Adventures with Spottie & #Giveaway

On this Fun Friday, take a moment to visit with me at the Romance Author Hotspot! I’ll be sharing some fun stuff with you and we’ll pick someone from all the comments to win copies of NOCTURNAL WHISPERS and A VAMPIRE’S CONSORT erotic paranormal romance novella e-books!

But first . . . The winner of the Tuesday’s What’s Hot and What’s Not Giveaway is: Fannie! Please drop me a line and let me know which e-novella you’d like to receive.

Adventures with Spottie

My dear friend Michele knows that when I get good news I do the “Happy Dance” and so when I got the RITA Nomination for THE LOST, she got me this adorable beagle! It seems apropos not only because of the Happy Dance, but because the hero’s dog in THE LOST is named Spottie. Why Spottie? Well, my hubby’s childhood dog was a beagle named Spotty. Of course, by the time I got to know Spotty, he looked more like a big ol’ bassett hound than a beagle. LOL! Anyway, my new Spottie is going to accompany me for the next two months until the night of the RITA ceremony! Look for some fun posts and things with Spottie in the coming months.

Actually, look for Spottie Does Bamboozle in the next few days!

Spottie Beagle

My husband dug out a photo of Spotty and I scanned it. It’s a little grainy due to age. You can see Spotty’s a beagle even though he’d put on some weight. He was a funny dog. Spotty ate pasta every night and would rub his ears in it if you did not put parmesan cheese on the pasta.

Spotty the Beagle

May you all have a blessed Memorial Day weekend and to all our miltary men, women and families, thank you for your service and your sacrifices.

Fun Friday – Baseball, the Blues and a Guest Blog!

Doing the Friday Happy Dance even though it’s dark, cold and rainy in New York City. But I’ve got some fun things to chase away the blues today, including some fun talk about baseball and a guest blog (with some giveaways)!

Come visit with me at the wonderful Sia McKye’s Over Coffee blog and let me know if you believe in miracles and the power of love. I sure do!

For regulars to the blog, you know I’m a sad sack fan of the Mets and baseball lover so today’s guest blogger is a special treat for me because of that and because she is a dear friend and this is her DEBUT novel!!

So please welcome Ronnie Norpel who will be telling us about her new book, Baseball Karma & the Constitution Blues. Share the love by leaving a comment on this blog or Sia‘s by midnight EST Sunday, November 7th and you could win a STRONGER THAN SIN T-shirt and copy of any one of my earlier releases – you can choose your own prize!

*****

It is a thrill for me to guest on Caridad’s blog today. She has witnessed and supported my transformation from wannabe to published author—thanks, Caridad!

And, hi, everybody! Caridad assures me that among her avid romance readers are a multitude of chick baseball fans. My book is for them – YOU!

Baseball Karma & the Constitution Blues (Three Rooms Press) is a girl’s tale of love, luck and superstition, and it will keep you warm through the long winter without baseball. I worked for my hometown Phillies for seven seasons and so this story is “steeped in authenticity.” Whereas we could have slotted it under Sports/Philosophy, in a nod to James Frey, my publisher (the terrific Kathi Georges) and I settled on our own category: ficto-memoir.

A big theme of my book is how superstitions are all in our heads, but we perform rituals to try to relieve them anyway. A couple of baseball superstitions I touch on in the book include:

1. Pre-game Routines (p. 24):

The idea behind pre-game routines is to over-control the Ordinary in anticipation of handling the Extraordinary. Just as Einstein’s daily “uniform” of white shirtsleeves and black trousers dispensed with the Ordinary, availing his mind of the Extraordinary, so batting champ Larry Walker’s uniform number 33 paced his playing days: he would set his alarm for 3 past the hour, shower at the 3rd nozzle, and take 3 swings before each at-bat. Their embroidered vestments elevate our big leaguers to priestly status, even as they superstitiously covet their own jersey numbers: Mr. Clemens thought his 21 worth a Rolex, and Rickey H gave Turner Ward 25G for 24. (While John Kruk accepted two cases of brew from Mitch Williams for 29.) Culinary habits are also controlled: Wade Boggs ate chicken before every game. From arriving at the yard at the same time and parking in the same spot every day to wearing the same dirty jockstrap, if that’s what the Church of Baseball dictates, these guys’ll do it. On faith.

2. Adjusting Equipment (p. 125):

Meanwhile, post-game, Blues manager Teddy Mack stood in the middle of the visitors’ clubhouse as the players peeled off their muddy uniforms.

“Fellas, you really stunk it up tonight! I see no concentration in the field or at the plate, and every time we get close, we blow it! Would anyone care to explain this for me?”

Problem is, when you’re losing, there is no real explanation. But they were willing to try.

“Well, Skip, I switched brands of dip when we left on the road trip,” Mark offers.

Mack stared at Ridley.

Jack Black attempted a more traditional guise.

“What he meant to say, Coach, is that we have a young team.”

“We have to make a few adjustments, that’s all.” Doug added analysis straight from the Sports pages, those ‘few adjustments.’

“These guys just have to adjust to the bigs. They’ll be all right,” Tommy said.

“They seem like they’re adjusting just fine, Gunner.” Mack looked at Doug.

“They certainly haven’t been making curfew!”

Doug turned back to his locker.

“Sorry, Skip,” Bobby said, “I got a late call from the coast last night…”

Mack rolled his eyes, when will these boys ever learn?

“…from my mom, she found my old glove! It should be at the stadium tomorrow.”

“As should my order of new bats,” said Jack.

“Don’t forget to spit on ‘em, JB,” Moss muttered under his breath. Moss was a spitter.

“Fellas! I don’t think it’s an equipment problem. Please get your heads into the game!”

3. No Hitter Talk (p. 142):

In the Blues conference room, the front office staff sat in silent vigil sipping coffee. Hugh Sargent contemplated periodic ophthalmia and its effect on batting averages. Blake and Whitley straggled in just ahead of Lloyd Preston.

“I imagine you’ve all read today’s Sports.”

He held up a copy of the Daily View. The headline blared: “FULL MOON FULL GAINER; FULL LOSERS,” and a pair of photos showed the fan in mid-fall and then being stretchered into the ambulance.

The staffers shifted in their seats. Preston went on.

“The suggestion box is officially opens, folks. I’m not throwing in the towel, but we have a real bear on our hands, and at this point, anything goes. Let’s brainstorm.”

Whitley whispered to Blake in the corner.

“I just hope that guy makes it.”

“Shut up, Whitley,” Blake whispered back. “That’s no hitter talk.”

“What do you mean?”

“Will you NEVER get it? It’s like a no hitter in the making: you can hope for it, but whatever you do, don’t talk about it!”

She still looked confused, so Blake paraphrased.

“We ALL hope he makes it.”

***

Now, speaking of No Hitters, it was quite exciting as a Phillies fan to see Roy Halladay throw his no-no against the Reds in the Division Series. But, alas, my Phils did not get their rematch against the Yankees in the World Series this year. That said, I lifted the curse at the beginning of the 2007 season, so it’s only fair some other team got in this year! I gave the edge to the Giants – what with their timely Halloween-colored uniforms. And then there’s that young Tim Lincecum – he’s cute! AND he can pitch!

If you worship at the Church of Baseball and would like to get an insider’s peek – from a female perspective, you will enjoy my book. You can go to www.constitutionblues.com to order an autographed copy (PayPal).

Cheers!
Ronnie Norpel
Visit www.constitutionblues.com to order an autographed copy
or you can click here to order Baseball Karma & the Constitution Blues

Photo Credit: Thanks to Heather’s Animations for the Dancing Girl Gif.