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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 disappoint 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!!!! And 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 say think because I know less than Jon Snow. But I’m entirely made up of wires and short-circuiting nerves and happiness 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 Great™ 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 draft just for fun, and (3) a new project to start soon. And I’m looking 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…

     

FROM PUBLISHERS…

       

 

FROM NETGALLEY / EDELWEISS…

       

 

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. 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, 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. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

➸ 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 Goodreads and 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! 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 actually 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 my 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 Year™ 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 extraordinary ( !! omg I love you all !!). But I’m still aware it’s small and didn’t explode the world, but rather slipped in to tell a quiet tale. And I do love it for that. 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 happens 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 am 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…

 

REVIEW COPIES…

  

 

LIBRARY BOOKS…!!!

        

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. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  It was a contemporary genderbent Secret Garden retelling. I got to 75,000 words in 12 days and totally 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 so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 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: “walk 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 actually set in, and (b) it was my hometown up until last year so !!! I was just 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 even do this 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 read my book. *DIES*
  • Also 10/10 I love her books and honestly they’re quite 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 feels so surreal thinking about it being a real book?! IDK IT HASN’T SUNK IN YET.
  • It was featured in 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 Instagram soon, so make sure you’re stalking me there.
  • Also can I beg for some reviews on Amazon?! 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 felt 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.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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! 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 I 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 am 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 + just 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 Things™ happening in my life right now, which is a struggle. But books make a good distraction. Also I have a 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’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.

 

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 have 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: Book Depository, Amazon, Amazon USA, Booktopia, Hachette Australia, Hachette UK, Waterstones, Wordery! 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 a 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 into 3 languages 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 extremely incredible 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 a life’s worth of difference 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”  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 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 I 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-thing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 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!

   

What Should I Read First?!

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THOR RAGNAROK || ★★★★★

This was so so good. I mean. It was funny and exciting and the pacing was PERFECT (which is saying something for me because I always get bored watching movies?!) Thor is a Hufflepuff. Fite me. And Loki is a darling. And Taika Waititi should direct every Marvel movie ever thank you.

I also have NOT seen Infinity War and I am 100% spoiled now tHANKS INTERNET and all the people who think 2 days is long enough before telling everyone everything. (Although I’m less caring about spoilers these days because … ready for it… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ WHATEVER.)

 

GAME OF THRONES SEASON 5 || ★★★★☆

So I took about 2 years off watching this and legit couldn’t remember where I was up to. I stopped because (1) MY FAV WAS ABOUT TO DIE and (2) the show has now outpaced the books and this makes me quite annoyed.

Anyway, S5 was good …but I’ve since started S6 and it’s being frikkin amazing so far. I so rarely watch things (I feel guilty if I’m not working okay?!) that this is a nice creative-tank refill, it’s also so bloody I can’t even, and I’m actually invested but also know everyone is going to die so not that attached. Also been pithy in my Instagram stories so here you go:

Click on them to make them bigger!

  • The fact that I actually have tWO BOOKS coming out.
  • I can’t actually believe it (!!!!) Hard work and black magic pays off oh wow, everyone, 10/10 recommend.
  • I blogged a pitiful amount this month because I was deep in edits. And by “deep” I mean I was just laying around screaming but ok. This is the process.
  • I made cheesecake for my mum’s work function and you better believe some of it went “missing” and “oh no” and “that is so unforeseen and such a shame”.
  • Signed a copy of ATPN for my friend and that was stressful. I nearly forgot my name. I DEFACED A BOOK. Shout out to authors all over the world who handle signing with such ease and grace. I nearly wrote “help” and left it at that.
  • 2 of my sisters suggested to me (on the SAME DAY) that I give them a copy of my book.
  • Like I don’t see what the point of having 5 siblings is if they’re not all going to buy a copy of my book. Or 10 copies, at least. I haven’t put up with them for 24 years to be subjected to this nonsense now.
  • I also made some Society6 designs for A Thousand Perfect Notes. Because I’m my biggest fan, what can I say. You can get them here and here!
  • There are so many new releases I should have read by now but I HAVE NOT. RIP me while my TBR beats me up in a back alley. I need to read Allied, Legendary, The Smoke Thieves, Thunderhead, Mirage and All Of This Is True…like yesterday. Hahaha. Oh no.
  • I also reached 24,000 followers on twitter and and 42,000 on instagram so look at me this month. I am AFLAME.
  • No really. I am. Please someone put me out I am so stressed ah ahah hahaahaha.
  • I had so so many wounded middle-aged white men upset over this tweet.
  • *drinks tears*
  • Also just a little not-shouty-but-a-little-shouty update…Don’t tag me in negative reviews!! I am totally aware not everyone will like my book but your reviews are for YOUR READERS. Not me! I have anxiety and do not need to read negative reviews! But totally tag me if you’re freaking out with love for my genius. I am just sayin’. (Oh my halo is slipping.)
  • My dog is currently eating and playing with my socks. While they’re still on me. So I should probably finish this post now before I lose a foot.

The second picture of Atticus was a video but I can’t upload it! But he had his paw on my laptop and wouldn’t take it off until I petted him. DEVIOUS.

so I’m bESIDE MYSELF WITH NO CHILL. quick! distract me! what books have you been reading lately?! (good? bad?) do you watch Game of Thrones?? are you joining in my Bookstagram challenge?? DO YOU FEEL LIKE EATING CHEESECAKE? 

A Vlog?? A VLOG (!!) Wherein I Play “Never Have I Ever” With My Sister

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I have so so many regrets but you know what? I DID A VLOG.

It’s amazing what happens when you have an little insistent mosquito-like sister who ignores your attempts to play dead and drags your corpse in front of a camera to — BOOM — do a vlog. To be fair, I see my sister very rarely and I am quite fond of her. To be unfair, why did I do this. I have no idea.

So if you’ve ever asked yourself the following questions:

  • does PaperFury have a face
  • does PaperFury speak
  • when can I see more of PaperFury’s bookshelf
  • does PaperFury and her sister ever accidentally wear matching clothing
  • has PaperFury every maimed her sister
  • is the earth round
  • cake (yes this is the full question)
  • why aren’t apple tarts the national food of sundays because they’re so good
  • is it possible to eat the moon
  • has PaperFury ever removed the slates from her sister’s bunkbed to watch her fall through and then laughed and laughed and laughed with no regrets….

Then you should watch this video and have about 3% of these questions answer and the rest not becuase LIFE’S NOT FAIR, JIMMY. YOU DON’T GET ALL THE ANSWERS. Nice.

Also make sure you follow my smol sister @jemimadrews on twitter!

And obviously on youtube. She is funny and cute and I raised her with a frightful sense of humour quite like my own. Her hair, though, is purple. I’m not sure why. We’re not all born normally I guess.


 

At the very least, now you know I’m a rEAL PERSON.

And you can tell your mother that your very favourite internet person (me, obviously, I know you love me most) is REAL and not a secret old gnarly tree hiding behind a laptop. Except I will be hiding after this, forevermore. No repeats hahahaha…No. Never. Again…. #SHY #INTROVERT #REGRETS.

 

okay obviously we were TRUE INTROVERTS in this vlog with our people-avoidance…so tell me about the most introvert or shy things you do???

#AmCurrently ~ A Life Update (Wait, Cait Has A Life??!?) Of House Moving, Writing, And Vague Howls

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There comes a time in every blogger’s life when they need to talk about themselves.

This time is like…all the time, honestly. Considering a blog generally equals = AN ENTIRE INTERNET SHAPED KINGDOM TO TALK ABOUT YOU AND YOUR OPINIONS. But hush. Technicalities. Today I want to talk specifically about meeeeee, your favourite book dragon, and my life and what I’m currently up to.

I also haven’t done an #AmCurrently post since, erm…February…2016. It’s possible I avoid talking about me BECAUSE I HAVE NO LIFE. But I’ll do my best, like the true warrior I am inside.

 

As I mentioned in my last monthly recap, I’M MOVING HOUSE.

In fact, as you read this, I am most likely in a car somewhere traipsing across Australia while aggressively listening to audiobooks to block out the fact that I hate travelling. I GET CAR SICK, OKAY? And I hate holidays, road trips, volcanic explosions, etc. etc. I like my warm hobbit hole, my daily routine…my WiFi.

Needless to say, moving house + being a rabid bookworm is a horrible decision really. I have 14 boxes of books. I’m sure I gave away or sold at least 50 too?!??? And then right as I finished sticky-taping up the last book — BOOM — the postman arrived with more books. Bless him. *

And I’m not going to lie: putting books in boxes, dismantling shelves, and trying to choose which books I’ll need to read on the way up is VERY VERY VERY HARD. I am an anxious grape, as I have mentioned, and have a diagnosed disorder (amongst other things) so moving house has been about as distressing as those gorgeous soaps people make that look like cakes, bUT NO THEY ARE SOAP. And you want badly to eat one. But no Cait. No. they. are. soap. And if that’s not distressing to us all, I don’t know what is.

I did have packing assistance from some professional packers.

Not totally sure I’d recommend this service because the smallest packer kept overloading boxes with books and the taller packer kept DECORATING THE BOXES WITH MY BOOKSTAGRAM PROPS. I can’t even. This was right after she made a “fairy garden” and unwrapped my lucky stars because “ARE THESE PRESENTS, CAIT?!” is a question that could only be answered by seeing for yourself, apparently.

I shall also be leaving my smol army (of nieces and a nephew) behind. Which is, obviously, the saddest thing.

And it’s about 2,000kms away. Here is a visual in case you’re from Jupiter and don’t know earth’s geography.

I’m the little dragon holding and evil glowing ball. I might destroy the world at some point. Or I might eat it. Options.

But there are some POSITIVES about moving: I bought a new bookshelf (!!!!!) and I’m going to have a kind of granny-flat / studio-room, which I plan to fill entirely with books and origami and dragon hatchlings. I may also turn into a granny. And I will have more time to write. I’m also bribing myself to stay sane with the promise of buying 3 hardcovers when I arrive. (I’m thinking preorders of Our Dark Duet, Eliza And Her Monsters, and The Gentleman’s Guide To Vice And Virtue??! Sounds good?!)

Is a room tour in order when I get there? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS. **

Also my parental gave me a small suitcase and mumbled something about “don’t forget to pack some clothes for the road trip” and I misheard and just filled it with books because #priorities.

 

* I’m actually concerned about the local delivery man and postie…like what are they going to do with all this free time that they’re not spending carting books to my house?????
** Blatant and shameless comment bribery. I can’t even with you, Cait.

Guess what happens on the 27th?! IT’S MY 6TH * BLOGVERSARY!

“But, um, Cait,” you say, tentatively as you poke your head in the oven to check your cupcakes aren’t burning because reading my blog always drives you to either distraction, spontaneous combustion, or forced cake-baking. “Cait, don’t you generally do a big celebration with lots of giveaways and an overabundance of all caps?”

First of all, excuse you. All caps are never in over abundance.

And secondly, YES I’M SORRYYYYYYYY. **

After I’m all moved, I’ll do a proper giveaway and celebratory post! However I do want to do a Q&A post! Except the only questions you probably want to ask me is is my aLL CAP KEY STUCK ON FOR GOODNESS SAKES TURN IT OFF, CAIT. And also maybe you want to inquire if I actually have a face. (Spoiler: I don’t. I’m a stack of books on legs.)

However if you do have questions (ABOUT ANYTHING!!) let me have at ’em! Queries about writing, blogging, bookstagram, or questions about meeeee and if I have hair, or my opinion on bread, or if I know where left socks disappear to.

I’ll answer them helpfully.

There’s a google form to submit questions below but if it doesn’t show up, link is here!


Until then I’m just going to eat cake.

I’d share but yet…

no.

* Wow. I suddenly feel really old in blogging years. I can literally feel my bones turning grey and my hair developing rheumatism.
** Okay. I see what you mean.

 

  • How my books are just multiplying while I sleep. And this is a marvellous feat in itself because I barely ever sleep. But seriously, I stay in my Hobbit hole all the time??? WHERE ARE YOU ALL EVEN COMING FROM???

 

  • My 2yo niece keeps micromanaging my life. Like if I’m fixing her a snack, she’s walking behind me going “BUT GET A BOWL CAIT. BUT CUT THE APPLE CAIT. WHERE IS MY BISCUIT CAIT.” Like I don’t know how to fix a snack, omg. She makes up for it by complimenting me though. Every time she sees me she says, “I like your shirt, Cait.” And if that doesn’t melt my cold dead heart, what will.

 

  • Speaking of nieces, there’s a family resemblance, don’t you think? I think so.

  • People keep asking me for writing tips and I dON’T KNOW HOW. No seriously. How do you write. I have no idea. There is no way for me to blank faster on any tips I’ve learned than to be asked “can you tell me how to outline???” DUDE. I CAN’T. Hats off to all of you blogs about writing advice. I’m about as coherent as a dead turtle in soup trying to make a bid for freedom.

 

  • You know how people say “things are better shared with someone you love”?? They obviously didn’t mean cake.

 

  • There are only SIX books on my “best of 2017 shelf”. That seems pitiful considering it’s already nearly June???? 2017, please step up your game. However, they are: