In Which I Have NEWS! ...And Celebrate With a Giveaway!

Hey, bloggy peeps!

It's been over a month since I've posted anything, and a good part of the reason for that is because I've been hard at work on my second book for Simon Pulse.

But while I was sitting in my office watching my word count on that manuscript slowly (PAINFULLY slowly) climb, something pretty awesome happened...

.... I SOLD ANOTHER BOOK!

Yay! My YA Contemporary, BUSTED, has been acquired by Annette Pollert at Sourcebooks, and I am thrilled.

I started drafting this novel while LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE was on sub, and it was ridiculous amounts of fun to write. I had a big smile on my face when I finished, and I hope you'll feel the same way if you read it.

At any rate, I am super grateful to be giving LYM a sibling. So grateful, in fact, that I've decided to run a Reviewer Appreciation Giveaway to celebrate. As you know, reviews are important to authors in so many ways, but I think these graphics break it down best:

So - here are the rules:

- Between now and 12/9/15 (which is LYM's half-birthday) read LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE (if you haven't already). Then post a review on Amazon and/or Barnes and Noble. 

- Leave the link to your review in the comments section of this post. Be sure to also leave your email address or Twitter handle, so I can notify you if you win.

The review does not have to be long - a few succinct, insightful sentences is fine. And it can definitely be a copied and pasted review that was previously only posted to Goodreads or your blog or website (as long as it's yours. No plagiarizing, obvs.)

YES - this contest is international! 

**An extra entry will be given to anyone who posts a review AND tweets about the contest. I'll even provide some pre-made tweets to make it easy**

Loved #LastYearsMistake by @gmc511? Post a review to celebrate her new deal with @SourcebooksFire win awesome books! http://writersblog-gina.blogspot.com/2015/11/in-which-i-have-news-and-celebrate-with.html

Enter @gmc511's Reviewer Appreciation Giveaway to win awesome titles from @simonteen and @SourcebooksFire!  http://writersblog-gina.blogspot.com/2015/11/in-which-i-have-news-and-celebrate-with.html

I entered @gmc511's Reviewer Appreciation Giveaway to celebrate her new deal with @SourcebooksFire! Details here: http://writersblog-gina.blogspot.com/2015/11/in-which-i-have-news-and-celebrate-with.html

One winner will be announced on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 9th, and will receive:

- Any one Simon Teen title of your choice

- Any one Sourcebooks Fire title of your choice

- Signed LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE swag

- Saltwater taffy (in honor of one of my favorite scenes in LYM)

Thanks in advance for helping me celebrate, and I can't wait to share BUSTED with you!

*** CONGRATS TO NATALIE BLITT, WINNER OF THE CONTEST! The Reviewer Appreciation Giveaway is now closed, but new reviews are ALWAYS appreciated! ***

LYM's Homecoming Launch Party!

Hi Everyone,

My last post talked about my July trip to Connecticut, and the death of my grandmother. It was a bittersweet thing to write, and I've been meaning to post a happier follow up, because the trip did have a highlight:

I had a "homecoming" launch party for Last Year's Mistake with friends, family, former co-workers, and even some new fans at the Fairfield University Book Store.

It was a great success, but I haven't had time to tell you about it, because of this little thing called Book 2 (not its real name) that's been taking up lots of my time. And then there's this other thing:

Which, of course, is not a "thing" at all. My little guy recently turned two, and I swear he has enough energy and to light a small country. So now that I actually have 5 minutes where I'm not writing and not wrangling a toddler, I thought I'd share some photos from Launch Number Two (Recap of LYM's release week and photos from Launch Number one can be found HERE).

*** Special shout out to my husband and party planner extraordinaire,*** who organized the refreshments, and surprised me by hiring a photographer to snap pictures of the event. It's something I never would've thought to do, but I'm so glad he did, because the night was a big blur.

And, as always, a huge thank you to everyone who came out to Fairfield that night, to everyone who has bought and/or read, and/or reviewed LYM, to everyone who took the time to cook or bake, and to everyone who continues to show love and support to me and my books.

You are so very appreciated.

If you want proof of how happy you make me, just take a look at the smile on my face in these pictures.

#WorkingMom

He has plans for that Sharpie. None of them good.

My parents rocked their "My Daughter Wrote" t-shirts....

And some of you might recognize the fabulous
Dahlia Adler, who came all the way from NYC <3 td="">

"Never be ashamed to be yourself" is how I signed this book,
and many others. Kelsey's been there, so have I. We're all good enough.

Saying Goodbye

I spent last week in my home state of Connecticut, and it was a bittersweet trip, to say the least.

Originally, my husband and I had planned this vacation for two reasons: 1) To meet our nephew, my sister's first baby, due July 7th,  and 2) to have a homecoming launch for LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE with my family and friends.

The launch went on, but sadly, I never got to meet my nephew. Mason Tod was stillborn at 22 weeks, and our family was devastated.

Unfortunately, that was only our first loss associated with this trip. Two years ago, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. In the weeks preceding our trip, her condition went downhill fast. We learned that the cancer had spread to her brain and spine. Every time I spoke to my mother, the news wasn't good. Until one night, it kind of was:

The evening my mother sent me this text, my grandmother had spent the morning not talking, not eating, not swallowing. But then, somehow, she got a second wind. And used it to ask my mom to read LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE to her. My mom and sister tried to Face Time me so Gram could tell me how proud she was of me, the same way she kept telling them. But the call wouldn't go through.

That happened a lot in the next few days. There was never service, and if the call did connect, it would freeze and I couldn't see anything.

The day before we flew to CT, my sister tried again. And this time, the call went through without a problem. Although my grandmother couldn't move, she could see me, and I could see her. She looked right at me and said hello, then told me she loved me. Her speech was strangled, but she still had a smile on her face. She watched my son play, and smiled when he said, "Nonna," the name her great-grandchildren called her. When she started to have trouble keeping her eyes open, I told her I'd see her tomorrow, and we ended the call.

By the time I got to her bedside the next afternoon, her breathing was labored. Her eyebrows moved when I spoke to her, but she couldn't open her eyes. Still, I know that she knew I was there. When I left her, I kissed her cheek and wished her sweet dreams.

Three hours later, my mother called to tell me Gram had passed away.

I didn't think that she was waiting for me, but now I believe it wholeheartedly. Anyone who knew my grandmother knows that it makes perfect sense. She never wanted to serve a meal until the entire family was together, and she wanted to take her last breath the same way.

It was my job to write a eulogy on behalf of the grandchildren, and I wanted to share it here as a tribute to my grandmother. Rest in peace, Gram. It means everything to me that I made you proud.

Grandma, teaching me how to make homemade gnocchi for Christmas dinner

We're here today to celebrate the life of our grandmother, Luisa Astolfi. It's hard to find the right words, because her passing is not just the end of her life. It's the end of an era.

For as long as any of us can remember, Grandma's house was our family headquarters. She loved nothing more than having her children and grandchildren gathered at her table every Sunday afternoon - a family that grew so often, the table had to be custom made to fit everyone around it. She made feeding an army look easy – even as she insisted on cooking at a tiny oven in her cramped basement kitchen, while the full-size, fully functional stove in her real kitchen sat collecting dust on its avocado-green surface.

Her food was famous and her door was always open. When she sold the house in Bridgeport to move in with Uncle Pat and Aunt Linda, nothing changed. That big, round table went with her. And no matter how many of us were squeezed into her apartment, she could always find room for more. When her grandkids asked if we could bring friends for lunch to show off our grandma and her awesome cooking, she'd say in her Italian accent, "The more the merry!"  She ended up acquiring a few honorary grandchildren because of it. Because everyone who met her fell in love with her, and if you weren’t her grandchild, you wanted to be.

Family was our grandmother’s pride and joy, and she was ours. She was the center of everything, the person we all adored and looked up to. She would’ve done anything for her grandkids – her babies, as she called us – and we would’ve done anything for her. It’s so hard to picture Grandma missing from that table, but even more difficult to imagine her missing from our lives. Sundays will never be the same, but one thing will never change – we are so proud to have known her, loved her, and been part of her family.  

Happy Book Birthday to UNDER THE LIGHTS by Dahlia Adler!

Good Morning!

It's a glorious Tuesday! Know why? Because today is the official release day for my CP Dahlia Adler's newest book, UNDER THE LIGHTS!

Photo Credit: threehundredlittleducklings

You might remember last June, when I spewed gifs all over the internet in celebration of Dahlia's first book, BEHIND THE SCENES.

Well, Dahlia has done it again. And this time, as that awesome cover leaves no room for doubt, she's done it with really cute lesbians. (Yep, totally aware of how that sentence sounds, and pretty sure Dahl would want it no other way, and so I'm leaving it.)

Photo credit: justanotherbadfish

Photo credit: lezgirlblog

So, done what again, you ask? (*snaps fingers* HEY! Ogle the girl-on-girl gif later, I'm still talking!)

I've found that I have three main reactions to Dahlia's novels. First, there's this:

Hysterical, face-contorting laughter, in case I have to spell it out
Photo credit: isabelleadjanis

Then she has to go and throw in a few of these moments:

Because it's totally normal to sob over people you don't
know and won't ever meet. And also don't exist.
Photo credit: powerofdean

Mixed in with a good amount of these:

Self explanatory
Photo credit: mariahpapaya2

If this isn't you during the sex scene, I fear your pulse is nonexistent
Photo credit: tenpointstogifindor

And this book absolutely does not disappoint in any department. If you like funny, honest, heartfelt stories with diverse, realistic characters, then go pick this one up right now. I promise, you will be happy you did.

Happy Release Day, Dahlia!!!!

Photo Credit: bornthisday1995

Last Year's Mistake Release Recap and Launch Party Pics!

Hello there!

It doesn't seem possible that LAST YEAR'S MISTAKE has been out in the world for almost two weeks now, but somehow, it has. I wanted to write a post recapping all the wonderful craziness, so here goes:

First matter of business: Announcing the winner of the LYM Pre-Release Giveaway Extravaganza. The fabulous prize pack goes to:

Paola! (@DontFoldthePage)

For her two 2015 debut titles, Paola chose SIMON VS THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA by Becky Albertalli and MOSQUITOLAND by David Arnold. Both awesome choices! Congrats, Paola, and thanks so much to everyone who entered and spread the word about the contest!

Next, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who made release day great - so many of you tweeted, texted, Facebooked, blogged, etc., and the love and support totally overwhelmed me in the best possible way. Especially when LYM started trending on Twitter!

HOW COOL IS THAT?

Almost as cool as these t-shirts worn by my sister, mom, and son:

In case you're wondering, my mom is sitting next to my book in Target. MY BOOK IS ON THE SHELVES AT FREAKING TARGET!

Then my brother-in-law sent me this pic after he found my book at the Yale University book store. You guys, this is the closest I'll ever get to Ivy League:

But I was also SUPER psyched to see LYM at my own alma mater, in the very store where I bought all my college textbooks at The University of Connecticut. (Shoutout to the student who took the liberty of giving it this sweet spot on the shelf at the Co-op!)

So many of you tweeted me pics at your local stores, and I absolutely loved it. Seeing something I wrote as a real, live book on a store shelf, or in the hands of an actual reader never gets old. So thank you for giving me so many reasons to squeal with delight - like these:

Seriously, could Sherry be any cuter?

Misfit Love! Hi, Erica!

More Misfit Love! Hey, Lyla!

And speaking of squealing with delight, I can not say enough about the people who went out of their way to send kind words and reviews about LYM. Even as a debut author, I have no delusions that everyone will love and connect with my stories. But the people who do? Do it in the best possible way. Here are a few of my favorite post-release reviews so far:

Bittersweet Reads Review
Excerpt: I love it when books completely catch me by surprise, and that’s exactly what happened with Last Year’s Mistake! You never know what to expect when starting a new book, especially if it’s by a debut author. But guys, Gina Ciocca blew this one out of the park!

Seeing Double in Neverland ARC review
Excerpt: This was a well written contemporary romance that gave me everything I could have wanted. The back story was some of the best parts of the story and had me dying to find out what lead them to the point of losing out on their friendship. I think Gina captures the feelings of being a teen perfectly, the insecurities, and the jealousy.

A Bookish Escape's "4 Beautiful Friendship, Growing Up, and Falling in Love Filled Stars" Review
Excerpt: Last Year's Mistake brought me back to my teenage years, when you are learning who you are, social cliques can make or break you, and your first love is someone that you'll always remember.

The Reader Bee Review
Excerpt: Not only was the friendship between the two main characters in the story great, but also the relationships with their family members as well. I love a book that has really great family relationships. I especially loved Kelsey’s sister, and also David’s dad, who made me tear up more than a few times throughout the book.

Reading Between Felines Review 
Excerpt: it was a great read and I wish it could have gone on and on because now I have to find another book just as good to dive into, which, after LYM, won't be easy.

Book Sp(L)ot Review
Excerpt: I loved that 'before' Kelsey and David were best friends. They weren't friends-who-aren;t-really-friends for five minutes before they started dating, they really were friends. I liked the scenes of their friendship and seeing their relationship really grow.

Finally, this weekend was the long-awaited Summer Swoons launch party with Rachael Allen, Lauren Morrill, and Julie Reece at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA.

I assume my mouth is running in this picture, because everyone is looking at me

These are some truly awesome ladies, with truly awesome books to match. And Little Shop did a great job of keeping everything organized and running smoothly. I also didn't throw up or trip over anything, so BONUS.

But the ABSOLUTE BEST part? My mom and my sister flew in from Connecticut to surprise me:

Yes, they wore their LYM t-shirts!

Yep, there were tears. And since it was my first book, and therefore my first launch party, there was also an excess of LYM-themed items:

Chocolate chip cookies, saltwater taffy, and chocolate baseballs, oh my!

I had way too much fun planning the little details. And setting them up. And seeing total strangers buy my book and hand it to me to sign. It was crazy, surreal, and amazing.

JUST LOOK AT ALL THOSE LYMs!

Obviously nothing is without drawbacks, but I have to tell you: I absolutely love being a published author. Yes, there are times when I doubt my abilities and my endurance and my ideas. There are times when I'm impatient with the whole process, when I wonder if I was really cut out for this. But at the end of the day? This is a dream come true. I haven't forgotten that. And I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I am so, so grateful to everyone who played a part in it. Never stop being your amazing, awesome selves. You're a huge part of the reason for the smile on my face.