As my blog gets more and more hits from writers researching agents and what they’re looking for, I thought that I could connect to the blogging community and writing community better by participating in the Monthly Rewind meme (for fantastic examples, check out Jamie, Hannah, and Lindsey’s blogs). It gives a better idea of who I am, what I’m doing, and what I’m reading and enjoying outside of book reviews and #mswl tags on Twitter. Unfortunately, I do not have the time (or dedication) to do one every month, so I decided to do a Seasonal Rewind!

Through the Lens

My childhood friend Amanda is getting married in July, and I went over to her place to help make hundreds of paper flowers. The one pictured is the flower I have to create by the wedding — and it takes about an hour to make just one!

The B&N I work for has a partnership with a retirement community that has connections to celebrity tours. This was my way to meet Jane Seymour (yes, Dr. Quinn!). She’s lovely, and seems genuine and down-to-earth. I had a blast that day working the event with her.

I went to Virginia and, among many things, I visited Shenandoah Valley. Pictured is one of the falls on the trail I hiked. The trees may not have been green and leafy, but this view was completely worth it.

Life Highlights

Jane Seymour! Of course. How could I include that photo and not say it was a life highlight? In March I celebrated my quarter-century birthday! Finally reached the age everyone thought I was three years ago. Also, when I said I went to Virginia, it’s because I visited Lindsey! This was definitely a highlight in my personal life and blogging life. Lindsey and I “met” through a TTT post, and later admitted to owning multiple copies of Jane Eyre as well. Soon we discovered we were basically the same person (except for our different preferences in dinosaurs…(another topic of conversation)) and now we text, tweet, and instagram one another every single day. I mentioned something about having a gorgeous dress with nowhere to wear it, she said “let’s go to an opera!” and I said “okay!” and BOOM! La Traviata, Shenandoah, and Williamsburg two months later. I highly recommend visiting people you meet in this community!

Tunes on Repeat

Hozier’s “Like Real People Do” gets me every time. I stop what I’m doing and listen.

Ed Sheeran and John Mayer performing Ed’s “Thinking Out Loud” at the Grammys. I love Ed. I love John. I love this song. I love them together.

Mikky Ekko’s “U” is one of the B&N in-store plays, and just about the only one I actually enjoy listening to (after She & Him, of course. Gosh, I love them).

Bookmarked in the Community

1. #DOTFreadalong Group Review @ Bring My Books — Several of us got together in February to read Daughter of the Forest and do a group review together. Check out the results!
2. Dive into Diversity: Religion in YA Books @ Rather Be Reading — This is a topic I find I need to talk to readers about more and more. The community where my B&N is located is a predominately white + Christian + wealthy community, and yet there’s not a whole lot of religion-bent books for YA and MG readers, Christian or otherwise. Something to chew on.
3. #BookWorldProblems @ So Obsessed With — Um, Britney gifs. Win. Really, all of Hannah’s posts pertaining to organization and creativity, too, make my heart flutter.
4. On the Acquisition of Books @ Alexa Loves Books — Alexa is working on the Picky Pledge, wherein you examine your shelves and purge the books you haven’t read and are certain you’ll never get around to reading. You become pickier about the ARCs you request, and take the time to appreciate the books you do have. In this post, she examines her life before and after blogging. It’s quite eye-opening.

Popular Posts on Scribbles

1. TTT: All Time Favorite Books — This was incredibly fun to write, even though it was difficult to narrow down. It was extra exciting to see the response from other bloggers, readers, and authors (thanks, authors, for reaching out!).
2. Book Review: Geek Girl by Holly Smale — I’m so happy to see this on here! Geek Girl is fantastic and hilarious and I’m beyond thrilled it’s here in the US.
3. TTT: Haven’t Read These YA Fantasy Books — Sorry, y’all, still no progress on this. Although, Morgan did send me a copy of Cinder, so we’ll see!
4. Finding Yourself in YA Contemporary — I broke out of my usual blogging mode and decided to write a post on contemporary realistic YA. The response to this was overwhelming, and I’m so glad you enjoyed reading it! Have you had a connection to a particular genre? Have you thought about why that is?

Cherished Reads

The Start of Me & You by Emery Lord ★★★★★

The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski ★★★★

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier ★★★★★

At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen ★★★★★

Cherished Quotes

Perhaps he could still weave together the broken threads of his life.
And yet, I wanted him here now. I needed him here. In the darkness,
if I sat very still, I could almost feel his presence by me, quite near,
but not too near. Didn’t I promise to keep you safe, he would say softly.
I have never broken a promise. Don’t look so worried, Jenny. And yet,
he would be careful. Careful not to move too close. Careful not to frighten me.
Waiting still. I am your shelter. Don’t be afraid.
—Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier

Progress Update on Reading Challenges

Library Books: 2 / 10
Odditorium || The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency

#ReRead2015: 2 / 10
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire || Fangirl

Overall Challenge: 19 / 50

Random Obsessions

On TV: Bletchley Circle — OHMAHGAWD I love this. Usually that’s guaranteed for BBC productions, but this one in particular is fascinating. The same brains as Sherlock (thinking outside the box, using all available evidence to come to daring conclusions), historical (post-WWII), all-female powerhouse cast…perfect.

On Film: Imitation Game — My love for this comes from more than Benedict Cumberbatch, Allen Leech, Matthew Goode, and Keira Knightley…but they’re a huge reason why I loved the movie so much. Only brilliant acting can get this complex story across. What is human, what is machine? What is natural, what is obscene? Whom can you trust?

In the Shopping Bag: ModCloth floral tunics. Really, anything ModCloth + floral. I can scroll that site for days.

Miscellaneous: I’ve found I need to rely more and more on my old college study habits while I’m agenting: background noise. Not music, because I’ll sing along or go into my musician mode and analyze it. Not movies or TV shows, because the words will conflict with my reading. So I go straight to sound websites meant for peace and  productivity, like Noisli and Coffitivity. Lifesavers, folks. I can’t even begin to tell you how focused I’ve become with these sites!

Looking Towards the Future

The end of April and all of May will be packed with exciting events. First is the Jennifer Niven book-signing at my store. I’ve been looking forward to this since January, so you can bet I’m thrilled for this! Next up is a visit to Chicago and Milwaukee for the WD’s Writing Workshops. I’ll be there representing my agency and chatting with writers about their books! Later in May I’ll be back in NYC for Book Expo America! This would be my first time at BEA, and I’m looking forward to meeting other bloggers, authors, and chatting with editors. My whole life surrounds meeting people online and speaking to them over the phone, so it’ll be nice to put faces and text and voices together into living, breathing beings! (Follow me on Twitter and Instagram so we can plan a meet-up.) Last, but not least, just curling up with a good read and telling y’all about it.

What have you been up to this season / this month? Any new obsessions or good reads or great music? Share some of your favorites here, and let me know if I should check out any great blog posts!