I was honored to be a speaker at the American Volleyball Coaches Association convention held in conjunction with the women's NCAA Division I Final Four in Oklahoma City. The title of my presentation was: "Strategies for Overcoming Adversity and Succeeding as an Underdog." I also had a book-signing in the exhibition hall, and met a lot of great people! Penn State defeat BYU in the national championship match. These players are amazing athletes---so TALL and POWERFUL! 
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What a great 40th reunion of my 1974 and 1975 state championship volleyball teams (one of the inspirations behind Meeting Her Match). These women were trailblazers for today's female athletes.
Then I had a terrific book-signing event at Indiana University during a women's basketball game.
I had a great time speaking to a powerful group of AAUW women at their November 6th luncheon. My talk was about my athletic experiences before and after Title IX. AAUW women ROCK!  EXCITING NEWS! Meeting Her Match has been awarded a 2014 First Place Royal Palm Literary Award by the Florida Writers Association. I am honored and humbled to be recognized by such a distinguished group of writers and editors. The awards banquet was a fancy affair with a Hollywood theme. Is that a good omen for what's to come?  Check out the great publicity for Meeting Her Match in the recent online Coaching Volleyball magazine. I've been invited to do a presentation and a book-signing at the NCAA Women's Volleyball Final Four in Oklahoma City this fall. It is awesome to be able to reach and inspire so many athletes and coaches with my story. Click here for the magazine. (See pages 16-21.)
It is so much fun to attend book clubs who have read Meeting Her Match! The Ancient City Road Runners' ladies recently invited me to share my book-writing journey with them. What a great group of empowered and strong women! Their positive and insightful comments were much appreciated. Meeting Her Match is every woman's story! 
I am excited to announce that Meeting Her Match has been selected as a finalist for the Royal Palm Literary Award by the Florida Writer's Association! Winners will be announced at a banquet in Orlando in October. In the meantime I am enjoying making plans for fall speaking engagements and book-signings. Check out my "Events" tab. While at a recent family wedding on Long Island, I found a new international fan....Oxford University graduate, Will Thomas. 
I just returned from Los Angeles where I had a book-signing party in Beverly Hills, and appeared on The Stephanie Miller syndicated radio-talk show. (View the talk-show clip under my "Events" tab.) Stephanie is a former comedienne, and very liberal, so I did not know what to expect! While in LA I also met with some Hollywood producers who are interested in making Meeting Her Match into a movie. How cool is that? Check out this picture sent to me by one of my players who was on that history-making 1975 State Championship Team. Her father is "seriously" into Meeting Her Match! 
During the past several weeks I have received emails and letters (yes...actual hand-written letters!) from many people who have read Meeting Her Match. They took the time to share their thoughts with me. Here are just a few excerpts:
"Meeting Her Match changed me. As a triathlete I am always moody and angry when my wife out-performs me in a race. Now I celebrate her accomplishments and applaud her." 57-yr-old male triathlete "Loved, loved, loved the book. I couldn't put it down....and I am a BUSY person!" 45-yr-old mother of three "I laughed. I cried. I cheered. What a phenomenal book." Female physical education teacher "Your experiences were deeply woven into the fabric of life for women in the 1960s. On behalf of ALL women...thank you for writing Meeting Her Match!" 66-yr-old retired female teacher "I could relate to every emotion you felt as a young, aspiring athlete." 29-yr-old female track athlete "Thank you for writing this---not only for female athletes, but for ALL women." 50-yr-old female psychologist "Every woman and young girl should read Meeting Her Match for insight into the privileges they enjoy today." 72-yr-old retired male coach "Even though I was not an athlete, your story resonates with me. When I was sixteen, I told my father that I wanted to be a businesswoman. He stared at me and asked, "Why would a woman want to do that?" 69-yr-old retired female business executive Thanks also to the folks who have posted reviews on the Meeting Her Match Amazon site. I am pleased that I have touched so many lives.  If you're looking for a last-minute gift for a sports-minded female in your life (mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, etc.), stop by Metalartz Gallery, 58 Hypolita, St. Augustine, FL on Saturday, May 10 from 2-6 PM. This story will inspire anyone who has faced barriers with determination, perseverance, and hope. I'll be there signing books. Stop in and say "hi."
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