C.P. Cabaniss's Blog, page 2

Writing Goals 2020

I’m not a person to set grand resolutions. I think that goals should morph and change over time and are something to be gradually achieved, not something to go into effect on an arbitrary date.

To that end, I do have goals, but these are more just things I hope to achieve throughout the year. If I don’t, that’s fine. If I do, fantastic! It’s all about progress and that doesn’t always mean getting things right.

Writing goals for 2020 (in no particular order):

Finish drafting my current project by the end of January (just finished the draft before writing this!)
Draft three novels – some world building has been done for all of these, I just have to bring it together and get a draft written.
Revise a previously drafted story. This is specifically for one that I wrote from 2017-2018 and rediscovered not that long ago. The creative spark is back where this story is concerned and I’m hoping to do a lot with it this year.
Write more short stories for WSS (Weekly Short Stories Contest and Company, a goodreads group).
Write 5k per week when drafting. This seemed impossible until I did NaNoWriMo in 2019. After keeping up a pace of 2k a day, 5k per week seems reasonable.

As I said, these are things that I am working toward and hoping to achieve. Accomplishing any of them will be a big win in my book.

Do you have any writing (or other) goals for 2020?

a weird reading habit

In the last few years, I’ve developed a strange reading habit, for lack of a better term. For some reason, I don’t like having books “carry over” from one year into the next. With the close of this year rapidly approaching, I’ve started to think about that habit a bit more and it seems a rather far fetched habit to maintain. Why does it matter if a book is started in December and finished in January?

Do you have any odd bookish or reading habits and routines?

December is typically a very bad time for my seasonal depression, so I’m going to try and not make it worse by imposing strange deadlines on myself. If I’m reading a book or two or ten when December makes the shift into January, so what? I don’t think the world is going to end because of when I finished a book.

Yallfest Tips 2019

2019 will mark my seventh Yallfest. The festival has changed a lot in the six years that I’ve attended, growing to include more authors, publishers, and attendees. Which is great, but can also be difficult to navigate, particularly for first time attendees who might not be familiar with the area.

I’m going to discuss some tips that I’ve compiled that will, hopefully, help you at the festival. These will be things that I’ve done (or wish I had done!). If you’ve been, I would also love to hear any tips that you might have. So let’s get to it.

Parking: If you aren’t staying at a hotel within walking distance of Blue Bicycle and the other venues (most of which are within a block or two), then familiarize yourself with where there are public parking garages/lots. And arrive early to be be sure you get parking.

Clothes: Check the weather! This is something I’m terrible about not doing, but it’s really important to check the weather before the event and dress accordingly. Sometimes it’s cold in the morning and warms up throughout the day, so wearing layers is a good idea. You don’t want to freeze in the morning or burn in the afternoon! And having some rain gear is always important, just in case. It’s only drizzled a little in the six years I’ve been, but you don’t want your books ruined because you aren’t prepared. Bringing ziplock or waterproof bags to protect your books is a good idea. And rain gear for yourself is a good idea too. But let’s be real, it’s the books we’re concerned about.

Food and Water: Be sure to bring snacks and water with you to eat throughout the day. I typically pack an easy lunch to eat on the go so that I can eat in line instead of taking a break for lunch. There are a lot of restaurants right there, so if a break is your thing there will be somewhere to eat, otherwise make sure you have something to keep your energy up. There are water fountains in a few of the buildings so you can refill bottles. And there are restrooms in several locations as well, so be sure to check the maps for those locations.

Books: Of course you need to bring your books for the signing! And if you aren’t sure about making it to a signing, bring your books anyway, if possible. I’ve missed out on having books signed because I thought the line would be too long for me to make that one with another I had planned, only to see it was very short and would have been easy to hop in at the end.

Sticky Notes: To make signing easier/faster for authors, books are marked with sticky notes at the title page. On the sticky you want to put your name (if you’re having it inscribed). They will have sticky notes for you, but having your own set isn’t a bad idea. I usually tag my books before the event, so I don’t have to worry about it while I’m in line.   Bring pens and pencils as well, so you don’t have to wait for a volunteer to bring one around to you. The pictures below show how to tag your books, if you’ve never done it. The pages of hardcovers should be tucked inside the flap, so that grabbing the sticky turns directly to the title page. And you want the sticky on the page facing the title page, so that it doesn’t have to be moved and take up time. For the paperback (the third picture), just have it on the page facing the title page.

 

Tote Bags: There are a lot of giveaways at Yallfest. Be sure to bring extra tote bags for all of the books and swag you collect throughout the day. If you’re parked close, it’s also a good idea to go and unload occasionally, if you’re collecting a lot. Sometimes totes are given away, so you can use those as well, but having a few extras is very helpful.

Anxiety/Nerves in Crowds: Always be mindful of your own reactions to large groups of people. Things get packed during giveaways/signings, so personal space isn’t always easy to get. So keep that in mind as you plan out what you want to do.

It’s for Young Adults: I’m twenty-eight years old, so not exactly the target audience for middlegrade and YA, but still an avid reader of both. Yallfest is great because it brings together people of all ages, but be mindful of the children and teens in the groups. This event is really for them, so keep that in mind when lines have to be cut short or there aren’t as many books being given away as you thought. It’s great that we all love these books, but at the end of the day, this is for the teens, not the adults.

Number of Books: Most signings allow three books per trip through the line. Bringing more isn’t a bad idea, if you have them, because the line might be short and you might end up being able to get extras signed, but keep the limit in mind when you get in line. We want others to be able to have books signed, too. Not just ourselves.

Arrive in Advance: If there is a signing I really want, I arrive three hours before it starts. Yes, seriously. I’ve done this for Brandon Sanderson, Maggie Stiefvater, Leigh Bardugo, Neal Shusterman, and the list goes on. They are my priority, so I want to make sure that I’m near the front of the line. Some of these lines got crazy long and the last people in line, who came when the signing was beginning, ended up unable to get their books signed. I don’t want to be in that situation. And if they don’t have a line started when you get there, ask if you can be the first in line.

Make a Schedule and Prioritize: You aren’t going to be able to do it all, unfortunately. If you’re in a group, then you can split up and accomplish more, but prioritizing is key. Make a schedule for the authors/ARCs/panels you really want to attend and then plan around those. You may end up being able to make something else as well, but prioritize the ones you want the most. And on your schedule, make sure to include the location so it’s easy to figure out where things are in relation to each other.

Make Friends and Connect: Talk to people in line! I’m not always great about this, but I have met some great people in lines. And they are super helpful if you need to jump out of line for a minute. Make sure to connect on social media so you can keep up for next year!

Check Social Media for ARC Drop Info: There are a lot of publishers (check out all of the sponsors on the website) and they usually have a bunch of giveaways. Most of them announce what books they are giving away and when, so be sure to check their social media accounts if you want to know what is dropping when. This will help in planning out that schedule!

Be Courteous: Remember to be nice to those around you. Everyone is there for the same reason: we love books! Most people are ok with hopping in and out of lines if you need to, but keep in mind that you shouldn’t have a single person hold a spot for ten people and then expect all of you to get your books signed or get the ARC that is dropping. This cuts down the chances for everyone behind you, who have been waiting for ages along with you.

Pictures: Most authors allow pictures to be taken, some can even pose with you, but not everyone will allow this. This is just something to keep in mind so you aren’t disappointed when the time comes. Also, try not to let your expectations run away from you. People aren’t always what we imagine them to be, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a bad experience. So keep in mind that your expectations might not be reality.

Have you attended Yallfest before? What tips would you give? I would love to know what experiences you’ve had! Let me know in the comments. Also let me know if you’ll be there this year and if you want to meet. I’m easiest to connect with on instagram, so give me a follow and/or send me a message if you want to connect while we’re in Charleston: @courtneysreads

 

 

The Fountains of Silence Review

“It’s easy to be fearless when you have nothing to lose.”

[image error]Ruta Sepetys has written another novel that sinks into you and won’t let go. This time the backdrop is Spain in the 1950s, after Francisco Franco has become dictator. The story weaves together the lives of some young Americans with some young Spaniards, and, as always, there are many lessons to be learned.

Sepetys has a skill like no one I have read before for finding and bringing light to obscure, hidden stories. And this is one of them. I don’t know a lot about the history of Spain, so getting glimpses through this was eye opening. And it makes me want to delve deeper into what life for these people was like.

“Silence has a voice of its own.”

How many stories are hidden because people are too afraid to speak? This story was fascinating, heartbreaking, and enlightening. As always, Sepetys has given me many things to consider and a lot of history to explore.

This story might be fiction, but it’s based on true events, which makes it come to life that much more. Everything that these characters felt has been felt by someone and now it’s being shared.

Read this story. Enjoy this story. And most of all, share this. When those who lived this are gone, how are we going to remember? We have to learn now, while we have a chance.

9/11 Reflections

I was ten years old when the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 took place. I remember being at home (I was homeschooled) when my older sister called my mom and said to turn on the news, that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. If I remember correctly, we were watching when the second plane hit. We saw, on live television, when the towers fell.

At ten, I don’t think I understood what was happening completely. But I do remember the looks on the faces of those around me, the subdued tone of voice, the pain radiating from my family. I can only imagine what it must have been for those there or their families.

This year, more than any other in the last eighteen years, I took time to reflect on what happened, to look up videos about those who died and those who survived. To read about the people aboard United 93, which crashed before it could reach its destination, due to those on board fighting back.

It’s heartbreaking to read through these stories, to hear the calls made by passengers to their families, telling them they loved them. To see pictures of men and women jumping from the highest floors of the towers, knowing there was no surviving the fall, but desperate to get out of the hell they were living in the building.

Too often, these events in history are forgotten. The bare facts may be in a textbook, or mentioned in the news, but there is so much left unsaid. And that can be dangerous. We need to remember the things we learned, what we felt, and we need to teach those things to those who can’t remember because they weren’t yet born.

It’s up to us to help the world become a better place, and that is not done by forgetting the events and moments that changed not only our lives, but the world.

 

Rilla of Ingleside Review

[image error]I spent the past couple of months listening to all of the Anne of Green Gables books on my commute. I read the first five books years ago and loved them, but never continued the series so decided to do this reread using audiobooks and finally finish the series.

I’m so glad I did!

Rilla of Ingleside, the final book in the series, focuses mainly on Anne’s youngest child Rilla. It’s set during World War One when Rilla is a teen. Through the course of the novel she grows from being a silly child into a beautiful young woman and the journey is both heartbreaking and beautiful.

This deals with the highs and lows of Canada during wartime and how the different people in the town reacted to the war. It was fascinating to read, particularly since L M Montgomery would have written this just after the war, maybe even during the war, so things are fresh and immediate. Some of this may have even been her own thoughts or those of her neighbors.

This is a fantastic novel about life and love and sacrifice and duty and worth and everything. It’s wonderful to see the life that Anne was able to create and the wonderful mother she was and the beautiful children that she had. The historical aspect of it is beautifully done.

Although this reads well as a conclusion to the series, I don’t think it’s entirely necessary to have read the previous novels as this can read well on its own.

I highly recommend this book and series. Beautiful writing and wonderful stories. I’m going to be trying more L M Montgomery books very soon.

summer

Summer has always created something vivid and alive in my imagination. It’s drive-in movies, driving with windows down, towels spread on the beach. It’s watermelon and ice cream and lazy days by the pool. It’s the sun not setting until late at night, riding bikes around neighborhoods and through woods, live music in the park.

My summers have never quite fit any of these descriptions, yet they persist in my mind, insistent that they are what defines this season.

Do particular images, sounds, or events come to your mind when you think of any season? What is summer to you?

Mansfield Park 1983

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I love watching miniseries, so when I saw that there was an adaptation of Mansfield Park, I knew I had to watch it. And I am not disappointed that I did.

Sylvestra Le Touzel made me fall in love with Fanny Price. I liked her from the book, but this portrayal of the quiet yet steadfast Fanny was perfect and made me appreciate her more than I think I would have otherwise. You could see the emotions in her face, hear them in her voice. Things didn’t need a lot of explanation because they were there in her features. It was brilliant.

The entire cast was well chosen. Lady Bertram, portrayed by Angela Pleasence, was so well done. And the Crawfords were wonderfully portrayed. It was easy to see why each actor was chosen for his or her role.

The series also followed the book almost exactly. The only major deviation was at the end, when things were wrapped up too quickly. The ending of the book was not perfect, but a book can get away with that where a screen adaptation can not.

The production quality is not the same as modern films, but it was still very well done. I wil likely watch this again in the future, I liked it so much. If you haven’t read Mansfield Park but like watching miniseries, this would be a good one to try. If you have read the book and haven’t watched this, I highly recommend it.

If you like miniseries, let me know your favorite ones. I am always looking for new ones to watch!

 

loss

I’ve been living a nightmare for three weeks.

It sounds a bit dramatic to say it like that, but it’s how I feel, so I have to be honest. On April 10 I lost one of my best friends, my beautiful horse Angel. I’ve had Angel for twelve years and expected to have her at least half a dozen more. She was still relatively young at twenty-one and in excellent shape. But horses are sensitive animals and sometimes they get sick and there isn’t anything you can do about it.

I’ve been living in a fog since that day, not quite able to get my footing. My sleep has been thrown off, my thoughts jumbled, and my body exhausted.

And then, only three weeks later, on May 2, another devastating blow has rocked me again. Another horse, this one only sixteen, became suddenly sick. After driving her two hours to the closest equine hospital and trying to save her life, we had to say goodbye. It was another freak accident, nothing that we could have done would have saved her, but that offers little comfort.

Horses are giant, sensitive animals. We’ve been lucky in our time as horse owners to have very few serious accidents or sicknesses, but it looks like our luck has run out. It feels like disaster is hanging over my head, ready to crush me at any moment.

I’m trying to be positive, but it’s a difficult task. Sometimes these things happen and there is nothing that can be done, but that doesn’t make it any easier to manage. I’m trying not to be too hard on myself, because I know this will take a long time to come back from. I’m not sure that I will ever completely be the person that I was, but I guess no one ever is after something like this.

I’m just trying to find my way to a new normal.

Falling Worlds Release

How is it April already? Time does not slow down, does it?

Anyway, this post is an exciting (and terrifying) one for me. It’s to tell you all that Falling Worlds, the sequel to my novella Worlds with Ruby,is now available for your purchasing and reading pleasure. You can buy the kindle ebook from any Amazon site. I will link a few of them at the bottom for easy access.

And for a limited time, Worlds with Ruby is FREE on Amazon. So pick it up while you can!

This is currently the last planned installment of these stories, though I can’t promise that I won’t revisit the world at some point in the future. If I can ever make it work, I may even adapt it into a full novel. We’ll see. For now, this is the end of the line for Ruby and her Ferris Wheel adventures.

Also, check out the neat cover my sister made for this. I kind of forced her into this with no experience working on cover art, so I’m excited to see what she comes up with next time I give her an assignment.

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And now for some links.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q37M78V

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q37M78V

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07Q37M78V

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07Q37M78V

Happy reading, my bookish friends!