Wednesday, August 28, 2013

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:

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

Sunday, August 25, 2013

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.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

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

Thursday, August 8, 2013

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

Sunday, August 4, 2013

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]