Fun Friday – Down the Shore

Maybe because I’m a Pisces, one of my absolute favorite things to do is be at the beach. I love early morning strolls along the water’s edge, searching out interesting shells and beach glass.

I have jars at home filled with some of those shells, coral and egg casings from whelks. The cases are quite interesting and I’m told Italians, who call whelks “scungilli” and serve them up with sauce, consider finding them good luck. Others call the egg casings “mermaid’s necklaces” because they look like little pouches strong on a thread. The knobbed whelk is actually the NJ State shell which explains why I find so many of them up on shore.

So this weekend I’ll be “down the shore” at a wonderful event and also at a book fair on the street in Trenton on Saturday. You can get more info on the book fair by clicking here. I’ll be at the NJ Romance Writers booth with some friends.

I’ll also be the one of the authors at a fabulous Authors & Inns tour. My location is the wonderful Beacon House Inn in Sea Girt. It’s an absolutely wonderful place. Candy, the owner, is amazing as is her assistant Cathy. Hubby and I spent a wonderful weekend there in March and I am really looking forward to staying there again!

So in case you’re in the area, here’s the info on this fabulous Authors & Inns Event.

“Authors & Inns – A Spring Lake Event”
Winner of NJ Governor’s Tourism Award 2008
2nd Annual Tour is Literary Event of the Season

Spring Lake, NJ (JUNE 2008) In association with the Spring Lake and Sea Girt Public Libraries, The Historic Inns of Spring Lake are
hosting their 2nd annual AUTHORS & INNS TOUR on Sunday afternoon June 8, 2008 from 1:00-5:00pm. The tour of 9 historic inns features 12 award-wining Romance Authors with a link to New Jersey.

At the 2008 New Jersey Governor’s Tourism Award Ceremony on April 10, the Historic Inns of Spring Lake received one of only 10 awards presented to exemplary organizations or individuals …for their signature June event – Authors & Inns – A Spring Lake Event. These awards set a “…benchmark for excellence in the New Jersey tourism industry, contributing to the experience of visitors and the quality of life of NJ residents.”

Nine inns/hotels will open their doors to tour goers, sharing their distinctive properties for a glimpse into the historic and romantic
style of Spring Lake. At the same time, prominent romance-genre authors will be at each inn meeting fans, selling and signing their
most recently published books. The stories feature many of the most popular themes today from `international political thriller’ and
`romantic novel set in India’ to `dangerous passion set in Ireland’ and `looking for love in the wilds of suburbia’.

The `Authors & Inns Tour’ features the following authors and books:

Annette Blair “Gone With the Witch”
C.H. Admirand “Pearl’s Redemption”
Tara Nina “Curse of the Gargoyle”
Dee Davis “A Match Made on Madison”
Kaitlin O’Riley “One Sinful Night”
Irene Peterson “Glory Days”
Amy Edelman “Manless in Montclair”
Lois Winston “Love, Lies and a Double Shot
of Deception”
Caridad Pineiro “South Beach Chicas Catch Their Man”
Jan Coffey “Deadliest Strain”
Shobhan Bantwal “The Dowry Bride”
Nancy Harkness “Music of the Night”

The cost for the `Authors & Inns’ Tour is $12 (a non-refundable donation) with a portion of the proceeds given to the Spring Lake and Sea Girt Public Libraries. Each tour goer will receive a keepsake tote bag from the Historic Inns.

Nationally recognized for more than a decade for their open house Holiday Tour each December, the Historic Inns of Spring Lake are a stunning collection of 19th Century homes, dating from 1870-1888. They embody the romance and history of Spring Lake, offering the best in architectural preservation, unique character, tradition and hospitality.

Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 732-859-1465 for details or purchased at Participating Inns, The Spring Lake Chamber of Commerce and Sea Girt Pubic Library plus BookTowne in Manasquan. On the day of the Tour, tickets can be purchased at the Spring Lake Public Library. Each ticket will include a self-guided map of Authors & Inns for visitors’ convenience.

A total of 500 tour tickets will be sold. Guests staying for the Friday/Saturday weekend will receive a complimentary Tour Ticket and guests checking in on Sunday for 1-night will receive a tour ticket plus special accommodation rate at each participating Inn. All Inn guests are invited to a private Post-Tour Reception attended by innkeepers and authors.

The radiantly refined town offers a delightful downtown experience with charming boutiques and galleries, restaurants, historic landmarks and the famous Spring Lake all with a 2-mile Atlantic oceanfront community.

WHAT: “Authors & Inns: A Spring Lake Event”
A self-guided tour of 9 Historic Inns & Authors
WHEN: Sunday, June 8, 2008
1:00-5:00pm
WHERE: Spring Lake, New Jersey
COST: $12/per person
TICKETS: 732-859-1465 – Historic Inns Association

Checks ONLY can be mailed to:
Historic Inns of Spring Lake
P.O. Box 134
Spring Lake, NJ 07762
732-859-1465

INNS: White Lilac Inn, Spring Lake Inn, Villa Park House,
Beacon House, Ocean House, Sandpiper Inn, Chateau Inn & Suites, The
Breakers Hotel, Victoria House, Grand Victorian @ Spring Lake
Click here for more info!