life

For April I did a special magic trick called: falling off the face of the planet.

I’m super good at this one 🤗 I like to remember my YOUTH when I used to write 30,000-words in a day and read a whole book and answer 500+ blog comments weekly and post 2 x a day on instagram and basically…be a content machine. Right now? I just had a very warm hot chocolate and I would like a nap (it’s 8:30pm but you know what? Whatever). I got old. 😭 Possibly I wore myself out. But I’m trying not to berate myself for what I can’t do now, and just be softly proud of what I have achieved.

And this month I did edits! I mentioned in March that I signed with a new agent (!!!) and I dug in hard and deep to edits this month and I am so so fiercely happy with how my book is shaping up. But I sort of abandoned ship on everything else. What is MULTITASKING and BALANCE and can I buy some prepackaged and ready to bake.

Other Things That Went Down In April

• I celebrated The Boy Who Steals House 1st birthday 🥺So proud of this kid. I answered some Q&A questions from everyone!
• I baked a cheesecake for my sister’s birthday…or was it for me. Who can properly say.
• Atticus (my dog!) had another vet appointment, and while he’s doing so so well after nearly dying from organ failure and pancreatitis earlier this year…he’s still not better. I worry about him a lot. But he’s still back to being mischievous and full of attitude! He also gets jealous if I talk to my sister?! He’ll go rip up his toys?? 🤨 Let’s talk about your controlling relationship tendencies, Atticus.
• COVID-19 restrictions are slowly lessening in Australia. (Not that social isolation changed my life at all. That’s just…um, my every day.) But it’s freaking scary what’s happening to the world and how everyone is suffering. I hope you’re all doing okay, but truly…it’s a hard year. I hope no one is beating themselves up for not being super productive or for struggling.
• I’m barely buying books at the moment because prices have just soared. We’re talking $30 for a paperback on Book Depository?! I cannot.
• But in good news, it’s getting COLDER. I THRIVE in winter. As a massive insomniac, being able to burrow under a thousand blankets is such bliss. I may have two pieces of sleep soon.🤗

Like I said, I DID EDITS. I’m so exhausted. 😂 Writing is not extraordinarily fast for me anymore. I have to search for every word and polish it off before slipping it onto the page and hoping it fits next to the others. It’s hard. But it’s also so so rewarding and I’m remembering why I love writing. I so so love it and I feel like I’m getting back in the game. I wrote nearly every day (sometimes all day) and was just so proud of this story of messy kids and dark whimsical fairy tales. It has!!! my heart!!!

• I’m going to take May SLOW for writing. Maybe start working on another side-project. A little fantasy perhaps…👀
• Also I need to read?! I barely read in April!
• I want to read Save the Cat this month and start honing my craft.
• A pro of not writing so fast and hard anymore is I don’t break 3 keyboards a year!!!

I read exactly 9 books this month and this is…hilariously bad for me. But I was WRITING okay. And I struggle to switch gears. When my brain zones into Writer Mode™ I just want to keep working or melt into an amorphous shadow.

The hilarious part is me moaning about having no library access anymore last month and…since then I’ve read exactly one (1) library book. 😌 No need to drag me. I can do that myself.

(all covers link to goodreads)

BOOKS BOUGHT…

FOR REVIEW…

Vote and help meeeee!

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Here are my reading highlights of April!

The Starless Sea // right, so let me introduce one of my NEW HEART FAVOURITES. I honestly struggle to fully capture how deeply I adored this book. It was slow and ponderous at times, but so whimsical and gorgeous, dark and often bizarre. Zachary was THE clueless loveable dumbass queer bookworm who was not quite sure what was happening at any given time. I relate. I love. This is such a love letter to storytelling. It stole my affections.

Burn // another Ness masterpiece of complete oddness. I really liked it, though it didn’t engulf me quite like some of his other books (my heart for A Monster Calls). It has dragons, is set in the 1950s, there’s a teen cultist assassin, and alternate realities and it’s just WEIRD. But good.

Red White & Royal Blue // a reread! It had been too long and I desperately wanted something super funny. I still love it so so much, and felt I actually kept up with the politics better. But I also felt the darkness of the story more? Especially at the end, with Alex’s anxiety. 🥺 I laugh and it broke me. Perfect book.

The Dark Tide // oh this was such a whimsical witchy tale, totally reminded me of the Ice Queen story where the girl goes off to rescue the stolen boy…but what if instead she falls in love with the queen? It’s gorgeously written. I did want a bit more depth to the world, but this is definitely a darkly pretty read.

Magic by Midnight // fractured fairy tales galore! This was just FUN and had so much humour too! About librarians controlling fairy tales. And it leaves you in an utter mess by the end so I really want the sequel!

Ninth House // Another reread! I tried it via audio this time and I felt like I kept up so much better. The language is really incredible at times, definitely academic and clever (maaaybe a little pretentious but I also love that about it). Gah I am in awe of Bardugo’s ability to weave such complex plots. Also the world is incredible, I adore it. I also forget like, um, everything…so it was practically like reading a whole new book. (A NESTING DOLL of villains omg.)

Other Books I read

did you spend April writing? tell me how you went! and what was your FAVE read of the month? do you balance reading vs writing well, or do you struggle to switch focuses too?

March lasted for absolutely freaking ever. ಠ_ಠ

It’s simultaneously been the most exciting month and one of the most stressful, and I genuinely am exhausted. Utterly EXHAUSTED. 2020 needs to sit down and take a nap and come back when it has a better attitude, because wow, the world is toppling into devastation with COVID-19. I feel guilty for actually having good news to share this month when so many are suffering. But also it’s important to cling fast to the good things too?!

But first: I hope you’re all staying home (if you can) and being safe. Mental health is definitely taking a beating this month, so I feel for all of us smothered with anxiety too. Australia isn’t too badly affected right now (so grateful) but our shelves are bare, our lockdown measures are extremely strict (people are being fined $1000 for social gatherings and standing too close together), and borders are closed. Gah, just hope it works and soon. Very ready for this tragedy to be over. (Though I have to admit lockdown life is just…my life as is. I don’t really, er, leave the house anyway? 👀)

But I have good news too…🥺

I’ve officially signed with a new literary agent! YOU BETTER BELIEVE I CANNOT STOP SMILING. I’m now represented by Tara Gilbert of Corvisiero Literary! Tara’s love and vision for my writing is just filling my heart and I’m super excited for everything we have planned. We have a lot planned. I’m about to launch into edits for my next contemporary (this one darker and more whimsical than the others). And, look, I haven’t felt this encouraged and motivated about my writing in so so long!! 😍🥰😘😚

I’ve also been shortlisted for the CBCA Book of The Year Award!

Which is honestly mind blowing and such an honour. The Boy Who Steals Houses is being loved and recognised so much, I’m totally overwhelmed and grateful. (And it also got its first translation deal this month!! I’ll give details when I can.)

TBWSH is also turning 1 on the 4th of April. 😍 Baby is a year old! Ahhhh.

I will likely do a Q&A on instagram, and some sort of sappy post here. 😂 Because a year!!!!

I think I said something hopeful about March being for writing? So cute. 😂 But I had reasons to be distracted! I went back to querying in January and it has honestly been the most stressful time of my life. I don’t think I slept for 3 months. So while I didn’t launch into my new WIP in March, I still managed to write a 20,000 word outline! I was going to dive into that for Camp NaNo, but now I have edits. I HAVE EDITS! I am so excited to do edits!!!! Just leave me in my little nerd corner here okay.

• I celebrating getting an agent with eating ice cream so I think that counts as writing.
• It was really satisfying to write a very detailed outline again — I pantsed my last two books and it was stressful and I gnashed my teeth and I really prefer plotting.
• The edits I’m heading into will include a lot of book surgery. I’ve gone into deep edits feeling overwhelmed and despondent that I “didn’t get it right” before. But this time? I’m actually excited. I can feel how much better the book is going to be and it’s making my heart leap.

I still read 16 books this month, but also feel like I was a total lazed potato?! It was either reading a full book in a day or not reading for several days. We don’t do middle-ground here. We do drama and angst.

My library is obviously closed now too (because of COVID-19) and I’m really upset…no more reserves and snagging interesting looking books off the shelf on impulse. 😭 I still can use the online library but I prefer physical books. But I managed to borrow out a lovely stack on the last day at least! And it’s not like I dON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO READ IN MY ROOM. #selfburn

(all covers link to goodreads)

BOOKS BOUGHT…

From library

FOR REVIEW…

Vote and help meeeee!

because I have a lot to read (most of the review-copies are unsolicited!) and I’m very grateful but also overwhelmed? 😂

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Here are my reading highlights of February!

The Name Of All Things // absolutely my favourite of the month! 😍And this series is fast fighting for “best of the year” category too because it’s just SO GOOD. It’s adult fantasy and has intricately complex backstory and world-building. But I’m just obsessed with the characters and the magic system. And it’s unapologetically queer. 🥺 Love.

Chosen // This is the sequel to Slayer, which I loved a lot last year! And this? SO FUN. It’s like a comfortable paranormal read (seriously Supernatural as well as Buffy fans need this) and it’s has the best group squad and banter. And also little bit o’ murder.

The Henna Wars // Oh I LOVED this! An #ownvoices contemporary about a Bangladeshi teen who starts a henna business, but two other girls in her class compete for clients and it’s a nuanced and excellent discussion on cultural appropriation. Also rivals-to-lovers f/f romance! Plus the BEST SISTER BONDS I’ve read for ages!

Woven In Moonlight // An #ownvoices Bolivian inspired fantasy that was just so much fun! Vigilante and royalty story lines aaaand enemies-to-lovers. 😚I also loved the magic system (she weaves and it comes to life) and there’s a cute baby sloth.

Suggested Reading // Absolutely ADORED this book. It had such a phenomenal discussion on book banning, and shows different sides. Plus the power of books, how even readers can be judgemental and fjkdslad just so so good. The characters weren’t very dimensional is my only comment.

The Sleeper And the Spindle // I really love fractured fairy tales, and this is just a 92-page story, but it’s illustrated and LOVE the expressions so much. Basically a queen goes to wake a princess with true love’s kiss, and basically the ending was perfect. She was so done 😂

My Life As A Potato // super cute MG read that was just wholesome and adorkable. Pretty romance focused, but like SO CUTE and had messages on friendship and being true to your own weird self. Also so many potatoes, clearly.

Iphigenia Murphy // this had a really literary style to it, and such heartbreak themes of homelessness and abuse. It really breaks you, but also rebuilds you. About the missing girls that no one looks for. 💔

Other Books I read

how are you fairing with the lockdown? and is anyone writing for Camp NaNo? tell me books you’ve bought/borrowed/been gifted lately!!!

I feel like my monthly recaps always sound like this:

“Hi everyone! I made dessert, had a life crisis, acquired more books than I read and started screaming internally and never stopped! How are you doing?!”
— quote by me at any given time

I think I make desserts to cope. An interesting theory.

ANYWAY. February is always a ridiculous month because it’s too short, ergo it’s fake. I know we got that extra leap year day which I think just exists so all the babies born then will be a running joke for the rest of their lives. (“Aw honey! You just turned 5 not 20!!”) I also like to think the extra day means books bought on the 29th don’t count. You can argue with me about this but I won’t listen ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Things I’ve Been Up To:

• Last month I told you all how sick Atticus (my dog!) had been with pancreatitis…but he’s making SUCH a good recovery. He’ll be on a lowfat strict diet forever (he is displeased) but he’s off almost all his meds and starting little walks again 🥺 he’s even bake to being a brat and snobbing me. Bless his little heart.
• I honestly feel like I did NOTHING in February.
• N O T H I N G.
• I read a lot and felt like I accomplished zilch. I rearranged my room and realised I have a lot of books. More than five. Probably more than five hundred. 😂
• I had the worst insomnia flare up, by which I mean I just d i d n o t s l e e p for weeks and look after a while of that you get a bit hysterical. Coupled that with a few new blows in the author life, and it was a pretty crappy time all round. But I rallied, and I’ve been mentally plotting a new book I’m hyped for.
• I also hit 64K on instagram!
• And I don’t know about you but I’m so so excited for the Grisha Netflix series…!!! If you haven’t seen their instagram content, GO DO SO.
• And look, I usually keep my mouth shut about this stuff, but I just want to say I’m deeply disgusted with Book Twitter at the moment. Just the pile on hate from authors to reviewers, the out-of-context accusations, the way people snark at creators like they’re not real people with feelings …🙃 I’m honestly over it. I keep posting my memes and such, but when I go to talk about my books (you know, my LIVELIHOOD) I get crickets. So at this point, I’m not sure why I bother with twitter. I like making people laugh but holy wow the bitterness and attacking is at ridiculous levels.
• And I blogged like 3 times this month. I have no excuse, just that I do have posts planned for March! Watch out world. 😚

I am planning for March to be all for WRITING. The existential crisis, the doubts, the rejections, the way my soul resembles a demoralised potato — none of that has changed. But I’m trying to work anyway. Gently, though. I used to write a book in 3 days, but now I take 3 days to think about writing. 😂And it’s okay! I’m coming to terms with things being different after your health takes a beating. I haven’t written since November so I’ve absolutely forgotten how to write. But here we go. 

• will be working on a thriller/dark contemporary 👀 my pinterest aesthetic is here.
• I also have been back to plotting a pirate fantasy I want to maaaaybe try after this.
• And I was gifted Bird By Bird by my amazing friend, @anovelescape, so I think I want to try reading more writing books?! For encouragement and also advice.

I feel really positive about my reading habits lately! I lowered my usually yearly reading goal from 200 to 150 and I’M NOT STRESSING. I mean, I am stressing about my TBR pile 😂 but less about numbers! I take 2 days to read a book sometimes and feel fine about it instead of guilty. A CONCEPT. Just ENJOYING the process!!!!

(all covers link to goodreads)

BOOKS BOUGHT…

From library

FOR REVIEW…

Vote and help meeeee!

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Here are my reading highlights of February!

The Ruin Of Kings // easily my favourite read of the month. SO EPIC. And so freaking satisfying to finish a 700 page book (well, I listened to the audio) and just bask in the depth of the world-building, the scope of the magic system, the sheer magnitude of this epic and twisted story. I’m in looooove. Also Khirin is a Gryffindor dumbass but I still love him.

When You Get The Chance // a super Quiet Contemporary YA that was just…lovely. Two queer cousins are stuck cleaning out their grandma’s cabin, but they sneak off to Pride in Toronto. It has a lot of growth about learning your own privilege too, but also just heartbreak and moving on and connecting and cute moments!! (Didn’t love Mark though oops. LOVED Talia.)

Spellhacker // sci-fi! It was fun and had an intriguing magic-system and a total queer dysfunctional found-family squad that you can’t help but adore.

Break the Fall // contemporary set in the Olympics!! It’s about the #MeToo movement as well, and speaking up and believing survivors. And just lots of quality GYMNASTIC CONTENT. It was very stressful to read though with Audrey competing despite a back injury. Look, if I strain my book, I just lie around and die for several days. Audrey goes and does backflips still. Ugh.

Naked In Death // definitely not my usual read to try an adult crime book, but I wanted to read something from Nora Roberts SOMEDAY and loooook I did. I enjoyed this! The style wasn’t my fave, but it was murdery, a little bit scifi, and had some intriguing twists. I guessed one. I am Sherlock.

Blood Of Elves // MORE ADULT BOOKS. Who even am. But this is because I have a new resounding obsession with The Witcher 😂I totally loved the show and so had to try the books. This one is set after the events in the show, so Ciri is like training to be a Witcher and Geralt is a good mother. It’s like 80% dialogue, so if you’re scared of fantasy, this is accessible. Also terrifically NOT abusive to women!?? Shocked. And impressed.

Loveboat Taipei // loved this one!! It was such a fun read, fast and super intriguing, as Ever spends 6-weeks in Taiwan to learn Mandarin, and ends up having a super wild time. My ship sank in the love-triangle though. 🥺And this is #ownvoices and hit the bestseller list!

Havenfall // I wasn’t sure if I’d like this one, but it was a fun light fantasy — kind of like A Curse So Dark and Lonely meets The Ten Thousand Doors of January. This inn is the crossroads between worlds, and there are monsters and conspiracies and mysteries to unravel. Maddie didn’t really have a personality, but it was still a fun read. 😂

The Storm Crow // Yay I LOVED this!! The plot was very predictable, but it has a matriarchy, women in positions of power THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH, the main character has depression (it’s talked about in detail!) and I believe the love interest is autistic 😚and it has cool magic massive crows. Totally refreshing read!

Let Me Hear A Rhyme // this was just a total surprise favourite 😍I started the audio on a whim and it was PERFECTION. It’s set in the late ’90s about 3 teens whose best friend is murdered and they decided to make him live on through his music. And his music gets famous fast, but they have to keep up the charade that he’s still alive. It is so so deeply about grief and being black and being proud. I just adored every page and omg the plot twists. 😭

Heartstopper Vol 3 // and this was tHE CUTEST EVER. More anxious than the last ones, and really tackled how coming out isn’t a one time event. Also Nick and Charlie are so pure and wholesome and just don’t want to hurt each other and I 😭💛would die for them and their fears. Protec. I was having a super bad day when I read this but ended up smiling. This book = power.

Other Books I read

| WHAT DO YOU THINK |

what was your best read of February?! do you appreciate a shorter month or feel robbed too?  👀 and let me know your 2020 writing plans!

So I started off 2020…wildly.

I laugh so I don’t cry honestly. 😂 I haven’t even done a wrap up post since October last year, but you know what they say about time — it likes to fly and smack you in the face and get feathers in your mouth. (Go with this metaphor. It aptly describes my mental state also.) I am a little stressed by 2020 so far because it was going to be MY YEAR and so far it has been…not my year. But you know? I’m fine. 😌 I have read many good books, collected even more, and tried to be chill amongst the mess.

Things I’ve Been Up To:

• The most important thing here is that I have salted caramel chocolate in my possession and I am eating it and it is good.
• So the bad news? My dog, Atticus, got extremely sick this month. Actually, right on my birthday we took him to the vet for vomiting bile and…diagnosis came a week later (which really sucks because he might not have gotten so bad if the vet had diagnosed him on time) but he has pancreatitis and liver failure. He’s a small dog, it’s not uncommon. It is very horrible though, and very expensive to treat, and I basically just spent 2 weeks freaking out of my mind he was going to die. He ended up hospitalised for a while, on a drip and everything. But he’s home. 🥺 He’s recuperating slowly slowly. I bought him some toys for when he’s better and he STOLE them off my desk so I consider that a good sign. He’s on a strict medical diet though and it’s a battle to get him to eat. I just want my baby to be okay…so it’s been hard.
• I have AGED 9 YEARS. 😭
• Also you probably heard of the Australian Fires that have been absolutely destroying my country. Things are a bit better now, with rain helping. But it’s just a sickening tragedy. (I was not personally near; although there were days the smoke was so thick outside, you just felt ill breathing.) I mean, they could smell the smoke FROM NEW ZEALAND. It is so so bad.
• My author life is also stressing me out, but like 😌 at least that’s consistent.
• At least I read a lot of books? My TBR is deliciously tall and full right now and I’m excited.
• My sister got me the Game of Thrones Monopoly for Christmas and I discovered I’m a Hufflepuff who doesn’t like charging people and taking all their money. I just want us to be happy as we go round the board. 🥺
• (Shh, no I am a Slytherin, it’s true I’m sure.)
• I watched one episode of The Witcher and I quite liked it! Will watch more! Probably will even watch the whole show in my excruciatingly slowly way and finish in 2022!
• I also become a permanent rep for FairyLoot! SO FREAKING EXCITED. If you want to try one of their book boxes, you can use “FURY5” for a discount!
• And I finally bought a new iPod!! This one doesn’t shut down on me when I try to use apps so that’s super nice.
• It’s also been. so. hot in Australia and it’s zapped my motivation and even my will to cook. Which is so sad. I just want to sleeeeep in an icicle.
• I also did a long post about the future of Paper Fury as a blog, because I’m struggling here. And then, of course, once I got all hyped and encouraged by your amazing comments (!!!) my…dog got sick and I didn’t blog. 😑 😂 I’m back to slumping, hi!! But THANK YOU to everyone who said such nice things. It truly warmed my heart. I still don’t fully know what I’ll do. Probably just try to do two posts a week. More things have cropped up to sour my old love of blogging (not your fault….I am just sad at ways I’ve been treated since my books came out), so I have to face that if I’m blogging, it will end up looking different. I am awkwardly soft and unsure about fitting my author-self into a book-blogger-self because of the clashes, but I’d like to just quietly keep doing my thing. Thank you for still reading. 💛 Appreciate it, always.

I actually have nothing to report but continued existential writing dread. It is fun. For sure. 🙂🙃 I vaguely am plotting a new contemporary that may sneak into the thriller area and I’ve been so obsessed with reading epic fantasy lately that I just want to wriiiiiite it. I am also stressed, which is not new, but someday I hopefully will have good things to report here!

• Also I can’t remember if I’ve said it on the blog, but The Boy Who Steals Houses was nominated for a Carnegie Medal!! No idea if it’ll get shortlisted, but a nomination? HUGE. SO GRATEFUL.
• Reminder that it will be available to buy in the USA, in June 2020.
• Also ICYMI there’s a free TBWSH Christmas short story on my blog!

I have no idea what I’ve acquired since last October when I did a haul. So I’ll just vaguely mention books here and hope for the best. I have been super blessed by publishers and book boxes lately, which is incredible. And also had a bunch of preorders arrive to light up my life. 😍 Do I read enough to keep up with this? No. Please help.

(all covers link to goodreads)

BOOKS BOUGHT…

From library

FOR REVIEW…

Vote and help meeeee!

 Loading ...

Here are my reading highlights of January!

Only Mostly Devastated / Oh I totally adored this! SO CUTE, but also really heartfelt and sad at times. It’s about being closeted how hard that is, plus how you can be toxic when you’re in pain and how to confront that. But also sososo cute. 🥺Easily a perfect 5-star read.

A Heart So Fierce And Broken / this was intense and confronting and not what I expected. the narrative massively flipped and the book feels like a betrayal BUT I think it’s tackling the nuance of PTSD and villain origin/toxic masculinity stories well.

One Of Us Is Next / the sequel to One Of Us Is Lying! Which…I didn’t love. BUT I LOVED THE SEQUEL!! So so obsessed. The characters were amazing so I 100% cared about everything. The twists at the end were so terrible in the best way!

Taking Down Evelyn Tait / I had the absolute privilege of reading this early AND ENDORSING IT!! That’s an author first for me and I’m so honoured! It’s a beautiful #LoveOZYA contemporary with the best emphasis on messy/broken families + humour and the cutest romance.

Technically You Started It / This was really fun and cute! It’s told entirely in text messages and it has demisexual and bi rep (really enjoyed reading that). It was a bit hard to get to know the characters, since it was just texts, but it was also fun and fast to read!

The Foxhole Court trilogy / I reread all three books this month because am living mY BEST LIFE HERE. I just basically count down till when I can reread again. Am I trash for my foxes? Yes. 😌They are so damaged and I love the found-family, the broken friendships, the defiance and fight for hope. Also disaster gays. 🙌🏻

The Ten Thousand Doors of January / I saved this specifically to read in January because I’m just like that. It’s like adult literary fantasy and it was so beautiful. I finished it and just wanted to write like that!! The emphasis is on plot instead of characters, so I kind of didn’t like anyone. But the worlds within worlds and the Door magic were amazing. It’s such a love letter to stories.

Clockwork Angel / another reread! I wanted to reread TID in preparation for Chain of Gold…but while I do love the Shadowhunters as a whole, I’m just so annoyed and over Will’s toxic behaviour that everyone somehow thinks is hot. And I GET characters with tragic backstories leading to toxic traits (see: The Foxhole Court), but Will’s is because of a dumb miscommunication? argh. I’m just annoyed and I didn’t enjoy the reread as much as I wanted to. I LOVE JEM.

Other Books I read

| WHAT DO YOU THINK |

has the year started off well for you? stressful? positive? 👀tell me what your first 2020 read was and did you like it! also what’s new to your TBR pile?

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.

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???

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!)

Such a whimsical fairy-tale type story, with a girl who makes magical tapestries. ✨

LOVED this! Murdery + super quirky characters. Really addictive writing and I have so many questions. ★★★★☆

Buffy spin-off! Looved Nina being kind but sassy. Predictable plot, but super fun so! ★★★★☆

Definite FAVE of the month! Super cute + feelsy. Prince and president's son fall in love. ★★★★★

V. highly anticipated omg. I liked it! But it was slow/I expected more. But AHH NIKOLAI!★★★★☆

REREAD! Fave of the Grisha trilogy because NIKOLAI. ajfdskald I love this world. ★★★★☆

REREAD! Still least fave of the trilogy BUT I liked how badass/dark the ending got. Satisfying reread conclusion.

REREAD! My top pick of aLL the Bardugo books fajdsklad. Kaz and his stabby gang 😍3rd time read!★★★★★

REREAD! In prep for sequel. And fajdkslad I love this witchy and gorgeously messed up book😭★★★★☆

Buries the gays + problematic disability rep. But oof I got attacked for saying this on Goodreads so 😒

Stranger Things-esque story! Loved it! The eerieness + great characters. Although the sci-fi spirals theory thing lost me.😂★★★★☆

This was sad and sweet...and #LoveOzYA about a boy out of juvie and he turns so Soft™ and loving. 😍★★★★☆

Total feminist EPIC story. Girls outwitting a maze to get into uni. Plus values all types of girls.😍★★★★☆

afdjsakdl the most BEAUTIFUL and soft graphic novel 😍queer and disability rep, and loving, and TEA and dragons. Art is 😍★★★★★

Bad boy meets good girl etc storyline...I usually like this storyline but this felt very safe 😂😬no one was even bad lol. lots of toxic masculinity tho

kind of the backstabby girls story where everyone might be a sociopath

complex Chinese-esque fantasy with a very political and twisty plot

beautiful historical fiction France story + girl who can change things shape + magical dress (bit slow but still liked it!) ★★★★☆

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!!!! 🤗