In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day and the fortieth anniversary of Title IX, I’m sharing why sports are important to me (and my daughter). For more stories celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day, click here.

Since I was a little girl, I felt in my ‘zone’ on the diamond, the court, and the field. It didn’t matter what was going on at school or at home because once I stepped on the field, diamond, or court everything was okay. Sports are and always will be my ‘escape’.

I see the same fire in my six-year-old daughter’s eyes when she steps on the field to play soccer every Saturday morning. While she’s playing, she’s determined, confident, and in her own ‘zone’. But, when her weekly game is over, panic stings her eyes as she pegs me with questions about her next chance to play. She’s really asking, ‘When can I come back to this place that I feel amazing? When can I enter that ‘zone’ again?’

While I watch some parents drool at the sight of their six-year-old emerging as an athlete, I look at my daughter’s athletic endeavors a little bit differently. I feel blessed that my daughter has found a passion and purpose – her own ‘zone’. Whether she’s six or thirty-six, all of her life troubles will lift as soon as she’s home on that court, diamond, or field. Just like her mom.

Thank you, Title IX for allowing us to play and find our ‘zone’. Happy National Girls and Women in Sports Day!

I’m so excited to share with you my latest PRETTYtough release, MAKING WAVES. Notice the new look and the new name.

It’s summer break for the girls at Beachwood Academy and that means sun, surf, and sensational escapades at the Beachwood Country Club. Abby, a rising sophomore, is so excited to have gotten a last-minute gig as a lifeguard, especially because jobs are usually reserved for club members.

Abby desperately wants to win the annual lifeguarding competition, and with it a college scholarship. But when she arrives for her first day on the job, she finds herself face-to-face with some serious club member attitude. And there’s an even bigger surprise waiting for her: the gorge senior boy she’s been pining over ever since they met at a swimming competition earlier this year.

Can Abby break through the rules, regs, and mean girls to be the first-ever non-club member to win the summertime lifeguarding competition and maybe even the boy of her dreams?

MAKING WAVES and my new pseudonym will drop this April. Although I love all of my books, MAKING WAVES was an absolute blast to write. In fact, Abby is tied with Maggie (a character from FIFTEEN LOVE) for top honors as my all-time favorite PRETTYtough girl. :)

How about you? What’s new?

Happy Wednesday!

Wishing you and yours an amazing holiday season. Thanks for all your sporty lit support this year.

Hugs.

Keri

Life is crazy at the Mikulski residence as a very excited six-year-old is enjoying every minute of the holidays. Amidst the hoopla, I was lucky to receive some early gifts this year. Check out the most recent reviews of STEALING BASES.

“Mikulski has a finger on the pulse of influence from coaches as she integrates the nuances of such relationships when Kylie gets into trouble with the coach because of her attitude, but is also strongly supported. Nicely woven throughout the story are Kylie’s dreams to be the best she can whether that is in relationships, sports or in her pursuit of college dreams. The parallels of playing sports and living life allow the reader to make powerful connections and enjoy a realistic story about female high school athletes.”

- Children’s Literature

“Keri writes so well about sports and speaks to teens in their own language. Her girls play hard and get dolled up for prom. In the Pretty Tough series being athletic is both feminine and attractive. It’s wonderful to have easy-to-read books for girls in which sports and friendship take precedence over romance. Keri Mikulski hits a home run with Stealing Bases. The next two books in the series, Making Waves and Fifteen Love, are due to be published in 2012.”

- Sarah Laurence

“Keri Mikulski always does a great job making her teenage characters realistic and believable, as well as all their experiences. I am a big fan of contemporary YA and Keri Mikulski does not disappoint. There were quite a few entertaining and important twists in the story that kept me reading and I enjoyed getting to know all the different characters and learn even more about softball. Stealing Bases isn’t overly “sporty” either- it combines just the right amount of sports, romance, drama, and friendships. Keri Mikulski has an eye for writing books that will appeal to a variety of readers and Stealing Bases is no exception. I’m eager for the release of Making Waves (coming in 2012)!”

- Kelsey, The Book Scout

Thank bunches for supporting the sporty series!!

Now back to cookie baking, tree trimming, and FIFTEEN LOVE revisions.

Happy Wednesday!

Time flies when I’m having tons of fun writing the next prettyTOUGH book! Is Thanksgiving really right around the corner? I’ve been hard at work on the sixth and final series book, FIFTEEN LOVE, while adding the finishing touches to the fifth book, MAKING WAVES. In between, I was lucky enough to attend a few festivals and signings this fall with the amazing members of the Kid Lit Authors Club. Below are some pics.

Collingswood Book Festival

Cyn Balog and her adorable daughter

Neshaminy Mall Barnes and Noble

Collingswood Book Festival

Neshaminy Mall Barnes and Noble

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Wednesday!  :)

Not only are Amy and Alissa super talented authors, but they’re both super sweet and super fun. I was lucky to spend time with both ladies (along with other amazing authors, Ellen Jensen Abbott and Cyn Balog) at the Collingswood Book Festival this Saturday.  Check out the shades. 

Three reasons why I loved Amy Holder’s The Lipstick Laws…

1. Humor – The Lipstick Laws is bursting with unforgettable one-liners. And Amy is just as funny in person as she is on the page.

2. Characters – From mean girls to wannabe queen bees, the characters were fun, feisty, and fabulous.

3. Voice – Amy’s fun voice is full of energy and she keeps the pages turning. By the time I was finished with The Lipstick Laws, my abdominal muscles ached from too much giggling.

Three reasons why I loved Alissa Grosso’s Popular…

1. Unique concept – Each chapter is told in the point of view of a different character. And Alissa pulls off this tough writing task with ease.

2. Uncommon characters – Speaking of characters, Alissa does an amazing job making each one memorable.

3. Unforgettable Ending – I will never, ever forget the twisty ending of Popular. And I’m not the only one.

Both Alissa and Amy’s novels tackle teenage popularity in their own unique and incredible way. If you haven’t read these goodies by this talented twosome, make sure you add Popular and The Lipstick Laws to your TBR pile ASAP.

For more middle grade, young adult, and adult book reviews and recommendations, click here.

Happy Wednesday! 

Disclosure: I often receive ARCs and/or books for reviews (sometimes because I’m an author and other times because I beg). However, I do not blog about every book I receive, only the ones I absolutely adore or feel the need to recommend to fans of sporty lit.

I’m so excited to share some amazing news. HEAD GAMES was featured as a SPORTY SUMMER BEACH READ in ESPN Rise Magazine!

 Yay!!!

Happy Wednesday!

First an earthquake yesterday and now a hurricane is heading our way. It’s been a crazy week at the Jersey Shore.

If hurricanes are churning, then that means summer is coming to an end and we’re heading back west. *sniff* My daughter starts school in two weeks. Classes are back in session at Rowan and Stockton in a few days and *gulp*, I’ll be sitting on the other side of the desk for the first time in ten years! Yup. I’m going back to school to earn my MFA at Rutgers University. I’m so excited to be surrounded by other writers and really dig into fiction.

In the meantime, below are some summer vacation pics. The Mikulski tribe crossed the country, ate a ton of food, spent a lot of time at the beach, and had a blast at my cousin’s wedding. Enjoy!

Trip to LA  

I was lucky enough to snag an invite to an Under Armor Event in Hollywood. Jane Schonberger and I worked out with Gunnar Peterson and Jessica Szohr from ‘Gossip Girl’, picked up some awesome gear, and chatted with celebrity trainers. Check out the complete article about the event here.

Hollywood Hills

Eating our first In and Out Burger – Yum

Malibu

NYC  

Fun dinner with my fairy agent and Three Seas Sisters

My Baby Cousin Got Married

Isn’t she pretty?

  Jersey Shore  

Fireworks at the beach

What did you do on your summer vacation?

PAYA: I’m super excited to attend my very first PAYA event this Saturday. I’ve heard so many great things about this event which raises money for local libraries and I’m so honored to attend. Come out to support the libraries and have tons of fun with YA authors. Check out more details about the event here.

And stayed tuned for an exciting announcement about the Pretty Tough Series!

Happy Wednesday!