Barnes & Noble Book Signing - Newburgh, NY on June 18th 2009

I'll be signing books in a "meet and greet" at the Newburgh Crossing Barnes & Noble in Newburgh, New York ,on Route 300, (Union Avenue), on Thursday June 18th, 2009 at 7 pm.

It's only a few days before Father's Day - so why not pick up a copy of the book for the "Dads" in your life. I'm getting alot of positive feedback from police officers about the book as well - so, Dad's, Grandpa's, and those who protect and serve, I'd love to see you there!
Newburgh Crossing Barnes & Noble

Route 300 (Union Ave)Newburgh, NY 12550 845-567-0782

Mother's Day

With Mother's Day approaching my emotions run the gamut - from the feeling of awe that I have for the opportunity I was given to be a Mom myself - to a sense of sadness that my own Mom can't be here to celebrate the day with me - to the gratitude I feel for having such a wonderful mother-in-law who treats me like she would her own daughter. I receive newsletters from Chicken Soup for the Soul since I've written stories for several of their books throughout the years, and this morning I received one for Chicken Soup for the Soul; Like Mother Like Daughter - Our 101 Best Stories. I'm honored that they included the story I wrote about my own mother that first appeared in Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul 2 several years ago, but also felt that familiar pang of pain that I've grown accustomed to since she passed away in 2003. Then it hit me...people all over the world will read about my mother - perhaps on Mother's Day or in the weeks following, and will hopefully be touched by her amazing courage and ability to preserve a sense of normality for a 9 year old girl, even at a time when her own life was in question.

What readers won't know, however, is that she herself lost her mother at around the same age I was in the story - and that her need to protect me from the realities of her illness stemmed from her first-hand knowledge of living through a similar situation herself. I was the lucky one - because she survived and lived to see her grandchildren, which was something we were told would never be possible. I completed Tales from a Dog Catcher and started the process of querying agents and publishers due in part to one of the last things she ever said to me. A request to finish my own book so she could "hold it in her hands". We ran out of time.

So, if you pick up a copy of this book for your Mom or your wife or for someone who loved you like they were your own mother - look for the story "Growing Up". I can't recall what page it's on - but I think you'll enjoy it.

Happy Mother's Day to everyone a bit early - for those Moms who are here with us, and for those who live on in our hearts.

Woman wins Nobel Prize for Surviving Trip to Europe with 37 Teenagers...

It was the best of times. It was the most exhausting of times. It was an amazing experience in many ways. The beauty of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the excitement of London, the laughter with kids and colleagues...I will never forget it. The question remains however...will I recover from it?

That is yet to be determined.

Future President of the United States

Chris Schweitzer is a student at Mount Saint Mary College in New York majoring in History and Political Science. In case you don't know this yet...I'll fill you in. He's going to be President of the United States someday. Really. I'm not kidding!

In the span of my almost 2 decades of teaching, I have never met a student as inherently motivated as Chris. I was privileged to be his teacher when he was in 9th grade. After that, it's a blur. I think I may have had him in 12th grade as well, but I'm not sure since for every study hall or lunch period he had for four years - Chris was in my class. He was there helping students get through the Global Regents Exam, or assisting them in prepping for their debates, guiding them in the correct way to write an essay and tutoring those who needed some extra help.

He's been there every step of the way through the process of this book - one of the very few students who knew that I was writing it. I appreciate all the support Chris!

Everyone at VCHS misses you...you're making us proud!

Book Release Party!

My wonderful sister and brother in law, Gen and John Privitera, went WAY overboard and threw me a book launch party! Thank you to everyone who could come - some had a pretty long drive too. Even my nephew Colin came all the way home from college!

I really appreciate everyone's support...I think everyone had a great time!

I can't believe the cake...Gen got it from a place called Culinary Creations, 46 Main St, Pine Bush, NY 12566. Not only was it absolutely beautiful...it tasted great too. If anyone in the Hudson Valley is in the market for a special occasion cake, Culinary Creations is definitely the place to go. We had the infamous James Marrinan, perpetrator of the Tales from a Dog Catcher facebook event marketing campaign there to enjoy the party too. Much to Jim's dismay, no amount of explaining could convince some people that the facebook event, was really just encouraging everyone to check out the book, and not to appear at an actual "event"! Unfortunately, because Jim was my local guerilla marketer - he ended up as the target of some snippy-ness! To show everyone how wonderful Jim really is, here is a photo of "The Marrinan" enjoying the party with his talented daughter Kat, (look for her books to be coming out in a few years...she is a teen journalist for the Poughkeepsie Journal and has quite a dedicated following already!).


Thank you for the tons of excellent food, abundant wine and obvious amount of incredible work that went into throwing this party. I am overwhelmed at the kindness of so many friends, and family that worked so hard to make this a special day. Thanks to my husband Jason for rushing out to get a new camera and posting these great photos to remember the day.
I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful extended family. John spent most of the day in the garage cooking up a storm....and when he wasn't doing that he was creating window blocks to commerate the day!

Of course there are no photos of Gen because she is the master of hiding when the camera comes out. Here is a good one of John hard at work grilling in the garage. The plan had been to use the large deck outside, however Mother Nature had other plans since it felt more like February than April.
Thank you once again to the Privitera's, the O'Mara's, the Nolen family, the Spivey Family, the Provino's, the Sherman's, the Forman's, Paul, Cathy, Johanna, Brigid, Michele, Steve, Penny, Margaret, Jane, and to everyone else who made this such a memorable day.

Even Ruby, the red Lab was excited until someone told her what the title of the book was...at that point she said;

"Dog Catcher book?...wake me when it's over."