FREE Kindle Book TOMORROW!

Great news! I've decided to use another one of my KDP Select FREE days. So for tomorow, November 6, 2012, only -- get my Young Adult novel REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD for FREE!

Of course, if you download my book, please take the time to actually read it and then review it. So far, it's getting great reviews on both Amazon and Goodreads.

BAND GEEK has a little of everything: romance, drama, family relationships, a memorable coming-of-age story... and it's extremely fast-paced. Check it out while commuting to work on the train, or while you're relaxing between classes.

So head to my Amazon page tomorrow for another FREE giveaway -- and enjoy reading REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD!

Next Stop On My Blog Tour

First things first: I am now back in New York City and am happy and grateful to report that we have power, food, WiFi, heat and water in our home. A lot are less fortunate and believe me, I don't take this for granted. I love my city and it hurts my heart to see it in such bad shape.

Still, we're slowly coming back to life. We managed to get a direct flight to JFK today and I was surprised by how, well, normal everything was. We landed on time. The runways were dry and not flooded at all. I expected chaos when we left, but there were plenty of taxis. Someone -- city workers and whomever else -- really did a great job in getting our area of Queens in shape. Now if we can start to rebuild those areas hardest hit...

Though Sandy is on my mind, I'm determined to get on with my life. So the next leg of my blog tour is at A BOOK SO FATHOMLESS. My post is about the challenges that come with writing teen characters when an author, like me, is pushing 40. Be sure to check it out and see how you can qualify for my special giveaway!

Meantime, please read and review REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD.

Last Day In Los Angeles

Well, today is our (hopefully) last day in L.A. I've had a great time here, but I'm anxious about home. Part of me wants to flee to Hawaii so I can avoid seeing New York City in ruins, but I also want to get home to my friends, family, cat, apartment and my real life.

We made the most of today by visiting museums in the L.A. area. We first stopped by the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum. It's tiny, but houses some beautiful work and also has a great sculpture garden. We hung out there for a while and it was very peaceful. We then went to the California Science Center to see the new Endeavor shuttle exhibit. That was cool! We got to ride in a space simulator and enjoyed a 3D IMAX movie about the Hubble Telescope.

Still, as much fun as I've had here and despite my mixed feelings about returning home to a disaster zone, I am looking forward to my next projects. My Virtual Book Tour kicked off today; head over there to get your chance to win some cool prizes. Meanwhile, my interview at YA Promo Central goes live tomorrow! And I, of course, want to get going on my next book.

So wish me luck as we attempt to fly from L.A. to Philly, and then drive to NYC. And don't forget to read and review REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD.

Free Kindle Books! Special Giveaway!

Just two more days until my Virtual Book Tour for BAND GEEK takes off! As I said earlier, I will be doing interviews and guest blog posts. I'll also be offering some exciting giveaways and freebies for readers!

In addition to giving away several free copies of my Kindle book, one GRAND PRIZE winner from the tour will get a very special triple treat: a FREE book, a FREE pair of handmade earrings and a FREE autographed copy of my jazz flute CD! Here is some more information on each prize.

A FREE copy of REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD (sent by me as a Kindle gift)

My ebook follows the story of Melinda, a shy high school flute player who loses her seat in band to popular girl Kathy. Mel teams up with cute trumpet player Josh and they plot to take down Kathy. Along the way, Mel and Josh fall in love, but Melinda begins to question Josh's behavior -- and is forced to grow up as she deals with some tough decisions.

So far, BAND GEEK is getting rave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads! Many are saying that though it's a high school story, readers of all ages will enjoy it. I describe it as a dark comedy, a la Heathers or Welcome To The Dollhouse or Election. There's drama, friendship, romance, suspense; all in all, it's a very fast-paced read. This will be a chance to get a copy for FREE!

My jazz CD FLUTE PATH

In my book, Melinda loves to play the flute. I also play in real life and this is an example of my work. This CD was a true challenge for me to put together. I composed all of the songs, taking inspiration from jazz greats like Dave Brubeck. I then played both the flute AND piano parts (I hired a drummer and guitarist). Many ask how I played both and the answer is simple: I first recorded the piano section and then played flute over it. I didn't play both instruments at the same time! Still, piano is not my best instrument; I describe myself as being conversational on piano and fluent on flute. So it was interesting to get my piano playing up to a level where it sounded good enough to record.

FREE pair of handmade Treble Clef earrings!

When I'm not writing or making music, I run my two jewelry businesses Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations. All of my pieces are handmade by me and these earrings are no exception. They're made from 20 gauge silver plated copper wire, which I twisted into a G-clef. On the ends hang Swarovski crystal hearts. The winner will get to choose which color heart he or she wants. I make earrings in many designs, but wanted to go with a musical theme in honor of BAND GEEK.

So there you have it. These are the three items that I'll be giving away to ONE grand prize winner on my book tour. So keep checking in on this blog for updates and that day's tour location. And make sure to read and review REVENGE OF A BAND GEEK GONE BAD!