I was watching I Want That on television yesterday and they did a feature on OutofPrintClothing.com’s ebook covers. While browsing their site, I also found this cool t-shirt. Little Women fans may enjoy it. 
They also have several other literary t-shirts, and no, I am not affiliated with them. I just thought they were cool.
I am stumped. I evidently missed something in Amber’s “MacArthur Park” performance, or maybe I heard something, like a million bad notes. Nevertheless three judges* gave her a standing ovation for that “pitchy” performance that should have had Taylor Swift suing for identity theft. I have no idea why the judges are coddling Amber. Her last performance was simply not good but they didn’t care. Standing ovation!
I don’t get it. I don’t see why they want to believe so badly that Amber is so marketable. She seems sweet but I just don’t get it.
And poor Kree. With the exception of Mariah, she got the “you’re going home tomorrow if we have anything to say about it” treatment all night from three judges. Psst, Kree. You should have auditioned for The Voice, because they actually care about the singing on that show.
*Thank you, Mariah Carey for having sense not to stand up for that performance.
We had a terrific time at the Los Angeles Festival of Books this past weekend. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth. We met so many kind, supportive and wonderful readers.
We spent the entire day on the USC campus at the 2013 LA Times Festival of Books. It was an amazing, exhausting, fulfilling day. I was so happy to meet some many of you. We will be there again all day tomorrow at booth 555. Hope to see some of you there!
For those interested, my best-selling books of the day were Future Presidents Club, Princess Dessabelle, Fair Youth, the Fab Five and Cutters Don’t Cry.
The standing ovations have become so over-the-top on American Idol this year. Basically, if you are a female, you get a standing ovation. I mean they really stacked the deck in the girls’ favor this season. They weren’t even subtle about it. And last night, if you dared to sing a Mariah number, or basically completed a song without forgetting the words, the judges rose to shower you with a standing ovation. That easy to please mentality wouldn’t have never flown back in the good ole days. I think Simon Cowell only gave one standing ovation to a competing contestant, ever – Adam Lambert for “Mad World.” I could be totally wrong, though.
Looks like Candice Glover is the contestant getting the big push for the win. I thought she was excellent last week, and while she was very good last night, I didn’t find her terrific on either song, just good. Nevertheless, the judges tripped over themselves to give her standing ovations, almost as if they were going to do so no matter how she sang.
I also found Amber Holcomb’s Mariah Carey tribute shaky and at times shrill and off-key. Only Nikki found flaws with it, though, while the other judges, you guessed it, gave her a standing ovation. The cynic in me says it was less for her performance and more for having the guts to sing Mariah in front of Mariah.
I just can’t get into Angie Miller, partly because her over-whitened teeth scare me and because she favorited that tweet bashing Lazaro Arbos, which wasn’t the classiest thing to do. Admittedly, though, I thought her first song was wonderful but I was meh over “Halo.” The judges loved it, of course. 
My girl Melanie Lynskey Kree had another solid night. She might not win but I think she will have the best career of the remaining five. You go, Kree. Keep doing your thing.
Poor Janelle Arthur. After her second number, one of the judges, I forget who, pretty much said her stint was over this week. It was so dismissive.
My children’s biography, Kelly Clarkson: Behind Her Hazel Eyes, is now available on Nook.
On Tuesday night, Olympic swimmer Missy Franklin won the 2012 Sullivan Award. Commonly referred to as the Academy Award of Sports Awards, the honor names the nation’s top amateur athlete. The AAU Sullivan Award encompasses the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism, while also honoring those who have displayed strong moral character.
Buy Missy Franklin: Swimming Sensation on Amazon.com.
Buy Missy Franklin: Swimming Sensation on Kindle.
Missy Franklin Swimming Sensation on Nook
Franklin bested other finalists, junior world champion weightlifter Darren Barnes and Liz Brenner, who plays volleyball, basketball, track & field and softball at University of Oregon. Earlier semi-finalists included: David Boudia (USA Diving), Jordan Burroughs (USA Wrestling), Isaiah Canaan (Murray State University Basketball), Elena Delle Donne (University of Delaware Women’s Basketball), Gabrielle Douglas (USA Gymnastics), Brittney Griner (Baylor University Women’s Basketball), Steve Johnson (USC Tennis), Barrett Jones (University of Alabama Football), Claressa Shields (USA Boxing), Maggie Steffens (USA Water Polo), Breanna Stewart (USA Basketball, UCONN Women’s Basketball) and Mike Zunino (University of Florida Baseball).
The award ceremony took place on Tuesday, April 16th at the Amateur Athletic Union’s National Headquarters in Orlando, Florida. Franklin’s honor places her in the company of several notable swimmers who won the award in previous years, like Michael Phelps, Janet Evans, Jessica Long and Mark Spitz.
The seventeen-year-old, who was accompanied to the event by her parents Dick and D.A., has notably turned down lucrative endorsement offers and prize money in order to maintain her NCAA eligibility. She will compete for University of California, Berkeley’s swim team in the fall. Upon winning the award she reiterated how much her amateur status meant to her.
“This award means a lot to me because of how much I’ve given up to be amateur,” she remarked. “I absolutely love being an amateur athlete, and to be a part of something so special that honors that is amazing.”
My children’s biography Missy Franklin Swimming Sensation is now available on Nook.
Buy Missy Franklin: Swimming Sensation on Amazon.com.
Buy Missy Franklin: Swimming Sensation on Kindle.
Missy Franklin Swimming Sensation on Nook
The world fell in love with U.S. swimmer Missy Franklin at the 2012 London Olympics. Winning four gold medals and one bronze, the 17-year-old gained fans for her amazing athletic skills, remarkable sportsmanship and a genuinely warm personality. Referring to the water as her second home, the beloved athlete began swimming recreationally at just two months of age. By the age of seven, the youngster seemed destined for stardom, dominating local swim meets with her textbook stroke techniques and lightning-quick speed. By the time she reached high school, the teenager was a world and Olympic champion, all the while remaining a At kid who simply loves to swim. A children’s biography, Missy Franklin: Swimming Sensation narrates the Colorado native’s transformation from a talented toddler to queen of the pool. Who says nice girls finish last? Missy is swimming’s biggest female star!
For years ago today, on April 15 2009, a brilliant musical called Next to Normal opened on Broadway. The story of a mother battling bipolar disorder, and the effects her disease has on her family, went on to win the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Next to Normal has since closed on Broadway, but I highly recommend catching the show in one of the many regional productions that pop up all over the country.
