Maria Kuzniar // Author Interview

About The Author
Maria Kuzniar spent six years living in Spain, teaching English and traveling the world, which inspired her debut novel ‘The Ship of Shadows’.. Now she lives in Nottingham with her husband, where she reads and writes as much as she can, and bookstagrams at @cosyreads. She is always planning her next adventure.
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Hi, and thank you so much for doing this interview with me! In 2021, you released two books – first, the second installment of ‘The Ships Of Shadows’ book series. And, in October of 2021, ‘Midnight In Everwood’ came out.

In your own words, could you summarize ‘Midnight in Everwood’?

Hi, thank you for having me! Midnight in Everwood is a magical retelling of The Nutcracker, set between Edwardian Nottingham and a fantasy world inspired by the Land of Sweets. We follow Marietta, a young woman in her early twenties, who is desperate to pursue a career in dancing ballet, although her family has other plans for us. Things take a very strange and magical turn, and she soon finds herself in a land of snow and sweets with a frozen sugar palace, moose-drawn sleighs, and gingerbread galas. . .

What inspired you to write such a compelling story?

I’ve always been drawn to fairy tales and retellings, and since I absolutely adore both ballet and all things wintry, The Nutcracker felt like the perfect choice to tackle for my first retelling.

Being that ‘Midnight in Everwood’ is a retelling, can you talk about any research you did prior to writing it?

I’ve always loved the ballet and The Nutcracker is the very first one I saw. I also attend adult beginner ballet classes—though I am quite happily terrible at it!—so a lot of my research into ballet comes from my hobbies and speaking to my ballet teachers. I also read E.T.A Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which is the original, surprisingly much darker, story that Alexandre Dumas rewrote in a more family-friendly style in his The Nutcracker, which is the version Tchaikovsky looked to in composing the ballet.

What is the biggest difference, for you, when it comes to writing a Middle Grade fantasy, as opposed to writing an adult historical fantasy?

I think the biggest difference is that with Middle-Grade you have a much younger audience, so you need to keep things fast moving and action-packed or you run the risk of losing them to something more interesting! Of course, the word count is much tighter with Middle-Grade, so I do enjoy being able to take my time with my books for adults and flesh them out more, especially the descriptions, but then they do take longer to write as a result of being longer. . . Both age ranges present their own challenges but I get something very different from each of them and I really enjoy writing for both.

What was it like finding out that your book had become a Sunday Times Bestseller?

It was one of the best moments ever. A lifelong dream achieved! I still get teary when I think about it, months later.

How has your writing process changed, compared to when you first started writing?

It hasn’t really, I still approach writing the same way and though I’ve tried experimenting with things, I always end up going back to what works best for me! I do try and develop my writing though and am always pushing myself to improve.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently editing my second book for adults which I’m very excited about – it’s like Swan Lake meets The Great Gatsby and it’s my oldest book idea so it’s been challenging yet amazing to put it down on paper at last! I’m also working on a few secret projects but I can’t talk about those yet. . .

What would your advice be to aspiring authors?

That there’s no one right way to do things. Everybody works differently and finds different things useful. So whatever way you find that helps you get words written, that’s the best way for you. And it’s not necessary to spend lots of time and money on expensive writing courses or creative writing degrees or books on how to write, lots of published authors haven’t done any of that! Reading and practicing writing taught me everything I’ve learnt so far.

What is one book that you didn’t write, that you wish you had?

Oh, so many! But my all-time favorite childhood book is Northern Lights by Philip Pullman and each time I reread it, I notice something new. It has layers upon layers and is very clever yet so readable and fun!

In the comments, let me know if you have read any of Maria Kuzniar books. Also, if you are an author interested in being interview for the blog don’t hesitate to reach out for more information visit my contact page. As always hit the follow button before you leave!

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Returning To Booktube

Hi Friends,
Recently I uploaded my first Booktube video in over a year. The video was a book unhaul and is actually doing pretty well. But, I am still unsure if I want to go back to YouTube. I love creating my blog content, but I did enjoy filming that video. Every now and again, I get the urge to film a reading vlog or haul. Things that are just harder to do in a blog format. However, I feel like YouTube still gives me a bit of anxiety.

On Booktube, people seem to read only the popular books. I like reading all kinds of books not just whatever one else is reading. Also, filming in my house can be a little difficult at times. I did a whole post on ‘Booktube vs Book Blogging‘, and why I prefer book blogging. And, I don’t think my opinion on the talk has really changed all that much. Still, I am stuck on if I should continue trying Booktube again. Or, just stick with my little book blog, since I’m not sure I could keep up with both.

There is always the option of posting reading vlogs on Booktok, which is much smaller than Booktube and less pressure. I’m just very confused at the moment. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Please give me your advice on if I should attempt Booktube again or stick with only book blogging. Don’t forget to follow my blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Posts

Hi Friends,
I started this bookish blog back in Mach of 2021, and boy has it been a ride. I’ve had fun writing all my posts, and sharing my love of books (and other things) with you all. In this post, I wanted to share some of the posts that I had the most fun writing for so far.

March TBR Feat. Tis The Damn Readathon
This was second post ever, and it is very special to me. I participated in my first readathon of the year. My husband pushed me to read a different book for each post. It was crazy, but I was glad that I challenged my self to read more than I usually would. So, this post will always be one of my favorites.

Coffee Meets Books // Holiday Edition
I thought that this post was very unique. Although it might have been done by others, it was interesting pairing books with coffee. I really had to think of what book to pair with each drink.

Ones I Couldn’t Live Without // Thankful Thursday
Although, I loved all my ‘Thankful Thursday’ posts, this one warms my heart. I was happy to get the opportunity to talk about the ones I love so much. It gave me a chance to remember how grateful I am to have these people in my life.

The Gilmore Girls Tag
If you have read my bio, you know I am a huge (no, mega!) Gilmore Girls fan. This tag was loads of fun to do, and I want to do another GG tag in the future.

Thanksgiving Day 2021 // A Day In Pictures
I don’t share too much of my personal life on the blog, so this post was a nice change. The photos gave my readers a small glimpse into my life. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Music Meets Books // Holiday Edition
This is another recommendations post that was a blast to write. I came up with this idea, and immediately knew the book and song pairings. I think that a lot of the recommendations worked well, and it put me in the holiday spirit.

For The Ones You Love // Book Recommendations
As you can see, I love doing book recommendations. It was interesting suggestions books for people in other people’s lives. I don’t know if it actually helped anyone with their Christmas shopping, but I like to think it did. Nevertheless, it was a cute post, and different from the normal gift guides we get every year.

The Bookmas Tag
This post kind of kick started Bookmas 2021, which, if I being honest, has been a bit much too handle. However, I am happy that I decided to do the ’12 Days Of Bookmas’. This post had a ton of fun questions, and I had a good time coming up with my answers.

I love all my posts in their own ways, but these ones have stood out to me. If you are a fellow blogger, let me know what posts you enjoyed writing in 2021! As per usual, like, share, comment, and follow the blog. And once again, happy holidays to all of you.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

5 Star Predictions #2

Hi Friends,
Today, I am doing a “5 Star Book Prediction” post. I have done one of these in the past, which didn’t go so well. Unfortunately, I only managed to read one book from that list, and it didn’t turn out to be a 5 star read, either. So, I don’t have high hopes that I will actually pick up any of these books. Still, it is a fun post to do. I decided to do a mix of older titles and 2022 book releases, since my TBRs include a mix of old and new books.

How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore (2017)
Who doesn’t like a good fake-dating story? The plot reminds me of “If I’m Being Honest” by Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley, which I gave 5 stars. There is something real about somebody choosing to be a better version of themselves. Maybe this stems from my love of “A Christmas Carol”, but I usually enjoy that type of story. Also, the fake-dating aspect gives me even more reassurance that it will turn out to be a 5 star book.

Lovely War by Julie Berry (2019)
This one might be wishful thinking, because I am not 100% sure that it will get a 5 star rating from me. It is on the list for the sole reason that it is beloved by tons of readers. I want to be one of those readers. So, I am using the power of positivity to believe that I will love this book as much as other. The plot sounds amazing and unique, but historical fiction has never really been my thing. Here’s hoping this book changed my opinion of the genre.

All This Time by Mikki Daughtry, Rachael Lippincott (2020)
I predict that this book will be an automatic 5 star read for me. This year, I read “Five Feet Apart” by these two authors, and loved it. Honestly, that book broke me. The plot sounds heartbreaking, which I seem to be drawn to these days. And, it is my favorite genre, YA contemporary. I don’t think this book will let me down, so my expectations are set pretty high.

These Deadly Games by Diana Urban (2022)
This sounds like a horror/thriller movie that would give me the chills. If you know me and horror movies, then you know that making my skin crawl is pretty hard. The whole kidnapping and dangerous game plot is thrilling. I am going to bet that this will be a 5 star book that might even spook me a but.

No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado (2022)
When I read the plot for this book my jaw dropped, and I want to read it like now. It is a mix of high school drama, social media, going viral and catfishing. I haven’t read anything similar, but I am betting that I am going to have a great time reading it. 5 star read? I think yes!

 
Practice Girl by Estelle Laure (2022)
This book reminds be a lot of “The Duff” by Kody Keplinger. I haven’t had the chance to read that book, but I am a big fan of the movie adaption. The book focuses on labeling people, and making them loose their self worth. It can be a form of bullying. I don’t read a ton of books where the characters push the boundaries of social norms, and that is something I need to work on. Still, I am almost certain that this book will get a 5 star rating from me. However, I could be projecting my love of the film version of “The Duff” on to the book. Let’s hope that’s not the case

That is going to be it for my 5 star predictions. While writing this post, I realize that it is harder than you think to foreseen a books rating. Especially, when one has been disappointment by many books that seemed like 5 star reads. Anyhow, I am thinking good thoughts and know that there will be more 5 star reads in 2022. Give me a like, share and follow.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Happy Halloween Giveaway // Spooktober 2021

Hi Friends,
I knew that I wanted to do a Halloween giveaway, and since Halloween is only a few days away, that means that today is the official start of the giveaway! Below you will find all the rules and the prize for the giveaway.

The Deadline
◉ October 31st 11:59 pm

 

The Rules
◉ Must Be 18 Years Old Or Have Parental Permission
◉ Must Have A  Valid Email Address
◉ Must Like This Post
◉ Must Share One Of My Spooktober Posts On Social Media With The Hashtag #BunnySpooktober
◉ Comment Below What You Are Going As For Halloween
◉ Let Me Know What Social Account And You Handle That You Shared A Post On

The Prize
◉ Kobo eGift Card $10

Kobo is an audiobook and ebook site and subscription services. It is similar to Audible and Scribd. Readers pay $10 a months for one credit, which they can redeem towards an ebook or audiobook. This is a small giveaway, but I want to show my readers how much it means to me that they support my blog! If you want to go a step further, please follow me on Twitter and Instagram. I try to stay pretty active on both.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

My Blogging Process // Creating Content


Hi Friends,
Today, I will be doing a post on how I write my blog posts. I know this may seem like a weird topic for a blog post, but I thought it would be interesting to share. Here’s how I formulate my blog post ideas, edit post and keep track of reviews. I try to stay extremely organized regarding blog posts. Especially since I put up 3, sometimes 4, posts a week. I have to plan out all my posts for the month and then some. Currently, I have a list of blog post ideas that will last me until November. However, a true blogger knows that things change and you have to move posts around all the time. I just prefer having a master list of ideas that I can pull from at any given time.

I feel like I am constantly writing posts and thinking of ideas. So to make it easier on myself, I try to write my posts for the coming week on Sundays. I edit them and schedule them to go up. Now that doesn’t always work out thus, I am writing this post Monday, August 16th and it is going up on my blog today. Some quick post ideas are tags, top five favorites, and recommendations. Usually I like to have back-up posts ready to go live on days like today, but that isn’t always the case.

As for reviews, I try to jot down my thoughts throughout reading the book. This way I have my thoughts while reading the book and my overall final thoughts. It takes a lot of trial and error to perfect blog reviews, and come up with something you like. Right now I like my review style, but I am sure it will change later in my blogging life. As for editing posts, I am terrible at grammar. There are some free grammar and spell checker tools on the internet. There are paid versions as well.

I have noticed that grammar editors tend to change your writing style, so keep that in mind before investing in one. Luckily, I have my husband who is willing to proof read my posts. I will typically do one final proof read myself just for safety. A big tip when writing posts is not to focus so much on SEO. As a blogger that is something we are all trying to prefect, but sometimes your writing style and SEO aren’t going to agree. It is better to put out a post that reflects you instead of one that checks off all the SEO boxes.

I hope that this post interests you in someway. Please check back for other bookish and lifestyle posts.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Booktube vs Book Blogging // Pros And Cons

Hi Friends,
For months, I have been going back and forth on the struggle of Booktube vs. book blogging, and which is right for me. If you don’t already know, I started out as a Booktuber, but the struggle to keep up with videos and the YouTube algorithm turned me off. It wasn’t very good for my mental health. I had always been an avid writer, so I turned to book blogging. I wouldn’t say one is more cost efficient than the other, since money goes into both of them. Also, for a planner like myself, both seem to take a lot of time and effort to keep up with every week.

I never really felt like a part of the book community, and I noticed that after stepping away, I was reading more than I ever had before. Watching new Booktubers growing, while I was stuck at 100 subscribers after more than two years took its toll on my mental health. I do, at times, get upset when my blog isn’t performing as well as I might hope. But I feel more involved in the blogging community, which helps. Also, I think my writing is way better than my camera skills. I will say that I sometimes get the urge to film a video, and some topics are just easier as video content, rather than blog posts. However, I like owning my work, which isn’t possible with YouTube.

I know that Booktubers get more recognition than book bloggers, which is a bummer. Another big thing is that Booktubers are the go-to for sponsorships and paid promotions. I am not sure if book bloggers get these opportunities as well, but I know that it is a huge thing in the Booktube community. I thought that it would be fun to give you some personal pros and cons of Booktube vs book blogging, just in case you were stuck on the decision too.

Booktube  Book Blog

Large community, with a lot of original content

Smaller community, with a lot of content inspired by Booktube

Your content is owned by YouTube, and can be deleted at any time

You own all your content, and nobody else can censor you

Need a good camera, lighting, and a background

If you want to do it long term, you need to buy a URL and hosting

You have opportunities for free books and paid sponsorships

Much harder to get noticed by authors and publishers

You have to be on camera, and able to clearly communicate your point

Can write a post in your PJ’s, from anywhere

I hope that this list might help some make the decision between Booktube or a book blog, or at least make it a bit easier. I think that I might start posting Instagram (or maybe Booktok) videos, if I ever feel the need to film anything bookish. That way I don’t have to commit to a Booktube channel. I would love your support on my little bookish corner of the internet, so like and share this post! You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram as well (@bookswithbunny).

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

March 2021 Reading Wrap-Up

Hello Book Lovers,
It is March wrap-up time! I had a pretty good reading month in March, and feel as though I rediscovered my love of books. I read 5 books last month, and I am happy with that total. I am trying not to put as much pressure on myself to read, and I think that has helped a lot.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling: 5/5 Stars
I am doing my first read through of this series please don’t yell at me. I loved this book even more than the first and found it very funny.

The Princess and the Fangirl by Ashley Poston: 3.5/5 Stars
This book was very mediocre, and not favorite. I didn’t love it or hate it, but it was a little disappointing.

Tunnel of Bones by Victoria Schwab: 4/5 Stars
I started this trilogy a while ago, and remember the first book being slightly creepy. However, the ghost story in this one pulled at my heart-strings. I did still really enjoy it.

Admission by Julie Buxbaum: 4/5 Stars
This wasn’t on my tbr for the month, but I am glad I picked it up. I feel like it is an underrated newer release, and I am glad I read it.

The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee: 4/5 Stars
Wow, Wow! Need I say more?

I want to let you guys know that I will be doing full reviews on some of these book, so please check back for those. Let me know what you read least month in the comments. Please like this post, and follow the blog.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

5 Star Predictions #1 // 2021

Hello book lovers,
I am back to blogging! I took a little break this week, but I am very excited about today’s post. I am going to talk about my 5 star book predictions. I typically stay in my comfort zone when it comes to reading, so I can normally tell the books I am going to enjoy. I do want to branch out in my reading this year, but these are the books that I have a good feeling I will rate highly.

Fool Me Twice by Carrie Aarons: After the death of her best friend, due to cancer, she sets out to complete her bucket list. One of the major tasks on the list is getting back at Lincoln Kolb, her late best friends jerk of an ex-boyfriend. However, these enemies might not start to look past their bad blood.

I love a good revenge turned love story! I feel like this book could either be great, or just average. I am hoping for the best, and going to predict that I will give it a 5 star rating.

Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth: Aideen can’t solve her own problems, so she takes it upon herself to solve one for her overwhelmed classmate. After her act of kindness more of her classmates want Aideen’s help.

This book gives me teen movie vibes, which I am here for. I can picture this as a Netflix movie one day for sure. I think the concept could be very funny and I am looking forward to picking it up. It won’t be released until May 2021, still I will be reading it as soon as possible.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab: Addie LaRue made a deal of a lifetime with the devil. She will live forever, yet be forgot by everyone. She tries to leave her mark on the world and be remembered however she can.

I don’t usually go for these kinds of books, although I am a big fan of V.E. Schwabs middle grade works. This story peaked my interested from it’s release, and I have a good feeling it will become a favorite of mine.

What I Like About You by Marisa Kante: Girl meets boy online. They become the best of internet friends. Girl moves to a new town. Boy happens to live in that town. Girl hides her online identity from boy. A tale as old as time, right?

This is Kante’s debut novel and it sounds adorable. I do see a bit of similarities to Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia, and I could see there being some possible anxiety representation in this book. I find the plot a typical cute, lighthearted contemporary story that I love.

Admission by Julie Buxbaum: Chloe thought she had the perfect life with admission into her dream school, a celebrity mom and amazing prom date. However, things get less than perfect when her mom gets arrested for participating a college admission scandal. Chloe must come face to face with the truth and everything she has taken for granted before.

You all have probably heard about the real college admissions scandal that rocked Hollywood. I knew that some form of fiction would be made from it, though I figured it would be a Lifetime movie, still I think this will be an interesting read. I haven’t heard anyone talk about this book, so I am looking forward to discovering if I like it as much as I expect.

Those are all my star predictions as of now, and I am curious to find out if my intuition is as good as I believe. Please support my blog by liking and sharing this post. I would e honored if you followed the blog as well.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny

Taylor Swift Album Book Tag

Hello bookish friends,
In honor, of the Tis the Damn Readathon I thought I would do a fun Taylor Swift inspired book tag. This is my first book tag on the blog and of 2021, so I am ready to get into the questions. I wasn’t tagged by anyone, but I still wanted to take part in doing this tag. This tag was created by the lovely Maria @ A Daughter of Parchment and Paper. I used Maria’s graphics because they are amazing.

At the start of 2021, I read one of my new favorite YA Christmas romances, 10 Blind Dates by Ashley Elston. Now this book did have some flaws, but it was such a cute young adult contemporary that made me fall in love with Ashley Elston’s writing. The book follows a high-school girl who gets her heartbroken by her longtime boyfriend. Thus her over the top and caring family decided to take it upon themselves to help mend her broken heart leading them to set her up on 10 very interesting blind dates. Honestly, the love story was very predictable yet I enjoyed it and the Christmas season setting.

I don’t think I have ever read a novella before. There are some that I would like to get too, but sadly I have to skip this question. Sorry.

This one is easy since I talked about it in my “Book Blogging Newbie Tag” post. I discovered my love for reading with the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares. I know these books seems cheesy and I will admit looking back at them they don’t have the greatest plot. However, the series captivated me in such a way that made me want to keep reading forever. If you haven’t read the books, they follow four best friends that, over the course of the summer, share a pair of jeans that fit each of their differently shaped bodies perfectly. I would give the series 3.5 stars, but I completely recommend the first book which is my personal favorite.

This is a classic that I don’t find a lot of people, including my husband, enjoy. I happened to really like The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Yes, there wasn’t much of a plot to it and Holden Caulfield was a tad whiny at times, still it was an eye-opening read to me. My lovely husband contributes this to the fact that I was a good girl growing up without much raw life experience, but I just think I get Holden on another level.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is my pick for this question. I don’t know if most people would consider this a heart-stopping story, but it is for me. I read this book in about two days and it is a tough, yet important read. It deals with the after math of being raped, losing yourself and finding your voice. Honestly, stories like this are some of the hardest to get through still I found it an incredible read.

This book is a lot like Speak, but taken to the extreme. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott is a story I will never forget and still gives me chills. The plot surrounds a girl called Alice who was abducted by a man name Ray at the age of ten. The story is told by Alice’s present self, now fifteen, and has lived a nightmare for the past five years. I will probably never read this story again, since it makes the pit of my stomach hurt just thinking about it. It is a very powerful read that has stuck with me for years.

I had to think about this one for a minute, but after doing some digging I chose Starr from The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. The book is about police brutality of POC (People of Color) and much more. The main character Starr lives in a poor black popularity neighborhood, yet attends prestigious predominantly white school. Starr tries hard to separate her school and home life, but after witnessing the shooting and killing of a friend at the hands of the police she must speak out for what is right. Starr is use to shrugging off her friends ignorant, racist comments, yet we see her standing up for herself and not taking the hate in silence anymore. I loved seeing Starr come into her own and let go of the toxicity she had been ignoring for so long.

So….I don’t think I have answer for this question. Don’t hate me, but after going through the books I have read I cannot think of any morally grey characters. Oops! I don’t read a lot of fantasy, which might be why. I have instead decided to talk about a book series I’m interested in that I have heard has a morally grey character. The series is The Folk of the Air by Holly Black! I have the first book in the series The Cruel Prince on audiobook, but haven’t been in the mood to give it a chance. I know that this is a fantasy series about fairies, and you either love it or hate it. I have only attempted a Holly Black book once, which was a DNF, so I am nervous to pick this one up. Should I give this series a try?

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan! I don’t remember this book much, but I have a lot of nostalgia for it. This is one of my mom’s favorite classic children’s books. I remember going to the book fair in elementary school and using my reading points to get this book for my mom. It is such a cute story about a widowed man that sends for a mail-ordered-bride to help care for his two children, Caleb and Anna. Thus Sarah, described as plain and tall, answers his call. This is an adorable story of love and family that will warm your heart.

Duh! A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens need I say more. I will probably mention this story multiple times on the blog since it is my all time favorite book. I love the writing in this beloved and classic story. Sure some parts are a bit slow, but there are many amazing passages from this story that I love rereading. My all time favorite being “It is required of every man,” the Ghost returned, “that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world — oh, woe is me! — and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!”

I am going with The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan, which might seem weird since I haven’t read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan but hear me out. I have heard only good thing about these two companion series. They are both middle grade books and Greek mythology aspect to them. Percy Jackson is the main series, followed by the Heroes of Olympus books. However, I heard that the series don’t directly connect so they can be read as stand alones. I want to read these books very badly and embarrassed I still haven’t started either of these series.

Woo! Those were all the questions and I had a blast answering them. I am supposed to tag any book loving Taylor Swift fan, although I am still fairly new to the book blogging community so I am going to do the general tagging everyone thing. In the comments, leave your answers or let me know if you did this tag on your blog as well. Don’t forget to visit Maria’s blog and like this post. You can follow the blog to get notified when I post and I would love your support.

Until The Next Chapter,
Bunny