Wearable Cosplay Wednesday is a weekly series where we guide you through a casual cosplay of one of your favorite characters. 

Harper Price has always been one of my favorite YA heroines. She's strong, smart, and type A, but she's also a total realist. I remember a part in the book where her mentor was like, "You may have to sacrifice yourself for someone else." Harper's response was basically, "Thanks, but no thanks." 

Plus, she's the protagonist and most recognizable character in Rebel Belle. So it was pretty clear to me my casual cosplay for this week would be Harper Price inspired. 

It's difficult to come up with a casual cosplay for a book character. It's not as if books come with a visual guide. So unless the book has been adapted into a movie or television show, you really have to piece together outfit clues from the book.  Since Harper Price has never been adapted for the screen, I had my work cut out for me. 

Treat Yo Self Tuesday is a weekly series where we show you how to prepare a nerdy treat based on our week's theme. 

Anyone who has read  Rebel Belle  knows that a big deal is made out of something called Hummingbird Cake. The cake plays an integral  part in two major plot points in the book, with Harper and her mother actually baking the cake during one scene.  So Hummingbird Cake--with maybe a side of sweet tea--is basically the perfect treat to eat while you kick back and enjoy ​ Rebel Belle. 

Wearable Cosplay Wednesday is a weekly series where we walk you through a casual cosplay of your favorite character. 

​Once I decided I was taking on all things Rat Queens this week, I knew this was going to be my chance to casual cosplay Betty. Betty is a great choice for casual cosplay both because she's an awesome character and because her outfit is seemingly pretty easy to replicate.

With the exception of her hood and crop top, she's basically already wearing my everyday clothes. So, how hard could it be?

Treat Yo Self Tuesday is a weekly series where we walk you through making a nerdy meal or dessert (or both). 

Anyone who's read Rat Queens knows that Betty, like most everyone, loves her some candy. And spoiler alert: I love Betty. On at least two separate occasions, she's put  in charge of food, both times providing only candy and drugs. When mixing a cocktail at their party, she charmingly says, "Booze and candy! Two out of three of my favorite things in life, poured in a glass! I'd mix in the third thing, but I've yet to figure out how to make an orgasm an ingredient." 

So, clearly, she's my best friend. 

Anyways, the food. Obviously, I needed to have something with candy so that Betty will love me as much as I love her.  Betty also talks about mushrooms (likely of the hallucinoginic variety) an awful lot, even going to pick mushrooms while questing,  so I considered a mushroom themed meal. There's also candy apple martinis. And, at one point, Betty whips up some flapjacks. But, ultimately, it seems that Betty's truest love is candy, so what better way to celebrate her and the Rat Queens than with a candy cake? 

Must Read (or Watch) (or Play) Monday is a weekly series where we announce what book, television show, movie, or video game we're obsessing over this week.  

You guys, I'm. So. Excited. It's Rat Queens  week.  I'll be honest--I know very little about comics. I mostly just know that I love them. But most of the ones I've read and loved, I discovered only because someone much wiser than me recommended it. And, of course,  Rat Queens   is no exception.

​I was lucky enough to receive the Deluxe Edition for Christmas,  and I totally devoured it. Then I talked about it non-stop to all the people kind enough to pretend to care (thanks, guys).  And, now, I'm just going to do what I do best--talk about it more. You're welcome. 

So, what is  Rat Queens? ​

Treat Yo Self Tuesday is a weekly series where we walk you through making a nerdy meal or dessert (or both) from your favorite series.

When deciding what Star Wars treats to make, it's actually a pretty hard call. Sure, you can make Star Wars themed food pretty easily. There's Wookie Cookies, Han Burgers, and even a Death Star cake (if you're feeling extra ambitious). But what of actual food from the Star Wars universe?

Some food is mentioned in passing in the series, but never with enough real detail to know what the characters are actually eating. The Star Wars video games feature a wider variety of food, but they're less well-known, so you really miss hitting the greatest number of fans.

But there are at least two foods mentioned in the movies that have built up some pretty good lore around them: Yoda's root-leaf stew and bantha milk ​.

Must Read (or Watch) (or Play) Monday is a weekly series where we  announce what book, television show, movie, or video game we're obsessing over this week.  

Here at Common Novel, it's Star Wars week, baby. Yeah, I  know--The Force Awakens   came out a month ago.  But, I don't even care. That movie was awesome and I'm still not over it, so I plan to use this week to celebrate all things Star Wars. Today, I'm talking about some of your Star Wars entertainment options, but later this week, I'll be bringing you some Star Wars treats and some casual Star Wars cosplay.  So, without further ado, let's head on over to Mos  Eisley Cantina and get this party started. ​