Saturday Sporty Spotlight

Happy Halloween!! I hope everyone is eating and enjoying a ton of yummy candy.

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on eighteen-year-old college swimmer, Elizabeth Longo. Today, Elizabeth dishes on determination, lessons, and how she balances school and swimming. Check out her interview and gorgeous pic below.

Name: Elizabeth Longo

Age: 18

Sport(s): Swimming

Hometown: Bartlett, Tennessee

High School/Middle School/College: University of Memphis

What’s your fave sport? Swimming

How many years have you been playing your fave sport? 3 competitive

What is your fave sporty moment or memory?

Qualifying for the county swim meet.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

Determination

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

Rule 1: If you are not bleeding, nothing is broken, and you're not dying, get back in the pool. (The 12 Golden Rules of Swimming) The same applies to school and work.

What have you learned about teamwork?

A relay team is only as fast as it’s slowest swimmer

How do you balance school and sports?

School comes first and training fits in around classes. I also get up and going while most people are still sleeping. I tend to get more done before noon than some people do all day.

List some awards or accolades you’ve received.

18^th in Shelby County High Schools for the 100-yard backstroke for the 2008-2009 season

What is your biggest goal?

I want to break the world record for a woman to swim the English Channel (the current record is 8 hours and 45 minutes) before I turn 21. Right now, I plan to make my attempt when I’m 20.

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

Male- Apolo Anton Ohno

Female- Natalie Couglin

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question) J

Shopping for cute clothes (Is there anything better?) and gossiping about guys with my friends.

Thanks, Elizabeth! Good luck with the world record. Sounds exciting! J

Do you or do you know someone who wants to be spotlighted? Send an email to kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Time to trick or treat with my little Nemo… J

Enjoy!

Pufferfish and Pure Cybil Shock

Today, I was going to blog about this little creature Kaci and I spotted during our Monday bay stroll...

My daughter was so excited to check out an actual pufferfish because she's Nemo obsessed and swore the little creature was this guy, Bloat from the Tank Gang...

But, then I was scrolling through the Cybil nominees and I spotted my little sporty book, CHANGE UP. I rubbed my eyes and it was still there. I pinched myself and it was still there. CHANGE UP is nominated for a 2009 CYBIL!! A CYBIL!!

Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!! :) :) :)

Happy Wednesday!

HERE WE GO!!!

I've been waiting thirty-two years for this...

vs.

Sabathia vs. Lee

Jeter vs. Rollins

Rodriguez vs. Howard

And the list goes on...

Anybody watching?

Happy Monday!

Saturday Sporty Spotlight

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on fourteen-year-old superstar skateboarder, Stacia Suttles. Stacia hails from Bronx, New York (Go Yankees!). Today she shares her biggest lessons, balancing three sports, and the dish on her skateboarding sponsors. Check out her insightful interview below.

Name: Stacia Suttles

Age: 14

Sport(s): skateboarding, tae-kwon-do, basketball

Hometown: Bronx, NY

High School/Middle School/College: St. Catherine Academy

Number: 31

Position: forward (basketball)

What’s your fave sport? skateboarding

How many years have you been playing your fave sport? 10 years

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

Learning how to drop in a ramp

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

To never give up.

What have you learned about teamwork?

In basketball you need to work together with your team, and you can’t act as if you are alone.

How do you balance school and sports?

I get my schoolwork done first, then comes skating, basketball, and tae-kwon-do. When I am in school, I think about school, and when I am doing a sport, I think about the sport.

List some awards or accolades you’ve received.

In tae-kwon-do I have achieved the level of half/black belt, and in November 2009 I will get my 1st degree black belt.

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

Ross Levine(martial arts), Danny Way(skateboarding), Rajon Rondo(basketball), Layla Ali(female boxer)

Are you sponsored? If so, by who?

Yes I am sponsored in skateboarding, by Fuel clothing, Division 26 clothing, Physcho wear, Aplomb clothing, F1 ceramic bearings, IPath footwear, SMX Optics, Christopher bean coffee, Drop in ride shop, and warrior skateboards.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

I like to have a lot of clothes, and sneakers. I also like to have my hair nice.

Thanks, Stacia! Good luck with your skateboarding career, sponsorships, and earning your black belt. I love your advice to ‘never give up’. Good stuff. :)

Do you want to be spotlighted? Send an email to kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Happy Teen Read Week!

Happy Teen Read Week!

I love teens. Obviously, I write for, coach, and teach them. But, there’s one special teen that I seriously could not live without. Sporty girl and bookaholic, Lauren. Lauren reads and critiques all my books for teen authenticity before I send them to my editor. She’s super honest and gives me valuable feedback. Thanks, Lauren!

I’ll confess I haven’t been reading much lately (unlike Stephanie Kuehnert – check out her book list here) except for my WIP, FULL COURT PRESS. However there is one book that’s calling me and after I send FCP to my amazing editor at Razorbill next week, I'm going to crack this baby open.

An ARC of Suzanne Young’s THE NAUGHTY LIST!!!

Here it is… calling me from the couch. “Read me. Read me.” Yes, the cover is bent from sneak peeks.

Next, I want to tackle this pile.

In the meantime, I’m off to my VERY FIRST Writer’s Conference this weekend - The New Jersey Romance Writer’s Conference in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Any tips?

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Wednesday!

Sporty Saturday Spotlight

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on Pennsylvania pitcher and 2009 Patriot News Player to Watch, Hanna Bennett. Hanna shares two amazing pics, her work ethic, the importance of heart, and much more. Check out her insightful interview below.

Name: Hannah Bennett

Age: 16

Sport(s): Fastpitch Softball

Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

High School/Middle School/College: Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School

Number: 12

Position: Pitcher

What’s your fave sport? Softball

How many years have you been playing your fave sport?

8 years

What is your fave sporty moment or memory?

Making my high schools varsity team my freshman year.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

That sometimes it’s not how good you are its how bad you and your teammates want it.

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

That you only become good if you work hard. You’re not going to get any better by just sitting around.

What have you learned about teamwork?

That everyone on your team has to want to be a team you can’t just have some people wanting to be a team and other people not wanting to be a team, because it won’t work if its like that.

How do you balance school and sports?

It’s definitely hard, but I have a weekly scheduler that my dad and I sit down with at the beginning of each week and plan out the days I have work, the days I have softball practice/pitching lessons and the day I have to go to the gym. So keeping a schedule has definitely helped me a lot, so I’m able to see it visually.

List some awards or accolades you’ve received.

Freshman Year:

Freshman Varsity Letter

Sophomore Year:

Patriot News Player to Watch

Patriot News Top 10 Pitcher

1^st Team Mid-Penn Keystone Division All Star

Varsity Letter

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

Male- Aaron Rowand

Female- Cat Osterman

What’s the girliest thing you like to do?

I like to just chill at my pool with my friends and tan. I could seriously do that all day.

Thanks, Hanna! Fabulous advice - hard work is definitely uber important, along with teamwork and heart. Looks like you’re definitely a softball superstar on the rise. Congrats on your accomplishments and best of luck with your career.

Do you want to be spotlighted? Send an email to kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Save Second Base

It’s that time of year again. Time to get Pinked.

The amazing Alexandra, who lost her mother to breast cancer before she even graduated high school, will be walking the 3 Day, as she does every year, this weekend for Team Mary’s Angels. Alexandra is so inspiring, tirelessly raising money and awareness for the disease in honor of her mother. Good luck, Alexandra!

Catch any of the MLB playoffs? I’m loving the series this year. And not just because the Yankees swept the Twins (okay, yeah), but I’m crossing my fingers for a Yankees vs. Phillies World Series – a dream of mine since childhood. My brother is a HUGE Phillies fanatic, along with everyone else here in the Philadelphia area and my father, hubby, and I are HUGE Yankees fans. Fingers crossed for our dream series. Ron, you’re going down.

Who are you rooting for? And what are you doing this weekend? Back to hermitville – my first deadline is 11/1.

Happy Wednesday!

Sporty Saturday Spotlight

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on sixteen-year-old soccer player and skateboarder, Alex Espinoza. Check out the interview below where Alex shares her thoughts on fear and an amazing pic.

Name: Alex(us) Espinoza

Age: 16

Sport(s): Soccer and Skateboarding

Hometown: La Habra

High School/Middle School/College: La Habra High School

What’s your fave sport? Soccer and Skateboarding

How many years have you been playing your fave sport?

Soccer - 8 years

Skateboarding - 9 1/2 years

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

What I've learned from skateboarding is that you can’t be afraid of anything.

What have you learned about work ethic from your playing your sport?

I've learned that when you fall just get back up even if you are hurt.

What have you learned about teamwork?

That teamwork is very important. You've got to listen to what people tell you.

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

Soccer - David Beckham

Skateboarding - Adam Taylor, Lyn-z Adams Hawkins, Ryan Sheckler, Cody McIntire, and Tony Alva.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

Getting my nails and hair done.

Thanks, Alex! Great work ethic advice - when you fall, get right back up. Can’t wait to check out your fave skateboarders and best of luck with your sports career. :)

Do you want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

October Book Review Club

Happy October! I hope everyone is enjoying gorgeous cool autumn weather and gearing up for the holiday season.

The first Wednesday of the month means another edition of The Book Review Club hosted by Barrie Summy, author of the I So Don't Do Mysteries series. Today, I'm featuring the fabulous and super sporty, Christine A. Baker author of Why She Plays: The World of Women’s Basketball.

For my in-depth review of Why She Plays, check out Pretty Tough.

In the meantime, here's an interview with the author. Enjoy!

Five for Christine A. Baker

1. What made you want to sit down and write WHY SHE PLAYS?

I grew up playing basketball. I played competitive basketball in high school and in college. After college, I had the opportunity to play professionally in Israel but I turned it down. At the time, I was afraid I would never be good or succeed at anything else other than basketball, and I wanted to start my career. Several years later, I had a successful career in communications, but my life felt empty. I desperately missed being on the basketball court, and being around the game I loved so much. Add to all of this that one of my life goals was always to write a book. So, I decided to put the two together and write Why She Plays.

2. Tell us a little bit about your basketball career.

I started playing basketball at a very young age, and at the time, there were no girls' leagues. So I played with the boys. I played high school varsity for four years at Mercy High School in Middletown, CT and received many conference honors while in HS. I played four years at Mount Saint Mary College, in Newburgh, NY (NCAA Division III), where I was co-captain and team MVP for three of my four seasons. I broke the single season scoring record (both men and women) with 538 points, still holdthe single game scoring record (both men and women) with 38 points, broke the all-time leading scoring record with 1,523 points, and received over 15 different accolades in my senior year alone.

3. What is your advice to a teen who has athletic ability and heart, but maybe isn’t the most talented player on the court?

Work hard. It sounds simple, but it is not. By working hard, I mean the following: get stronger. Get in the weight room and develop your core strength. Study the game. Watch the WNBA, watch NCAA men or women. Be a student of the game. Watch it being played. Get in the gym and work hard every moment you are on the court. Play with boys, with girls, with anyone who wants to play. Take losses hard. Losses are lessons. They teach us where we have to improve. All players lose games. Great players learn from those losses and do the work to improve.

4. Name your favorite fiction book(s)? Why do you like this book(s)?

I'm an avid reader so this is a hard question to answer! The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein because I love animals and I thought the perspective of the dog was amazing. I also love the English Patient by Michael Ondaatje because that story was so visual and it is one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read. Finally, I'd have to say Beloved by Toni Morrison because it forced me to open my eyes and see the horrors of slavery in an extraordinarily personal and real level.

5. If you could have dinner with anyone (living or dead) who would it be and why?

Wow. I have so many! Larry Bird- he was my absolute favorite player growing up and that would be such an honor for me. Oprah because, well, she's Oprah! Finally, the comedian Robin Williams. How much fun would dinner with Robin be?

Thanks, Christine! And don’t miss more exciting reviews here.

Happy Wednesday! :)

Sporty Saturday Spotlight

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on thirteen-year-old Megan Mount, AKA 'Game Face'. Megan is a happy fan this week since her hometown and fave baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies clinched the 2009 National League Eastern Division Title. Check out her interview below where Megan shares the story behind her nickname and her thoughts on teamwork.

Name: Megan Mount

Age: 13

Sport(s): Softball

Hometown: Kingwood, New Jersey

High School/Middle School/College: Kingwood Township School (presently in 8^th grade)

Number: 27

Position: Pitcher, first base, and left field

What’s your fave sport? Softball

How many years have you been playing your fave sport? 5 years

What is your fave sporty moment or memory?

Enjoying the game with my teammates and winning tournaments.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

When you get older, you have to really be dedicated to the sport, because everyone around you is older and stronger, which means you have to become a better player, and become a stronger person physically and mentally.

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

I have learned that you really have to work hard to become better at the sport and always practice, but you also have to study hard, to keep up your grades in school.

What have you learned about teamwork?

That to win and to be a good team, you all have to work together and help each other out, because if one person is down on the team, everyone has to help pick her up, no matter the score, or importance of the game. We have to work together as “one.”

How do you balance school and sports?

By getting as much homework done during a free period at school that I can, so I have less homework when I get home, and can then concentrate on Softball Practice with my team.

List some awards or accolades you’ve received.

I have received MVP awards at tournaments and tournament trophies with my team. In school I have received high honors and honor roll.

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

Philadelphia Phillies team and Jennie Finch

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

Wearing Jennie Finch glitter headbands to tournaments.

What’s your fave thing about the game when you pitch?

When I pitch I love the pressure that is put on you. Nothing rattles me when I am on the mound, I just pitch. There could be bases loaded, two outs, tie game, and I don’t get rattled. That’s how I got my nickname “Game Face.”

Thanks, Megan! Congrats on your accomplishments!! I'm with you. I'm loving the Jennie Finch sparkly headbands too. :)

Do you want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!