Sunday Post: New Books, Blogging Tips & A Sick Cat

New to My Shelves: The April My Lit Box was waiting for me when I got home from work earlier this week. I always look forward to seeing what I will find. I hadn't realized it has been an entire year since I first signed up for the subscription box! This month's theme is "Letting Go," and the box included a bookmark of a door, doors figuring prominently in the month's book selection Exit West by Mohsin Hamid; a bit of green tea; and a tote with the word music printed in several languages in the shape of headphones, a reminder of something we all share, even if in different forms.

From my Going Postal Book Club I received:

Etched on Me by Jenn Crowell

Recent Purchases:

Blood's Echo by Isabella Maldonado

Veiled Magic by Deborah Blake

An Ancient Peace by Tanya Huff

For Review (Many thanks to Mulholland Books):

Penance by Kanae Minato

Additions to Mouse's Library:

 Wolf! by Becky Bloom and Pascal Biet
(free book with her well health check-up)

Peppa Pig and the I Love You Game by Neville Astley

(Mouse's choice at last bookstore visit)

What I Am Reading: I finished reading The Black Lily by Juliette Cross at the beginning of the week, staying up late one night to do so. It was more than I hoped for. I am looking forward to reading more in the series. I now am reading Etched On Me by Jenn Crowell, my current Going Postal Book Club selection. I have a feeling I will have a lot to say about this one in the group's reading journal. I have also started this month's TBR poll winner, which is already proving to be quite chilling.

What I Am Listening To: I am still in the same spot I was last week in The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. I hope to get back to it this week. Other things took my attention away from listening to any audiobook this past week.

What I Am Watching: Besides The Voice, I have not spent much time watching television. I did see the beginning of a Yo Kai Watch movie and the end of a Pokemon one, my daughter's current interest. She's also discovered Monster High. Should I be worried? Haha.

What's Going On Off the Blog: My daughter enjoyed her spring break and spending time with her grandmother. I think the feeling was mutual. I completely forgot about the Girl Scout Spring Break homework assignment Mouse was supposed to complete before our next meeting. We'll be doing that this week.

Both Mouse and the cats had doctors' visits this past Friday. I was really anxious to get Parker seen especially given his continuing health issues (Feline Triaditis and history of cancer) and more recent concerns that have arisen. He's a real trooper though, that cat. The veterinarian ran more blood tests, and found definite concern in regards to his kidney function. Parker will be undergoing an ultrasound this next week, before we settle on a course of treatment. He's lost a concerning amount of weight since his last veterinarian visit, probably the result of his throwing up more frequently. He also may have a tooth infection, but due to his other health issues, the doctor does not want to risk putting him under anesthesia at this time. In the meantime, he is continuing on his regular medications and we are hoping for the best.

Gracie and my mom's dog seem to be at a truce. Or rather, Gracie has decided not to torment the poor dog anymore. I can tell Gracie is feeling jealous though because whenever I am home, she is right on my heels begging for attention.

My husband and I took advantage of my mother's visit to spend an afternoon seeing a live performance of Evita at a local theater. We so rarely get time alone (usually only when my mom is in town), and so it was a nice treat for us. Sunday will be especially busy for us as Mouse has a Girl Scout event in the morning and a birthday party to attend in the afternoon. Soccer doesn't start up again until next weekend, thank goodness.

This Week In Reading Mews:

• Mouse's Corner: A Photographer in the Making
• Where Is Your Bookmark? (Including My Top Ten Fandoms)
• Bookish Thoughts: Uprooted by Noami Novik

Tell me about what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? Do you have anything planned for this coming week?

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Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

If you could meet one author, dead or alive, who would it be?

I went round and round in my head about who I would like to meet. I have met authors before--in person and via e-mail or on social media. I am always a bit nervous because I have a tendency to become really shy when meeting an author in person--tongue-tied even and a bit star-struck. So, meeting an author in-person isn't high on my to do list. I would rather admire them from afar rather than embarrass myself by falling to the ground and kissing their feet.(Okay, so I would never actually do that).

I suppose I could go with any one of my favorite authors (J.K. Rowling, Michael Connelly, Lisa See, who I heard speak once, Sue Grafton, Ilona Andrews, Juliette Cross, Nadia Hashimi, Jim Butcher, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte . . . The list could go on forever). And I even considered listing some that aren't necessarily favorites (but whose books I enjoy) that I think would just be fun to meet (Stephen King, John Green, or Nora Roberts, for example). How can I pick just one? And then it came to me. And especially fitting since April is National Poetry Month.

I wish I could go back in time to meet Emily Dickinson. She is the reason I first fell in love with poetry. I wish I could go back in time and sit with her and get to know her better. I figure she and I might both be uncomfortable at first, her being somewhat reclusive and all, but talk of our love for letter writing and poetry might open up the conversation. I don't know if I would be brave enough to share my poetry with her, but I would tell her how much hers has meant to me. In her life time, she never knew she would be revered as one of the most well known American poets.

What about you? What author would you like to meet?

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Every Sunday, Kendra Allen of Reads and Treats comes up with a theme for a Sunday list  of 5 things (because making lists are fun!) and asks participants to share.


Today's 5 Things on Sunday theme is on blogging tips!

1. If you want people to notice you and your blog, put yourself out there. Reciprocate comments. Comment on other people's blogs. Respond to comments on your own blog. Maybe even participate in memes or reading challenges. It may not happen quickly. Be patient. Keep at it. Also, keep in mind that a large audience is not necessarily better. Blogs with smaller readership are often the ones in which you'll build the stronger relationships and have the deeper conversations.

2. Do not be afraid or feel guilty for taking breaks--planned or otherwise. We all have lives off our computers and tablets. Your readers will understand.

3. Know that not all blogging tips will be a good fit for you and your blog. There's likely always going to be someone who may not agree with how you blog or what your blog looks like or even what you have to say. Blogger and review pet peeve lists may be popular, but they are just opinions. Do what works best for you.

4. Have fun. Blogging may feel like work sometimes, but try not to let it become a chore or just another obligation you feel you have to do. Blogging is voluntary. It's something you choose to do. So, have fun with it!

5. Most importantly, be true to yourself.

What sage advice do you have for other bloggers?

Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Sunday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow. While I will attempt to post my review that same month, I make no promises--it may go up the following month. 

Thank you to everyone who took time to vote in my TBR List Poll! The final results are very close! For a while there, I thought the poll might end in a tie. In the end, however, The Quiet Neighbors by Catriona McPherson and Alex Marwood's The Killer Next Door tied with 8 votes each, making The Girls Next Door by Mel Sherratt edging in for the win with 9 votes. Thank you again for voting!

I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!

The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. 

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and is a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently.

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 © 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.