brandes (who sent me Fawkes herself!!) and Bloomsbury! ALSO PENGUIN FOR THE REVIEW-COPY OF BRIGHT WE BURN AHHHHHHHHH. And Jo for sending me through her ARC of The Unpredictability Of Being Human (which is about an autistic girl and it’s soooo good!).

FROM EDELWEISS OR NETGALLEY

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I mastered the ice cream sandwich ok. This is me reaching the pinnacle of my life achievements. Forget being published — I can make ice cream sandwiches. (Also they were strawberry and chocolate and dairy/sugar free, meaning they are HEALTHY. Meaning I can eat, like, all of them.)
Through all the publishing madness I STILL managed to outline another book!! And no it’s not sold or anything, but I’m still pleased I managed to finish it despite my brain being a complete beehive lately.
My Etsy store is dying and basically I’m waving hopelessly at the funeral pyre haha. Omg.
My dad built me some new shelves! Which I sorely needed. The fact that they’re directly above my bed is a tiny bit disconcerting, but you know what? Life is short. Bookworms are supposed to live perilously. Here’s the Before vs After:

Those sheets on the wall are edit notes!!
There is my dog, Atticus’ butt.
Also he absolutely blends with my bed and the walls. How and why.
I’m so so excited to read Bright We Burn (!!!) absolutely busting out of my skin right now!!
Also if you loved A Thousand Perfect Notes, jUST REMEMBER: next year I’m going to ruin your life with The Boy Who Steals Houses! #excite
Anyway.
My sister is visiting so hopefully we’ll watch lots of Brooklyn 99.
I’ve literally done nothing except answer DM’s and eat ice cream sandwiches this month so I’m not sure what else I should say here except: send help.
No really, help. I washed my white jumper, got it all pleasantly clean, and went and made strawberry jam. Ah ha, Cait. AH HA HA HAHAH (crying). So my jumper is no longer white, and how are you.
HOW DO PEOPLE CALL ME INTIMIDATING. PEOPLES. THIS IS LITERALLY ME SPILLING JAM ON MY SHIRT.
My plans for July include: (a) reading a sheer ton of books because my TBR is stressing me out. I’m so behind. And (b) I hopefully will draft a new book! Also (c) never never wear white again.