Sometimes I think about how there are only 2 more months of this decade.
Then I panic a little and, you know, fall over. This has NOT been my year, although I’ve definitely had good things happen (ex: The Boy Who Steals Houses came out in April, I ate ice cream like 2 mins ago, etc. etc. 😌) so part of me is relieved the year is ending. But the rest of me has 39849 things I needed to do and I feel OLD about it being 2020 soon. Pretty extra sure I had a white hair the other day.
Things I’ve Been Up To:
- I actually have A SECRET. 👀 (No it’s not a book deal lolol I wish.) But it is a writing-related secret and it is intensely pleasant and surprising and I am a sinister creature for saying this without explanation. But I couldn’t help it. I HAVE A SECRET. 😌
- I finished my reread of The Raven Cycle (including the Opal short story on audiobook which was gorgeous) and I’m officially ready for Call Down the Hawk and dON’T MIND ME I’m just literally dying with my heart falling out until it arrives!!!!!)
- I also hit 60,000 followers on instagram! Which is kind of HUGE.
- I’m still struggling to blog. 👀 I feel intensely guilty about it. I love you all so much and I don’t want to give you subpar content, but I keep starting to type a post only to realise I’ve already written it years ago. Seven years blogging and you kinda have done everything. I also second-guess my opinions a lot and get a few more derisive comments than I used to, and it’s all a bit demoralising. I feel like there are invisible rules I should follow as an author? And I just want to talk about books I love instead of add to the negativity. But it’s just ALL HARD: to write good content, to not see negative reviews of my own books, to fit it all in amongst writing etc. I need more ice cream.
- I also simultaneously feel so honoured I have a ton of followers (just passed 6,000 here and 60,000 on Instagram) and like, sometimes I get stage-fright.😂 I know it’s silly! But I’m like, patting my pockets, looking for some quality content. I am such a chaotic catastrophe, I cannot.
- However I DID revamp my blog headers and I’m really pleased with them!!!!
Besides my SECRET (mysterious music plays), I also finished writing a new contemporary (!!!). I’ve been pleading/bleeding/crying over it for the last 2 months, but I finally finished. I put so much into this book and kind of left my heart with my trio of anxious disaster kids. This is the pinterest board, and I have fingers crossed for the future of this little novel, okay!?! I’ve had so many rejections on novels since ATPN and TBWSH and it’s been so hard to keep going. But I am working forever very hard.
One of the things I loved writing in it was this really intense platonic love and just — gah — I freaking adored pouring everything into it.
However 🙃 I neglected to properly prepare for NaNoWriMo.
It still shocks me, every year, that NaNo insists on arrive on the 1st when I am not ready for it. And what did they do to the site?! They deleted all our buddies and I have no idea how to navigate it now. But please friend me again! I’ll approve everyone!
Currently the site is telling me I have done ONE year (I have done five????) and I’m about to break a plate.
But NaNo prep? We don’t know her.
I had a breakthrough like 3 days ago and my entire plot needs restructuring and I have outlined nothing and I am slightly dying inside. I am not doing any speed writing this month though. For the first time I plan to go slow and steady. I have a playlist. I have been daydreaming. I still haven’t named my protagonist. (R.I.P. me.)
It started off as a meh reading month. And then it got GOOD. 🙌🏻I feel vaguely guilty that I haven’t had many life-changing favourites this year? But there’s still time. I’m absolutely suffocating over the fact that Queen of Nothing AND Call Down The Hawk come out in November!!!!!!!!
(all covers link to goodreads)
BOOKS BOUGHT…
From library
FOR REVIEW…
Vote and help meeeee!
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Here are my reading highlights of October!
Wayward Son | I can’t even tell you how anxiously I was anticipating this!!!! Just my brain was ALL CAPS EXCLAMATION MARKS for daaaaays. And it was amazing.😭💛Domestic roadtrip goodness. Utterly hilarious. I utterly stressed because these are my kids. I just wish Baz and Simon’s relationship had had some development. Or communication.
Ninth House | Again the hype for this was WILD and viciously perfect. It’s an incredible book, thoughtful but dark, intense but careful. Also it’s gotten such a lot of negative attention and I’m going to be real: It doesn’t deserve the hate. (Actually all the hate on it makes me like it more, HA.) It bothers me an immeasurable amount that people are yelling at Leigh for writing darkness in an adult book. Also, gotta say, male authors don’t get this level of scrutiny.
The Raven King & Blue Lily Lily Blue | Only my 3rd reread, nothing to see here. Except for ME, being purely in love and obsessed and having my heart slowly melt with perfect feelings.
Opal | I mean, I had to also reread these torturous 40 pages of perfection. I did the audiobook this time and it was over too soon ajdfksald. But I madly love Opal and her perspective and just those snippets of Adam and Ronan. *pines for Call Down the Hawk*
10 Blind Dates | Okay this was just super cute and fun! A Christmassy read about (surprise) a girl getting set up by her family members on all these blind dates. It was actually family focused rather than romance centric, and I mean totally fluffy. I wish the characters had been deeper. But it’s FUN.
American Royals | Like again, so fun! Fluffy, but with some deeper themes explored (especially about poisonous media and the standards it puts on women). I’m not the biggest fan of the writing style (same with The Thousandth Floor) but it’s enjoyable. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The Wicked King | umm okay fine I couldn’t resist reading it again, despite already having had read it this year. I can’t stop obsessing over this series afjkdslad, it’s just so cunning and wily. This does make me with Cardan had more page time though…
Wicked Fox | Okay this was just like a total traditional YA in terms of style and plot…and I really loved that. It was cute! Grumpy girl x soft boy. And so many morally grey moments and monsters and yes, yes, just take my heart why don’t you.
Can You See Me? | This one took me by surprise!! It’s a middle-grade and absolutely 100% perfect with the autism rep. It’s also #ownvoices, and you can just tell. My heart soared and broke with this book and, ironically, I felt really seen. 10/10 recommend it for anyone with autistic kids or working with autistic kids.
Other Books I read
| WHAT DO YOU THINK |
are you doing NaNo this year? are you prepped!? tell me your best reads of October. and are you reading for a new year or keen to keep 2019 for as long as possible?
Yes, the new NaNo site almost gave me a heartattack! I knew it had changed, but the fact SO MUCH of my information was just GONE really made me want to scream! I put a buddy request out for you, so the invitation should be on your dashboard or notifications!
Congrats on the followers, and good luck with NaNo! I’m glad you liked Wayward Son because I’m so freaking excited about that book. I need it. I hope you have a great November!
Ooh, really curious to see what you thought about Serpent & Dove. I loved it!! I purchased my first book subscription box last month, and it’s the special edition one of Call Down the Hawk through OwlCrate. It’s supposed to have a different cover, so I’m hoping so much that it’s prettier than the one they have now (which I feel looks like a throwback to 90’s covers, lol). I should be receiving it sometime around the 5th, eeek!!!! And not doing NaNo, I am the slowest writer of ever, so NaNo would probably make me lose all my hair bc of stress, haha.
I am not doing NaNo this year, I wish I was cause I missed it last year as well thanks to final year of Uni craziness, but I just don’t have time which makes me sad as I have a WIP that is over 28,000 words already so NaNo would be the perfect time to get it finished but alas working a full time job is against me. October was kind of a meh month for me, reading wise, I only got 2 books read (thanks work), but my favourite was the third Diviners book, Before The Devil Breaks You. I’m so excited for King of Crows! I am definitely not ready for a new year, I can’t believe it’s almost 2020 already! Never mind where the last year went, where did the last decade go???
I don’t think I’m officially doing nano this year, but I will be trying to keep up on my own! Ahhhh unnamed MC’s. My mc was unnamed for like a year, then her name was changed three times before I settled, everyone else got names before her, and she still doesn’t have a last name lol sob. This mg book I’m really looking forward to is coming in a few days and so I’m rereading obvsly, and I’m so close! One last fat book to read! WITH MY OTP SCREECH. Adorbs.😍 Anyways good luck with your writing!
Most crazily, ~Olive
You and I love so many of the same books and it makes me melt just to have this brief PSA to remind me how wonderful they are. 🥰
I too am doing Nano and no I am not ready and yes I am FURIOUS at the website for deleting our friends lists. But I did send you a friend request so cheers to new friends lists and the nagging feeling of everything around you burning while you insist “this is fine” as you set up your laptop.
I read Wayward Son this month as well and I absolutely loved it, I know some people had some mixed feelings about it but to be honest I think I was blindsided (in a way good way) by how excited I was to get content with them again. I’m glad you liked Ninth House – it’s on my TBR and I’m uber excited to read it!
I’m doing NaNo and I am as prepped as any pantser could be (I have my first act, some idea of the second ??? I have the main premise and 1 name lolol)
I haven’t been reading much this month, I have the time but school is just tiring that I never feel like it and I might be in a reading slump hahaa though I’ve been meaning to start The Raven Cycle because I’ve heard so much about it !! And Serpent and Dove is really hyped so I need to read that soon too and I want to do a reread of The Cruel Prince and The Wicked King but I don’t know if I can put myself through Cardan’s stupidity again (I like him now sort of but the first half of TCP he was SO ANNOYING but the book was sooo goooddd)
October wasn’t as great a month for meas it was for you. I read sixteen books but most of them were very meh and I was anticipating some of them and they fell flat. I read mostly backlist titles and a couple rereads.
Can I join the plate-breaking party? My NaNo says I’ve only done it once too. *wails* Also, I still don’t have a plot and NaNo is tmrw *hides* I’m trying contemporary for the first time, and it’s soo much harder to come up with things to happen. I know what I’ll be doing until midnight tonight. XD
I have not prepared for NaNo AT ALL. * Sobs * Except for booking some holidays off work because TACTICS.
Happy Halloween! Are you doing anything for it? I’m at a party on Saturday.
I must be following the right people in the book world because I haven’t actually seen any negativity about Ninth House at all so I didn’t even know anything was going on. Leigh really doesn’t deserve any kind of hatred, especially not for writing mature things into a book for adults (that’s just a silly thing to complain about).
Congrats on reaching 60K! I kind of gave up on Instagram because my posts had pretty much zero reach, and it really brought me down. Maybe I’ll start again someday 🙂
i’ve also left nano planning until the last minute, but I think i have it down now, maybe? the pinterest board for that novel looks amazing, now i really want to read it. also, thanks, now i’ll be obsessively trying to work out what the secret could be.
I’ve been hearing everyone complain about the nano site. I haven’t logged in for years so I am going to do it now haha.
And it has to be heard to balance it all and still remain blogging without stepping on anyone’s toes. You’ll find a balance, I’m sure of that.
A Criminal Magic is amazing! I hope you love it!
ooh need to read American Royals, also Ninth House! I too have been hearing all the hate… and its making me nervous to read it but I am usually HERE FOR THE DARKNESS so naturally I think I’m gonna like it (plus I think others r being a lil picky… *shrugs* *picks up book anyways ;)*)
Also just logged onto NaNoWriMo for the first time and made an account!! Yay! I’m nervous but excited. 50,000 words is A LOT but hopefully it will help motivate me to at least get the draft scratched out for my passion project :))
Awesome wrap up Cait!!
OMG the pinterest board of your WIP has me dying to read this book. Can’t I just have it now??? I won’t tell anyone… Not that I needed to see the board, I already wanted this book now!
I’m waiting for audio of The Wicked King on my library app so I can re-read before Queen of Nothing. Fingers crossed I get it soon 🙂 I cannot wait for book 3!!!!!!
I’m listening to the Raven Cycle books and obsessed, too. And I can’t explain why. Just that good. Excited about the secret, and I’m so sorry about your negative reviews. I get that a lot with my political posts, and it can be hard … but when you have something you know is worth writing or saying, don’t let the negativity stop you! But then I do love your books 😉 And congrats on 60k!!!!
May you feel the blogging spirit soon again.
MB: keturahskorner.blogspot.com
PB: thegirlwhodoesntexist.com
Squeee! I really love the Pinterest board vibe. Especially the castle theme. I can’t waiiiiiiit!!!
Also, congrats on the follows!! Dang you’re famous :0
And you totally had me with that “2 more months to this decade”. Shocked! I didn’t even think of that!
Also I’m at 150 books read!!! I’ve literally never ever read this many books a year! Blows my mind. But in regards to blogging xD well, I thought I’d schedule my Secret History review today. Because I had it written. Opened it, and… Turns out I had two paragraphs xD it’s been a month since I finished it. No way I’m digging it up in my brain to review it. XD XD this has never happened to me before. I can’t believe I thought I even wrote that!! I was so sure xD so yeah, that about sums up my current blogging situation. LOL.
Cait is it to possible to just let me read every book you write? Because that’d be great. I mean my emotions would not be but that’s a bridge to cross when we come to it. Also, I’m late with the TRC reread IT MUST HAPPEN SOON aghhhh!!!
Your new contemporary Pinterest board is so deliciously green!! It’s soothing and beautiful. I can’t wait to hear more about it! (And also your mysterious, secretive secret . . .)
I can’t believe the new NaNo site deleted everyone’s buddies. *sobs* Not that I’m doing NaNo this year (because school ahhhhhh), but it’s still so sad. :'(
I’m glad Wayward Son lived up to expectations!! It’s one of the many books I’m hoping to read over winter break, I’ve been dying for a new Rainbow Rowell read!
“Really intense platonic love”, YOU SAY???? YES, GOOD, looking forward to hearing more about this.
lowkey I read your review of Opal and honestly she sounds like me??? the sep. anx, being told not to swear by someone who does (uhhhh I am the someone who does in this scenario). and yes!!! whoo hoo october!!!!
I know, right, what happened to the Nano website?? I also lost all my buddies (befriended you again though), and it told me I only participated that one year. Someone told me there’s a way to recover your buddies though, like a link the NaNo peeps send out at some point? I couldn’t be bothered to look it up tbh. And you’re not speed writing, is it even Nano? I’m doing fine so far, because I took some time off work, but today wasn’t a good mental health day, and sometimes I wonder why I’m even doing it. But I’m still determined to write 50k. I’m working on my book from last year, hopefully I’ll finish a (very rough) first draft.
HOW GOOD WAS WAYWARD SON THOUGH OMG. Oh man I was so uninspired with my blog bECAUSE of what you said about finding posts that you had written before years ago?!
Wow – 60K followers on insta is insane, but you so deserve it with those photos and all the work you put into the content of each. Take a breath for yourself occasionally and you’ll be able to maintain what you’ve started (I’m a huge believer in self care!)