The Name Game

Yesterday, while time wasting instead of writing, I stumbled across Is This Your Name? website. Check it out. Just type in your first and last name and the website will fill you in on extremely important information, like how many people in the USA share your name, the percentage of vowels, your name in pig latin, your personal power animal, and your name's origin and meaning. 

According to the website, I'm the only American with the name, Keri Mikulski, and my personal power animal is a hippopotamus. :) How about you? How many people share your name? What's your personal power animal? 

Phillies Fever is at an all-time high here in South Jersey and my friends and family are torturing me (I'm a huge Yankees fan). While the Phillies are one game away (actually three and a half innings) from winning the World Series, Derek Jeter is spending his off time with his newest galpal actress, Minka Kelly. Something else I was researching yesterday instead of writing. 

What are you *cough* researching right now? ;) 

Congratulations, PJ Hoover. Her new novel, THE EMERALD TABLET dropped last week. I can't wait to check it out. :) 

Have an amazing day, everyone! :) 

Spooky Stories

Halloween is a measly ten days away. The weather is chilly. Orange and black decorations pepper lawns across our town. And the days are getting shorter. 

Every October, I love to curl up with at least one spooky novel. This year, I picked up Interred with their Bones, Wicked Lovely, and Bliss to satisfy my scary craving. What are you reading? Do you like to curl up with creepy stories during the month of October? Did anyone read Interred with their Bones, Wicked Lovely, or Bliss? What did you think? 

Another books I can't wait to check out is debut author and fellow Jersey girl, Cyn Balog's FAIRY LUST. :) Cyn Balog was kind enough to carve out some time to answer a few questions about her writing journey, her other job, the call, and her brand spanking new novel. 

1. How long have you been writing? Did you always write or did you work in another profession? 

I've always been a writer. I read a hundreds of books a year and reading them always inspired me to write my own. I still have several old manuscripts from when I was eight or nine. One of them was a Choose Your Own Adventure book that I wrote because I was obsessed with them as a kid. Recently, I sat down and went through them all and wow. I have no idea where my ideas came from. But, I am jealous of how prolific I was! I had a dozen stories going on at that time. My friends and family always knew I wanted to write. My uncles and aunts bought me writing books as gifts, my friends called me 'writer girl', and my parents bought me a word processor and a writing desk when I was very young. I think when I did get 'the call' they were like, "it's about time". 

2. Tell us about the day you received 'The Call' for FAIRY LUST. 

A lot of writers, when their book goes on submissions, might hear about the interest their book is generating. I heard nothing. It was on submission for six weeks and *crickets*. This was the second book my agent had sent on submissions, and I was sitting there thinking, "Well, if it was going to sell, I would have heard SOMETHING by now." It was at that exact moment that my agent called and said that Stephanie Lane at Delacorte loved it. I was thinking, "Well, that's great. If she loves it, now it will have to go through an editorial board and a bunch of other hoops and maybe, just maybe, they will buy it." And that's when she told me they offered a 'pre-empt'. I screamed and cried and told everyone at work, who kind of just gave me a blank stare because no one knew I was a writer. Then my husband and I celebrated by getting McDonalds (yes, we know how to live it up). 

3. Are you working on any other projects right now? 

Yes, I just sold a book titled SLEEPLESS for publication in Summer 2010. And an untitled project for publication in Summer 2011, to Delacorte. I am so thrilled because Delacorte is wonderful, and I love everything they've done with FAIRY LUST. SLEEPLESS is a paranormal about the afterlife and a forbidden romance. Not sure what the next project is, but I'm sure it will be paranormal. 

4. I've read that you are involved with the running magazine, RUNNER'S WORLD. Can you tell us about your mag job? And have you ever ran a marathon? 

I am the events manager for Runner's World. I run a program that they have to sponsor races across the country, and I get to travel to many of them, which is exciting. A few years ago, before the birth of my daughter, I was running twenty-five miles a week. That's actually not that much, when you consider I work with marathon winners who go on 100-mile ultra-runs for fun - it's a little intimidating. Unfortunately, I'm no longer a serious runner, though I love running a lot and keep trying to get back into it. But with a full-time job, a family, and writing, something had to give. 

5. I love the cover of FAIRY LUST. Can you tell us about the cover design? 

Marci Senders is the amazing designer who created the cover. I was extremely lucky because I never had to give any input whatsoever. I just received a jpg one day, opened it, and squealed with glee. It was unanimous. Everyone loved it. 

Make sure to pick up a copy of FAIRY LUST when it drops June 23, 2009 or pre-order a copy today. Check out the blurb for FAIRY LUST below: 

Morgan Sparks and Cam Brown are a match made in heaven. They've been best friends practically since birth, they tell each other everything, and oh yeah - they're totally hot for each other. 

But a week before they're joint sweet sixteen bash, everything changes. Cam's awkward cousin, Pip comes to stay, and Cam starts acting distant. Morgan is stunned when her formerly perfect boyfriend seems to be drifting away. When Morgan demands answers, she's shocked the reason for Cam's distance. It's not another girl - it's another world. Pip claims that Cam is a fairy. No, seriously, a fairy. And now his people want Cam to return to their world and take his rightful place as Fairy King. 

Determined to keep Cam with her, Morgan plots to fool the fairies. But as Cam continues to change, she has to decide once and for all if he really is her destiny. Witty, original, and unexpectedly touching, FAIRY LUST will captivate fans of TWILIGHT and WICKED LOVELY. 

Thanks, Cyn for joining us today. 

Don't miss this: The fabulous Book Muncher is on Wheel of Fortune tomorrow night. :) 

Have an amazing day, everyone! 

Invaded

Last Thursday, my house was invaded. 

While in the midst of my usual morning routine, I grabbed Kaci's Flinestones' sour gummy multivitamin out of the cabinet and spotted two ants on the countertop. I looked left to open the fridge and ants were seriously everywhere. Zillions on my fridge, the cabinet, the floor, the island, the countertops, even the dishwasher. It was disgusting.

At first, I freaked out. Insects are nasty. Then, I called my hubby to come home and lead the massacre. A few hours later, we were completely bug free and I could breathe again. 

I have an insect issue. Bugs give me the willies. But, I hate killing them. I mean, each ant is a mommy ant's baby and I feel terrible about ending lives. 

Are you a bug smasher or do you call someone else to do the dirty deed? Do you feel bad about killing insects? 

Pretty Tough Tuesday: Check out Part Four of my interview with fastpitch phenom, Angela Tincher. 

Amazing Giveaway: Don't miss Kelly Parra's Secret Fates Giveaway. Tons of authors and tons of free books. Happy Release Day, Kelly! :) 

Have a great day, everyone! :) 

Book Fair and Bloodied

Last weekend, I attended the Collingswood Book Fair, spent way too much money, and hung out with a ton of amazing authors, like..

Melissa Walker

Nancy Viau

Siobhan Vivian

Later, I went for a run. I don't know if it was the excitement of meeting such fabulous authors or if it was the brand new inhaler my doctor prescribed that's shaving a minute off my mile time or if it's the new novel I'm brainstorming, but I tripped. And I didn't just stumble a bit, I fell hard. Hard enough for someone to stop their car and ask if I was okay. Hard enough to cut up and bruise four body parts. So hard that four days later, I'm still picking stones out of my gashes. 

In fact, my knees look worse then Amy Winehouse's do in this pic. I tried to laugh it off, but it hurt. Like seriously. And it was embarrassing because I think I tripped over my own feet. And when I returned to the scene I couldn't exactly find anything sticking up or out.  :) 

Did anyone ever wipe out running? Or did anyone ever trip or do something strange because their mind was on something else? 

Pretty Tough Tuesday: Check out Part 3 of Angela Tincher's interview. Today, Angela shares what it's like to play professional softball. 

Have an amazing day, everyone! :) 

YAY FOR YA OCTOBER GIVEAWAY

The nights are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. October is here. And every October, a spooky story or mystery is always next on my TBR pile. 

In honor of October, I'm giving away a record breaking six books: Julie Kenner's entire Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series, John Green's An Abundance of Katherines, and Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone Does My Shirts. 

The best selling Days and Nights of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom fantasy suburban adventure series follows Kate Conner as she battles demons and juggles a family life. Filled with suspense and fun, this edge of your seat series includes four books: Carpe Demon, California Demon, Demons are Forever, and Deja Demon. 

Although, John Green's An Abundance of Katherines isn't Halloweenish, I had to share it with everyone. Green's voice is amazing and An Abundance of Katherines is an entertaining coming of age novel. Thanks, Kaitlyn for the recommendation. :)

What's October without a novel with a spooky setting? Moose Flanagan is forced to live on the prison island of Alcatraz during the 1920's.  Al Capone Does My Shirts is another book my students consistently raved about. Therefore, the novel I'm giving away is loved. 

Can you believe Halloween is a measly thirty days away? I enjoy Halloween because it signals the beginning of the holiday season. Plus, I love trick or treating with my daughter and helping her choose her costume. This year, we're even dressing up the dog. :) Even though, I'm a bit too shy to go all out on Halloween, I absolutely love answering the door and walking the streets to witness others wearing amazing duds.  

To enter to win October's giveaway, all you have to do is share with me your favorite costume of all time. If you don't celebrate Halloween or you don't have a fave costume, just tell me what you like best about October.

My fave costume of all-time is my Star Wars Princess Leia costume I wore when I was seven.  My mom created the white dress with the matching white boots, exactly like the movie. And she wrapped my blond hair in those crazy side buns. I carried my brother's water gun. Tons of fun. 

Here are the contest rules:

 

1. To enter to win the above mentioned six books, leave a comment about your all time favorite costume or your favorite thing about October. 

2. The contest ends at midnight on October 31st, 2008 and the winner will be posted on November 1st, 2008. My daughter or dog will pick the winner. 

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

4. If you post the contest on your blog or MySpace, you automatically receive two entries. Once again, last month's winner was a poster. 

Good luck! Have an amazing day everyone! :)  

YAY FOR YA SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY WINNER

The winner for the Yay for YA September Giveaway is....

ALYCE!!!

Once again I tossed the entries on the floor. Kaci picked up Alyce first. Congratulations, Alyce! Please email me your address and I'll send the books ASAP Thanks for entering everyone and check out the Yay for YA October Giveaway posted today. I'm giving away six books. :)