April Showers Bring May Flowers... And Books. LOTS Of Books!!!


How is it already May? Seriously, how??? 
April isn't even the shortest month of the year! I feel like all I have to do is blink anymore and time starts flying by at the speed of light.

April was pretty packed for me. (And I know, I know...I still owe quite a few email responses! I'm so behind on life atm!)

For one thing, Fairy Tale Fortnight!!! 
Yesterday, I did a wrap-up post, so make sure you check that out because I'm not going to re-post all the features/etc. today.

http://abackwardsstory.blogspot.com/2015/02/5th-annual-fairy-tale-fortnight.html

Not only that, but BOOK SIGNINGS!!!

This past month has been so amazing for books!

For one thing, I got to meet my childhood hero, Gail Carson Levine:



There are no words for how incredible and heartfelt and emotional this evening was for me. I ADORE Gail Carson Levine. I've read practically all of her books 

(And even dragged most of them along to the signing with me:) 


I brought my own battered copy of ELLA ENCHANTED and bought two new copies, one for my almost year-and-a-half-year-old-niece (I hope she'll be a reader!), and one for my friend's four-year-old daughter, who couldn't be there. ELLA ENCHANTED is my favorite kids book EVER and has to be shared with a new generation. It was amazing of Gail Carson Levine to sign them all. I wasn't sure! And SHE was happy I had her favorite book DAVE AT NIGHT, which isn't one of her well-known titles. My heart was so full that night!!!

In addition to Gail Carson Levine, I also got to meet Maria V. Snyder for the second time and add a signed copy of SHADOW STUDY to my collection AND I was lucky enough to meet Neal Shusterman touring for his brand-new, critically-acclaimed novel CHALLENGER DEEP. Like I said, it has been an AMAZING month!!!

Can May top it? 
Ummm, YES!!! I get to go to Sarah J. Maas' book launch for A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES (Which is AMAZING) this coming Tuesday, and then it's time to bring on BEA!!!

Not much else happened in April. I took a mini-break after Fairy Tale Fortnight and didn't post consistently to catch up on everything I neglected during FTF. Heck, I'm still catching my breath!! 

Ummm, MUSIC. 
I'm still loving "Heroes (We Could Be)" by Alesso ft. Tove Lo thanks to exposure due to a cover from Christina Grimmie, and like listening to both versions. This month, I discovered and became obsessed with "Fight Song" by Rachel Platten. I also fell in love with Melanie Martinez all over again thanks to "Dollhouse" and "Carousel." Right now, I really like "Picking Up the Pieces" by Paloma Faith, too. It isn't often that I discover new music...and I've found a lot of good stuff all at once!

OH, and MOVIES!!! 
I did get to go out this past week with friends to the Thursday night launch of The Avengers, which was AWESOME.

Here's a preview of an upcoming Mad About Nails to celebrate!
 
May is going to be interesting! Once I finish up with these last few required blog tour books, I'm on a READING BAN!!! No reading until BEA!!! I want to concentrate on writing for a while, and it's hard to begin developing a new idea when someone else's characters are living in your head. But don't worry!! I have reviews banked for you! ^.~

I guess that's everything that's been going on lately. 

Here's a look at everything that happened in April...except, of course, for anything Fairy Tale Related! For my event wrap-up, go here!
 

ONGOING GIVEAWAYS:

*None right now BUT check back in May!!!

Check out the May Blog Tour Schedule for more upcoming giveaways!
MAY BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE
(Most blog tour stops feature giveaways as well!)


*HALFWAY PERFECT by Julie Cross and Mark Perini {5/4 Spotlight}
*CHANTRESS FURY by Amy Butler Greenfield {5/5 Review} 
*FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCESS by Meg Cabot {5/11 Spotlight}
 
READING NOW:
{All links to Goodreads!}

*CHANTRESS by Amy Butler Greenfield {YA}
*INVASION OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen {Adult}
*THE BONE CLOCKS by David Mitchell {Adult}

PLANNING TO READ IN MAY: 
*CHANTRESS ALCHEMY by Amy Butler Greenfield
*CHANTRESS FURY by Amy Butler Greenfield
*HAFWAY PERFECT by Julie Cross and Mark Perini

 ....that's it. And yes, that small list is KILLING ME because I just got some ARCs and purchased a couple of books that I REALLY, REALLY want to read!!!
 
 
[link to my GoodReads account so you can see my blurb feed as I read]
READ IN APRIL:
{All links to Goodreads!}

TOTAL: 8 Books (And 1 novella...slow month, I know!)

*CRIMSON BOUND by Rosamund Hodge {YA}
*MORE THAN MUSIC by Elizabeth Briggs {Adult}
*MORE THAN EXES by Elizabeth Briggs {Adult}
*AIMEE AND THE HEARTTHROB by Ophelia London {YA}
*THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND by Kasie West {YA}
*WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER by Rae Carson {YA}
*AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir {YA}
*THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen {Adult} [Re-Read]
*THE ROYAL WE by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan {Adult}
REVIEWED IN APRIL:
{All links to my review!}


***I WILL list the stuff I reviewed during FTF for just in case you missed the wrap-up because some of them are brand-new titles or older ones that need more love!! BUT I'll make a marker at the bottom for if you want to skip it, okay? ^.~***
 
*THE CURSE GIRL by Kate Avery Ellison {YA}
*An in-depth look at Disney's new live-action movie "Cinderella," in theaters now! {Movie}
*CINDER AND ELLA by Kelly Oram {YA}
*An in-depth look at the movie/musical "Into the Woods," now on DVD and Blu-Ray! {Movie}
*THE SUMMER OF CHASING MERMAIDS by Sarah Ockler {YA}
*{ICYMI} Happy Easter! Celebrate with William Joyce's E. Aster Bunnymund!
*STITCHING SNOW by R.C. Lewis {YA}
*UPROOTED by Naomi Novik {Adult}
*{Vlog} Fairy Tale Games to Play with Friends {Board Games}
*{Vlog} ONCE UPON A CLOUD by Claire Keane {Picture Book}
*{ICYMI} CIRCLE OF CRANES by Annette LeBox
*{Vlog} ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Down the Rabbit Hole by Lewis Carroll, as told by Joe Rhatigan and Charles Nurnberg, with illustrations by Eric Puybaret {Picture Book}
*{Vlog} BEAUTY AND THE BEAST by Ursula Jones, with illustrations by Sarah Gibb {Picture Book}
*{Vlog} THE LITTLE MERMAID by Hans Christian Andersen, with illustrations by Charles Santore {Picture Book}
*{ICYMI} NAMESAKE, Volumes 1 + 2 by Megan Lavey-Heaton and Isabelle Melançon//Pre-Order VALOR: A Fairy Tale Comic Anthology About Courageous Heroines {Graphic Novel//Online Web Comic}
*In Memoriam: Sir Terry Pratchett {Feat. WITCHES ABROAD} {Adult}
*{Design Analysis Vlog} ISLE OF THE LOST by Melissa de la Cruz {MG}
*CHILD OF LIGHT {Video Game}
*CRIMSON BOUND by Rosamund Hodge {Upper YA}
*MECHANICA by Betsy Cornwell  {YA}
*A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES by Sarah J. Maas {Upper YA}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*AIMEE AND THE HEARTTHROB by Ophelia London {YA}
*BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE by Miranda Kenneally {Upper YA}
*THE TRUTH ABOUT US by Janet Gurtler {YA}
*THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen {Adult} [Redux]

FEATURES IN APRIL:

***Again, nothing from Fairy Tale Fortnight listed. Go here instead 
for 10 guest posts, 13 interviews, 5 short stories/excerpts, 
and 13 fun features!***

*{Trailer Reveal/Excerpt} HOLD ME LIKE A BREATH by Tiffany Schmidt
*{Author Interview+JESSE'S GIRL Preview!} BREATHE, ANNIE, BREATHE by Miranda Kenneally 
*{Excerpt} THE TRUTH ABOUT US by Janet Gurtler 
*{Design Vlog} THE QUEEN OF THE TEARLING by Erika Johansen
*Alternative Free Fridays + Weekly E-Book Deals
*Introducing Musical Artist Rachel Platten and her empowering anthem "Fight Song!"
*{Excerpt} COLD BURN OF MAGIC by Jennifer Estep
*February Month in Review // March Monthly Preview
*Top 6 Books Read + Top 4 Authors Met in the 5 Years My Blog Has Existed!
*Revealing the Stunning Covers for 10 Upcoming Hot New Releases!
*A Twist in the Tail: Talking About Apollycon 2015!
*Alternative Free Fridays + Weekly E-Book Deals
*Kat+Bunny Present: Top 10 Books For DIVERSITY IN FANTASY & Top 10 For Best *NON* High Fantasy Titles!
{Excerpt} LOVE STRUNG by Jamie W. Matlock
*{Mad About Nails} Celebrate THE ORPHAN QUEEN by Jodi Meadows with Fun Nail Art Ideas!
*{Bookworm Problems} Leaving home with 5 books and returning with...16!?
*{Spotlight} PRETTY WANTED by Elisa Ludwig
*Top 10 Spring 2015 Titles TBR!
*Rounding Up the Stunning Covers for 16 MORE Upcoming Hot New Releases!
*Top 10 Books From My Childhood!
* Exclusive EARLY EXCERPT + A Gift for YOU when you Pre-Order JESSE'S GIRL by Miranda Kenneally!
*Want More Female Superheroes? Help Support New TV Series JUST SUPER!


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