Getting in the quirks

"Hit the Carousel, which isn't really a carousel but an outdoor sandy bar spot that's attached to the Springfield Inn (also not an inn)."

Either that's really funny, or I've read through my manuscript one too many times, and I should put the editing pen down since it's past 10pm.

This is a direct quote from the new book, and I post about it now for three reasons:

1. I'm trying to post more. The redesigned blog will be up in March, so expect a LOT more from me.

2. This quote captures the quirkiness of the Jersey Shore. What bar calls itself an inn if it isn't an inn? And has an outdoor bar attached to it named the Carousel without a carousel? Well, the Springfield Inn, of course, and for those of us who have been going down the shore forever, it makes perfect sense. I really worked on getting these kinds of tidbits into the book (like the sauce hose, like the surfboard/mannequin cream & sugar holder at the Positively Fourth Street Cafe, like the Doo Dah Parade, like what it takes to make salt water taffy, like the entity that is known as Twistie's), which is why the second edition took just as much work to put together as the first one. I'll write more on this at a later date because I'm already getting "oh, it was just a quick update, right?" Not on your life.

3. This quote is from a new feature you'll see in the new book called "48 hours." At the end of every chapter, I give you an itinerary if you've only got, well, 48 hours for the towns in that chapter. Then, if you have more time, I also give suggestions to extend your stay. I wrote all the 48 hours sections at the very end of the initial book writing process. It forced me to make sure I had included EVERYTHING that needed to be in there (because if I put it in 48 hours, why would I not put in the main text), and served as a wrap up to the section.

Anyway - I'm done for the night. The more I read through the book in PDF format and see the full color pictures and read through what makes this edition so different from the first...well, I can't wait for you guys to read it.

P.S. And now I'm up late working on the book and listening to Guster. I've been in this spot before (in book one and book two, over and over again). But you know what? It feels good. This book writing thing, and trying to write about the real Jersey Shore when stupid cable channels make you believe that the shore is something else...it's draining. Thank goodness this new book will be out soon so I can SHOW you what I've been working on.