The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on my blog and share news about what’s coming up in the week ahead.
This past week on FYFA (and in my life):
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!!
My daughter got back from Costa Rica and told us all about her trip. She had an amazing time and got to see so many cool animals like sloths, spider monkeys, toucans and capybaras. Plus, they went zip-lining and white water rafting. I am definitely jealous!
I finished my first editing pass for that project I’ve been working on. It’s been nice to focus on a project for a while. (Though it’s been a good excuse to procrastinate on my writing—need to get back to it!)
I just added a follow by WordPress button to my blog. Because lots of people seem to prefer to follow that way? At least that’s the impression I’ve gotten. Obviously most of my followers are via Bloglovin’ or regular email, but I figured it might make sense to give people the option of following via WP if that’s what they like to do. Hopefully the button works okay—I followed the instructions, but then it added an extra checkbox to my comment form (you know how I feel about that), so I went back and changed something in the settings. It seems like it’s still working, but I don’t have any account but my own to check it with. If you decide to follow me that way, can you please leave me a comment and let me know if it works?
And, then, while I was at it, I added a Feedly button. Again, lots of people seem to love Feedly. But now I’m nervous all the following options are just obnoxious? I like to give people choices, but I’ve been doing just fine without them before now. I don’t know…
Here’s what you may have missed on the blog since my last Sunday Post:
- My Top Ten Unpopular Bookish Opinions
- Alistair Grim’s Odditorium by Gregory Funaro: A Dual Review with Danielle Hammelef
Book Blogger Birthdays and Blogoversaries:
Here are the birthdays and blogoversaries for this week! I hope you’ll go wish these bloggers well on their special days! Make sure you check out the calendar to see what you might have just missed or what’s coming up. (If you want to be added to the calendar, it’s easy! Just fill out the birthday/blogoversary form.)
- June 16th – booklovercircumspect4‘s Blogoversary
- June 18th – Jenn Marie @ The Bibliofile Book Reviews‘ Birthday
- June 19th – April @ Between the Pages‘ Birthday
Book Haul:
For Review:
My kids still play Minecraft—at ages 14, 15 and 16. Maybe not as often as they used to, but they still create worlds sometimes, and I swear it’s what got my older daughter interested in programming. I had so much fun taking these pics because we have TONS of Minecraft stuff in our house—this is just a small portion of what I could have used.
Anyway, I was excited when I got an email from Random House publicity saying Minecraft: The Lost Journals was in the mail for me!
I also received School-Tripped as a surprise! Thanks, Random House, for both this one and the Minecraft book!
Great Discussions/Goings On Around the Blogosphere:
- Kelly @ Another Book in the Wall talks about the fascinating concept of emotional contagion.
- Krystal @ Lost in Storyland asks Does Book Format Influence Your Rating?
- Vicky Who Reads shares Bookish Acronyms 101: A Book Community Beginner’s Guide to the Lingo! It’s similar to the one I did a few years ago (which some of you might remember), but it focuses more on abbreviations (like you might see on Twitter). Very helpful!
- Holly @ The Fox’s Hideaway won Megan Shepherd’s short story contest!
- Christine @ Lady in Lit shares her personal thoughts in Why Am I So Uncomfortable? Some Thoughts on Pride
- Have you been following Susan Dennard’s #TheLuminaries on Twitter. It’s basically a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style story via Twitter and it is awesome! If you haven’t seen this, jump in now!!
Pre-order Campaigns
Listed in order of release date. Any new deals that I just added to the list this week will be denoted with a *** so you can easily find them!
Please note: Almost all pre-order giveaways run “while supplies last,” so I can’t guarantee that they’ll be open until the date listed. Pre-0rder early for your best chance to get all the goodies!
- Pre-order SOMETHING LIKE GRAVITY by Amber Smith to receive a special swag bag (think: bookmarks, stickers, pins, and more!). (ends 6/17)
- Pre-order THE LEMON SISTERS by Jill Shalvis from Mysterious Galaxy bookstore to receive a luggage tag featuring the book’s cover art! (ends 6/17)
- Pre-order THE ART OF BREAKING THINGS by Laura Sibson to receive a bookmark, signed bookplate & stamped postcard. The author will also donate to RAINN and you’ll be entered to win a grand prize. (ends 6/17)
- Pre-order THE EVIL QUEEN by Gena Showalter to receive a golden apple necklace! (US/Can only)(ends 6/24)
- Pre-order SWITCHBACK by Danika Stone to receive a signed bookplate, bookmark and postcard. Plus you’ll be entered to win other goodies! (INT)(ends 5/27) PLUS there’s a library only giveaway (scroll through the thread to see the pic with details! (INT)(ends 6/28)
- Pre-order STRONGER THAN A BRONZE DRAGON by Mary Fan OR request it from your library to receive a signed postcard, a magnet, and a red envelope containing a mystery prize. (INT)(ends 6/20)
- Pre-order MOM AND DAD, WE NEED TO TALK by Cameron Huddleston to receive a free conversation starter cheat sheet with 10 tips to remember before talking to your (aging) parents about their finances. (ends 6/24)
- ***Pre-order KINGDOM OF EXILES by Maxy M. Martineau to receive a signed bookplate. The first 200 pre-orders will also receive a full-sized map of the Kingdom. The first 100 pre-orders will also receive a full set of bestiary trading cards! (US/CAN)(ends 6/24)
- Pre-order EVVIE DRAKE STARTS OVER by Linda Holmes to receive an exclusive signed bookplate! (US only)(ends 6/25)
- ***Pre-order THE SHADOW KEEPERS by Marisa Noelle to receive a free bookmark! Plus be entered in the raffle to win a tote bag and keychain. (ends 6/30)
- Pre-order TEMPER by Layne Fargo to receive a bookmark and signed sticker. You’ll also be entered to win a grand prize. (US only)(7/1)
- Pre-order QUEEN OF RUIN by Tracy Banghart OR request it from your local library to receive a postcard with a hand-lettered quote from the book. (INT) US Purchasers will also receive an enamel pin, a signed bookplate, and a full-color map. (INT)(ends 7/1)
- Pre-order WICKED FOX by Kat Cho OR request it from your local library to receive beautiful character cards created by the amazingly talented Alexis Castellanos. (INT)(ends 7/1)
- Pre-order HEART OF BARKNESS by Spencer Quinn to receive a digital copy of “Upper Story.” (US/Can)(ends 7/1)
- Pre-order CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT by Brigid Kemmerer to receive a signed bookplate, and an email containing exclusive bonus content set in the Letters to the Lost/More Than We Can Tell universe. Plus, 1 Grand Prize Winner will have a character named after them in a future published book, to be decided between you and Brigid! (USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand)(ends 7/1)
- Pre-order WANDERERS by Chuck Wendig to receive an exclusive pin! (US only)(ends 7/1)
- ***Pre-order SEA WITCH RISING by Sarah Henning to receive a signed bookplate and Sea Witch Rising/Throw Like a Girl postcard. Plus you’ll be entered to win a grand prize! (INT)(ends 7/8)
- Pre-order PAST PERFECT LIFE by Elizabeth Eulberg to receive a signed bookplate and bookmark. (US & CAN)(ends 7/8)
- Pre-order THE LAST WORD by Samantha Hastings OR request it at your local library to receive a signed bookplate, a bookmark, a sticker, and a vintage-style handkerchief. (INT)(ends 7/8)
- Pre-order ME, MYSELF, AND HIM by Chris Tebbetts to be entered to win a t-shirt (one will be given away for every 10 pre-orders) and a grand prize. Also, for every pre-order $1 will be donated to Pride Center of Vermont. (US only)(ends 7/8)
- Pre-order THE TRAITOR’S KINGDOM by Erin Beaty to receive bookmarks and signed bookplates for all three books in the series. (INT)(ends 7/9)
- Pre-order STEALING HOME by Becky Wallace OR request it from your local library to receive a bookmark, signed bookplate, postcard, and baseball charm wish bracelet. The first thirty pre-orders get a navy blue wrap bracelet! (US/CAN)(ends 7/9)
- Pre-order PUMPKINHEADS by Rainbow Rowell to receive an original art print designed by illustrator Faith Erin Hicks and signed by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks. Plus, you’ll be entered to win a trip to the PUMPKINHEADS launch event on 8/27 for both you and a guest! (US/CAN)(ends 7/15)
- Pre-order SPIN THE DAWN by Elizabeth Lim to receive exclusive art, an official bookmark and a signed bookplate. (INT)(ends 7/29)
- Pre-order any of the DIARY OF AN ICE PRINCESS books by Christina Soontornvat or request them from your local library to receive a bookmark (with fun science activity instructions!) and a sticker. You’ll also be entered to win a custom digital black-and-white portrait by the book’s illustrator, Barbara Szepesi Szucs and a pack of six early middle grade and chapter books! (INT)(ends 7/29)
- Pre-order TINY BUT MIGHTY: Kitten Lady’s Guide to Saving the Most Vulnerable Felines by Hannah Shaw to receive an enamel pin featuring the cover kitten. (US only)(ends 8/5)
- Pre-order HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN by Katy Upperman OR request it from your local library to receive a signed bookmark, a vinyl watercolor poppy sticker, and an exclusive bookplate (personalized and signed). If you’re in the US, you’ll also be entered to win a grand prize. (INT)(ends 8/5)
- Pre-order WILDER GIRLS by Rory Power, SPIN THE DAWN by Elizabeth Lim, or HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS by Erin A. Craig to receive an Underlined pillowcase. (US only)(ends 8/6)
- Pre-order THE DOWNSTAIRS GIRL by Stacy Lee OR request it from your local library to receive a sturdy door hanger, which also makes an excellent bookmark (US & INT) and a butterfly knot (hand tied by the author), which is long enough to use as a bookmark (US purchases only). (INT)(ends 8/12)
- Pre-order MIDNIGHT BEAUTIES by Megan Shepherd to receive a specialized leather bookmark, a cute sticker, a signed bookplate and an exclusive art print from Melanie Bourgeois. If you pre-order by 6/14, you’ll also get access to an exclusive eNovella about Cricket, “Tricks and Whispers”! (US & CAN)(ends 8/12)
- Pre-order THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE by Katherine Center from Blue Willow Bookshop to receive a signed/personalized copy, a bookmark, and special SWAG. (ends 8/12)
- Pre-order ZIGGY, STARDUST & ME by James Brandon OR request it from your local library to receive an official bookmark and cover sticker. Pre-orders will also receive a “Gay is Good” vintage remake button, & a signed bookplate (hardcovers only). Plus, a $1 donation will be made to BAAITS. (INT)(ends 8/15)
- Pre-order THE SPINNER OF DREAMS by K.A. Reynolds OR request it from your local library to receive a bookmark and sticker featuring the cover art (for pre-orders, the bookmark will come signed). The first 100 US pre-orders will receive two postcards, a signed bookmark, sticker, and a black crow feather enamel pin. You’ll also be entered to win a grand prize. (INT)(ends 8/26)
- Pre-order CROWN OF CORAL AND PEARL by Mara Rutherford OR request it from your local library to receive two 4”x6” prints of character art. Plus you’ll be entered to win a grand prize. (INT)(ends 8/26)
- Pre-order THE MANY COLORS OF HARPREET SINGH by Supriya Kelkar to receive a signed bookmark & bookplate. (US only)(ends 9/2)
- ***Pre-order THE LAST KIDS ON EARTH AND THE MIDNIGHT BLADE by Max Brallier to receive special slime and a signed bookplate! Plus, your child’s name will be included in the acknowledgements of the next Last Kids on Earth book! (US only)(ends 9/16)
- Pre-order MOMENTOUS EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CACTUS by Dusti Bowling to receive a signed bookplate, bookmark, & bonus story. (ends 9/16)
- Pre-order HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (Illustrated Edition) by J.K. Rowling via the Bloomsbury website to receive an exclusive Goblet of Fire tote bag. (UK/ROI)(ends 10/7) OR (AU/NZ)(ends 9/18)
- Pre-order THE BURNING SHADOW by Jennifer Armentrout to receive an original e-short story “Like the First Time.” Experience the moment Evie and Luc first meet in the club from Luc’s point-of-view. (US/Can)(ends 10/7)
- Pre-order CALL DOWN THE HAWK by Maggie Stiefvater from specified bookstores to receive a signed limited edition bookplate (I believe it features Maggie’s art?). (INT)(ends 11/4)
More Awesome Giveaways:
- Twitter Giveaways:
- I’m giving away a signed copy of OBSIDIO by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman
- @BrittneyMMorris is giving away a SIGNED SLAY ARC
- @authorPayTaylor is giving away a Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom box set
- @alexandraovery is giving away The Storm Crow
- @BookOutletcom is giving away an #ultimatebookworm prize pack for you and a friend!
- @London_Shah is giving away her #ReadforEmpathy rec: CHARLIE CHANGES INTO A CHICKEN
- @Remy_Lai is giving away a copy of The Night Diary
- @FierceReads is giving away a THERE WILL COME A DARKNESS ARC box, complete with tarot cards
- @makiialucier is giving away a signed arc of SONG OF THE ABYSS and a signed hardcover of ISLE OF BLOOD & STONE.
- @Penchant4Words is giving away a HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROWS ARC, Tieks journal, Eulalie’s anchor necklace, Essie nail polish, and a Thaumas octopus!
- @UtopiaMind is giving away some ARCS
- @actualgina is giving away a copy of FOR A MUSE OF FIRE by Heidi Heilig + THE GIRL KING by Mimi Yu
- @recitrachel is giving away a spine art drawing of up to 5 books of your choosing!
- @savvy_book is giving away a mystery unreleased arc
- On my blog, you can enter the giveaway for the May Wrap-Up Round-Up and the June Discussion Challenge and Giveaway.
- Lots of blogs participating in the Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop!
- Jennifer Armentrout is giving away a TITAN PASS + BRUNCH TICKET FOR APOLLYCON 2020
- Head over to The Heart of a Book Blogger for a chance to win Rules We’re Meant to Break
- Riveted by Simon Teen is giving away a stack of LGBT books
- Penguin Random House is doing a massive Stranger Things giveaway
- Head over to Novel Knight for a chance to win a copy of STRONGER THAN A BRONZE DRAGON by Mary Fan
- Head over to Ace of Bens for a chance to win an ARC of THE GRAVITY OF US by Phil Stamper.
- Head over to Angel’s Guilty Pleasures for a chance to win 3 Months on Audible
- Head over to Cornerfolds for a chance to win a Mystery ARC Stack
- Head over to The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club for a chance to win THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF OKAY, and a signed copy of SHADOW & FLAME and ONYX & IVORY
- Head over to Literary Meanderings for a chance to win TEETH IN THE MIST
- Lots of blogs participating in the June Of Books Giveaway Hop!
- Head over to Lisa Loves Literature for a chance to win Three books from her ARC/Books for Trade shelves
- Read It Forward does a weekly giveaway. This week you can enter to win Ellie and the Harpmaker by Hazel Prior!
- Head over to Bookish for LOTS of giveaways!
Lots of good stuff! Have any giveaways or great discussions happening on your site right now? Feel free to share them in the comments!
Congrats on getting through the editing. I’m glad your daughter had fun in Costa Rica. Rafting and zip lining sound like my kind of vacation. Have a great week!
So much fun, right? She had to choose between going to Costa Rica with Spanish or going to Greece with Choir. But once she found out what the Costa Rica trip was going to be like, there was no contest.
Your daughter’s trip sounds so amazing and fun! I need to go rafting and zip lining! I hope you have a good week!
Zip lining through the rainforest sounds amazing!!!
So much going on here, nice post! I’m excited to read your book when it’s ready (I think I’m correct that you recently wrote a story?) Anyway I was interested to hear about the Costa Rica trip. My son plans on going sometime within next 6 months and even took out a library book last week about it.
Have fun reading!
Yes, you’re correct! I’m on submission (meaning my agent is submitting to editors). I can’t wait for people to read it too (thinking positively that it’s definitely going to happen). 🙂
How funny that your son is going to Costa Rica too—hope he has a fantastic time!!
OOoh your daughter seemed to have had a great time!!! Enjoy her now and spoil her rotten LOL Happy Sunday!
Yeah, I think this one trip did a pretty good job of spoiling her rotten. LOL!
Congratulations on finishing that first editing pass for the project you’ve been working on! That must have been good. And I am glad your daughter had a great time and got back all safe and sound. I hope the follow buttons work out. I’ve been thinking about adding wordpress and feedly too (as I use feedly myself) but… I am still ever debating 😛
It seems like people are happy that I added those buttons. Lots of people have favorite ways to follow, so it makes sense to offer options. 🙂
I’m glad your daughter had a fun trip. I followed your blog using the WP button and it worked easily. No problems.
Thanks for letting me know the button is working. I was hoping that changing that one setting wouldn’t mess anything up, but you never know!
Yay again for the new preorder campaigns! I love these so much! I’m glad your daughter had a good time!
There are so many fantastic ones right now, right? If only I could pre-order ALL the books…
great gifts you received. sounds like you had a great week. wishing the next one is too.
Thanks!!
Sounds like your daughter had a great trip! My nephew is currently on a mission trip in Haiti and we’re all a bit nervous since things aren’t exactly stable there right now. I’ve always followed you on Bloglovin so I’m good (lol) but I don’t think offering up other options can ever be a bad thing.
My youngest was adopted from Haiti, so I’ve been there a few times. We always said we wanted to go back someday with the whole family, but it’s definitely the type of trip that can be a little nervewracking because you never know what to expect there.
Ahh Costa Rica, this is so exciting, I’d be jealous as well, dreaming to see sloths someday ahah.
Congratulations on your edits, yay! <3 and I have followed through WP and the button seems to be working 🙂
I hope you'll have a wonderful week <3
Who doesn’t want to see sloths, right? Thanks for letting me know that the WP button is working!!
Not going to lie but I still play minecraft! I love it. It’s fun game to play even if sometimes the creepers scare me.
Your daughters trips sounds so awesome! Such a great experience and memory.
I hope you have a wonderful week, Nicole. Happy Reading and Editing! 🙂
Hey, more power to you! I’m fairly certain my kids will keep be playing video games as adults. I didn’t grow up with them, but I definitely see the appeal.
I also worry about adding to many things to my blog! I like for it to look/feel simple. I’m also jealous of your daughter’s trip to Costa Rica! It sounds amazing and I want to go now, haha.
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? ?
too* many 😉
Ha! You’re like me—can’t let a typo go. 🙂
I know–I want to give people options, but I always worry about cluttering things. IKt seems like there are some people who really appreciate having those follow options, though.
Very nice! Your daughter’s trip sounds amazing! Though I’d likely be too chicken because Costa Rica has me thinking snakes and I haaaate snakes! Lol. I’d love to do ziplining too, but then that has me thinking what if I get stuck somewhere and there’s a snake in the tree! So yeah…I’m a bit conflicted over that!
Nice new reads! I never got into Minecraft. Before I stuck to books and blogging, I was a fan of Sims a lot! Sims 2 was where I was at when I stopped and I keep seeing Sims 4 and thought, wow am I behind! I always remember finding the cheat codes to add more money to my person’s income so I could build a house and personalize it tot he max! Lol. Those were the days!
Happy Reading!
Here’s my StS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
My daughter did see a boa constrictor while she was there. And some very giant spiders—those would have freaked me out as much or more than the snakes! Love that you played Sims with cheat codes—my kids have definitely used a cheat code or two to get ahead in their games. LOL!
Zip lining is so much fun! I want to visit Costa Rica someday. And spider monkeys! So cute. Glad to hear you got through your first edits. Happy reading, Nicole! 🙂
The spider monkeys were cute and very mischievous. One tried to steal my daughter’s teacher’s phone! 🙂
Glad you go through the editing. Your daughter’s trip sounds like it was fantastic! I tend to use Bloglovin’, but it’s nice to have options 🙂
It seems like people appreciate having the options, so I guess it was a good choice. 🙂
Glad your daughter had a great time at Costa Rica!
Thanks!!
I’m glad your daughter had such a great time on her trip! That’s awesome. Yay for getting some editing done too.
-Lauren
Yes, it was a great week!
Congrats on the project. Glad your daughter had a fantastic trip. Looking forward to The Lemon Sisters.
Thanks! If you pre-order The Lemon Sisters, don’t forget to do the pre-order giveaway!
Wow! Costa Rica would’ve been great! I bet she had a lot of stories! You certainly have been busy!
She had a really fabulous time!!
I prefer following on WP, I’ve added you now.
I also offer multiple ways for people to follow, I think it’s a good thing.
Have a great reading week
I’m glad I added it because I’ve had several people say they prefer following that way. You’re right–no drawback to adding more ways to follow!
Congrats! And, I’m glad there is now a WP follow button. I prefer to follow that way as I find it hard to receive updates via email because I need to look for which one is important and which one is from the blogs I follow. And it is working fine.
Ah, good! I’m glad that I decided to offer that option then. There’s no real reason for me to make it harder on people to follow me or to “force” them to follow me in a certain way. I figured more options were better. 🙂
What an awesome experience for your daughter. Glad to hear she had a great time, and did some fun and daring things. What an adventurer. Honestly, I haven’t unfollowed any blogs in any way, but I only check them all via Feedly. I like the interface, and I don’t think you can ever offer enough options (especially with the way things change)
I’m trying to gather my absolute favorite blogs (and ONLY those blogs) in one place, and I’m thinking that might be Feedly. I used to be really organized with Bloglovin’ and have a folder for my favorites, but I just haven’t kept up the organization. (Surprise, surprise.) And, yeah, that’s what I was thinking about giving people options—why make it any harder than it needs to be for people to follow?
Your daughters holiday sounds amazing! Is she a bit of an adventurer? Ahh to be young again. If I had my time over, I’d probably holiday and explore a little more, especially if there were sloths involved. Congratulations on your edits! I’m not a writer but I can feel the pain of authors everywhere when it comes to the editing process, it seems so stressful so hope you’re taking lots of breaks and having time to wind down Nic. Take good care of yourself darling!
She is quite an adventurer! It’s a shame we don’t live somewhere more scenic. We live in a suburb of Chicago and there’s little to no nature to enjoy around here. So we have to take advantage of vacations when we can!
I followed through the button! It worked well. I don’t think the options are obnoxious at all. Though I may be following you twice now? I tend to add none WP blogs through their add a link option which doesn’t allow a bunch of things but lets me see you posted something in my feed.
Thanks for letting me know it’s working. I follow most blogs via Bloglovin’, but I feel like I’m always trying to figure out the best options for organizing, etc.
Your daughter’s trip sounds amazing! I had a few friends who did a similar trip in high school and it’s always been on my travel list. And yay for finishing your editing!
I can’t wait to see what you think of the Minecraft books. Both of my kiddos love that game and we’ve picked up a few different Minecraft books from the library that have been a hit. Could always use some more for his tbr. ?
I definitely want to visit Costa Rica myself someday now too—it sounds like it was a fabulous trip!!
Sounds like a great trip for your daughter! I’m happy she got to see so many cool animals. I really want to hold a sloth someday.
Don’t worry about all the follow buttons. It’s always good to give people more options instead of less.
That’s what I figured. When I looked at it afterward it seemed like a little much, but it seems like more options is better than less.