Blog Posts

How To Make The Perfect Baked Ham

published by Elizabeth Ann Q... on January 28, 2013 - 11:00am

When you’re the host of a get-together, there’s nothing more reassuring than to know you’ve got a ginormously gorgeous baked ham ready to be the centerpiece of the table.

Your guests will not be able to resist the sweet glaze that flavors each spectacular, succulent slice of this ham. Make it ahead, bake it while you’re wrapping presents or writing cards. And when you’re ready to serve, put it beside other entrees, the bread basket and wine.

This ham’s versatility is the best part. If there are leftovers, you can have some flavorful ham sandwiches, sides, salads or whatever ham heaven your heart desires.

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies The Interactive eBook App: Free Through the 28th!

published by Eric Smith on January 25, 2013 - 9:49am

Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice turns 200 this Monday, and here at the Quirk HQ, we've been busy celebrating. Giveaways with bloggers, some fun guest posts, all kinds of good stuff. 

What Makes a Good YA Fantasy (And How to Spot It)

published by Laura Crockett on January 24, 2013 - 11:01am

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Let’s start with the obvious: young adult (YA) is booming. It’s an unavoidable fact of book life. You find yourself waiting for weeks for a copy of The Hunger Games from your library, you get lost in the mass of books shoved onto the small shelves in bookstores, and publishers seem to only talk about YA in all its forms. YA is the “it” group, and for very good reason.

If you’re over 18 and reading this post, do not be ashamed to walk into the teen section of a bookstore or library. You’re in the midst of some great stories about self-discovery, overcoming adversity and discrimination, and all those things that every individual experiences at some point in life. The age of the protagonists in YA defines the genre, not the readership. Take a look at the Harry Potter craze! Children, teens, and adults were all reading about the boy wizard.

Speaking of wizards, another enticing and popular genre is fantasy. It’s a genre people love to love, or love to avoid. Surely there’s a story in each reader’s life when they first read fantasy, even if it was just to try it out. Depending on the book, the reader either became hooked or avoided the genre like the plague.

But fantasy can be intimidating; all those alternate worlds, creatures, pages to keep track of. It’s overwhelming!

And that’s where the beauty of YA simplicity waltzes in. YA is notorious for simpler writing with big plots. This is perfect for those extending feelers around the fantasy genre. No one wants page after page of description and back-story on a bush on the side of the path (think Lord of the Rings) for their very first. While those can be nice and interesting, it’s more suited for the established fantasy lover. Instead, YA fantasy is like a giant pool with tiny steps leading you ever so slowly deeper and deeper into the variety of magical possibilities.

So… what makes a good YA fantasy, you ask?

Celebrating Australia Day!

published by Katie Preston T... on January 24, 2013 - 10:56am

Australians love celebrating Australia Day for several reasons.

Not only is it a public holiday (and we all love those) but it’s a time to gather the crew together and celebrate what it means to be an Aussie. Think playing cricket in your togs with ice-cream running down your arm coz it’s 40 degrees outside.

Some of Our Favorite Literary T-Shirts

published by Maria Vicente on January 23, 2013 - 11:29am

Book lovers like to talk about books. A lot. So much so that there usually isn't time to list off all of our favorites and explain why we fell in love with The BFG so many years ago - or how Bella Swan is the perfect representation of our twenty-five-year-old-selves. That was a joke.

On those days when talking just doesn't seem like enough, we luckily have clothes that can spread the message for us. Forget about wearing your heart on your sleeve - wear your favorite book on your torso.

Worst-Case Wednesday: How to Train Your Flying Monkeys

published by Jennifer Murphy on January 23, 2013 - 11:19am

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Ever get a cute, fluffy critter for a new pet and then suddenly realize you’re in over your head when it comes to taking care of them? If it’s a big pet, you’re in trouble, because they can wreak some havoc, terrorizing everybody they come in contact with.

Those pesky flying monkeys, for example- how did the Wicked Witch of the West manage to bend so many unpredictable creatures to her every whim?. Luckily, if you’ve got a massive pet (say, like a flying monkey) that you just can’t seem to control, The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Paranormal can help!

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