Diana is a blogger for Quirk Books, a fabulous publisher based in Philly. Quirk has produced some mega hits you might recognize, like Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, Pride And Prejudice And Zombies, and The Worst-Case Scenerio Guides. Quirk is a “seeker of all things awesome,” and their blog definitely fits the bill.
Below are Diana blogs about YA, obscure holidays, and anything quirky:
Anti-Valentine’s Day Books For The Brokenhearted, February 8, 2017
Some call it Valentine’s Day, some call it Single Awareness Day (SAD). If you fall into the latter group, you are likely looking for a way to either ignore the hearts and flowers overflowing from every store aisle, or you are expanding your right to protest by launching a full-scale Anti-Valentine’s Day attack… read on
6 Stories Set In Locations Named After Columbus, October 10, 2016
If you’re one of the lucky few who has off today, then you probably know it’s Columbus Day. Otherwise, you might not realize it’s a holiday until you see the commercials for Columbus Day Weekend Sales. (Thank you, Macy’s.)…read on
Hot Diggity Dog! Six Books To Get You In The Mood For National Hot Dog Month, July 22, 2016
Did you know that July is National Hot Dog Month? Probably not unless you work for Oscar Mayer or Hebrew National. But don’t fret, there’s still time to celebrate. So go out and buy your 10-pack of hot dogs and an annoyingly unsynchronized 8-pack of buns, then pick up one of these 6 books to show your appreciation for blended pork bits… read on
The Ultimate Pride And Prejudice And Zombies Playlist, January 29, 2016
The film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies will be hitting theaters next month, six years after the debut of the novel that arguably spawned the entire mashup, steampunk genre. If you’re excited to see Elizabeth Bennett on-screen kissing Mr. Darcy and slaying zombie butt, you’re not alone… read on
Can We Just Talk About The Baby-Sitters Club’s Magical Child-Minding Powers?, August 20, 2015
Remember a time when reading about 11-12 year olds watching the neighborhood kids seemed like a plausible arrangement? Ah, youth.
It’s a far departure from today’s norm, where new parents often expect their babysitters to be professional child-rearing experts. (I currently have two nannies who alternate watching my 4-year-old and 9-month-old. Both have college degrees in early childhood development!) So when I re-read the first book in the series, Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin, I thought I’d chuckle over outdated babysitting blunders. Only I’ve come to realize that maybe modern-day nannies could take a page or two from these preternaturally mature middle-schoolers… read on
6 Must-Read Books Featuring Transgender Protagonists, July 27, 2015
If Caitlyn Jenner has taught us anything in the short time since she transitioned, it is that the world is very much ready to discuss, and hopefully embrace, the transgender community. From Laverne Cox on Orange Is The New Black to Jenner’s Diane Sawyer interview and reality show, transgender individuals—and particularly trans*women—have never been more represented in television. And we have a feeling the publishing world is soon to follow. Before we see a boom in much-deserved transgender books hitting the shelves, we thought we’d take a moment to point out the trailblazers who are already out there… read on
Six YA Novels To Rock Out To For Music In Our Schools Month, March 18, 2015
I played the flute when I was a kid. It was an illustrious career. We held concerts for our parents, and gathered at the local train station to serenade commuters during the Christmas holidays. My entire musical education was garnered through my public school. The music teacher taught me how to read notes, tap my foot, follow the conductor, and it was all free. And while my career might have been short-lived, for many kids, it’s life saving. This is why Music in Our Schools Month is so important. And to celebrate the holiday this March, why not enjoy some YA novels that demonstrate just how important music is for teenagers (and everyone else)… read on
Grooming Your Child To Be The Next President, One Book At A Time, February 11, 2015
I recently had a baby boy, who I named Lincoln. The response I’ve gotten, almost nine times out of a ten is, “That’s a strong name.” It is. Obviously everyone associates it with the sixteenth president (though I’ll be honest, I really got it from a TV show). That said, I figured if you’re going to saddle your kid with a famous name, then you at least need to educate him on his namesake… read on
Six Books For Women Who Love Football. Yes, We Exist. January 30, 2015
I just won my Fantasy Football League. First time ever, though I’ve played for five years. (Thank you, Andrew Luck and DeMarco Murray!) I watch football every Sunday; I go to at least one Philadelphia Eagles game per year; I think the NFL RedZone Channel is amazing; and when I have a babysitter, I head to a bar for Monday Night Football. Yes, I’m a woman. And it turns out I’m not alone… read on
Banned Books Week: A YA Survival Kit To Get You Through Banned Books Week, September 22, 2014
Leaves are falling, pumpkins are plumping, and books are being banned. It must be fall. This year, if you’re going to survive Banned Books Week, I thought I’d provide you with ten essentials featured prominently in ten of the most challenged young adult novels. This way you can arm yourself with the knowledge, and items, that the parents in your community are protecting you from. Because as we all know, if you don’t read about taboo things in books, then of course, they will never affect you. So get your flashlights, bottled water, and canned goods ready, then be sure to add the following items to your Banned Books Survival Kit… read on
If I Stay…On The Internet Long Enough To Find Awesome Fan Art, August 4, 2014
YA readers put the passion back into books. From Twihards to Potterheads, these teens create mega best sellers, know every detail of their favorite novels, can pick each discrepancy in their long-awaited book-to-film adaptations, and can bust box office records. They write fan fiction, go to fan conventions, and steal movie props that their favorite characters sat on. But my favorite trend with the YA set has to be fan art… read on
Pack Your Beach Bag With These 2014 Summer Releases, June 16, 2014
The start of summer officially begins June 21st, and with it come the flip flops, beach bags, and of course, summer reads. So to ensure you don’t get caught grabbing the first thing you see at the airport gift shop, below is a list of highly anticipated, and highly reviewed, beach books to get you through the summer… read on
Seven Geeky Chocolate-Covered Ways To Celebrate February, February 14, 2014
I live within a two-hour drive of Hershey, PA. This means I am inundated with ads for “Chocolate-Covered February.” So much so that one year, my husband and I drove to the Chocolate Spa only to learn its cocoa facials and buttercream manipedis are booked months in advance. So if you’re looking to a get a chocolate fix this February and you can’t get in the door for a Whipped Cocoa Bath or Chocolate Sugar Scrub, might I suggest you indulge in one of the books, films, shows, or comics below… read on
Are You Ready For Some Football… Adaptations? Six Screen Faves, January 29, 2014
Super Bowl XLVII is upon us (in the Meadowlands, no less), and in honor of this beer-sodden event, I’ve compiled a list of football movies to get you in the first-and-ten spirit. But these aren’t your average sports flicks. Instead, all have been adapted from books—both fiction and nonfiction. So if you really want to sound smart while scarfing down those suicide-spicy Buffalo wings on February 2nd, sample some of the required reading below… read on
How To Appreciate A Dragon, January 13, 2014
This Thursday is Dragon Appreciation Day. No seriously, it is. Our country has designated an entire day just to contemplate the wonder of these magical, mythical beasts. And in case you’re caught off guard and utterly unprepared to honor these fire-breathing monsters, I’m about to give you six great books in multiple genres that will present ample time for you to be respectful and reflective on the hallowed holiday… read on
Thanksgivukkah, The Newest, Not The First, Mash-Up Holiday, November 25, 2013
It’s not every year you see a turkey-shaped menorah. In fact, this is the first time in 125 years that the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah has shared a date with the pilgrims, Native Americans, and turkeys that brought us Thanksgiving. And it won’t happen again for another 77,000 years. So bust out your creative latke and cranberry sauce recipes, make some challah stuffing, and reminisce about all those years you shared this holiday with a Christmas tree… read on
Ten Excellent Ya Chica Lit Novels To Read During Hispanic Heritage Month, September 13, 2013
Just as the rise of “chick lit” is often credited to Helen Fielding’s debut Bridget Jones’s Diary, the birth of “chica lit” is said to swell from Alisa Valdes’ debut megahit The Dirty Girls Social Club. And if you haven’t guessed already, essentially the genre is a segment of women’s fiction that features a Latina protagonist, and it has a young adult counterpart.
Six Publishing-Themed Movies For Every Literary Genre, September 27, 2013
The publishing industry might not be the most natural fit for exciting on-screen moments. (I’m still waiting for the reality version of So You Think You Can Write?) But that doesn’t mean that Hollywood has completely ignored the thrill that can be found in creating the written word. So if you’re looking for films featuring your beloved profession, below are some movies that tackle every aspect of the publishing industry from literary agents, to bloggers, to ghost writers, to children’s books, to the occasional psychotic editor… read on
