Career Addiction

I have a confession. It's kind of embarrassing. In fact, my family and friends bust on me constantly about this confession. 

I've kind of had a lot of careers...

1. Registered Nurse

2. Teacher 

3. Personal Trainer

4. Insurance rep

5. Lifeguard

6. Coach (this one stuck)

And the list goes on and on and on... 

But, I've finally stopped the madness since I started writing. In fact, I've had the same career for three years now. I think it's because I can live through my characters. :) 

I'm blogging about my fave and least fave jobs over at fabulous Tera Lynn Child's blog. Check it out here. And congrats to TLC for her not one, but TWO 2009 RITA nominations!! Yay!! :) 

What is or was your fave job? Your least fave job? 

Have a great day, everyone! :) 

Introducing.. The cover of CHANGE UP!!!

What do you think??? If you look closely at the swirlies, they're actually little softballs. :) 

CHANGE UP, the second book of the SCREWBALL series, drops April 14th! :) 

CHANGE UP is available for a super early bird special $10 pre-order here. 

Have an amazing day, everyone! :) 

Pretty Tough Tuesday: Softball Shamrocks and Superstitions

Happy St. Patty's Day! 

Check out Pretty Tough today for an article about softball superstitions. 

Do you have a good luck routine? As a coach, I never step on chalk lines and always keep everything the same once we win our first game - whether it's the clothes I wear, hair style, sunglasses, etc. In my writing life, I have the same routine before each new novel - a new notebook, character sketches, mag pics, etc. Plus, I don't share a word until I'm done the first draft and two sets of revisions. Also, I have to write at the same time each morning. Wait a second.. I sound seriously crazy ;) 

What's your good luck routine? Or do you have any superstitions? 

Crushing on Tween

The new cover of CHANGE UP was in my inbox this morning and I love it!!! So warm, beachy, and summer filled. As soon as I get the okay, I'll share it!! Can't wait. :) 

In the meantime, I've been reading a ton of tween to prepare to write a tween sporty series I'm super excited about. I love this genre. It's so sweet and fun and brings me back to those oh so awkward years. :) 

If you're looking for some tween reads, here's some fab books I read over the past two weeks: 

Do you have any tween book recommendations? Have you read any of the above mentioned books? If so, what do you think of the 'tween' genre? 

Have an amazing day, everyone! ;) 

Fastpitch Fans Tweet

Five days ago I joined Twitter and now I'm seriously hooked. Check out my Pretty Tough post on Twitter Fastpitch fanatics here. And while you're there, check out the amazing new Pretty Tough site. Looks great, Jane! 

Handbagaholic

I have a obsession confession. I love handbags. In fact, I buy and sell way too many bags. :) 

And I spend way too much time hanging out at handbag stores and on Ebay. Recently, I chatted with an Atlantic City Coach Factory store employee for an hour and a woman at the Coach counter at Macy's for twenty minutes about my strategies for buying and selling bags on Ebay. :) 

Hopefully, after I sell an old wristlet on Ebay, here is my soon to be latest purchase - Coach Leah Coated Canvas Medium Wristlet - On sale at Macy's right now. I love it. :) 

And I bought this one during an after Christmas sale in January - the Serena. :) It's an amazing bag with tons of room - fits all my books, notebooks, and Kaci things. :) 

Do you have a fashion obsession? Or is there something you just can't resist when you see it in a store? 

Have a fabulous day, everyone! ;) 

The Book Review Club - March Chick Lit Pick!

Today, is my first official Book Review Club post and I'm thrilled to participate. :) Thanks to the amazing, Barrie, author of I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES for organizing this event! 

As some of you already know, I write a monthly book recommendation/review column for SOUTH JERSEY MOM (the entire mag is also posted online). Check out my March Chick Lit Pick column below and visit the complete list of clubbers here for some more reviews. 

March's Pick: 

THE LOVER'S KNOT

By: Clare O'Donohue

Twenty-six year old New York City native, Nell, is elated when her traditional homemade engagement quilt created by her beloved grandmother, Eleanor, arrives in the mail. Later, Nell's excitement turns to a mixture of shock and anguish after her fiance calls off their wedding. 

Instead of wallowing in despair, Nell packs up the gift and seeks refuge at her grandmother's quaint quilt show nestled snug in the town of Archer's Rest. After spending time with an eccentric group of quilters, Nell re-examines her life and eventually begins to move on with local handyman, Marc. Things are going smoothly until Marc is found stabbed to death with scissors. Overnight, Nell transforms into Nancy Drew and begins to unravel the murder mystery layer by layer, discovering more about Marc, her fiance, her grandmother's quilt group, and herself than she ever deemed possible. 

THE LOVER'S KNOT is a comforting, warm, and twisty mystery. It's the perfect book to curl up with on a lazy Sunday. 

Happy Birthday, Dru! I'm definitely recommending THE LOVER'S KNOT for you! ;) 

So, what do you think of THE LOVER'S KNOT? Are you reading anything great lately? I'm on my way to the library today for research on my next WIP. A pile of tween books is waiting for me and I can't wait to dig in. :)

CONTEST ALERT: To celebrate Alyson Noel's author anniversary, she's giving away a signed copy of EVERMORE here. Check it out.. I can't wait to crack open my copy. :)  

Have an fantastic day, everyone!  

Twenty with Shari

Snow, snow, go away!!! 

The super nice Shari Green posted a 20 question fun interview with me today. Check it out here. Sorry if the song gets stuck in your head... :) 

Have an amazing day, everyone! 

YAY FOR YA SPRING GIVEAWAY!

Yay! Spring is exactly nineteen days away. Softball practice begins on Friday. Our resort town is gradually waking up from its winter slumber. The bay ice is defrosting. And our summer friends are slowly making their way back to the area. But, what's this? A foot of snow is expected tonight?? Argh..  

To celebrate my second fave season, Spring, I'm giving away four books: E. Lockhart's FLY ON THE WALL, Meg Cabot's AVALON HIGH, Clare O'Donohue's THE LOVER'S KNOT, and Niki Burnham, Terri Clark, Ellen Hopkins, and Lynda Sandoval's BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO. 

Gretchen wishes she could morph into a fly on the wall in the boy's locker room. She gets her wish. FLY ON THE WALL is another gem from one of my favorite authors. :) 

Meg Cabot is amazing.. And AVALON HIGH is no exception. At first, everyone at Ellie's new school seem pretty normal, but soon Ellie finds out, that's not the case. 

THE LOVER'S KNOT is SOUTH JERSEY MOM'S March Chick Lit Mystery Pick. Stay tuned on Wednesday when I post the review. This one is a goodie. :) 

And finally, BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO. Filled with four amazing stories about getting dumped. I just ordered another copy because I seriously cannot part with this one. :) 

To enter to win four fabulous books, tell me about your spring plans. Is there something you are looking forward to? A dance? A sport? A production? A vacation? A new release? Or maybe the flowers and warm weather? I'm looking forward to spending some time outdoors with Kaci, the softball season, the release of my second book, CHANGE UP, and of course, the gorgeous weather. :)

Here are the contest rules: 

1. To enter to win the above mentioned books, leave a comment and tell me about a spring event(s) you are looking forward to.  

2. The contest ends at midnight on April 30th, 2009. The winner will be posted on May 1st, 2009. A family member or friend will pick the winner (including my dog at times).   

3. The contest is open to EVERYONE. Don't be shy my writer friends. :) 

4. If you post the contest on your blog, FACEBOOK, MySpace, or anywhere else, you automatically receive two entries. Last month's winner was a poster. 

Good luck and Happy Spring!!! :) 

YAY FOR YA FEBRUARY GIVEAWAY WINNER!!

The winner of P.S. I LOVE YOU, THE SECRET LIFE OF A TEENAGE SIREN, and THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN IS..... 

STEPH SU!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered! It was a blast reading about everyone's worst and best Valentines Days and love story recommendations. This morning, I placed all the names in Kaci's pink cowboy hat (two entries for my posters) and Kaci choose Steph Su! Don't forget to check out today's YAY FOR YA SPRING GIVEAWAY. I'm giving away four of my faves.