THE DARK UNWINDING and A SPARK UNSEEN Book Trailer Release!

Hey quirks! I am excited to share with you the new trailer for Sharon Cameron's novels THE DARK UNWINDING and A SPARK UNSEEN!


Isn't that awesome?! The trailer completely captures the history and mystery in these books! I love that they have the ticking clock and the electric buzz in there too!

To celebrate the trailer release, you can tweet or blog about the trailer and be entered to win an arc of A SPARK UNSEEN. You will need to include @CameronSharonE in the tweet in order to receive credit. Please tweet all blog links to the same twitter account. Retweets will also count.

If you are a fan of THE DARK UNWINDING, you can be part of the pre-release blog hop celebrating the sequel, A SPARK UNSEEN, which hits shelves September 24th, 2013.

The blog hop will be September 9th-20th, and spots are still available. For more information visit HERE. Participants will receive an ARC of A SPARK UNSEEN.

Don't know much about Sharon Cameron or her books? You can find my thoughts on THE DARK UNWINDING in my review, or scroll down for more info!

When Katharine Tulman’s inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle’s world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it.

The thrilling sequel to Sharon Cameron's blockbuster gothic steampunk romance, THE DARK UNWINDING, will captivate readers anew with mystery and intrigue aplenty.

When Katharine Tulman wakes in the middle of the night and accidentally foils a kidnapping attempt on her uncle, she realizes Stranwyne Keep is no longer safe for Uncle Tully and his genius inventions. She flees to Paris, where she hopes to remain undetected and also find the mysterious and handsome Lane, who is suspected to be dead.

But the search for Lane is not easy, and Katharine soon finds herself embroiled in a labyrinth of political intrigue. And with unexpected enemies and allies at every turn, Katharine will have to figure out whom she can trust--if anyone--to protect her uncle from danger once and for all.

Filled with deadly twists, whispering romance, and heart-stopping suspense, this sequel to THE DARK UNWINDING whisks readers off on another thrilling adventure.

About the author:

Sharon Cameron was awarded the 2009 Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding. When not writing Sharon can be found thumbing dusty tomes, shooting her longbow, or indulging in her lifelong search for secret passages.

Visit her website HERE

Praise for THE DARK UNWINDING:

 

ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection, 2013

 

Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of 2013

 

The Crystal Kite Member’s Choice Award, 2013, SCBWI

 

ABC Best Books for Children, 2012

 

Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award, SCBWI, 2009

 

“Haunting thrills unfurl. . . .” –ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

 

“Utterly original, romantic, and spellbindingly imaginative.” –USA TODAY

 

“Cameron’s eerie and suspenseful first novel offers gripping twists, rich language, and an evocative landscape.” –PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

 

“Cameron, through wry, observant Katharine, spins a deliciously gothic tale. . . . By turns funny and poignant, this period mystery is a thoroughgoing delight.” –KIRKUS REVIEWS

 

“Cameron has produced a ripping good read with all the drama, intrigue, and romance of a Victorian pot-boiler with mystery, suspense, and hints of the supernatural thrown in for good measure.” –VOICE OF YOUTH ADVOCATES

ALL OUR YESTERDAYS Blog Tour: A Timely Interview with Cristin Terrill + GIVEAWAY

Hey quirks! I have the great pleasure of hosting Cristin Terrill on the blog today for the All Our Yesterdays Blog Tour!

Before we get to the interview and giveaway, here's a little about the author:
 

Cristin Terrill is a young adult author and aspiring grown-up. She grew up semi-nomadic and graduated from Vassar College with a degree in drama. After getting her masters in Shakespeare Studies from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, she lived in London, Austin, Boston, and Washington, DC, while working as a theatrical stage manager. Now she writes and leads creative writing workshops for DC-area kids and teens. All Our Yesterdays is her first novel.

You can find her at:
Author Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads


Not only does Ms. Terrill sound cool, but she has also kindly answered some time-sensitive questions for us!


WQ: What is your favorite time of day?

CT: Evening. I’m a night-owl anyway, but that time after all the work is done but before it gets really late is my favorite.

WQ: What is your favorite time of year?

CT: Fall. Still sunny but beginning to get cool, starting to buy Christmas presents, baking pumpkin cupcakes.

WQ: What is your favorite time period in history?

CT: The Renaissance. I did my master’s in Shakespeare and Renaissance England, and I’m a total Tudor fangirl.

WQ: How much time do you take to get ready in the morning?

CT: Fifteen minutes if I don’t shower, twenty if I get fancy and do.

WQ: Do you wear a watch or check time on your phone?

CT: Phone. I haven’t owned a watch in about ten years.

WQ: How much time does it usually take for you to read a book?

CT: I’m actually a relatively slow reader. If I’m really into something, I can finish in two or three days, but otherwise it’s usually a week or more.

WQ: Last question! If you could travel back in time, what would be your preferred method: a Time-Turner (from Harry Potter), the TARDIS (from Doctor Who), or the DeLorean (from Back to the Future)?

CT: TARDIS, no question! It can go anywhere, there’s a swimming pool somewhere inside, and it’s piloted by the Doctor!

A huge thank you to Cristin Terrill for her great answers! I'm right there with her on the showering, the slow reading, and the TARDIS!

If you want to ask her some of your own questions, you will have the chance on September 17th when Cristin Terrill will be part of a Twitterchat! You can find more information and submit questions HERE.

So why were my questions all about time? If you haven't guessed by now, it is because All Our Yesterdays involves time travel! Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.

Find All Our Yesterdays at:

Amazon / The Book Depository / IndieBound / Goodreads

Now for the giveaway! If you enter you will have the chance to win an ARC of All Our Yesterdays! All my regular rules apply (see them HERE) and the giveaway will end at 11:59pm on September 3rd (CST).

Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter! (Please note that entering the giveaway means you agree to the giveaway terms and conditions.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway   If you want to check out the other stops on the tour, you can find all the blogs and dates HERE. 

Ink to Image [3] - The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Did I read the book or watch the movie first?
I read this book back in 2011. If you saw my review (which you can find here), you know I wasn't that impressed with it.

Which was better?
For me, the movie is better, hands down. Since I read the book so long ago, I wasn't caught up in all tiny changes from the story to the screen, but I still knew where some of the more major differences were. I thought the movie did a good job of streamlining and simplifying the narrative while still keeping the most important aspects intact. There were also some hat-tips to the readers (and one at the end was especially cool).

What made me read/watch?
Back when I read the book, I'd heard about the series, but it still wasn't quite the huge fandom it is today. I thought I would like the book because it had a lot of elements I look for in paranormal YA, but it fell flat for me. However, the movie previews looked really good, so despite not being part of the fandom, I still wanted to see the film and I'm glad I did.

Will I read/watch more if available?
I've already read the second and third books in the series (my reviews can be found here and here) and I plan to read the last three books eventually, but I will definitely be seeing future TMI films. The actors did a great job of embodying the characters and I connected with them a lot faster than I did in the novels. The effects and action scenes were fantastic, and I liked how everything played out on screen. Clary and Jace's first kiss was pretty epic, and I definitely liked movie-Jace better than book-Jace. There were some awkward parts where the music came in and took over scenes and made them feel a bit cheesy, but overall it was a fun and entertaining movie that I thought did the book justice.

That's it quirks! I hope you enjoyed my assessment. Have you gotten to see the City of Bones movie yet? If so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments!?

*Click on a book's cover to be taken to the book's Goodreads page, click on the movie poster to be taken to the movie's website, and click on the movie banner to be taken to the TMI Facebook page.

A-Z Bookish Survey!

Jamie over at The Perpetual Page-Turner had an awesome idea and came up with an A-Z bookish survey! All the questions are book related and correspond to a letter of the alphabet. If you want to participate, visit Jamie's original post here and comment and leave her a link to your post!

Author You've Read the Most Books From:

Tamora Pierce (17 books!)

Best Sequel Ever:

Timepiece (Hourglass #2) by Myra McEntire

Currently Reading:

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Ovaltine

E-reader or Physical Book:

Both! I love the feel of physical books (and having them on my shelf) but I love the convenience of e-readers.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated in High School:

Tucker from the Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand

Glad You Gave This Book a Chance:

The Dark Divine (The Dark Divine #1) by Bree Despain

Hidden Gem Book:

Ultraviolet (Ultraviolet #1) by R.J. Anderson

Important Moment in Your Reading Life:

Re-discovering YA lit! I started reading all the time again like I used to when I was younger.

Just Finished:

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron

Kinds of Books You Won't Read:

Erotica

Longest Book You've Read:

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (1,285 pages!)

Major Book Hangover Because of:

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Number of Bookcases You Own:

Three

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J.K. Rowling

Preferred Place to Read:

My bed. I prefer being comfortable when reading and that is the most comfortable place for me.

Quote That Inspires You/Gives You All the Feels From a Book You've Read:

“I know at that moment what he's given me and it isn't a chair. It's an invitation, a welcome, the knowledge that I am accepted here. He hasn't given me a place to sit. He's given me a place to belong.”
― Katja Millay, The Sea of Tranquility

“I will love myself, and my body, for what it can do- because it is strong enough to lift, to walk, to ride a bicyle up a hill, to embrace the people I love and hold them fully, and to nurture a new life. I will love myself because I am sturdy. Because I did not -will not- break.”
― Jennifer Weiner, Good in Bed  

Reading Regret:

I have a tendency to avoid books I think will make me feel sad or cry, and I really shouldn't (especially since the ones that do make me cry seem to come out of nowhere anyway).

Series You Started and Need to Finish (all books are out in the series):

Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
(just need to read the last one!)

Three of Your All-Time Favorite Books:

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Myra McEntire! She was the first author I ever met and she is the epitome of awesome!

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

Panic by Lauren Oliver. I love her writing so I can't wait to see what she'll do next!

Worst Bookish Habit:

Buying books! I have plenty I need to read but I can't stop buying more!

X Marks the Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Slide by Jill Hathaway

Your Latest Book Purchase:

Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

ZZZ-Snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Ink Anticipation [14] - August 2013

This old feature has a new use! Ink Anticipation is now for sharing what books I am looking forward to that will be released during the following month. Clicking on a book cover will either take you to the book's Goodreads page or to my review. Don't forget to share your most anticipated releases in the comments!

August 6th

August 15th

August 20th

August 27th

Reading Challenge Update [July 2013]

Hey quirks! I've decided to split up my reading updates due to how many challenges I am participating in this year. In 2012, I was only keeping up with my Goodreads Reading Challenge and I liked how I did that one and all the stats I kept up with, but I'm going to call them something different. The new title for those updates will be "2013 Goodreads Rundown" and they will appear bimonthly.

This series of posts I'm calling Reading Challenges Update is for all the other challenges I am trying to complete. These updates will be less detailed as far as stats go because I will just be listing the individual challenges and which books fit under them that I read during the previous month.

*Completed*

July: 2 --- Total: 34/24

Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story by Ally Cater (Gallagher Girls #5.5 / Heist Society #2.5)
Every Girl's Dream by Meg Cabot (The Mediator #3.5)


*Completed*

July: 2 --- Total: 44/25+

The Neil Gaiman Audio Collection by Neil Gaiman
The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith (Sunday Philosophy Club #1)

*Completed*

July: 0 --- Total: 6

July: 1 --- Total: 7/12

Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story by Ally Cater (Gallagher Girls #5.5 / Heist Society #2.5) [Keyword: Spy]

July: 1 --- Total: 29/36

The Survivors by Amanda Havard (The Survivors #1)

July: 1 --- Total: 7/12

The Survivors by Amanda Havard (The Survivors #1)  [Creature: Witch]

Write Stuff [27] - Depression and Grief and Procrastination, oh my!

Write Stuff  is based on the Wannabe Writers meme hosted by Sarah at Confessions of the Un-Published. This meme is what prompted me to start Writer Quirk, so I am thankful to Sarah for creating it.

I use this meme to talk about the ups and downs of writing, what I'm working on, and, in November, to chronicle my NaNoWriMo journey.


My self-imposed deadline on draft 4 of my current project is coming up next week. I'm not going to make it. I'll set myself a new deadline and try again. But why did I let this one come and go? There are a couple reasons, but the biggest is one I don't talk about very often here: my depression.

When I say depression, I mean an all encompassing darkness that suffocates my entire life. I went from feeling numb to feeling like my brain was overburdened with random thoughts and worry, and when that happened, I could do little more than stare at the television. When my anxiety became too much for me to even do that, I hid myself from the world in my bed. I lost interest in everything. I had thoughts of self-harm and emotional meltdowns. I decided to have my medication dosage doubled. It took a few weeks for it to kick in. I finally started to feel better.

Then Father's Day arrived. I wasn't prepared for the emotional turmoil that day would put me through. The turmoil continued until the anniversary of of my dad's death, vacillating between anger and tears and more numbness. Grief is an entirely different animal than depression, attacking different parts of me for different reasons, but experiencing them together for an extended period of time was harrowing. Then the evening of the anniversary, July 4th, I sat down at my computer and wrote 12 pages. It was like my entire being had been dreading the day, and then when I had survived it, my brain gained some freedom.
 
I've been working on my draft since then, which has only been about 20 days. So, yeah, I'm not going to make my deadline, but in the last three weeks I've written 28 pages. That's something at least. I'm going to take my victories where I can get them. I still have to deal with my depression and grief when it flares up, but I'm out of the darkest part of the woods for now. I still don't feel great, but right now my biggest obstacle is choosing writing over procrastination (and yes, this post could be considered procrastination).

I like ending these with a little snippet of my project, so since this post is kind of bittersweet, I decided to share the end of my first chapter because it has the same tone. My main character, Lotte, is arranging things in her new room.

How do you deal with your emotions when they get in the way of your creativity? Have you had any recent victories?

Let me know in the comments! ^_^

The 13th Sign Giveaway WINNER!

Hey Quirks! I hope you've enjoyed reading about The 13th Sign by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb this week and have been inspired to check out this book! I had a lot of fun, but now it is time to reveal the winner of the signed hardcover and swag!

Congratulations to...

Brynna!

A big thank you to Kristin and Carla and to all our readers and participants!

Signs, Symbols, and Stars - an interview with Kristin O'Donnell Tubb!

Hey quirks! I have the great pleasure of hosting author Kristin O'Donnell Tubb on the blog today! She has graciously allowed me to pick her brain a little about her latest novel, The 13th Sign, and her research on the zodiac.


WQ:  How did your idea for The 13th Sign begin?

KOT:  Space is one of my obsessions. I majored (briefly!) in aerospace engineering in college, and I always click through those “cool space thing happening TONIGHT!” links on Facebook. When I finished writing Selling Hope (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan 2010), which is about the hysteria surrounding the 1910 visit of Halley’s Comet, I knew I wanted to write another space book. So I asked myself: what about space fascinated me as a tween? I knew the answer immediately: my horoscope.

I originally thought: SCORE! A twelve book-series! (Every author does this in the beginning, I imagine. :-D) I started researching astrology, and quickly stumbled upon a “missing” 13th sign of the zodiac: Ophiuchus. When he is included in the calendar (which he should be! His ankle dips into the ecliptic that makes up the zodiac), he throws off the calendar significantly, making almost everyone a new horoscope sign. I got that writer ZING! that I get when I read a fact that I want to share with others. I knew I wanted to tell Ophiuchus’ story. (If you want to find out your 13-sign horoscope, hop over here to learn more!)

WQ:  What aspect of the zodiac (the names, the personality traits, the constellations, etc.) interested you the most?
 

KOT:  Ah, great question! I actually think it was the history of the zodiac that interested me the most. Most folks who know about these things agree that the Babylonians were the first to develop this idea, some say as far back as 2500 B.C. Like most humans, they were likely trying to make sense of the world around them, to find order in the chaos. Like most humans, they looked up to do that. At that time, Ophiuchus was included in the zodiac calendar, along with other constellations.

I also discovered in my research that many scholars think that the 12 Labors of Hercules was a way of teaching astrology to young Greek students. Each labor was a constellation. When I found that little tidbit, the idea of “labors,” or challenges, formed the basis of The 13th Sign.

WQ:  In your research, did you learn anything surprising about your personal zodiac sign?

KOT:  I’m an Aquarius (water bearer in the house!), and I thought I knew quite a bit about my sign at the outset. I did discover that Aquarians are the least likely to believe in the zodiac, which is interesting. (For the record, I don’t quite know how I feel about horoscopes. Day-to-day, they are rarely accurate for me. But I personify an Aquarius to a T!) 

WQ:  How did you decide which signs to give to your main characters?

KOT:  I knew I wanted Jalen (which, side note, means “healer;” significant to the story!) to be an Ophiuchus once the signs were altered, so in order to be that, her traditional 12-sign horoscope needed to be Sagittarius. As for Ellie and Brennan, I wrote their characters first, then picked which sign suited them best. Once (tiny spoiler alert!) Ophiuchus is awoken and the characters undergo a personality switch, I kinda already knew what they should act like post-personality change: the zodiac told me which traits they should exhibit! (Another aside: I think the zodiac could be a really cool tool for writers to create well-rounded, realistic characters. Each sign has such a variety of traits!)

WQ:  Which zodiac character was the most fun to write? The most difficult? 

KOT:  Leo and Virgo were by far my favorite signs to write – their characters were so distinct and vivacious and fun! I had the most difficult time writing Pisces. Two fish, but not twins (that’s Gemini’s domain, after all!). I had a difficult time coming up with a challenge that involved fish but was still exciting and unique. I hope I made my Pisces friends proud! 

Thank you, Shalena, for hosting me today! I appreciate any opportunity to chat about books and reading! :-D

And thank you, Kristin, for sharing with us! ^_^

If you want to read my review of The 13th Sign, you can find it here, or if you want to know what I learned about my own zodiac sign(s) after reading Kristin's novel, just click here.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY: Don't forget that the giveaway for a signed copy of The 13th Sign and swag ends tonight! Click HERE to go to the giveaway page!

Thanks for reading!

My Old/New/Hodgepodge Zodiac Sign

In The 13th Sign by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, Jalen Jones accidentally unlocks the 13th sign, Ophiuchus (the healer), causing everyone in the world to have their personalities changed to match their new sign. People who were calm and stoic one minute are suddenly emotionally unstable. Sarcastic and aloof people have become friendly and helpful. How crazy would that be? Do our zodiac signs have that much of an impact on us?

I don't think so. True, I used to read the horoscopes in my local newspaper or a magazine on occasion, and I loved reading the little descriptions of my zodiac sign on magnets and t-shirts and other trinkets. I even liked to see what my Chinese zodiac sign was when I'd visit a local restaurant. But I never believed in any of it. Sometimes the descriptions seemed to fit, sometimes they didn't. It was interesting if not entirely accurate.

So when I read The 13th Sign, I was interested to see what the signs, no longer symbols but characters, were like and if my old one or my new one fit me better. Here is what Tubb's website says about my signs:

Traditional 12-Sign Zodiac:

Capricorn (the goat) - ambitious, trustworthy, calm, a loner, pessimistic, and determined

The 13-Sign Zodiac:

Sagittarius (the archer) - cheerful, optimistic, generous, restless, controlling, and logical

Reading these descriptors is kind of funny because if you were to put all the adjectives together and form one big list (Capritarius? Sagicorn?), it actually fits me pretty well. Even the antonyms, such as optimistic (Sagittarius) and pessimistic (Capricorn) are accurate because while I tend to have a realistic and sometimes gloomy view of things (pessimist), I still try to stay positive and look on the bright side (optimist).

Want to know what your traditional sign and your new sign are? You can head over to Tubb's website and take The 13th Sign Quiz. Not only will you find out your two signs, you will also find out which sign you act like. 

What sign do I act like?

Leo (the lion) - affectionate, self-confident, creative, vain, gullible, and independent

Again, more adjectives to add to my mish-mash of a zodiac sign (Lesagicap? Head of lion, body of a goat, and a bow?) All of this may just solidify my belief that the zodiac is mostly full of guidelines and for entertainment, not a hard and fast rule of personalities, but it is still fun to see what they are all about.

Want to see what life would be like if the zodiac really had an impact on your personality? Read Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's The 13th Sign! It is a fun and fast-paced adventure through the zodiac with a lot of heart.

Don't have a copy? Get your hands on a signed hardcover by entering my giveaway HERE before it ends on July 19th!

I hope you enjoyed this little rundown of my zodiac results! What do you think of the zodiac? Share your thoughts and your results of The 13th Sign Quiz in the comments! And don't forget to come back Friday for an interview with the author!

Thanks for reading!

The 13th Sign GIVEAWAY!

 
Have you ever wondered if the zodiac really determined your personality? What if the zodiac changed, and you changed with it?

This is what happens to 13-year-old Jalen Jones in Kristin O'Donnell Tubb's MG/YA novel, The 13th Sign. This book is a lot of fun and I enjoyed getting the chance to read it (my review is here). Now you have that chance too!

What if there was a 13th zodiac sign?

You’re no longer Sagittarius, but Ophiuchus, the healer, the 13th sign.

Your personality has changed. So has your mom’s and your best friend’s.

What about the rest of the world?

What if you were the one who accidentally unlocked the 13th sign, causing this world-altering change—and infuriating the other 12 signs? 

Jalen did it, and now she must use every ounce of her strength and cunning to send the signs back where they belong. Lives, including her own, depend on it.

I have a signed hardcover copy of The 13th Sign and some swag to give away, so just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. All of my usual giveaway rules apply (you can find them HERE) and the giveaway runs from today, July 15th, to 11:59pm CST on July 19th.

And don't forget to check back here later this week for more zodiac fun and an interview with the author, Kristin O'Donnell Tubb!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2013 Goodreads Rundown [May - June]

A new year, a new and improved update post! To be honest, not much has changed for these posts except the name, but if you aren't familiar with my Goodreads Reading Challenge updates, this is where I give more detailed stats on what I've read so far this year.
 
My goal number this year is 90. I read over 100 last year with a goal of only 75 so I figured I would increase it a bit this go-round. I'm moving right along and am farther than I thought I would be at this point.

Reading the stats: In my #/# calculations, the first # pertains only to the current months; the second # is the total thus far for the year.

Main Breakdown 
Books read to date: 66

Books read in May: 10

Books read in June: 9

Average books read per month: 9.5/11

Books reviewed: 10/25
 
Type Breakdown
YA books: 17/58

Non-YA books: 2/8

Print books: 8/24

Audiobooks:11/42

 Genre Breakdown
Paranormal: 8/26

Contemporary: 2/9

Fantasy: 0/1

Science Fiction: 3/13

High Concept: 1/1
Historical: 1/4
Dystopian/Apocalyptic: 2/4
Mystery/Thriller: 1/2
Classic: 1/6
Reference/Craft: 0/0

 Title and Review Breakdown
Everneath by Brodi Ashton

The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (WQ Review)

Partials by Dan Wells (WQ Review)

 If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

Game by Barry Lyga (WQ Review)

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Ink by Amanda Sun (WQ Review)

The Elite by Kiera Cass (WQ Review)

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (WQ Review)

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay (WQ Review)

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Arclight by Josie L. McQuien (WQ Review)

The 13th Sign by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb (WQ Review)

Darkest Hour by Meg Cabot

The Grass is Always Greener by Jen Calonita (WQ Review)

How are you doing on your reading challenge?

Link a post or review if you wish! ^_^

Reading Challenges Update [June 2013]

Hey quirks! I've decided to split up my reading updates due to how many challenges I am participating in this year. In 2012, I was only keeping up with my Goodreads Reading Challenge and I liked how I did that one and all the stats I kept up with, but I'm going to call them something different. The new title for those updates will be "2013 Goodreads Rundown" and they will appear bimonthly.

This series of posts I'm calling Reading Challenges Update is for all the other challenges I am trying to complete. These updates will be less detailed as far as stats go because I will just be listing the individual challenges and which books fit under them that I read during the previous month.

*Completed*

June: 4 --- Total: 32/24

The Elite by Kiera Cass (The Selection #2)
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Caster Chronicles #3)
Darkest Hour by Meg Cabot (The Mediator #4)
The Grass is Always Greener by Jen Calonita (Belles #3)


*Completed*

June: 4 --- Total: 42/25+

The Elite by Kiera Cass (The Selection #2)
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Caster Chronicles #3)
Arclight by Josin L. McQuien (Arclight #1)

The Grass is Always Greener by Jen Calonita (Belles #3)

*Completed*

June: 0 --- Total: 6

June: 1 --- Total: 6/12

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay [Keyword: Sea]

June: 4 --- Total: 28/36

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (Cold Kiss #1)

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Caster Chronicles #3)

Darkest Hour by Meg Cabot (The Mediator #4)

June: 1 --- Total: 6/12

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (Cold Kiss #1) [Creature: Zombie]