My First Time

Last night, I had the pleasure of meeting fellow Jersey girl and the ultra amazing author of the best selling Jessica Darling series, Megan McCafferty. 

Megan was the first author who inspired me to write novels. After I devoured and loved every page of SLOPPY FIRSTS three years ago, I emailed her and she shot a personal email back filled with tons of advice. We've kept in contact since then and I continue to feel inspired every time I pick up one of her books. Megan's writing is fearless, honest, and unique and she consistently challenges herself as an author. 

When I walked into Barnes and Nobles last night, my expectations were high since this paragraph from Megan's second novel, SECOND HELPINGS, caused me to laugh out loud for the first time while reading...

"I imagine Manda trying on her Prom Queen tiara when she's thirty, Sara wanting to relive the days when her brainless scoop was a commodity, and Scotty, thick with frat fat, unable to run to the closest keg without getting winded, crying along with "Glory Days" on the radio because what Springsteen is singing is so true, so true." (page 340)

Megan exceeded all expectations. Not only was she as hilarious in person as she is on the pages, she was also super nice. Thanks, Megan for your advice, guidance, and for my new mantra - Keep writing because you HAVE to.  

Who inspires you? Or who makes you laugh out loud?

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone! 

(Note about the pictures - In my hair's defense - it was a very humid and rainy night. :))

May Book Review Club - PERFECT FIFTHS

Hope you had a super Cinco De Mayo! We enjoyed our annual soft taco supremes and nachos for dinner. :) Yum. 

The first Wednesday means another edition of the Book Review Club. Today I'm  featuring PERFECT FIFTHS from my May Chick Lit Pick column for South Jersey Mom magazine. Thanks again to Barrie Summy,

fabulous author of I DO DON'T DO MYSTERIES for organizing this event. 

Perfect Fifths

By: Megan McCafferty

New Jersey mom and best-selling author, Megan McCafferty pens Perfect Fifths, the highly anticipated fifth book of the bestselling Jessica Darling series.

Eight years ago, McCafferty introduced readers to New Jersey native, Jessica Darling and her eccentric high school classmate, Marcus Flutie with Sloppy Firsts. Four novels later, Jessica and Marcus have endured high school drama, separate ivy league educations, a marriage proposal, infidelity, and death, leaving readers wondering if this duo was truly destined to be. Told over the course of hours during a chance encounter at an airport, McCafferty switches from her usual first person point of view to third person, sprinkling in scenes of pure dialogue and poetry, thus allowing readers a chance to dive into Marcus’s head for the first time. Will Marcus and Jessica end up together? Or are they just too different?

Unique and unforgettable, McCafferty’s incredible voice and creative prose will carry Perfect Fifths to the top of the bestsellers’ list. Don’t miss this amazing series.

Today I'm recommending Perfect Fifths to Nicole at WORD for Teens. Enjoy, Nicole! But, I have a sneaky suspicion, you probably already read this one. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone! And don't forget to check out more book reviews here. 

YAY FOR YA SUMMER GIVEAWAY

I love summer. In fact, it's my absolute favorite season. Our barren, ghost resort town wakes up, the rides light up, the boardwalk fills with tourists, and the beaches are beautified. But, best of all, my extended family visits to vacation and we spend tons of fun summer time together. :) Love it. 

I also love a good beach read. So this time, I'm giving away five fun, summer novels (including mine) to kick back, relax, and enjoy - fellow Jersey girl Megan McCafferty's PERFECT FIFTHS, Terri Clark's SLEEPLESS, Haily Abbott's SUMMER BOYS, Aimee Friedman's SOUTH BEACH and a super new, signed ARC of CHANGE UP.

To enter to win these five super fabulous books, I need help with a novel I'm working on. What's your fave break up song? For some reason, most of my break ups happened during the summer. Hmm... :) I'm in desperate need of some fresh new songs and ideas. Not my usual, overplayed on my IPod nineties tunes. :) If you don't have a favorite break up song, what are your summer plans? 

One break up song that sticks out in my head (I'm going to date myself here, so don't laugh) is Aerosmith's WHAT IT TAKES. This song is wrapped around a summer break up memory of me hanging out the door of friend's parked car, a soccer field, a new boy, and this song blasting on the radio. :) 

I'm super psyched about my summer plans because I'm traveling to softball tournaments and NPF games to promote CHANGE UP, teaching a Teen Writer's Workshop, working on some exciting projects, and hanging out at the beach with Kaci and my hubby as much as I can. :) Yay, Summer! :) 
Here are the contest rules: 

1. To enter to win the above mentioned books, leave a comment mentioning your fave breakup song or summer events you're looking forward to. 

2. The contest ends on midnight, June 30th, 2009. The winner will be posted on July 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 writing 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, everyone!!