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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, aΒ 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. πŸŽ‰

UGH LOOK AT THIS ATTRACTIVE BOI.

PREORDER DETAILS

GoodreadsΒ |Β Amazon USΒ |Β Amazon UKΒ |Β BooktopiaΒ |Β Book Depository

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

Everything about The Boy Who Steals Houses has been reallyΒ 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 β†’ I list 10 things you need to know about TBWSH before reading!
  • Reading Anyone β†’ I talk about motivation to keep writing and the pressure of blogging vs writing.
  • Everlasting Library β†’ I talk about the importance of writing books about mental illness and disabilities + my favourite book worlds!
  • Chasm of Books β†’ I give querying tips and talk about my author inspirations!
  • Keturah’s Korner β†’ 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 β†’ we do an epic back-and-forth discussion style and both chat about writing styles and writing ownvoices autism rep!
  • Uwadis β†’ 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 β†’ 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.

Β 

➸ 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. πŸ˜‚ 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!Β Yeah we’re skipping the “autism awareness” slogan because (a) that’s from Autism Speaks who are confirmed garbage, and (b) peopleΒ know about autism, they justΒ don’t accept it. I also saw someone call it Autism Pride month and I’m like πŸ’–βœ¨πŸ’•πŸ˜πŸŽ‰ 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.)

 

➸ AndΒ 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 πŸ˜‚ 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. πŸ™ŒπŸ»

 

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!!!! πŸ€—

 

What Happened In January? (Ft. My Cover Reveal + New Blog Design Coming!)

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Is it just me or does January last approximately 1000 years?

Because I have questions about this, sir. Ugh. I feel like January just goes on and on because we’re depressingly out of Christmas chocolates by now and the weather is quite extreme. I hear the Americans are freezing. I’m DROWNING. It hasn’t stopped raining in two. freaking. months.

 

But hey it’s a new year, so I’ve been changing things up a bit recently like:

➸ my graphic headers for my posts are different!
➸ I’m going to format my wrap-up posts a bit differently too.
➸ I’m back to blogging more! After I was an absolute holey bucket last year…I swear I got nothing done.
➸ There is absolutely a new blog design coming sooooon. HOPEFULLY this should fix my email-subscription-problem too.
➸ Because yes, sob, I’m aware emails don’t get sent out anymore. It’s hella depressing.
➸ Also I deleted an absolute ton of my embarrassing archives looool. It was time. New year clean up!
➸ But can you please let me know if you ever get email replies to my comments?? (Only answer the poll below if you actually comment here frequently enough to notice if you get replies! Just so I can gauge if THAT widget is broken too.)
➸ CUE HYSTERICAL LAUGHING SOBS.

do you get emailed my replies to your comments?

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Also I read Queen Of Air And Darkness AND The Wicked King….and consequently am d e a d.

They were both absolutely PERFECT and vicious and my emotions are in seventeen pieces !!! these are two of my most favourite authors and they did not disappointΒ at all.

 

➸ In case you missed it…my second book, The Boy Who Steals Houses, HAS A COVER!

It’s out April 4th! And it is beautiful and I’m so so overwhelmed with happiness on how hyped everyone was to see it! Bookstagram gave my reveal photo all the love in particular (YOU’RE MY FAVE, BOOKSTAGRAM) and twitter got hyped too! It also ranked in the 300s on Book Depository this week (like out of thousands of books, um !!!! omg !!!) and hit some lists for bestselling preorders. I can’t even. You ALL!!!! AndΒ I possibly changed my twitter header because I have little to no chill.

And if you want to add it on Goodreads or preorder…!!! you know I would love you more than cake!!

 

and this is my editor…

(Aren’t I a sweet person to work with!!)

➸ I think ARCs will be here in February!

I sayΒ think because I know less than Jon Snow. But I’m entirely made up of wires and short-circuiting nerves and happinessΒ at the thought of some of you meeting my favourite soft sons early.

 

➸ I also am writing all the things again.

It’s really odd to be, on one hand, like: “HERE IS MY BOOK THAT IS COMING OUT IN EXACTLY 60 DAYS!” but on the other hand, you need to be writing new drafts and doing edits and pitching new books to editors because (on average) it takes a book 2-3 years to go to the shelf. It’s overwhelming and terrifying and my mental health has been Not Greatβ„’ and I want to keep being able to publish books so so badly — so there has been a bit of writing paralysis going on.

But I have (1) something to edit, (2) something to draftΒ just for fun, and (3) a new project to start soon. And I’m lookingΒ forward to it.

Going to go type furiously and try to keep my mood as a !!! instead of just a long line of ,,,,,,,,,,, which is my brain just waiting for a miracle to happen and it to start functioning again lolol.

 

 

➸ I read 18 books this month! Which is my goal for every month in 2019.

My overall goal is 200 books and yES thE mATh is QUESTIONABLE. But I didn’t come here to count, you little onion. Don’t ask these things of me. And I actually haven’t done a book haul post since, um, November. So I have no idea what’s going on.

 

((all covers link to goodreads))

BOOKS BOUGHT…

Β Β Β Β Β 

FROM PUBLISHERS…

Β Β Β Β Β Β Β 

 

FROM NETGALLEY / EDELWEISS…

Β  Β  Β Β Β 

 

Good news is I’ve read a lot of these already. Bad news is I’M GONNA DIE UNDER MY TBR STILL.

 

 

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

 

 

 

➸ I’m trying to be on twitter less this year.Β I’ll still post my pithy writer quips, but I want to do less aimless scrolling because…it making me Sad. (I also wish it was more equal between calling out problematic content = to hyping good content.) However I LOVE Instagram! It’s like such a positive community,Β plus we really cheer each other on without snark and I just??? love it so much??? I still hate the algorithm which lets 5% of my followers see my photos BUT. We can’t have everything.Β Β―\_(ツ)_/Β―

➸ I have plots to make a lamington ice cream cake. This is the essence of my existence at this point.

➸ I’ve been filling in my Reading Journal! I also use GoodreadsΒ andΒ a spreadsheet. No it’s not overboard, it is simply **PREPARED** (for what, I don’t know? But I still list books in 3 places!)

➸ I finally bought a kindle! So I don’t have to scroll on a teeny tiny iPod screen anymore. Look at me GO, doing something functional for myself for once!

➸ And if you’d like to see me talk about any specific aspects of writing / publishing / editing / specifically TBWSH, etc…let me know in the comments!Β I need post ideas lmao.

➸ Here’s to FEBRUARY! Which is a ridiculously small month that I will still try to fit 31 days of work into 28. LET’S GO!!

 

do your January’s go fast or slow? and what was your BEST vs DISAPPOINTING read of this month?? (hey writers, are you getting hyped for your projects for this year?) and tell me what your favourite social media platforms are?

#AmCurrently ~ October (Am I Doing NaNo?! + I Found A Library + Maaaaybe I Fixed My Blog)

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Oh WOW look at that! Only 2 months left of the year and I need to squeeze about 23 years worth of books in!

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.

Nothing motivates me to actuallyΒ do things like it being November and me recalling a list of goals I made in January and how I’ve done 4% of them. Umm myΒ bad. I got so industrious this month though that I wrote a pre-NaNo draft (which turned out about as well as a pile of crumbled bricks) and hit 180 for my Goodreads challenge!

I need !! to do !! so much before 2019 !!! how have I done nothing !!! ahhhhh

I’m also currently away from home right now!

I’m visiting my sister (which involves 1 plane flight to see 4 nieces and nephews and devour 2 shelves of library books in delirious delight). But this means I won’t have any photos of my book haul which is SAD. But we live on.

And YES my blog’s email subscription is still broken.

That puddle of weeping tears? It me. I’ve transferred sending emails manually via mailchimp — so if you haven’t been receiving them this last week, it’s a good idea to resubscribe! Just scroll to the far far end of this post and you’ll see this:

Anyway, I can’t even. I don’t know how to bloggggg.

But you should be fine if you’re subscribed via bloglovin or asking magical pigeons to bring you bound scrolls of my thrice weekly blog updates. Technology fails us. Pigeons do not.

Now is my (shameless) moment to mention that you can nominate A Thousand Perfect Notes for the Goodreads awards if you want!

You have to add it manually because obviously it isn’t famous and I am very unknown lmao. BUT I HAVE SLYTHERIN DREAMS! I CAN WISH! And yes shhh I nominated it myself. Even though bestsellers are what win these, but oh well!

I actually confess I’m a bit nervous because it’s That Time Of Yearβ„’ when “best books of the year” blog posts start coming up and Book Shimmy Awards are announced and gahhhhh. I know ATPN has done marvellously for being a little debut and your support has been extraordinaryΒ ( !! omg I love you all !!). But I’m still aware it’sΒ smallΒ and didn’t explode the world, but rather slipped in to tell a quiet tale. And I do love it for that.Β But I can’t help but be a little anxious?! So definitely trying not to think about it! The day I learn to be a chill author and let whatever happensΒ just happen will be a good day.

OTHER THINGS

✧ I’m sooo excited to say that A Thousand Perfect Notes is being translated into both Czech and Slovak!! Not sure of the release date yet, but probably next year! (It’s also going to be in Romanian and Polish!!!!!!)
✧ Never going to get over how surreal translation deals are?! AHHHHHH.
✧ I still don’t have news of a cover for The Boy Who Steals Houses, sorrrrry.
✧ But ARCs are mostly likely coming in December. Keep your eyes peeled.
✧ People continue to post stunning photos of it on #bookstagram and my life is made.
✧ Never underestimate what a simple sentence review, a quick word-of-mouth recommendation to a friend, a photo, or a tiny message of flails can impact an author. MY COLD HEART THRIVES AND I AM SO ENCOURAGED BY YOU ALL.

On bookstagram under #AThousandPerfectNotes!

I hit 180 books this month so only 20 more until I finish my reading goal!!

I also reread 6 books this month…which is probably why my TBR pile has drawn a knife at me and shrieked. But you know how comforting rereads are?! Also I want to enjoy my favourites multiple times so HERE I AM. The wild life.

Now reminder…I am away and can barely remember for the life of me what is new to my shelves.

Do I have a memory??? A brain???NEVER HEARD OF THEM. NOT SURE THEY’RE REAL TBH.

But good news is, while I’m visiting my sister — I get to use her library!! I amΒ so hungry for libraries since the town I live in has, um, nothing. (I donated a stack to them to try and help their pitiful shelves. But that’s still not helpful for me.) So I’m reading so much right now and it makes my soul happy.

 

BOOKS BOUGHT…

Β 

REVIEW COPIES…

Β Β 

 

LIBRARY BOOKS…!!!

Β Β Β Β Β  Β Β 

I’M SO FREAKING EXCITED FOR THIS LOT!!!!

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FLIP TO SEE MINI REVIEWS!

 

so what’s been happening in my life?

  • HEY SO IT’S NANOWRIMO!!!! Which always excites me a lot. Although unfortunately this year (since I’m staying at my sister’s) I won’t start till the 20th. And yes I won NaNo in 2 days last year (shh) but I’ve been writing a lot slower this year. But I have to join in still, even if I’m cutting it fine, because it’s my 5th year and I CAN’T MISS THIS.
  • Dammit, NaNo, keeping a good streak is too fun.
  • Hopefully I’ll be doing a Stranger Things x Jumunji story called The Misery Rules. Here’s my Pinterest board. And buddy me on NaNoWrimo.com if you want!
  • But I wish everyone who is doing it now the best of best luck. (And desperately want to hear about your projects!)
  • I also wrote a pre-NaNo draft in October. Because I’m awful. Β―\_(ツ)_/Β―Β  It was a contemporary genderbent Secret Garden retelling. I got to 75,000 words in 12 days and totallyΒ smooshed the ending because I know the whole thing needs a complete overhaul. LE SIGH.
  • First drafts are like eating rocks, I swear.
  • I’ve started plotting a monstery middle-grade novel though…I’m tentatively excited for this. (I’ve never done MG properly before!?) It’s about the monsters under your bed! Because OF COURSE IT’S DARK. I can’t help myself.
  • Also Finn and I hosted a bookstagram Stiefvater challenge in October and #FinnFury was SO FUN and we consider it a marvellous success! Thanks to everyone who joined in!! We got over 1,800 posts! AHH.

  • Staying at my sister’s is always BEST. I have 4 nieces and nephews here and they climb all over me and the smallest bites and eats chocolate cake off the floor. But they’re cute at least.
  • This conversation happened:
  • I MEAN, SHE HAS A POINT.
  • And I also thoroughly maintain my 9month nephew looks like Sunny Baudelaire. Proof? I’ll give you proof.
  • He bites me SO MUCH so it must be true.
  • Anyway we have done much baking (there have been two birthdays so far so LOTS OF CAKE) and been op-shopping and library-going and made cake pops that are RUSTIC…not mauled. Although double-dipping happened and the floor was so covered in sprinkles it was like crunching through beach sand. Nice.
  • Also my aesthetic cup of coffee in picture below is actually…hot chocolate. Because I am a child and coffee is a LIE. It smells good and tastes less interesting. (Also makes me sleepy!? So what’s the point!) But look at me taking real instagrammer photos aw.

  • I’m definitely still blogging and trying to keep up with visiting blogs + answering all your comments!! And hopefully the email issue’s temporary fix will help to.
  • THE BLOG SHALL NOT DESTROY ME. I SHALL PREVAIL.
  • Now excuse me…I have soft books to read and monster stories to plan.

 

are you doing NaNo?! can you give me a sneak peek on what your project is?? are you ahead/behind on your reading goals? WHO IS NOT READY FOR IT TO BE NOVEMBER?! (meee) and definitely tell me if you’ve gotten any exciting books recently!

#AmCurrently August ~ Return From Hiatus! Ask Me Things For A Spoiler Q&A! I Ate A Library!

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Hiiii remember me?! Because I barely blogged in August!

I actually TOOK that hiatus. I took it by the throat, ok, and I rested gloriously and…um neglected my blog for 3 weeks. But I think this is the first long(ish) hiatus I’ve taken in about 3 years soΒ Β―\_(ツ)_/Β― I shan’t apologise. I do confess I’ve found blogging exhausting lately, but I’ve found LIFE exhausting. I’m not quitting! I am just returning to sit next to you, share my popcorn, and whinge to be honest.

Missed me?

I KNOW SO.

Before we go on, I’m planning on doing a “Spoiler Q&A” about A Thousand Perfect Notes!

Which will be your chance (if you’ve read it!) to ask all the questions that are too spoilery to answer in the open. MWHA HAHA. So here’s a link to a Google Form here. It’s anonymous (but you can leave your name if you want). I am so excited to do this ahhhh!!

 

GUESS WHO FINALLY ACHIEVED THEIR LIFE GOAL!??

Now don’t laugh but my life goal was always, specifically: β€œwalk into a bookstore and see my book on a shelf.” And I have finally done it! While I was visiting my sister for 2 weeks, we haunted the bookshop. This is extra cool because (a) this was in Lismore, aka the place ATPN is actuallyΒ set in, and (b) it was my hometown up until last year so !!! I was justΒ so excited. I can’t even say how it feels to go into a store and hey bAM THERE’S YOUR NAME.

YOUR BOOK.

ON A SHELF.

If you’re wondering why it took nearly 3 months post-publication for me to do this, then…ahhh. Ok. Two reasons: (1) I currently live in a very small town which is basically a cow paddock and NO real bookstore. And (2) I have really severe social anxiety and sometimes going out is too much. I’m relieved I could evenΒ do thisΒ finally. No I didn’t ask to sign any. I slipped in and out, but I saw it and that is everything for me. I am all the emotions right now ajfkdslad. (Also only 3 left on the shelf and OBVIOUS GAPS !! So people are buying it hOLY WOW this still shocks me.)

Also I’m slightly biased but…HOW FREAKING EYE-CATCHING IS MY COVER THO.

Also I know I look twelve but…I promise I am not twelve.

 

  • Another author I super admire has actually readΒ my book. *DIES*
  • Also 10/10 I love her books and honestly they’re quiteΒ similar to mine in themes and tone, so I totally recommend them!!
  • ATPN is at 1,000 ratings on Goodreads which is just !!!
  • It still just always feelsΒ so surreal thinking about it being a real book?! IDK IT HASN’T SUNK IN YET.
  • It was featured inΒ Duality Box! They made me fanart. I’m sobbbbbing. FANART.
  • I also have more copies of my book than I know what to do with lmao. But I’m going to do some giveaways on Twitter and InstagramΒ soon, so make sure you’re stalking me there.
  • Also can I beg for some reviews on Amazon?!Β ATPN has nearly been out 3 months and but I’ve got barely 40 on Amazon. It would REALLY help me for the search engines and recommendation listings to get some more ratings there!! Good reviews! Bad! Middling mehs! GO FOR IT. Can just be just a few sentences! My book is actually not super big and not available everywhere (unfortunately) so your support means everything…truly it does. Thank yooooou.

    Amazon US \\ Amazon UK

I read 18 books…even though I was away! POWER.

I read really intensely the first 10 days of the month and pretty much finished a book a day! It feltΒ really good. I haven’t done that for ages. Like I went from “I should procrastinate for no reason!” to “PUT A BOOK IN FRONT OF MY FACE AND I WILL DEVOUR THEM AND THE SUN AND YOUR GOATS AND RISE GLORIOUS UPON THE DAWN.”

So in other news: I have actually been in a lowkey book slump most of this year and didn’t notice.Β Β Β―\_(ツ)_/Β―

Anyway! I hopefully I keep up the motivation and actually don’t !!! die !! under 14989 books !!

#laughshysterically

BOOKS BOUGHT vs REVIEW COPIES

Ok so LIBRARY SALE!! I got most of these hardcovers for 50 cents?!? Holy wow. And Sometime After Midnight was a preorder + Heretics Anonymous was all Book Depository’s fault because I was VULNERABLE after some crappy news and they sent me 10% off so like???? I tREAT MYSELF.

Thanks to Entangled Teen for Keeper Of The Bees (SO GORGEOUS) and this edition of Grace & Fury came from an @Owlcrate box! (Sooo recommend their boxes! I actually have a rep code for “FURY” = 10% off too.) I won Save The Date from @bookbookowl!Β And The Universe Is Expanding And So Am I + Open Summer Road are thanks to Bloomsbury.

AND OK NOBODY PANIC BUT SOMEHOW THE ARC GODS HAVE BLESSED ME AND I HAVE BRIDGE OF CLAY?!?!? Ahhh!!!!!!!!

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I actually spent most of August away visiting my sister and nieces and nephews!

You probably remember me mildly panicking about this last month (LIES. I WAS SCREAMING) because, ya know…plane flight alone. And I also struggle being out of routine. But I used to live 5 mins away from these little banshees and IΒ miss them so much. So it was good! Everything went well! I DIDN’T CRASH IN THE PLANE.

I also attacked and devoured her library.

Holy heck, every time I walk into a library I remember how much I amΒ starved for it while I’m at home (yES: no bookstore, no library…I can’t even).

I didn’t get through quite ALL the books I borrowed (hey it was only nine…I was being chill) because it turns out after being climbed over all day by small children, I just wanted to sLEEEEEEP at night. (Plus one night we watched the Netflix To All The Boys movie!! So cuTE! I’m doing a post on it soon!) But still. Library. I love.

And of course there are the little banshees children too. They’re kind of adorable.

My sister has collected a 4th from the faeries realms and it currently can’t crawl but can power roll and worm around so??? Nothing is safe??? Not the plants?? Not my sOCKS. And he pants while he army-crawls so it’s pretty much like having a puppy.

  • I also discovered my 5-yo niece can MANIPULATE HER PLAYING CARDS AND USE STRATEGY. She can genuinely hold back good cards + justΒ whoop me in two moves. I thought 5-year-olds were supposed to be innocent. wHO TAUGHT HER THIS.
  • My 7yo nephew and I would sit on my bed and read. He, Tintin (I used to love these comics as a kid omg #throwback) and me, something with a lot more screaming in it.
  • My 3yo niece threw her socks in the bin at one point and then just stood there crying about it.
  • I still???? am so confused??? She was devastated they were in the bin BUT SHE DID IT.
  • I feel like this is also a metaphor for life.
  • I mistakenly said “Let’s play Simon Says!” which they LOVED because they could just order me around for…ages.
  • Backfired. Majorly. Abort.
  • I ran up and down the mountain in the backyard like…every day. I am a little dead. My legs have left me for a better life.
  • IT WAS SO COLD. Since I live in tropical QLD, it was this massive and glorious shock going back to 3C degree mornings (about 37F). My cold dead heart thrived. My eyes glowed. My hair grew thick and luscious. Poisoned apples fell from the trees. I brought the winter storms.
  • Usually I have super bad insomnia, but I sleep really well in the cold so!! I HAD ENERGY!! 4 solid hours!! Is this what normal people feel like!!!
  • The baby just STARES at me. All the time. And smiles.
  • And wants my iPod. And my crackers. And fistfuls of my hair.
  • I actually wasn’t online as much and I enjoyed that. Ha. I have grown old.
  • On the way home, while logging my baggage, the flight-person was like, “Oh…are you flying alone? How old are you?”
  • I’M TWENTY-FOUR.
  • THANKS.

The oldest two and I are all autistic so it’s like…EYE CONTACT. WHAT EYE CONTACT. We get along great.

I swear the littlest two’s smiles though.

I MELT.

I miss them so much.

I don’t have a lot of plans for September except vague shrieking.

I will blog again! I will hopefully draft a new book or edit something! I hate editing! Slay me now! I also have a lot of Stressful Thingsβ„’ happening in my life right now, which is a struggle. But books make a good distraction. Also I have aΒ vague and deliriously excellent hunch that we might be seeing a cover reveal for The Boy Who Steals Houses soon. Eeeeeeeep!

 

hEY so tell me how August went for you!? did you read anything spectacular? do you ever travel alone?? and tell me what some upcoming books you’re excited for are!!

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

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“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’sΒ 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 myΒ 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.Β Β―\_(ツ)_/Β―

I’m not even exaggerating: 7 YEARS IN AZKABAN AND NOW I HAVE A BOOK. It’s inΒ bookstores. Sometimes it’s featuredΒ 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 couldΒ 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 andΒ 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’sΒ 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 inΒ 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 amΒ 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. AndΒ 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 IΒ 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 actuallyΒ 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 beenΒ so kind, andΒ 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’tΒ 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.Β And also being too overwhelmed to go to the city right now. BUT SOON I WILL LIVE THAT DREAM.)

 

Β 

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?!? IΒ know it’s still a lot of books.Β 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 readΒ any. Ughhhhh. So disappointed @ me. I ended up only reading 6.

Review copies vs books I bought!

Actually IΒ 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 aΒ 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.

 

what book are you MOST excited to read soon?!? (and do tell me what I should be reading I need help hahaha) tell me what happened in your June! are you ready for July? and important: what’s your favourite kind of ice cream??

#AmCurrently ~ My Debut Is Out In 1 Week (!!) I Have No Chill (!!) And Giveaway Of Annotated Copy Of My Book

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Hello from your smol favourite author who has 0% chill with a book coming out in one week.

I MEAN.

I have been waiting 7 years for this and I just????? I aM a liTTle ovERWhelmED. And everyone’s support has been just so freaking amazing, I actually discovered I have emotions and am now a damp piece of bread in thankfulness. I feel like I’ve brought you all along on this publishing journey full of plaintive shrieking, the occasional weeping, and and overabundance of memes. I’m just !!!! No really, my entire self is just !!!!!

I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE WITH ME, SAMWISE.

 

Don’t forget I’m hosting a #bookstagram challenge from 1st to the 7th of June!

AKA please join in, don’t leave me in the cold darkness. I’ve never done this before so that’s fun. Also I’m giving away a signed/annotated copy of A Thousand Perfect Notes (open INT!) so what more could you want than my pithy commentary on my own book, hmm?!

All the details are here!

 

I got to hold a finished copy of A Thousand Perfect Notes and I AM PLEASED.

Talk about a freaking dream come true. Get an umbrella. I’m going to cry on you. Although I only haveΒ one copy which is a little distressing but this is the life of living in Australia while being published in the UK! My author copies are who knows where, but I hope they’re having fun. (hURRY UP, POST OFFICE).

Also IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: I got to announce my second book, The Boy Who Steals Houses, coming April 2019!

It was a 2-book deal so this isn’t a surprise. But we had to get a move on with announcing it since there’s actually a sneak-peek in the back of ATPN! YES. You will read ATPN + half a chapter of my next book = your life will never be the same.

ONLY 8 DAYS TO GO TILL UK RELEASE DAY

You can preorder via:Β Book Depository,Β Amazon, Amazon USA,Β Booktopia,Β Hachette Australia,Β Hachette UK,Β Waterstones,Β Wordery!Β Also those who’ve preordered via Book Depository — they’re being shipped NOW. You might even have yours on release day on the 7th of June!

  • Look I know it’s coming out in the UK and AUS, but if you live in America, go ask your local bookstore to order it in!! And it’s still available on most online retails so goooooo. I still love you, see.
  • Also Australia release date is 12 of June. So wow. You all get to wait longer.
  • This is aΒ secret — but last month I said it was being translated into Polish and now there’s another translation coming (!!) I can’t give details but ATPN is going to frolic intoΒ 3 languagesΒ now and afjdkslad.
  • I HELD A FINISHED COPY OF MY BOOK.
  • I FEEL THIS IS NOTABLE.
  • I’m currently madly typing up guest posts for blog tours and getting ready for some Twitter and Instagram takeovers with my publishers so that’s huge.
  • I am extremely nervous. Haha. Hold me.
  • I’ve had some extremelyΒ incredibleΒ reviews come in that make my heart so full.
  • Like I wrote a book and people actually like it. Hooooold me.
  • So if you want to go give some love to Chiara’s review, Bee’s review, and Autumn’s review!!
  • I know I seem like a big blogger so everything must automatically be 100% successful for me — BUT that is not so true without your continued looooove and support. So every preorder, every review, every time you squeak about ATPN online or to friends, actually makes aΒ life’s worth of differenceΒ for me to have more books in the future + have this as my career!
  • I appreciate it. I do so so much.
  • Anyway I’m excited.
  • and exhausted
  • how are you.

Everyone’s having SO MUCH FUN with my book. It’s lovely.

There’s a lot of typos here unfortunately and they mean to say “I LOVE YOU”Β Β Β―\_(ツ)_/Β― Love you toooo!!

My TBR has next to know chill and am I keeping up??? Oh what a funny funny joke.

My goal for this year was to read 18 books per month which is a LOT but also not as much as I read last year. And IΒ swear I’m not even getting as many books from publishers so like??? What is going on. I am monstrously behind. I actually read 1 book all week because I was editing. And this emoji-thingΒ Β―\_(ツ)_/Β― HAS BECOME A SUMMARY OF MY ENTIRE LIFE I CAN’T STOP USING IT PLEASE SEND HELP.

Thank you to Walker Books, Allen & Unwin, Flatiron Books, and Owlcrate!

The photos on the right are the ones I’ve won and bought! And FINALLY a bunch of my preorders showed up so #yas.

 

FROM EDELWEISS OR AMAZON OR LIBRARY!

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