Cuddlebuggery Getting to Know You Bloghop & Giveaway
Hello old friends and welcome new ones to Wandering through the Words (aka all the crazy in Shannon's head that spills out and gets shared on the Internet). I'm excited to join Cuddlebuggery on this mission to make more blog friends.
For those of you who don't know, I'm the author of Love and Other Unknown Variables, a contemporary young adult novel about a high school math prodigy with a clear path for his future. Charlie Hanson is determined to graduate at the top of his class, go to MIT next year, and win the Nobel Prize shortly thereafter, that is until he meets Charlotte Finch, a new girl in town with a mathematical symbol tattoo and a secret that will change the trajectory of his entire future.I was inspired to write Love and Other Unknown Variables while watching my friend, Emily Bright, brave chemotherapy treatments for ovarian cancer. I figured if she could keep her courage and hope up while facing toxic medicines, I could surely finish a story idea and see what happens from there.
I'd known Emily since we were nine. I'm the kind of person who can only manage a handful of good friends at a time. As an introvert, handling the emotional and physical output of large groups is draining, but being with Emily somehow made it possible for me to function in a large group.
Em was like a human resistor in an electrical circuit, siphoning off what would surely have blown my fuse so that I could safely hang out with our group of friends. And believe me, there was always a large group of adoring friends around her. Without her, I would have missed out an some amazing and fun memory making moments.But she also understood my need to spend quiet time, just the two of us, doing nothing at all really—listening to music, reading Tiger Beat magazine, watching Grease repeatedly…
Em was full of life, laughter, and hope. When she passed away, I was sure I'd end up alone, but somehow, even after her death, she has kept connecting me to people. People like all of you.
Nowadays, I love being able to connect with readers and bloggers, people who have a shared interest in the things that I love. And I count each and every new connection as a gift from my Em.
So, to get to know you better, I'm going to share a few random things. Take a minute to share in the comments below so I can get to know you, too.
Things about me:
Coffee.
Family titles I hold (in the order they were bestowed upon me): Daughter, niece, sister, wife, aunt, mother.
My favorite number is 3. My least favorite is 89. I used to hate getting an 89 as a grade. I'd have preferred an 88 even to an 89. Ugh.
My favorite living writers are Harper Lee, Rainbow Rowell, Maggie Stiefvater, RJ Palacio, and John Green.My favorite dead writers are Jane Austen, Madeleine L'Engle, and Edgar Allan Poe.
I'm very worried about my cactus, Yesssssss! I've never had a cactus so I don't know what's normal, but he's losing color and leaning a bit to the right. Advice?
Clowns scare me. Unicorns are awesome.
I have a tattoo. I'll probably be getting another one.
My bookshelves are organized by color.
Speaking of books, I've got a few books to giveaway to my new and old friends here on the blog. Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below to win a signed copy of Love and Other Unknown Variables and a copy of the book I pay homage to, To Kill a Mockingbird. The contest is open to US residents only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This blog hop is to let people know a little about yourself and who you are and to get your name out there!
Hi! My name is Regina and although I live in Texas, I have no idea how to resuscitate a cactus. I am a huge classical music nerd and I read a wide variety of genres. I believe in the motto "no book left behind". Thanks for the awesome giveaway! XOXO
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Regina!
DeleteDoes "no book left behind" mean you'll try any genre, or that once you start a book, you must finish it, even if reading it makes you want to slam your thumbs in a drawer?
I'm Emily and I'm a huge book nerd, with a love if fantasy and sci fi YA.
ReplyDeleteBook nerds rule! Thanks for saying hello, Emily!
DeleteI'm Dede and I'm a teacher. On the weekends, though, I only allow myself to read mind candy --- books that will not make me think about work for a single second!
ReplyDeleteDede
I love a good brain candy binge!
DeleteHi, friend! Love your post and the story behind your book, which you know I also adored!
ReplyDeleteHaha I'm terrible at remembering to read what I should comment about before actually doing it. Sooo, coming back to share something interesting...and kind of drawing a blank, because I am terribly boring. But I know all the world capitals - does that count?
ReplyDeleteDearest Dahlia, you are anything but boring! :)
Delete<3 I have to admit that your affinity for the #3 is endlessly puzzling to me. That's probably my least favorite number ever. Just look at it! It's so...ugh. All-time fave for me is 126, because I'm self-obsessed and that's my birthday ;) #morefunfacts
DeleteI religiously watch late night shows in the morning with coffee. I guess it just makes my morning better? I have a tendency of reading halfway through a book and starting another. I love reading YA horror , but I'm scared of the dark.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of late night shows in the morning. I can never stay up late enough to watch them! Thanks for stopping by, Kara!
DeleteHello! Nice to meet you. I'm Molly and my dream is to become a writer. Congrats on your book! That must be so exciting!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Molly. Good luck to you!
DeleteHi Shannon, please to meet you :) I'm with you on the coffee, Stiefvater, John Green, and Austen. I am not sure about your cactus, I have the opposed to a green thumb (brown?) Oh, and my bookshelves are organized by author.
ReplyDeleteI'm great at outdoor plants and veggie gardens, but plants that live in my house don't do so well. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteIt's so nice to meet you, Shannon! A couple of things:
ReplyDelete1) Thank you so much for sharing the story of your friendship with Emily. It sounds like the two of you were very lucky to have one another.
2) From what you've said about Yesssssss!, I'm wondering if a) he needs to be getting more light and / or b) he's getting too much water. Either of these things could be the problem. Also, if he's leaning to the side, try turning his pot every now and then. Cacti and other plants grow towards light, so he may need to be rotated so that he can grow the other direction for a while.
3) I've added Love and Other Unknown Variables to my Goodreads TBR list!
Finally! Cactus advice! Yesssssss! may be getting too little sun, but he's already in the sunniest place in the house--it's just cold and gray a lot here. I don't think I'm overwatering him. I think in the year I've owned him, I've maybe watered him four times? Perhaps he's thirsty? How do I know? Poor Yesssssss! His mom is clueless!
DeleteAnd thank you for adding Love and Other Unknown Variables to your list. I truly hope you enjoy it.
Hi Shannon! This is Anna aka lostbraincell! Unicorns are awesome. I believe heaven is full of them... and pink and purple fluffy bunny rabbits. Plus all the people I've lost over the years. I'm also pretty sure I may sorta totally believe unicorns are real.
ReplyDeleteUnicorn lovers unite!
DeleteOh man I just died laughing reading your post about Yessssss! (I think it is a testament to how frequently this happens when I read at work that no one even glanced my way during this particular episode). Sadly, I struggle keeping plants alive ever, so I am of no use to you on that front.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your friend, but I'm really glad to hear that you still feel connected to people :)
1. COFFEE IS LIFE.
2. You know, I've never thought about least favourite numbers before, but man you are so right about 89's. They're infuriating!
3. What/where's your tattoo?
Ankle tat from when I was 18. Still love it. The new one will be on my inner wrist.
DeleteThanks for stopping by!
I'm Betsy and apart from being book obsessed, I am also obsessed with Korean dramas and Anime. ( My Korean actor crush is Lee Min Ho. Yes I have a huge crush on him. *embarrassed*)
ReplyDeleteI feel like I've "met" a bunch of people on this blog hop obsessed with K-dramas (is that how I've seen it written?). Now I want to see what you are all so in love with!
DeleteThanks for sharing, Betsy!
like to bake
ReplyDeleteI loved baking until I realized my son and I have a gluten intolerance. I still have to bake because gluten free stuff is so expensive, but my heart isn't in it anymore because only about half of what I try actually tastes good!
DeleteBecause my fingers are too big and the screen is too small on my phone, I accidentally deleted instead of publishing this fabulous comment from Sherry. Sorry, Sherry! Wish I was in New Mexico!
ReplyDeleteI'm sherry from Iowa but retired in NM. Better winter here and right now sure glad I'm not in all the snow. Love reading books and blogs.
Also, visit Sherry's blog here: http://scrapbookingandcardmakingbysherry.blogspot.com
DeleteI am Shannon also (fun!) and I used to be addicted to swimming the same way I am now addicted to reading. And yes to coffee. Always yes to coffee!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could be addicted to swimming. My kids and husband are all swimmers and since I can't run very much anymore, I think it'd be good for me. BUT to swim I have to face three things I most dislike: 1) wetness, 2) cold, and 3) bathing suits.
DeleteThanks for stopping by! *raises coffee cup in a toast*