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  • Tag: recap

    • Flipping Through the Pages: Spring Rewind 2015

      Posted at 7:45 am by Laura, on July 1, 2015

      thisseasonsrewind2015

      Instead of participating in the Monthly Rewind meme, every three months I’ll update the world on my life from the previous season. Enjoy the Seasonal Rewind!

      Through the Lens

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      11352245_933774799994555_5593992_n
      11379953_672428392889444_1524821349_n

      Meeting Jenny Han at her book launch party in Brooklyn for PS I Still Love You was definitely the perfect launch into BEA. Also, I’m featuring this food post because ohmygod it was delicious. I ate breakfast for lunch (during lunch hour, so it’s technically not brunch, right?) with my friend Evan and his girlfriend at Another Broken Egg. Not quite pictured: a pancake I also devoured. YUM. Finally, a photo that’s still getting a lot of attention on instagram: my summer reading list!

      Life Highlights

      In the last week of April, I met five spectacular authors. Jennifer Niven (All the Bright Places), Sharon Biggs Waller (A Mad, Wicked Folly), Trisha Leaver (The Secrets We Keep), Shannon Lee Alexander (Love and Other Unknown Variables), and Lisa Aldin (One of the Guys) came to the bookstore for signings.

      Now, it may not be in my personal life, but I’d definitely say the birth of HRH Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge ranked as a pretty good highlight. *waves English flag*

      At the end of May, I traveled back to Virginia to see Lindsey and she, Ashley, and I went to BEA! We met loads of bloggers, made contacts in the industry, and gathered several books. I’m so glad I finally got to experience BEA first hand, and I’m looking forward to Chicago next year. Lindsey and I capped off the trip by attending a beach concert and seeing Andy MacMahon (and it was on the date of our official friendiversary! May 30th was the day we first emailed each other about our guest blog posts (here and here)).

      In June I signed my first contract to have one of my authors publish a book! Be on the lookout for Tara Sim’s Timekeeper in Fall 2016!

      Tunes on Repeat

      Every time I hear Heartbeat Song by Kelly Clarkson I think of one of my friends rocking out in his car so hard it shook. Now we run around like crazy kids, hopping up and down during the chorus and belting out the lyrics.

      Better Than Words by One Direction, because ever since Lindsey showed me this video (1:30) I can’t help but crack up and squeal in a disgustingly tweeny fashion.

      Really, the entire Mumford & Sons album. I was concerned, but I should know by now to trust those men. I can still speed down the highway with their music.

      Signs by Brett Eldridge. Or, again, the entire album.

      Raised by a Good Time by Steven Lee Olsen has a story behind it, a connection to my agenting. One of my authors has a wonderfully tense and heartbreaking YA Southern fiction manuscript, and this song reminds me of the male protagonist…if he had a better upbringing, that is. It fits his “would have been” character so well.

      Bookmarked in the Community

      There was a lot I enjoyed these last few months, bookish and not so bookish…

      1. 2015 Bookish Trends @ Love at First Page — Danielle talks about cover design trends in 2015. I’ve also seen more drawn artwork/typeface, a la Fangirl, and I’ve really liked that too.
      2. “Time Travel To” Feature @ Alexa Loves Books, So Obsessed With, and Belle of the Literati — These three ladies decided to transport readers through time by showcasing some of their favorite books written in/about a certain historical time period, and sharing books they plan to read as well. Alexa covers romantic Regency England, Hannah the American Civil War, and Kelly the exciting Tudor England.
      3. Matching songs to books with #UKYADay: Taylor Swift Meets UKYA @ Pretty Books and Tunes & Tales: Four @ Alexa Loves Books — Stacey’s post focuses solely on Taylor Swift songs and which books they’d go well with, while Alexa’s post was inspired by One Direction’s news (*sobs*) and thus 1D songs.
      4. Why I Won’t Stop Taking Pictures of my ARCs @ Lily’s Book Blog — What an interesting read. I used to think, years ago, that the mark of a great blogger meant how many ARCs you received from publishers. And while that’s a great asset to have, that’s not what blogging is about.
      5. Tune in Tonight: Belle @ So Obsessed With — BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T KNOW THIS ALREADY, BELLE IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE EVER EVER EVER. And I died when I saw Hannah’s post.
      6. Four Bookish Blogs I’ve Added to My Reader Recently @ Perpetual Page-Turner — Jamie discusses blogging friendships coming and going, the community and culture, and features four blogs (Scribbles & Wanderlust included!) she’s added to her to-visit list.
      7. 5 Classics I Want to Read Before August 1 @ LvsBks — Ashley was inspired by the BEA trip to revitalize her blog, and what better way than to discuss classics she plans to reread or discover in the summer. What are your favorite classics?
      8. Let’s Discuss Little House @ So Obsessed With and Little House Lit @ Alexa Loves Books — If you haven’t caught on yet, Hannah and Alexa have the best discussion posts. Seriously. Plus, Little House is what my mother lives and breathes. I couldn’t hide from this discussion.
      9. The Status of All Things: It’s Complicated @ Rather Be Reading — Estelle makes some excellent observations about online identities becoming a brand, how sometimes your online identity prevents you from sharing other aspects of yourself, and how we rely so much on technology we forget about living in the moment with friends and family.

      Popular Posts on Scribbles

      1. The Accidental April Book Haul — April was nuts. Absolutely nuts. Not only did I have a billion ARCs to read, but I accidentally won galleys, received books from editors, purchased books with my tax return…It was quite a lot, and apparently worth sharing!
      2. Stepping Back for the Summer — As a result of April madness, I decided to step back and read all those backlist titles I own. Several of you are doing the same thing, either with book-buying bans, stepping back from ARCs, or just plain reading what’s already on your TBR shelves.
      3. First Book Expo America Experience — Instead of gushing about what I did, I wanted to share my expectations, the reality, and the small (compared to others) book haul I gathered from the event. First BEA = success!
      4. Book Review: The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan — I can definitely see why this was popular. The book’s publication was timed perfectly with the Duke and Duchess’s wedding anniversary and birth of Princess Charlotte. Also, come on, the book was awesome.

      Cherished Reads

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      Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee ★★★★★

      The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan ★★★★★

      Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anne Blankman ★★★★★

      A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas ★★★★★

      Cherished Quotes

      Maybe what matters is not so much the path as who walks beside you.
      –Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

      I wasn’t faerie, but I was part of this earth, and the earth was a part of me,
      and I’d be content to dance upon it for the rest of my life.

      –A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas

      Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?
      —Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

      Don’t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.
      –A Court of Thorns and Roses by SJ Maas

      Progress Update on Reading Challenges

      Library Books: 6 / 10
      Odditorium || The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency || Emma
      Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
       || The Girl With the Glass Bird
      Murder is Bad Manners

      #ReRead2015: 3 / 10
      Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire || Fangirl
      Anna and the French Kiss

      Overall Challenge: 42 / 50

      Random Obsessions

      On TV: Gilmore Girls — WHY DIDN’T I WATCH THIS WHEN IT AIRED. I mean, really. If I were to leave a note to my YA self, I’d tell her to listen to Audrey and Mrs. A and watch Gilmore Girls. And I’m in that lovely middle age between Rory and Lorelai that I can appreciate all ends of the drama and love and laughter. As I’m typing this, I’m in the first third of the 6th season, so no spoilers! (Feel free to follow #LauraWatchesGG.)

      On Film: Far From the Madding Crowd was amazing. It’s hard to adapt Thomas Hardy novels, and this movie nailed it. Perfect score, brilliant cinematography, stunning costumes, and fantastic acting. I knew Carey Mulligan would be wonderful (I’ve got such a girl crush on her), but toss in those British men and wow Matthias Schoenaerts and I was a goner. Where’s my Gabriel Oak? Seriously. Let’s cover some hay stacks together.

      In the Shopping Bag: *snort* Nothing. I have to avoid my usual haunts (ModCloth, Book Depository, BookOutlet, Abe Books, Target, Etsy) because I’m on an everything-except-necessities-buying ban.

      Miscellaneous: Adagio’s Harry Potter Tea. Guys, this is amazing. Stina is amazing. She showed up to the Jennifer Niven event with a bag filled with different kinds of tea (including a chocolate tea!) and I’m still excited about it. They’re delicious, distinct flavors, and they come in really neat tins that I fully plan on keeping.

      Looking Towards the Future

      There’s really only one massive event for July through September, and that’s my childhood friend Amanda’s wedding. Apart from that, there are some neat events going on at my B&N, including an Outlander Day and Harry Potter Day. September is also the kick-off for the Indianapolis Children’s Choir’s 30th Anniversary season, and as VP of the Alumni Association I have to help coordinate some alumni events surrounding that.

      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! 

      Posted in books, This Season's Rewind, Update Post | 6 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind
    • Flipping Through the Pages: Winter Rewind 2015

      Posted at 7:15 am by Laura, on April 4, 2015

      thisseasonsrewind2015

      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

      flower
      jneseymour
      waterfall

      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

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      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! 

      Posted in books, This Season's Rewind, Update Post | 0 Comments | Tagged books, personal, recap, rewind, this season's rewind
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    • Hello, I’m Laura!

      I'm a bookish bookworm and book hoarder. By day I'm a literary agent, and by night I'm forever rearranging my bookshelves. I could talk your ear off about Gothic literature, and in my past life people thought I'd become a professional musician. I have a fluffy black cat named Rossetti, I love to knit, tea is my drink of choice, British TV is the best, and I'm obsessed with popcorn. Welcome to Scribbles & Wanderlust! Grab your favorite hot beverage and let's chat books!
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