Sunday, November 4, 2018

The Sunday Post [3]

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer! It's an opportunity to share news, post a recap for the previous week, showcase books, and highlight your plans for the week ahead.

News:

I went to The Origin Event this weekend! It was my first bookish event since BEA 2012, so it had been awhile. Definitely before having kids! When Jennifer L. Armentrout tweeted about the event, I mentioned it to my husband. A few minutes later my email dinged with a notification. My amazing, thoughtful husband had bought a ticket for me! That was last December, so I had to wait awhile before actually attending the event. 

A few of the authors I met: Brigid Kemmerer, C.C. Hunter, C.J. Redwine, Colleen Hoover, Colleen Houck, Cora Carmack, Jay Crownover, Katie McGarry, Kimberly Derting, Kristen Simmons, Sarah MacLean, Simone Elkeles, Sophie Jordan, Victoria Scott, and Jennifer L. Armentrout. There were a ton of other authors, but I could only fit so many books into my backpack! I was able to get a few extra things signed, so I'll be doing a giveaway soon.

Other authors at the event: Amalie Howard, Amy Briggs, Amy Marie, Andrea Joan, Anne Malcom, Beth Ehemann, Daryl Banner, Elizabeth Briggs, Elle Christensen, Ellis Leigh, Emily Rose, J. Kenner, Karina Halle, Kim Jones, Laura Kaye, Laura Kamoie, Laurelin Paige, Lexi Blake, Mary Lindsey, Marissa Clarke, Mary Ting, M. Clarke, Molly McAdams, Shayla Black, Tammara Webber, Tijan, Wendy Higgins

This was my second time meeting JLA, and she's one of the sweetest people I've ever met. She's always smiling, despite signing books for hours and hours without a break. I was one of the last people through her line, and she still greeted me warmly and was willing to listen to me gush about her books and my kids. (I always manage to squeeze them into conversations, haha!) I haven't had a chance to read The Darkest Star yet, but I'm really looking forward to it! 

I was able to tell Cora Carmack how I felt about the ending of Roar in person! We wait the entire book for Aurora to spill her secrets, and the book ends as soon as she's about to -- aargh! (It was a frustrating ending, but not a massive cliffhanger.) Cora just laughed and shrugged her shoulders. We spoke for a few minutes about the rest of her book (she's lovely), and I'm really looking forward to the next one!

At Cora's table, they were asking people about voting. I love that she was able to talk about books, take pictures, and also remind people that they have a voice and that it matters.

After meeting all of the authors that didn't require a ticket, I foolishly chose to walk thirty minutes for vegan tacos. However, they were vegan tacos. How could I not? I wasn't wearing sensible shoes, so my feet are paying the price today. I have one massive blister on the bottom of my left foot, and I hobble when I walk. 

If the tacos were amazing, the cupcakes were better...

There was some sort of cream filling inside (also vegan), and it was delicious. I had a mimosa to top everything off, and I regret nothing!

I really enjoyed speaking with Simone Elkeles and Katie McGarry! Katie remembered me from a previous event, and we discussed life with twins. Simone was vibrant and cheery! They seemed genuinely happy to be there, and I loved my conversations with them. It's always so surreal when you can talk about a book with the author! And we didn't just talk about books, but life and what's happening in the world. Ahh -- I love bookish events!

Previous Week on the Blog:

Monday: Nothing!
Tuesday: Are You Scared, Darth Vader? by Adam Rex [Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆
Wednesday: DNF&Y [10]
Friday: Dream Keeper (The Dark Dreamer Trilogy, #1) by Amber R. Duell [Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway] ⋆⋆⋆⋆
Saturday: Nothing!

What I'm Currently Reading:

Not much has changed from last week! I started Illusions this morning, but haven't gotten very far into it. We'll see how it goes! I'm enjoying Strange the Dreamer now that they've traveled to Weep/The Unseen City. The pacing has picked up, and I feel like we're finally getting answers. Jacob and I are still co-reading Artemis Fowl to our son -- loving it!


What I Plan on Reading Next:

These are the same two books from last week, but I haven't had a chance to get to them yet! Hopefully this week will be a better reading week for me.

I also plan on listening to a Jay Crownover audiobook in the near future, because the author herself said they were amazing (she likes to listen to the audio for her books to make sure everything is being pronounced correctly). I had to admit to Jay that I'd never read one of her books, but that everyone was talking about her at the event. They were raving about her books and just how awesome she was in general. When I told her I hadn't read one of her books, but received a copy of one in my tote bag, she laughed and suggested which books to start with. 

We talked about some of our favorite authors, Christina Lauren being one we had in common, and I look forward to experiencing Jay Crownover's stories. If they are anything like their author, I'm sure they'll be bold and fantastic!


What I'm Watching:

I watched the Sense8 finale and it was amazing! I was really upset when they cancelled the show after two seasons, because it was the story was original and the characters were relatable. The show touches on a lot of issues that I think people are struggling with today, and I highly recommend this one if you haven't seen it!

We're still working our way through S3 of Daredevil. Matt loves to torture himself, and I'm curious how dark this season is going to get. The Good Place just got interesting... I had no idea Adam Scott was in this! I think I prefer his Parks & Recreation character, but this is still new. I've never watched Will & Grace before, but I just started the newest season. I think I might go back and start at the very beginning!


Challenge Updates:

Goodreads: 372 / 250
Ho Ho Ho Readathon: starts November 9th!

If you want to participate in the HoHoHo Readathon, it's not too late to sign up! 

40 comments:

  1. Oh I'm jealous, that's so great for you to meet all these authors! Happy reading and have a lovely week!

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    1. I really enjoyed talking with the authors, even though it was only for a few minutes. Some of them really care about people, and it shows when you talk to them. <3

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  2. Oh how sweet of the hubby. I'm glad you had fun. Good to know on the author and politics. I hate that so adding her to my never again list. Ah well.

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    1. It was a blast! I don't think encouraging people to vote should be seen as a negative. Everyone has a right to express their views and beliefs, and we should be accepting of other opinions. Her political preferences do not impact how I feel about her or her books. I'm sorry you don't like it when someone shares their political views, but politics and democracy are important. It's how change happens. You're only hurting yourself by excluding people with beliefs that are different than yours, or choosing to distance yourself from it entirely.

      In my unedited version of this post, which I published before I meant to, I mentioned BETO stickers specifically. I also said that I snagged them for me and my husband, so does that mean you no longer want to read this blog? Because I took a sticker from her table, spoke to others about voting, and potentially have a different political view than you? I really like visiting your blog and getting updates about your cats. I think you offer a unique perspective in your reviews, and it's always nice to stop by.

      I'm sorry if this somehow impacts that, but it's sad that you would essentially boycott someone's books just because they spoke about politics or had a different opinion. We all have different opinions, especially on books, yet we still come together over a love of reading. Voting and talking about politics brings us together to improve the world. We should all want to work together, regardless of our individual feelings, to make a better tomorrow for our children.

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  3. Getting you a ticket to this event was so super sweet of your husband, and you met so many amazing authors. I am glad you had a good time!

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    1. I always mention different events to him, so I didn't expect this one to be any different. It's usually just conversation! However, this time he decided to make it a reality and not just words. I married my best friend, and I love that he still does sweet and unexpected things for me. He built a bookshelf for me when we were dating, and we still use it today! We actually met at a bookstore, too. Love at first book. <3

      There were so many people to meet! I just wish I could have brought more books with me. I think I would need a wagon or wheelbarrow. ;)

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  4. Ooh what a cool event. Quite the author list too! Glad you got to meet so many.

    I... have never had a vegan taco. But since going vegetarian they ma be in my future haha.

    Kill the Queen might be calling to me...

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    1. It was a blast! Most of the authors were familiar, and it was surreal being in the same room with so many. It was so hard choosing which books to bring, and which lines to wait in.

      Vegan tacos are so good! Have you cut anything out of your diet yet? I think we've talked about this before. We started by cutting out steaks, chicken, and pork. Then we cut out seafood and later dairy. It was a process!

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    2. I have cut out all meat except fish at this point. No more burgers for me grr). I'm trying to eat a lot more vegetables, fish a few times a week, and I still eat cheese too. I'm a big fan of meat in chili so I need to find a way to make chili without it that I'll like, and there's a few other adjustments like that I gotta make, but overall? It hasn't been bad! Oh and I'll probably have a little turkey on Thanksgiving haha, but for me Thanksgiving is practically about the side dishes anyway (give me ALL the stuffing and gravy)!

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    3. There are so many meat substitutes these days! We actually had chili last week. I'm glad you're transition hasn't been too terrible! I would suggest Daiya for cheese substitutes. Silk for milk. Let's see... Tofutti for sour cream and cream cheese.

      The sides for Thanksgiving are ALWAYS the best! Sweet potatoes with marshmallows? Yum!

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  5. I'm so envious, it sounds like an amazing event with a great line-up of authors. The cupcake looks oh so yummy, too bad about your hurting feet. Enjoy all your upcoming reads and have a lovely week ahead.

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    1. It was an amazing event! The author list kept changing, so I was still Googling the event the night before. I didn't want to bring books that couldn't be signed! My backpack was already insanely heavy.

      I'm going to have dreams about that cupcake...

      My blister is better! My calves are a little sore, but everything was worth the effort! :)

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  6. What a fun event. That's so cool that a ton of different authors were there!! :) Mmm...that cupcake looks good.

    -lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. There were so many amazing authors there! Suzanne Young was originally supposed to go, but ended up not being there. I was really looking forward to getting one of her books signed!

      I don't think I've ever had a better cupcake! <3

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  7. Oh my gosh!! What an awesome hubby!! <3

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  8. It sounds like this was a fantastic event. It would probably be worth it for the cupcake alone :) What a great hubby for surprising you with a ticket!

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    1. I really think I'll drive back to Austin just for the cupcakes! There are vegan restaurants where we live, but Austin has a lot of vegan bakeries! Mmm. <3

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  9. Quote: "It was my first bookish event since BEA 2012, so it had been awhile."
    And I assume no one bit you this time? 😉

    Quote: "When Jennifer L. Armentrout tweeted about the event, I mentioned it to my husband. A few minutes later my email dinged with a notification. My amazing, thoughtful husband had bought a ticket for me! That was last December, so I had to wait awhile before actually attending the event."
    Can I just kidnap your hubby for a day or two? And wow, almost a year before? That's crazy. Glad you had a great time though! You deserved it, after 6 whole years.

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    1. Hahah! No, I wasn't bitten at this event! Everyone was really nice and the lines weren't very long. I don't think anyone had a reason to be bitey. ;)

      You want to kidnap my husband?? How would you get him overseas undetected? Yes! They announced this event in December of 2017, but it wasn't until this month. Nearly a year! Six years... I feel so ancient. <3

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  10. Wow, so many great authors at that event! Amazing! And that's awesome that your husband got you the ticket!

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    1. I didn't know a few of the authors, but I plan on reading their books in the future. I just have to make room on my TBR. ;)

      My husband is always thinking of me. We fight just like everyone else, but at the end of the day we're still best friends. <3

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  11. Yay that you were able to go and thanks so much for sharing pics! One day I will be able to go to events more. ;)
    You are going to love Kill the Queen, it was soo good!

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    1. I took a few other pictures, but I didn't want to overload the post! I really love going to bookish events, but after having kids I never had the time. I didn't want to go to BEA and be away from them for a week or two. I start to miss them too much!

      I'm really excited about Kill the Queen! I cannot wait to start it! <3

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  12. Looks like you had a good time and the cupcake looks great.

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    1. Both the cupcake and the event were worth totally worth it! :)

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  13. Aw, that was so sweet of your husband!!

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    1. He's a truly remarkable person! I don't know where I would be in life without him.

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  14. I love seeing book event photos and hearing about the authors. 📚

    Vegan food! That cupcake looks delicious. 🍮 I try to be vegan as much as possible. I'm down to just a plop of half and half in my coffee every morning and we buy our eggs from a local guy whose flock of chickens are like his pets. I do still eat fish a few times a month, though. The pescetarian slant to my diet has been hard to stop. 🍳

    I hope your week started off on a high note. 🌞

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    1. It's so fun going to events, but I also love reading about other people going to events! It's like I get to live vicariously through them for a few minutes.

      The cupcake was life-changing. <3 Have you tried Silk's original soy creamer? I've tried a few replacements, and it's by far my favorite! We don't eat eggs because their still part of an animal, but it's nice that you get them from someone that treats their chickens like family. It's better than what most farms do. Fish was one of the last things we stopped eating when we made the transition. I grew up on fried catfish and crawfish. We gave up seafood before dairy though -- I think that one was the hardest.

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  15. Awwwww your hubby is the sweetest. Glad you had a good time :)

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    1. Thanks! Jacob is pretty spectacular! I'm lucky to have him in my life. <3

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  16. That was so sweet of your husband! Sounds like you had a great time. I read Strange the Dreamer as an audibook, and the narrator Steve West is my favorite and I highly recommend giving it a listen.

    Thanks for sharing,
    ~Brittany @ Brittany's Book Rambles

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    1. I adore Steve West! He sounds a lot like Shane East. Have you listened to Royally Screwed by Emma Chase? Delicious! I've been listening to the audiobook for Strange the Dreamer, but it isn't really working for me. I love the voices, but the story is slow and I feel like I've been listening to it for months. The information is interesting, but it takes forever to get from one thing to the next.

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  17. Replies
    1. Right? It wasn't anything like BEA or ALA, but I had a really good time! People brought their own books to be signed, but you could buy new copies from the B&N they had on site. I brought a lot of old, battered copies to be signed! They were books I've read more that once (for the most part), but I did buy a new copy of The Darkest Star. :)

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  18. Yay! I’m so excited that you shared pics from the Origin event... and thrilled that you had such a good time! JLA is the best. 💜And Cora... love her. I so want to go on a road trip with her and Jay Crownover. LOL Colleen - my love for her is endless. Katie McGarry - I honestly feel such a connection with her. Like we could be friends. And Molly McAdams is super sweet. Tammara Webber is one I have not met yet but would love to! And Brigid Kemmerer - I so need to talk to her about Rev. She created a masterpiece with that character! Big, big gold star to your husband for buying you a ticket to the event! :)

    I’ve never actually *read* one of Jay Crownover’s books but I’ve listened to the entire Marked Men series on audio. Some even more than once. Almost all the narrators are excellent (with one or two exceptions).

    I’m seeing Kill the Queen everywhere. I’m intrigued by the synopsis (and love that cover) so I’ll be interested to see what you think of it.

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    1. It was so much fun, Tanya! Love JLA and now Cora, too! I briefly met Jay Crownover, but I definitely want to listen to some of her audiobooks. I'll start with the Marked Men series you mentioned, because something has to be wonderful to read it more than once!

      Me too! I feel so connected to Katie. It's like she writes books that I can personally relate to, and just talking with her... she's amazing. We should all be best friends! ;)

      I don't know Rev... which book are they in? I had a copy of Letters to the Lost that I brought with me to the event, and I'm really looking forward to A Curse so Dark and Lonely!

      My husband is awesome! <3 I'm hopefully started Kill the Queen soon, but might have to wait until after the HoHoHo Readathon.

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    2. Rev was a secondary character in Kemmerer’s Letters to the Lost. And then a main character in More Than We Can Tell. He’s one of my favorite fictional characters ever. <3

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    3. I guess that means I need to read my copy of Letters to the Lost! I really want to meet Rev! <3

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