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.
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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!!
January is always the SLOWEST I agree. and then February is like so short in comparison, and I am left feeling disorientated throughout the whole of 2019.
Also, I do get emails when you reply to my comments, but when it says “click here to see the reply” or whatever it says, it just links me to your post?? and then I have to scroll to find ur comment reply. It USED to (back 30 million years ago) take me to the part of the page where my comment and YOUR reply was. so yeah.
I never get emails of when you post anymore which is sad because it means that I have to actually go on my WP reader to find out if you’ve posted and that’s so much effort…but I STILL LOVE UR POSTS LOADS I just wish ur email thing worked!!
That’s enough of rambling about broken widgets, I re-read TCP and TWK this month too and I LITERALLY LOVE JUDE WITH MY ENTIRE BEING SHE’S SO CLEVER AND GOOD AND STABBY AND REAL!!! and i just wow. how dare queen of nothing be like,,, a year away?? I CANNOT WAIT.
also, I’ve seen you struggle with your iPod over the years SO IM GLAD YOU GOT A KINDLE!!! THIS IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!! Also, I really am desperate to read The Gilded Wolves it sounds so good???
My best read this month was MUSE OF NIGHTMARES because that book, was PERFECTION and so well-crafted?? Like Imagine being able to write like Laini Taylor??? Can’t relate.
And yeah! I’m actually genuinely really excited about my WIP this year. I think about it all my spare time, like literally when I wake up I WILL BE THINKING OF MY CHARACTERS. and i always daydream about random scenes that I could write…and I’ve never loved a project as much as I love this one??
I think I like Twitter a lot but sometimes it’s not the nicest place? I enjoy watching people’s bookstagram stories THE BEST tho!!
It is. so. slow. I mean what is the month even doing??? Dragging its feet I swear. (I seriously maintain it’s because we all don’t get enough chocolate.) But WHY can’t February borrow a few days and even things out? If someone put me in charge of the world I would fix this smh.
Ohhh that sucks about the email replies. That’s so annoying too??? Like gah I don’t expect people to search for their comments (I mean, we can Control – F at least) but 😭😭😭I’ll work on this too. And maybe the new template will fix my broken theme??? Can hope anyway.
WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH SO MUCH JUDE THIS MONTH. GO US. 😍She is the light of my life, my stabby queen. If she doesn’t stab Cardan just a little in bk 3 I’ll be disappointed. (Like not MURDEr. Just a little stab here or there.) And omg I’m so glad you read Muse!! Isn’t it so good?! Holy wow, Laini Taylor’s imagination absolutely astounds me. She is a master.
Aww I’m so glad you’re super keen for your wip!! BEST feeling.😍 And just thinking about characters all the time makes them so much more real/complex. It’s the best way to develop a book!!
Okay you read so many awesome books this month I’m slightly jealous I WANT TO READ SO MUCH MORE TOO. But yeah, this month was incredibly slow and long and exhausting for me, school and work and everything just kept piling up. Even though I had three school-free days because it snowed more than it has in a single day in many years. Fun.
Anyway, I’m really excited about your new blog design, I love it when bloggers change everything up and have something new and beautiful *-*
Ack I feel for you with everything piling up!! The overwhelm is Not Fun…and good luck with the freezing weather. I’ve heard the low temperatures are wild over your way?! 😳
(And eep! I’m excited for a new design too! Hopefully not too different, but something fresh and also to try and fix this broken theme haha.)
okay, sorry for being a nosy nose thing here, but is paper fury your job? or do you work?
I mean…I’m literally an author lmao, I talk about that in the post.
ok, that comment sounded a bit different in my head – i just realized i probably insulted you :-/ sorry!
Hiiiii, Cait !!!
OMG NEW DESIGN ?!?! I’m dead already. I really want to see how this whole thing will look like with that new design asdfeygrhj <3 I'm dying the new photos for every post because, yeah, new year, new Paper Fury <3 IT !!! SOUNDS !!! SO !!! GOOD !!!
QoAaD was just stunning, and so was The Wicked King. The latter was kiiiiiind of a disappointment for me because I didn't enjoy it as much as The Cruel Prince and I can't believe I waited a year to get so little of Cardan and so little action. Barely anything happened in the first half and, even though the second half was prbably the most intense thing I've ever read and I NEED BOOK THREE, idk… Anyway 😛 I totally agree with you about Circle of Shadows (finished it yesterday and I'm so sad about how it wasn't what I hoped it would be, bc I love Evelyn Skye) and The Gilded Wolves (which I read in January as well).
AND YEAH, CAIT, I'M LITERALLY DYING FOR "THE BOY WHO STEALS HOUSES". I adored ATPN, but for some reason I have a feeling this one is going to be ten times better and I AM NOT READY. You'll be the end of me hahaha. Can April be here already? The waitttttttttttt :O
HOPE YOU HAVE AN AMAZING MONTH, lovely! I wish you a stunning collection of 28 days full of great things and fantastic books <3 HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT MONTH OF FEBRUARY !!!!!!
Kisses!
For the "give me blog post ideas" thingy, here go a few thoughts that I hope come in handy: favourite duologies? diverse books coming out this year? more book tags? some victoria schwab book tags? i've seen many around and they're so cool! favourite villains/heroes/antiheroes? something special for Valentine's month? I literally don't know hahaha because you always come up with such original things I'd never come up with, so it's hard to think about it hahahah.
yes yes soon I hope!! My relative is doing it so hopefully it’s soon. 😂 but omg I just read SO many good books this month already, so i’m hoping it’s a promise of a good reading year! Although I’m sad you didn’t love TWK?? But I guess not everything suits everyone.😂 Book 3 is going to kill us though omg. (And yeah I loved Evelyn Skye’s first duology but this one just seemed like a very samey fantasy and I was sad.)
omgggg I hope everyone loves The Boy Who Steals Houses. I’m kind of TERRIFIED because it’ll be compared to ATPN and it’s different, but similar…but different. And I’m flailing inwardly eeep.
I hope you have a really good February too!! here’s to getting lots done 😂
(And thank you for the post ideas!! So helpful 🤗.)
January lasted for 72 years and I loved and hated it. Read 6 books and my faves were The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco (hail three-headed dragons and necromancy) and Descendant of the Crane. I’m planning to read more books and February and I’m asking all the bookish deities to make this happen. I NEED TO READ MORE IN 28 DAYS. THIS IS NOT FAIR. (if you didn’t point out the lesser days of February I would’ve forgotten about it. now I’m panicking)
Twitter is still my favorite platform but I admit it can give me a lot of headaches at times. There is just too much negativity but I’m trying to look at all the positive sides to it (your tweets are mainly the ray of sunshine of twitterverse). Also, it’s the platform where I have the biggest reach so I can’t really stay away from it. Twitter is a void.
Have a great February, Cait!
P. S. I still receive emails when you comment on my post. So excited for your redesign!
IT DID. I’m so glad I’m not the only one who’s onto January’s deceit here. Can it just share some days with February??? This would even things up and be much better.
dUDE DRAGONS. I want to read that book now. 😂And I absolutely hope to read Descendant this month too! or next. My TBR hates me, who knows what’s happening. But it’s ok, let’s panic about February’s less days together and work out how we can outwit them and get in ALL The work and reading. *nods* Healthy, I’m sure.
I just wish twitter balanced a bit more with loving stuff as well as calling about the problematic?? I’m in NO way saying people should be silent about issues. I just miss when we used to hype books too?! (Ajfdkalsd I’m glad you like my nonsense tweets though! I feel a bit like I don’t fit into the community there anymore though, because I don’t tweet deeply enough.😭😭)
Ooh, I love the cover for your book. Congratulations again.
Yes, January does seem to last about a thousand years. At least February is a short month!
Aw thank you!! 😍 I’m so glad you like the cover. (and petition for January to share some days with February?! That would help.)
I like the new blog look! ‘Tis fabulous. And I’m glad to see you back on the blogging scene more!
I’m so excited for your second book!!!!!! At some point, I’d like to see a post about how your experience (emotional and actual) with publishing your second book differs from publishing your first book? But that’s probably not going to be a thing you can do until the actual release date.
In other news: I don’t remember if you tried the Invisible LIbrary series or not, but I just read the latest book in the series, and it was AWESOME. There were murders. And fae. And dragons. And someone tried to kill people with cake at one point. Go read it. Also, don’t read Trail of Lightning. I don’t know if you have read it or not yet, but it’s unnecessarily frustrating and angsty and Adult and the ending is intensely upsetting.
What’s the difference between a lamington ice cream cake and a normal ice cream cake?
Thank you! I mean only the graphics are different so far, but hopefully the entire blog layout will change soon. If my relative hurries up lmao. This was going to happen “next week” since Christmas. 😑😂
And ooh yes that’s a good idea to do a post about the differences in 1st vs 2nd book publishing. I would like to say “and I was so much calmer now that I knew how it all worked…”…….but LOL NO. *eats a brick wall*
I actually did try the Invisible Library and didn’t click, sadly. But I actually heard The Trail of Lightning was good, so now I’m torn.😂😂
(the difference is the lamingtons lol. Ice cream cakes do not usually have lamingtons in it.)
I’M SI EDCITED FOR YOUR NEW BOOK, the cover is gorgeous!😍😍 I’m also excited for your new design and more posts!😊
omg thank you!! this means so much to me 😍
The poll isn’t working, but yes, I do get emailed replies to comments. Congrats on getting an awesome book cover! My January was long because it was very snowy and very cold. I don’t think I have a favorite social media because I’m equally bad at all of them. Happy February!
DUDUDUDUUE now the poll isn’t working???. DO I LAUGH OR CRY. 😭😂I swear I’m ready to just toss my entire blog into the ocean lmao. But I hope the super cold lifts soon for you all in America, because that sounds terrible. I have zero motivation when it’s too cold.
A Hahahahaha it is really wintery up here. But, sadly, I live in the South, and there’s still no snow. *cries my snow less heart out*
Yeah that’s fun. You know how PRETTY it would be to take pictures of cats in the snow! *cries because I wanted to have a snow photoshoot with my kittens before they grow up*
But on another topic, it’s been a very good reading month. I’ve read 21 books in January! I am 21 percent through my 100 new book reading goal!!! Yaaaayyy!
You’ve been doing very well! I hope to read 200 books next year, but I’m starting small this year. (I’m a very fast reader)
I’ve never seen snow, so I understand the feel! Mind you, I barely even get winter where I live😂 So I can’t complain. And aww that’s awesome that you have cute cats though!! CUTE CATS ARE BEST. And I’m glad you read so so much in January. 🎉🎉 Go you!!!
Wow, you read so many amazing books this month. I wish I was able to read this much. And new blog design? I can’t wait to see it. I am also thinking about changing my blog design from some time but still haven’t decided what I want 😛 I am sure your blog would be great.
And yes, I get emails about your replies to my comments. But don’t get emails about your new posts. But I am on Bloglovin’ too so I get your updates there 🙂
My best read of this month was Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. I totally loved it.
It’s hard to decide, right?! I’m hoping to keep my same header so I don’t have to change too much lol. I just want my emails to work again, gah. And I’m glad you at least get emails for my comments!! I always worry that people won’t get them and think I’m ignoring them. Eep. But thank you for letting me know.
And I definitely want to read Eleanor Oliphant. I’ve heard amazing things about it. 😍
The slog that was January is finally over! And yes in America we are FREEZING, I live in the north western part and we got temperatures lower than -10 degrees Fahrenheit\-23 Celsius. It freaking interrupted out Hunger Games, how rude, how am I going to do the dystopian test that decides my entire career now??
I read a total of nine books this month (technically eight but I’m counting the novella) and they were definitely the best part because they were mostly four star reads. The best out of all of them was definitely The Wicked King and my most disappointing was . . . I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say this about such a beloved book . . . Scythe by Neal Shusterman 😬 I swear I’m not a hyped book hater!!! I also read Sadie and The Raven Boys this month and loved them!!!
I am also PUMPED for my writing projects. I want to edit my NaNo book which I was planning to do this month but I’m a potato so I didn’t. I also plan on writing something that’s a big like The Raven Boys+Magnus Chase this summer. And I’m not sure what I’ll write for NaNo this year, possibly a contemporary comedy based on my experience in theatre.
I would send you over some summer sun to thaw you but like…I DON’T HAVE ANY. 😭 It’s hot and muggy here but ahfsoagh what is the sun. I have not seen it so long I am growing moss in my hair.
Novellas totally count! and that’s awesome that they were such good reads. And aw that’s ok that Scythe didn’t work for you! I liked it, but didn’t love LOVE it like I thought I would. (I prefer his Unwind and Challenger Deep tbh.) But ahhhhHHHHH you read the Raven Boys. This is the best news. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
(I’m glad you’re hyped for your writing too! I think sometimes it’s easy for we writers to get bogged down, so like keeping ourselves hyped is important and fun. Also you’re writing something like TRC afdkslad am dead.🎉🎉🎉🎉)
my most disappointing read this month was definitely Ruin and Rising. I just couldn’t connect with it. I read a lot of amazing books this month but the one that surprised me by how much I loved it was Undead Girl Gang. It was AWESOME!
Aw yes same. I didn’t read R&R this month, but just…meh. It’s my least favourite of the series. I definitely want to read Undead Girl Gang though!
Ohh, your books that flip over to mini reviews are so cute and wow how do you do that! And yes, I get your email replies to my comments 😉 Yay for more stories coming from your brain and pen!
Favorite social media: either Twitter or Instagram. Used to be FB but that’s just so cruel sometimes ;p
keturahskorner.blogspot.com
That’s just a widget haha. So definitely not me being clever or anything. But I do love how the covers flip. 😂 And yes ugh FB can be a bit of a disaster. Instagram seems generally more balanced and pretty?!
Wow, it sound like you had a really good start to the year! (Also congrats again on the lovely cover of your sophomore novel!) I feel like January was a year that went by pretty quickly…
Thank you!! I’m so glad you like the look of the new cover. 😍
MY JANUARY WAS SO FAST OMG I READ 49 BOOKS. Best read was almost definitely This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills or The Dangerous Art of Blending in, and most disappointing was Code Name Verity ;/ I need to blog more too!
HOW DID YOU READ 49 BOOKS?! I can’t even fathom that!!! Machine!! And Awk I love the Dangerous Art of Blending in too.
Daaaaamn…..I’ll never know how you manage to get through so many books in just a month. I can barely get through two in a month, let alone 18 ! I really need to start chipping away at the good ‘ol TBR mountain in Feb…. it’s nearly as tall as me at this point lmao — i need to stop buying new books and actually get through some of the old ones. I was actually thinking about trying The Wicked King, as well, so glad you rated it so highly !
abhdbhjdfnrk I can’t wait for the new book !! I absolutely cannot wait to read it, but I also kinda don’t want to read it — ATPN left me in pieces (i was on the beach when i finished it and i literally started crying my eyes out right there in public) and i have a feeling this one is going to leave me even more deaddddd. The cover is so beautiful btw !!!!
When you make that ice cream cake… fancy making one for me too? lmao
Thea // http://www.theascott.blogspot.co.uk
With MY FOUR EYES!!!! 😂 Ok but truly I just have no life lmao. And how do I read this much and still remain behind on my tBR? It is something we can never know. Sigh. 😂 I’m so hoping you do try The Wicked King. It is a GIFT to this world.
ajfskdlad I’m so sorry for ATPN stabbing you in the heart. 😂 I’m the WORST. But this one has way way more cute scenes!! Like actual scenes where you can vaguely breathe and not freak out that the Maestro is about to walk in!!
(I’ll send you some ice cream cake to make up for the ATPN trauma.)
My January went faster than I wanted it to. And now I have a book release at the end of the month and HELP, I’m not quite ready for it. Anywho.
My best read of January was Ellie and the Prince by J.M. Stengl – seriously, I CANNOT get over all of the awesome ways that Cinderella can be retold. Most disappointing was Mirrors and Pearls by Lea Doue. I mean, it wasn’t bad – I loved its twist on Snow White, but I came away feeling like only half of the book was there – it was way too rushed. (And I’ve resumed the keeping track of my reading with a google form this year – but this time I *gasp* added a slot for me to type in the book’s title. I think that’s where I went wrong last year. It wasn’t easy for me to tell whether or not I had entered a book into the form or not.)
And I am so hyped for this year’s writing projects which include ALL OF THE FAIRY TALES. (Or, at least, a good number of them.) And maybe finally getting actual progress made on book three of Rizkaland.
I didn’t answer the poll ’cause my answer is kinda complicated. I DO get emailed about comments – but only if I check the box asking it to send me a notification. And the email I get is not the same as the emails used to be, which were sent automatically – before, the email contained your reply and gave me a link that shot me right down TO my comment, now it just tells me that you replied and the link is merely to your blog post and I have to go hunting for my comment. (Not so hard on my computer where Ctr-F is a thing, but it’s annoying on my phone.) Also, I was randomly emailed a notification of a “new post” last week. Said “new post” was from 2015, if I remembered right. (And only had two comments+your replies. It looked so lonely!)
ahhhh book release!! All the luck and best wishes for that!! And I’m so glad you found a Cinderella retelling that you liked a lot. That’s epic *flails* And I have a google doc too.😂Google doc + notebook + Goodreads. Lmao. I am so prepared, but still not sure for what. Ahem.
Also that’s awesome you’re hyped for all this year’s projects. I feel like the beginning of the year feels so fresh with possibilities. 😍
ok so also I have no freaking idea what is going on with the comment emails. i just need someone to come fix my blog because I can’t 😭😭 Thamnks for telling me what it’s doing though. (And the “new post” thing was so embarrassing lmao. That was SUCH a mistake, just me deleting old posts and accidentally reposting one.)
cait, i’m so sorry to hear you’re still having troubles with your emails! i was actually going to send you a screenshot on instagram because i legit got an email saying you’d uploaded – and i was excited because i knew you were having troubles with it – but it wasn’t for a new post you’d made. i kid you not, it was actually of the blog tour you did for this shattered world back in 2013. i don’t know whether to laugh or cry for you. i’m so sorry it’s being a pain in the butt,, but your new layout and graphics look AMAZING! and i can’t wait to see the redesign.
i feel you so much on the twitter drama. sure, the platform does such much good bringing important issues to people’s attention but the negativity is overwhelming. i’ve permanently moved over to bookstagram at this point.
but i read the wicked king this month and JFDKSJF:D Fmvjf asdsfdjkg; i don’t even have words for that stabby piece of gloriousness. i still need to read lord of shadows so i can get to qoaad but i’m scARED. oh, the gilded wolves may be my favourite new thing of ever 😭 i love those characters with every fibre of my being
the disasters is also an absoulte gem and i’m so excited to see what you’ll think of it! there’s so much diversity rep including TWO mcs with anxiety, an interacial m/m romance and a trans girl mc – and the anxiety rep is legit some of the actual best rep i’ve EVER read,, it’s so good – and it’s bantery and fast-paced and absoultely wonderful. one of my new faves too
best of luck with all your secret projects and edits and baking. happy reading!
UGH I’m so embarrassed about that 2013 post *cries in mortified shame* See I was deleting my archives and accidentally deleted it, so I was like “eh just repost” and it frEAKING EMAILED OUT????? I’m crying. 😂I give up. This blog hates me and I just want to throw the whole thing in the sea lol. (I’m glad you’re liking my new graphics for the posts though!!) Hopefully I’ll have a new design up soon to match haha.
And yeah, I just think twitter needs more balance. I know negativity is easier for people to get worked up about, but I never see books being hyped? Just drama being spread, and ugh the way people MAKE drama out of nothing drives me to grinding my teeth.
The Wicked King is ART and I’m still dead with it. omafsdhaiogsh Jude!! CARDAN. WHAT EFVEN. And I’m so stoked for The Disasters and that I got approved for that…*flails* And all that diversity rep is just having me even more keen!
That’s a lot of good news cait. Cannot wait to see your new blog design. I have been wanting to change mine since two years but here I am MASTER PROCASTINATOR. Maybe this year I will do something about it. And wow, keeeping track of books in three places is just WOW. So excited that you are living the author life so royally. Will miss you on Twitter. I used to hate Twitter too but then I realised that I am following the wrong people who make me angry and frustrated. Some unfollows, mutes and blocks later, I am all happy now. i have been monitoring my Twitter time though and it has been very helpful. These days even when I want to tweet I go out on Buffer. So I don’t get sucked in the replies and likes (or no-likes) thing. Hope you have an amazing Feb
aww thank you! And omg agreed about the procrastination. 😂I just kind of want mine to be DONE now though, ugh, I’m tired of waiting and wishing my blog was fixed haha. But I’m just a little over the top with my book tracking, right?! 😂 List. Love ’em. Cannot be without them.
I’m so glad you’ve been following and muting! I think that’s SO important to give ourselves the freedom just to do that. I had to do it for some authors I really admire, but I just couldn’t take a lot of what they were tweeting about. Eep.
My family moved right at new years’ so the beginning of January seems like a distant memory to me, so much has happened. xD
But I actually got on instagram last month and am enjoying it so much! Also I accidentally started on a completely unplotted project haha. At least it seems to be going well so far. xD
Eep that does sound like it would be intense!! I hope the move went well! And instagram is the BEST. So pretty omg. So much talent. (And good luck for the writing!!)
YAY! What type of Kindle did you buy? I honestly wouldn’t be without my Paperwhite, you’ll find you’ll have less eye strain too. I don;t know how you read for so long on that little screen. I’m so stoked for The Boy Who Steals Houses and not to pit your children against one another but the cover is delicious! I’m really digging the blog tweaking. The new headers on your images especially is so much easier on old eyes like mine,
You know what I’d love to learn more about, blogging now verses blogging then. What’s changed, what you remember from when you first begun. There’s so many new bloggers just starting out at the moment I’ve noticed and even us old ones would love to hear all about it.
Just the cheapest one.😂 Is it the paperwhite? It doesn’t have the backlight though, and I’m really pissed about that, but then I also didn’t want to spend $100+ more for the next level, sob. bUt eep, I’m SO glad you like Houses’ cover! I’m kind of worried it and ATPN will be compared a ton but ajfldsad will try not to overthink it. 😂
I have done a bit of a post like that but I could totally do an updated one??!! Love that idea. Except me then was like, this super blogger, and me now is like: HOW DO I TYPE. I have lost the plot.😂
January really is the slowest month of the year for me. I feel like my entire life has changed and the month is just barely over: taking my last college entrance exam, getting the results, celebrating New Year’s, my sister traveled…. And January is still going, lol.
A Place for Wolves is a book I’m very excited about, because the historical setting sounded amazing. However, your review doesn’t sound that optimistic? Dang itttt. I’ll probably give it a try nonetheless, but I’ll try to lower my expectations too.
I also got my sister’s e-reader for the month and I’m hoping she will forget about its existence and let me have it long-term, hahah. It is so much more convenient than reading in a phone, plus you don’t have to worry about notifications distracting you. And there’s automatic brightness!
Wishing you amazing February, Cait. And all the luck with your writing projects!
omg that is a huge month for you then!! Good luck with all the busyness going on *flails for you and sends chocolate* I do hope you love A Place for Wolves! I didn’t connect, but that doesn’t make it a bad book, you know? Maybe it just wasn’t for me. *hides*
oooh that is a good idea to “BORROW FOREVER” your sister’s ereader hahah. I’m already loving mine omg and it makes wanting to read ebooks much more appealing! Flipping pages every 5 seconds is enough to drive someone crazy. 😂
I only joined Instagram last year but I LOVE IT SO MUCH. It’s so beautiful, and everyone there in the bookstagram-sphere is so nice and sweet and encouraging. It’s just amazing.
Isn’t it amazing?! The community is lovely and the pHOTOS ARE JUST DIVINE. 😍
January is gross. It was like, a million degrees below zero, with all the snow, and like… no. I don’t need this in my life. I had a pretty meh reading month, but let’s seee…. best was Warrior of the Wild. Worst was probably We Told Six Lies. I just finished Last 8 and now I am really curious about the rep. See, it didn’t seem… good, for lack of a better word, but I will have to check out ownvoices reviews for more info for sure! I also thought that one thing at the end was maybe a little problematic? I think you’ll know what I mean hahha. Can’t wait to see your new design too! Funny story, I randomly got an email from Paper Fury with a 2013 Notebook Sisters post and wow, what a throwback!
*sends a shred of warmth for you to thaw out with* Actually wait what am I even saying. It’s been like barely above 25 (Celsius) lately which is…not hot. AND IT’S SO WET UGH. I’m done with the rain so done.
(Omg I got murdered for my comment on the Last 8. 😳 Seriously don’t critique the rep online, ok? The author sends her followers out to harass people. Apparently it IS ownvoices and critiquing it earns you subtweets and your name being smeared lol sob.)
Ok and omg I’m so embarrassed about that 2013 post. 😂😂 I was clearing out my archives and accidentally deleted that one. So I just whipped it back up buT I DIDN’T REALISE IT WOULD SEND IT AJFKDSLAGHFFSFSSS. I mean it sends NOTHING of my new ones, but it sent that?! Help me.
January is definitely the month where there isn’t enough chocolate since December. My mum always says I’ve had an overload of chocolate and I’m just there like ‘I could honestly carry on eating this much chocolate for the entire year– haha.
A blog redesign sounds very exciting!!
And your new book cover is amazing. Congratulations on all the AMAZINGNESS!!!
I hope writing goes well, 2-3 years until it gets to the shelf does seem a long time. I hope it is fun and as stress-free as possible.
Reading 200 books in a year is an impressive goal!! That’s amazing– I am in awe.
I really want to get to emergency contact (and every other book basically), I’m glad you enjoyed it and the cover is so preeetttyyyy.
I am hyped for my writing project this year— the pinterest aesthetics are getting insanely big. haha
I think my favourite platform is twitter— I only just got instagram and I still learning how to use it properly (if that makes sense). I do like pinterest but I feel like that is more personal because you don’t react with too many people.
Happy February!!!!
DUDE AGREED. I mean, why on earth can’t we just have a lot of chocolate in ALL the months? it would make the world a better place. I am here for it. And eep, I hope the new design comes soon because I am keen haha. THANK YOU ABOUT MY COVER. 😍😍 I’m so hyped that everyone has liked it!!
Yesss, I hope you get to Emergency Contact someday soon. It is so soft??? And cute??? and wholesome afjdsklad I love it.
Making pinterest aesthetics is like one of the best parts of writing, let’s all agre. 😂 I hope the drafting goes well with you!
Okay, first of all, I’m glad that you changed your Twitter header because you are certainly justified in having no chill when your book is coming out. In fact, I think it’s required. And I just now realized that you have 31k followers on Twitter and what sort of witchcraft is that???!! (Okay, I know, it’s just awesomely humorous and on-point content, but are we *sure* you don’t have a deal with some sort of magical book dragon?)
Oh, and just so you know, I still get your posts via email and I get replies in my email too. (Or, at least, notifications that you have replied that send me back to your post to look at them.)
eEEEEE NICOLE!!! THANK YOU FOR BEING SO KIND 😍 and just going to make the most of this book because I don’t know when/if I’ll get another one so like *throws confetti wildly* But omg I don’t know what to do about those 31K on twitter 😂 they do not show up when I talk about my book lmao. Useless lumps. They’re just around for my pithy writer ones. Haha.
waitt wait you get my posts via email?! omg I’m so confused gah, why does it not work consistently. 😭
January was SO long, and yet I got so look little done?? I’m not entirely sure what happened. xD I had grand plans for editing that did *not* happen LOL.
Yes, the Americans are freezing!! I’m beyond ready for spring. But all that rain sounds awful, too.
I don’t think your poll gidget was working on my end, but I’m also on my phone, so that may be why. But I do get emails when you reply to my comments!
I’m preordering your book today!!!
Ugh, yes, I completely agree with your Twitter vs. Instagram analysis. I haven’t been on Twitter in months and I’ve ben so much happier.
THAT IS EXACTLY ME. Like I feel like I should’ve written 10 books and read 500 and ran around the world or something in all the time that I had. But, meh, in February I shall do like 31 days of work in 28. IT’LL BE FINE. *flings self into the wall laughing hysterically* I actually do hope you get spring soon so I get winter. 😂 I love the cold and I am DONE with the rainy season here in summer ugh.
WHAT NOW THE POLL ISN’T EVEN WORKING. I GIVE UP. *throws blog in the sea* 😭😂
as always, i am vastly impressed by your book-reading abilities 😳 i’m glad the beginning of the new year was good for you, though! january did seem SOOO SLOW like, when was new year’s even? eight months ago?? 🤔
alright, my best read of january was ‘a list of cages,’ which successfully shattered me into aproxamently 8343933209 pieces. worst was, unfortunately, my first read of the year was my least favorite and it was ‘i believe in a thing called love.’ it was less ultra-fluffy-cuteness and more manipulative. but here’s to better books in feburary! 🎉
I did have a lot of extra reading time in January haha, but February is looking to be way busier. But seriously how is it that January last approximately 2 decades? I have questions. Can’t it share some days with February and even things out, seriously though. (I hope you do read an amazing book or two in Feb though!!)
OMG! ARCs are so exciting!!! I can’t wait until you show off The Boy Who Steals Houses from every angle on Instagram!
And YAAAAAAAAAAAAS! You got You Asked For Perfect! I love that book and want someone to read it so I can shriek about it in excitement with them! Also, I read Unbroken in January and it was FABULOUS! Favorite book of January, and favorite anthology of ever. Can’t wait for you to read that one as well.
I’M SO EXCITED FOR IT TOO *soft happy scream* And oh I’m so glad you liked You Asked For Perfect. I’m definitely going to read it soon…!! It sounds perfect. And Unbroken is going to be amazing, I can just feel it. 😍
OMG Yes!! January was the LONGEST MONTH EVER!!! What makes it worse is that I still didn’t have enough time to finish my current read, Becoming by Michelle Obama. It’s soooo good, but I just never have the time to sit down and have a serious reading session. I’m almost done though!!! Even though I haven’t finished, it is still my best read of the month because I LOVE Michelle Obama!
Your book cover is so beautiful!!! Congratulations on all your continued book success!!!!
Also, congrats on the new Kindle!! I had one for a while a few years ago, but I ended up selling it because I didn’t like how I couldn’t read in the dark because the screen didn’t illuminate like my iPad. #FirstWorldProblems LOL
BTW My favorite social media platform is actually Pinterest. I find so many interesting things there!
Oh I’m glad you’re enjoying that one! I’ve been seeing it everywhere, but that’s hardly a surprise with how famous she is!! And omg thank you for liking my cover 😍 So kind of you!!
But ugh I agree with the kindle not having a light. Like WHY. Why would they even do that?! I nearly sent mine when I discovered it, but I couldn’t afford the next level up so afjkdlsa I’m just going to suffer.😂
AHHHH I’M SO EXCITED FOR YOUR NEW BLOG DESIGN!!! will you still have the iconic arrows or is EVERYTHING COMPLETELY NEW? <3 <3 I'm HYPED. Your blog designs are always amazing. Also we're all used to your amazingness in reading so much but <3 I'm still in awe of your ability to make time for reading.
also omg I also had a ton of books from ng/edelweiss this month too and I am. SCARED OF MY TBR. let's both be crushed <3
THANK YOU, YOU KIND SOUL. 😍 I hope to keep the arrows?! Just because they’ve become kind of ME but we’ll see haha.
I’ll come dig you out when you’re TBR falls on your head too. Because tbh, that is 100% what’s about to happen to me lmao.
My January seemed neverending, so many emails to send out for my project, interviews to do and actually writing, I swear I’m not sure if I will make it to my April deadline at this point, it might just have killed me before then! Still, I love my topic, so it could be a lot worse. I also finished my second full round of revisions on my novel and it’s back with my critique partner so I’m waiting for those back, but I have plenty of project work for Uni to distract me in the meantime! My best read of this month was Enchantee, I loved that one so much and most disappointing was Ruin and Rising, it was good but wasn’t quite the epic finale I was hoping for from the Grisha Trilogy. As for favourite social media platforms, I like Twitter, but I’ve found myself enjoying Instagram more and more, I love authors’ instastories!
omg good luck with all the work then *sends encouraging chocolate* Sounds like it’s giong to be intense eep. I’m also glad you liked Enchantee, because I have that one to read!
Ah, I am really excited to see your new blog design, Cait! I honestly love blog designs and would commission approximately 10 of them if I had 10 uses for them. But I love mine so much I cannot ever see myself getting rid of it? I mean, I know it would be exciting to get something new, but I don’t think a blog design could ever fit me or my blog as much as the one I have had for nearly five years now :O
I’m so excited that your book is doing so well in preorders! That’s honestly so exciting. I cannot wait to read it 🙂
YAY for The Falconer trilogy! That series honestly needs so much more love. It’s awesome.
I actually really love my design now and will be sad to change gahhh, but I REALLY am sick of having a nonworking blog that doesn’t send the email notifications. So maybe this will help!?? Like if my theme is broken or something gah. Who would know. Fingers crossed. 😂
YES! I love that we bloggers are always onto the latest books, but sometimes the older series need a bit of love too, right??
AHHH I’m so proud of you – YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER BOOK OUT ASJFHLKJSHLG. *gives you ALL THE CAKE*
January was such a weird month. Like it went really slowly, but then the last month flew by in a haze, as my dog was so sick she almost died. It was in and out of vet hospitals, researching her condition, worrying about whether or not she’d make it…SO STRESSFUL. Hopefully things calm down in February!
ALSO I have The Wicked King out from the library. I AM SO EXCITED. ALSO SCARED, BUT MAINLY EXCITED.
*screams softly* It’s still so hard to believe?! I’m so LUCKY and so so happyyyy ahh.
But omg I’m so so sorry to hear about your dog. That’s horrible. I hope nothing else goes wrong for her this month. 😥
*eyes Fated by Terri Terry…looks guiltily at the Slated trilogy by her that I still haven’t read yet* Ooops? I mean in my defense I read Slated years ago *coughs 2012 anyone?* started Fractured and idk what happened, I fell of the train and found some other book I think xD
CAIT CAIT CAIT HOW LONG DO I PROCRASTINATE ON READING QOAAD BECAUSE I’M NOT READY FOR THE STRESS NOR A BROKEN HEART (we’ll ignore the fact that I plan to reread all the other shadowhunter books before we get to this one…ahem…)
I am ridiculously excited for TBWSH to come out (I’ll try and remember it’s release date) OH and ATPN is gonna be a year old this year, riiiiight? Look at your smol son growing wheeeeee. I’m also loving the new graphics you’ve got going on here, and I can’t wait to see what you do with the blog redesign. Oh and I can’t vote on any of your polls btw, but that’s probably down to me being on Windows XP than you. But I do still get your email notifs for when you reply to a comment on here.
I’ve also been eyeing The Falconer in my Waterstones because I remember you mentioned it…and now I’m seriously considering buying it xD so we’ll see, hehe and that’s mood trying to fit 31 days in 28. January went by really fast for me though, mainly because I was ill for all of it. February is like semi flying, but my brain is also thinking we’re in 2018 still. It’s not caught onto the fact, we’re in 2019 yet.
omg I haven’t read ANY of the Terri Terry books oops. I wonder if I can read Fated out of order??? *buries self under TBR* Also I totally understand procrastinating QOAAD!! I did too for like 2 months lmao, but it was worth it 😍 I want to reread all the TMI books this year, but my TBR already hates me so we’ll see.
And yes! ATPN will be 1 year old in June eep.
(And the blog design is shaping up! 😍I’M SO EXCITED.)
I feel like January had 350 days and yet I never got anything done. So go figure. I love all your plans and yes I do get your email reply but somehow I clicked I dont get it option. Your website genuinely hates me. I have no clue where I am clicking half the time. And it is a pure miracle that I get my link on commenluv. But hey, everyone else seem to be getting these things perfectly, soo it might just me!
ugh saaaame. Why can’t January give some days to February. Tbh this would help so much lmao. And my website hates ME so much so that’s the two of us. 😭I’m trying to fix it though!!
My January went faaassst I’d say. Maybe because I was on holiday, and di lots of travelling, spent quality time with almost exclusively my family, read lots (15 books! The most I’ve read for ages!!), played in snow, and all too soon I had to go back to NZ rip. Also love your new cover!! So good! Ahhh! I think I can actually request this and might try!! Also, I get an email saying I have a comment reply but not the actual reply like I used to?? Is there any way to change that?
Ahhh congrats on the 15 books and all the travelling and being around family and SEEING SNOW (!! I want to see snow someday).
I think I need to find a better widget for the comments gah. The last widget broke, but isn’t that the story of my life?! 😭😂
I loved reading what you have been up to! and wow 18 books, well done! I read 4, which was a bit of a poor effort…. but one of them was Queen of Air and Darkness which is a very large (and great) book, so it sort of wasn’t my fault! 🙂
I also agree about Twitter, it is not as positive as Instagram, which I like much better personally. But I also enjoy visual things and Instagram is so pretty and fun to look at, with people celebrating books more than anything else, so it is nice there 🙂
You have a lot of projects on the go! Good luck with them all and I am so excited for your new book!! 🙂
Oh QOAAD should count as like three books for how big it is hahah. And it’s a pity how much of a negative place twitter has become these days?! I’m sad, but I also still really enjoy tweeting things, so I probably won’t leave or anything!
Aww, thank you! And I’m so excited about your release too!
I’m seriously considering starting Lady Midnight. I’m not really tempted to read Shadowhunters, but I’m curious about the LM trilogy for all the praise it has received over the diversity. Also, I FINISHED LARA JEAN’S TRILOGY IN JANURARY AND I FREAKING LOVED IT. It felt like the third book wasn’t necessary but I’m prepared to read 135 more books about Lara Jean baking chocolate cookies. She’s just ! so ! cute !
oooh yes yes do!! And you can read the Lady Midnight books without reading TMI and TID (although I think it’s better if you do tbh haha 😂) And omg isn’t Lara Jean adorable? I didn’t love the last book as much as the first two, but I still just !!! MY SHIP.
Look the poll won’t work for me (which is ironic seeing what the topic is about) but yes I still get an email to notify that you replied. Though before I would be able to see the reply in the email and that doesn’t happen anymore. It just says you replied. But I thought you might have changed that yourself.
I thought January went kind of fast this year actually… And February is already halfway. How did that happen?
omg the poll doesn’t even work…*falls over* 😭😂 I think I’m cursed by this point lmao. But yeah I need to work on the comments too, I think??
(February is TOO SHORT ahh!!)