S.I. Mathews

Saturday, April 12, 2014

An Unhappy Hiatus

Hello quirks,

I've been putting this off because I was hoping circumstances would change and I wouldn't need to do this, but they haven't, so here we are.

Writer Quirk is going on an indefinite hiatus starting today.

I love blogging and reviewing, but my mental health is at a point right now where the stress of trying to keep posting reviews and such when I'm barely reading and barely functioning offline is one thing too many. I've never been a super-frequent poster and have been very lenient with myself on how I run this blog, but the guilt of not reading and not posting is getting to me, so I need a break from it.

It's difficult to put into words what is going on in my head that is making life so tough, so suffice it to say that despite efforts to battle my depression, I'm losing. In a way, things have gotten better since I switched to a new medication, as in suicidal thoughts and self-harm impulses are way down, but the pervasive sadness and lethargy I feel seems to only increase. Add in new stress at my day job and my usual stress at home, and I'm a zombie pretending to be human only when necessary, and it is exhausting.

I hope to return sooner rather than later, but only time will tell if that is possible. Until then, I hope you read amazing books, write your hearts out, and live life to the fullest.

~Shalena @ Writer Quirk

Friday, April 4, 2014

Reading Challenge Update [March 2014]

Hey quirks! Welcome to my Reading Challenge Update (RCU). I'm doing a few of the same challenges as last year, and I added a couple new ones as well. I'm really excited about these challenges because challenges like these pushed me to read more in 2013, so I hope the same will happen this year because my goals are even bigger!

Unlike my Goodreads Rundowns where I give a bunch of stats, here I will just be listing the books I read during the previous month under the challenges to which they apply. To see where I am at between these posts, check out my Reading Challenges tab above.

This Month: 5 --- Total: 13/75
Until I Die by Amy Plum (Revenants #2)
If I Should Die by Amy Plum (Revenants #3)
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis (Woodcutter Sisters #1)

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd (The Madman's Daughter #1)

This Month: 1 --- Total: 3/12

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams (Incarnation #1) [Key Word: Forever]

This Month: 2 --- Total: 3/12

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity #1) [Motif: Award Winner]

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis (Woodcutter Sisters #1) [Motif: Fairy Tales]

This Month: 6 --- Total: 14/40

Until I Die by Amy Plum (Revenants #2)

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (Code Name Verity #1)

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis (Woodcutter Sisters #1)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd (The Madman's Daughter #1)

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams (Incarnation #1)

This Month: 0 --- Total: 0/1

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Ink Anticipation [20] - April 2014

Welcome to Ink Anticipation! This feature is for sharing the top five YA releases I am looking forward to this month.

Don't forget to share your most anticipated releases in the comments!

Goodreads / Release Date: April 8th

Goodreads / Release Date: April 15th

Goodreads / Release Date: April 22nd

Thursday, March 6, 2014

2014 Goodreads Rundown [January - February]

Welcome to my Goodreads Rundown post, where I give detailed stats on what I've read so far this year. To see where I'm at between these posts, you can check my Reading Challenges tab above.

My goal this year is more than I've ever read before, so I'm a little nervous but trying to stay focused on reading regularly.

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: 14

Books read in January: 12

Books read in February: 2

Average books read per month: 7/7

Books reviewed: 10/10

Type/Format Breakdown
YA books: 13/13

Non-YA books: 1/1

Print books: 6/6

Audiobooks: 8/8

Genre Breakdown
Paranormal: 5/5

Contemporary: 4/4

Fantasy: 0/0

Science Fiction: 2/2

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

Title and Review Breakdown
Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill (WQ Review)
Saving Raphael Santiago by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan
The Savage Grace by Bree Despain (WQ Review)

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare (WQ Review)

This is Not a Writing Manual by Kerri Majors

Champion by Marie Lu (WQ Review)

Shadow Eyes by Dusty Crabtree (WQ Review)

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson (WQ Review)

Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando (WQ Review)

Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher (WQ Review)

Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita

Icons by Margaret Stohl (WQ Review)
The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler

What are your reading goals for 2014?

Let me know in the comments! ^_^

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Reading Challenge Update [February 2014]

This Month: 1 --- Total: 8/75
Icons by Margaret Stohl (Icons #1)

This Month: 1 --- Total: 2/12

The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler [Key Word: Dark]

This Month: 0 --- Total: 1/12

This Month: 1 --- Total: 8/40

The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler

This Month: 0 --- Total: 0/1

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Ink Anticipation [19] - March 2014

Welcome to Ink Anticipation! This feature is for sharing the top five YA releases I am looking forward to this month.

Don't forget to share your most anticipated releases in the comments!

Goodreads / Release Date: March 4th

Goodreads / Release Date: March 11th

Goodreads / Release Date: March 25th

Friday, February 7, 2014

Reading Challenge Update [January 2014]

This Month: 7 --- Total: 7/75
Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Saving Raphael Santiago by Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan (The Bane Chronicles #6)
City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #5)
Champion by Marie Lu (Legend #3)
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang (The Hybrid Chronicles #1)
Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando
Ketchup Clouds by Annabel Pitcher

This Month: 1 --- Total: 1/12

Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita (Secrets of My Hollywood Life #1) [Key Word: Secret]

This Month: 1 --- Total: 1/12

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson (Shades of London #2) [Motif: Around the World]

This Month: 7 --- Total: 7/40

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

The Savage Grace by Bree Despain (The Dark Divine #3)

Champion by Marie Lu (Legend #3)

Shadow Eyes by Dusty Crabtree

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang (The Hybrid Chronicles #1)

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson (Shades of London #2)

Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita (Secrets of My Hollywood Life #1)

This Month: 0 --- Total: 0/1

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Ink Anticipation [18] - February 2014

Welcome to Ink Anticipation! This feature is for sharing the top five YA releases I am looking forward to this month.

Don't forget to share your most anticipated releases in the comments!

Goodreads / Release Date: February 4th

Goodreads / Release Date: February 11th

Goodreads / Release Date: February 11th

Goodreads / Release Date: February 25th

Goodreads / Release Date: February 27th

Friday, January 10, 2014

My ROOMIE Story + GIVEAWAY!!!

Hey Quirks! I have a special treat for you today!

To help spread the word about authors Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando going on tour for their new YA/NA novel ROOMIES, I'm posting my very own ROOMIE story. After you read it, you can check out where Sara and Tara will be visiting on their tour and then enter to win a ROOMIES gift pack!

Sara Zarr Tara Altebrando

My ROOMIE Story:

During my first couple weeks of college, my roommate, Sarah, and I were both involved in sorority recruitment. We were in that stage where you go each night to a themed event. We'd been doing this for a few days already and we were tired of the hustle, bustle, and trying to impress people. To top it off, we'd already made some amazing friends with the girls on our dorm floor, and while they were busy making plans and going out, we were stuck dressing up for events we weren't really into.

One of those nights our dorm friends said they were going to the UC later to watch a movie in the auditorium, and it was a movie we both really wanted to see: Mean Girls. We felt torn - we'd made a commitment to go to these events...but we really, really wanted to hang out with our new friends and go see the movie. Sarah and I debated back and forth about what we should do, and at the end of it, we decided to email our recruitment leaders and let them know that we were withdrawing from recruitment. Sarah and I did this at the exact same time, helping each other write the emails and bolstering each other to hit the send button. When the task was done, we high-fived and, with lighter hearts, got ready for our movie night.

That night turned out to be one of the best of the year. Not only did we have fun with our new group, but that movie became a running theme between us and our friends. We papered our dorm room with quotes, made up songs based on lines in the movie, and even dressed up like the Plastics for a Christmas party (the proof of that one is below). To this day, I remember it as a lesson in following my heart, and I'm glad I got to have that experience with my ROOMIE.

L-R: Me, Shannon, my roomie Sarah, Mona

That was fun! To read more ROOMIE stories, check out NOVL, a YA Tumblr site brought to you by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Now for the important stuff! Hopefully you will get to meet Sara and Tara at one of their confirmed events:

January 12, 2014 - New York, NY: McNally Jackson [more info]
January 15, 2014 - Salt Lake City, UT: The King's English [more info]
January 16, 2014 - Provo, UT: Prove Library [more info]
February 4, 2014 - San Fransisco, CA: Books, Inc, Opera Plaza [more info]
February 5, 2014 - Petaluma, CA: Copperfield's Books [more info]

So what is ROOMIES? Here's the book synopsis from Goodreads:

It's time to meet your new roomie.

When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.

As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met.

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr and acclaimed author Tara Altebrando join forces for a novel about growing up, leaving home, and getting that one fateful e-mail that assigns your college roommate.

Sounds great, right?! I know I can't wait to read it! If you don't want to wait around and see if you win the giveaway, you can find ROOMIES at the following online retailers:

Amazon / IndieBound / The Book Depository

Before you jump down to the Rafflecopter widget to enter to win a copy of ROOMIES, here are some important rules and information for this particular giveaway:

To enter, you must have a US STREET ADDRESS (no PO Boxes, sorry)

The book will be sent out by the publisher, not Writer Quirk.

The winner will be announced in the Rafflecopter widget after the giveaway is over.

The giveaway will end at 11:59pm CST January 14th.

Entering the giveaway means you agree to comply with all terms and conditions.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Ink Anticipation [17] - January 2014

Welcome to Ink Anticipation! This feature is for sharing the top five YA releases I am looking forward to this month.

Don't forget to share your most anticipated releases in the comments!

Goodreads / Release Date: January 7th

Goodreads / Release Date: January 7th

Goodreads / Release Date: January 21st

Goodreads / Release Date: January 28th

Goodreads / Release Date: January 28th

Monday, January 6, 2014

Favority-Fave Reads of 2013

Hey Quirks! Welcome to my favorite reads of 2013 post. Unlike last year, I have limited myself to only 13 books for this list. They are in alphabetical order and all received a rating of 9, 9.5, or 10 from me. Clicking a title will take you to each book's Goodreads page.