Tuesday, September 3, 2013

hello goodreads! hello elk!


Listening To: Old Pine by Ben Howard
Book Obsession: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. LOVED it. 

So I just got home from a roadtrip with The Rogue Accountant. At one point we were stalled, waiting for these slow-pokes to cross the road: 

Of course, my brother's reaction whenever a face-eating wild animal is in close proximity  is to roll down the window and say, “Take a picture.” 




Ever fearful for his safety, my response was, "Wait. I want one with my camera, too.” 




In the past few years, we've hit the road every summer. Quite honestly, I'm surprised he still asks me to go. Chase values solicitude and silence, especially while he’s enjoying the wild blue yonder. I, too, value nature, solicitude  and silence ... to an extent. But sometimes I get in Anne Shirley-mode and feel the need to chatter about everything. Everything. I don’t even know how I trail from one topic to the next. 

For example, at one point, while I was yammering my way down a myriad of verbal rabbit trails, I said: 

“Don’t you think it’d be fun of Rhianna and Drake got together?” 

And Chase was all, “WHAT ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT?!” 

*shrugs* I really have no clue. 


Now I'm home and getting excited about a fun post I get to write in the very near future. 

In the email abyss, and here in the comments, you’ve mentioned that you’d lurve to see the cover for A SNICKER OF MAGIC. I'm so excited about showing it to you. And I think we'll get to squeal over it together soon. 

My fabulous editor, Mallory (she's the lego-likeness who commandeered the sea vessel), is the boss of me when it comes to all things bookish and she hasn’t waved the checkered flag just yet for a cover reveal. But I found out today that I get to share the cover with you very, very soon. (I also found out galleys/ARC’s will be here VERY soon. Guh! :) 

If you’re down for fun clues, I think it’s okay to tell you this much: I was familiar with the illustrator’s work before I knew he'd be working on my cover. (Clue #2: He illustrated one of my favorite books, a book I’m pretty sure I’ve hocked on here a bunch.) I still can't believe he did my cover, too. I'm so excited.

In other news, I just realized today (thanks to Katie and Kara over on The Twitter!! :) that A SNICKER OF MAGIC is on Goodreads!  If you’d like to add it to your Goodreads stack, you can do that here. I rarely get on Goodreads (It's not always such an encouraging place for authors, know what I mean?), but I looked today. And it was so sweet to see SNICKER on a few shelves already. And to see the same names I see here in the comments :) Thank you so much for your excitement over the book. Thanks for being so awesome. If I could give you cupcakes, I would. Or maybe some flowers instead? 



One last thing about roadtrips: While we were traveling, Chase introduced me to Jason Isbell's album Southeastern. You guys ... the whole thing is spectacular. Download it, and then listen to it on the first day you feel fall in the air. You won't regret it. This song is my favorite: 



I would love to find some more new music. What are you listening to these days? 

7 comments:

  1. Well! I'm happy I could give you a sweet surprise today! Thanks for the shout out. :)

    I just discovered your book on Goodreads today myself and I had this huge grin on my face when I saw it! Now I can't wait to see the awesome cover. :D Seriously soooo excited for you, Natalie!

    I'm glad you had a wonderful trip. Roadtrips are glorious things! I have the greatest memories from all the ones I've taken. And yeah for brothers who like to travel with you! *waves hello to Chase* A friend and I were just reminiscing the other day about a long ago trip we'd taken. Oh goodness the things we did and talked about back then! Roadtrips and random convos go hand in hand.

    Hope the rest of your week is just as happy! :)

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  2. I can't wait to see the cover! And I was so excited to see it on Goodreads. :) I love Goodreads like most people love Facebook. Thanks to that website, my to-read list keeps growing no matter how many books I manage to read.

    My favorite new music find is Lauren Shera and her new album Gold and Rust. At first I wasn't so sure about it, but by the second listening I was hooked! It's available for free on Noisetrade here: http://noisetrade.com/laurenshera/lauren-shera-the-noisetrade-swatch .

    P.S. I got Eleanor and Park in the mail last week and I can't wait to read it, though I've got a few other things to finish first. I loved Attachments, and I've got her next book Fangirl preordered.

    ~Kristin

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  3. Oh yay, SO excited to see the cover! :) If all the things you've been pinning for Snicker of Magic are inspiration, I can only imagine it will be wonderful! Seriously. You pin the best things.

    Also: I get some of the best music through you. But one of my recent favorites is "The Pilgrim" album by Nate Currin. It's under new and noteworthy on Noisetrade and it's loosely based on Pilgrims Progress. I discovered it last Monday and I got to see Nate live in New Orleans on Thursday! SO good! Check out the album promo here:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cSWhuvAg29o

    I think I need to check out Goodreads.. been seeing lots of stuff about it lately - sell me on it? What are the benefits?



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  4. I am super excited about your book. I can't wait to read it!

    Music recommendations:
    - Ben Rector's new album, The Walking In Between (my favorite is "Wildfire")
    - Andrew Belle's new album, Black Bear (it took me a few listens to appreciate it, but now I LOVE it)
    - The Civil Wars new album (you probably already know about that one though. It is so good!)
    - Ben Howard in general (I love "Old Pine"!)

    Have you ever been on NoiseTrade.com? It's all free + legal, and is an awesome way to find new artists!

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  5. So is the cover on Goodreads a promo thing? Because I really appreciate anything that features ice cream. (: I am excited to read your book.

    Also, I need to check noisetrade! These are some interesting artists.

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  6. I am beyond excited for your book, and cannot wait to see the cover! *squeal of delight!*

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  7. Your cover is GORGEOUS!!! Also! I'm so glad you're a fan of Eleanor and Park. Have you read Attachments? It's an adult book by the same author, and I loved that one too.

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