http://booksbygotta.com/blogBLOG RSSMon, 16 Oct 2023 23:56:38 GMTMon, 16 Oct 2023 23:56:38 GMThttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-10-2024-review-of-winning-secretsBelow is a recently received review of Winning Secrets, my comprehensive book on youth baseball coaching strategy.  I found this book to be invaluable! The first and third plays alone saved my season. Highly recommend.Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:48:49http://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-10-2024-review-of-winning-secretshttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-9-2024-a-thunderstorm-in-townOne of my favorite poems of all time, from Thomas Hardy. A Thunderstorm in TownShe wore a 'terra-cotta' dress,And we stayed, because of the pelting storm,Within the hansom's dry recess,Though the horse had stopped; yea, motionlessWe sat on, snug and warm.Then the downpour ceased, to my sharp sad pain,And the glass that had screened our forms beforeFlew up, and out she sprang to her door:I should have kissed her if the rainHad lasted a minute more.Tue, 09 Jul 2024 13:48:07http://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-9-2024-a-thunderstorm-in-townhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-8-2024-review-of-hanging-in-thereBelow is a review of my youth baseball novel, Hanging In There, available on Amazon."My eight year-old son plays baseball and his seven year-old sister just started softball. They loved the characters in Hanging In There. We read it together in just a few days. Great message! I highly recommend this book. - J.J."Mon, 08 Jul 2024 13:32:49http://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-8-2024-review-of-hanging-in-therehttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-3-2024-review-of-him-novelBelow is a review of Him, my young adult/contemporary novel about the good and loyal dog, Scout, who finds himself in a shelter with other dogs he doesn't know.I LOVED Him! I couldn't wait to get to the end, but then I was sad when I did! Highly, highly recommend!Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:28:21http://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-3-2024-review-of-him-novelhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-2-2024-excerpt-from-the-season-s-not-overBelow is an excerpt from my youth sports novel, The Season's Not Over: The next day at school, Eddie had trouble concentrating on work. He sat in the classroom and thought about Chase and the Golden Arm Trophy. It didn’t seem fair that Chase got to pitch against the easier teams and Eddie against the harder ones, and still the wins and shutouts for both of them counted the same.Chase had beaten the Red Birds, a team most everyone in the league had beaten. And now on Saturday, Eddie had to goMon, 01 Jul 2024 13:33:27http://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-2-2024-excerpt-from-the-season-s-not-overhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-1-2024-excerpt-from-winning-secretsBelow is an excerpt from my definitive guide to coaching youth baseball, Winning Secrets.I remember once when I saw a kid walking off the field after his game. I asked him, “How did you do?” He said, “I threw a one- hitter, but they made a bunch of errors and let in some runs. I had a home run though.” I guess he didn’t realize I wasn’t asking how he did personally, but how the team had done. Far too many kids don’t have the team-first attitude. They’d rather go 3 for 3 and lose, than go 0 forMon, 01 Jul 2024 13:31:14http://booksbygotta.com/blog/july-1-2024-excerpt-from-winning-secretshttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-28-2024-review-of-the-season-s-not-overThe Season's Not Over is my first youth sports novel. I wrote it when my kids were young and re-released it last year. You can order a copy for your baseball-loving child here. Review: This has a great message of sportsmanship and being a team playerFri, 28 Jun 2024 13:28:11http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-28-2024-review-of-the-season-s-not-overhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-27-2024-excerpt-from-time-for-willyBelow is an excerpt from my youth sports novel, Time for Willy about a soccer-playing boy and his love for his dog, Willy. Sam didn’t want to argue with Mom. And he knew that as soon as they got out of the parking lot, she was going to start in on what a jerk Coach Rivas is, and that it was time to quit the Dragons. So, he fastened his seatbelt, closed his eyes and put his head against his seat, hoping Mom would think he was asleep. It must have worked because she didn’t say a thing for theThu, 27 Jun 2024 13:35:48http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-27-2024-excerpt-from-time-for-willyhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-26-2024-review-of-him-novelIf you love dogs, you'll love my novel, Him, just like the reader below:The only problem is now I hear everything my dogs are thinking in my mind! I'm kidding. It really is great. I loved it.Wed, 26 Jun 2024 14:04:00http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-26-2024-review-of-him-novelhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-25-2024-winning-secretsTravel ball and youth recreational league coaches have one thing in common. They need my book, Winning Secrets, to get the most out of their players and their teams.Tue, 25 Jun 2024 13:32:49http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-25-2024-winning-secretshttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-24-2024-excerpt-from-the-unbelievable-point-guardBelow is an excerpt from my youth basketball novel, The Unbelievable Point Guard:Clifton waited in Coach Watson’s office, which was near the back of the locker room next to the showers. At one time it had been a closet. Mr. Schaeffer, the PE teacher who was also the wrestling and track coach had the big office by the door, so they had converted this small, brick-walled room for Coach Watson to use during basketball season. The only light was a dim, yellow desk lamp. There was barely enoughMon, 24 Jun 2024 13:24:14http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-24-2024-excerpt-from-the-unbelievable-point-guardhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-21-2024-excerpt-from-hanging-in-thereBelow is an excerpt from my youth sports novel, Hanging in There which is available on Amazon.Ted got lost daydreaming about the summer nights at the high school stadium watching his brother play under the lights. By the time he looked at the clock he realized that there was only about a half-hour until dinner, after which he’d have to do his homework. It looked like he wasn’t going to get to do his daily regimen today either.As he took off his tennis shoes, he felt even guiltier now forFri, 21 Jun 2024 13:19:14http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-21-2024-excerpt-from-hanging-in-therehttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-20-2024-excerpt-from-himBelow is an excerpt from my novel, Him, told from the point of view of the good dog, Scout.“OK, Jason,” He said quietly. He laid the little rectangle back down and stared at something that wasn’t there, without moving or saying anything. The man outside had gone, and He was still staring. Then He turned His head and looked at me.I was pretty sure I was in trouble, but unsure as to why.He stood up and walked over, put His knees on the ground next to me and His head and chest on my back. HeThu, 20 Jun 2024 14:54:20http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-20-2024-excerpt-from-himhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-19-2024-books-by-gottaI've written in many genres: Sales, baseball coaching, youth sports novels, and, my latest, Him, about the good and loyal dog Scout. You can see all my titles here as well as on my website. I hope you enjoy reading.Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:53:28http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-19-2024-books-by-gottahttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-18-2024-excerpt-from-the-unbelievable-point-guardBelow is an excerpt from my youth sports novel, The Unbelievable Point Guard.Clifton had blown it. His mom had been over it and now suddenly, she was back on the warpath. If she called the school to ask why they hadn’t called her, she’d learn that he’d never been to the nurse’s office. Next, she’d call Coach Watson and find out Clifton wasn’t at practice, and why. Then she’d quickly figure out that everything about the ankle was a lie.Oh, no, he thought. How am I going to get out of this one?Tue, 18 Jun 2024 13:39:10http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-18-2024-excerpt-from-the-unbelievable-point-guardhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-17-2024-reader-review-of-himBelow is from a new reader of my novel, Him.I loved this book! It brought me to tears and I fell in love with Scout and didn't want to leave him when the story ended!Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:31:58http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-17-2024-reader-review-of-himhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-14-2024-summer-suggestions-for-reading-my-booksHere are some creative suggestions for ways to read my books this summer: On a boat. On a hammock. Lying on a rock after a hike with a towel under you head. In a tree you've climbed. While jet skiing. Or water skiing. Laying on an inner tube in a lake. By the pool on a chaise lounge. On an airplane while flying to Bali. You can come up with many other ways to read my books if you give it some thought!Fri, 14 Jun 2024 13:26:18http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-14-2024-summer-suggestions-for-reading-my-bookshttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-13-2024-excerpt-from-the-season-s-not-overBelow is an excerpt from my youth sports novel, The Season's Not Over, which any grade school-aged reader and fan of baseball will love.“Guys, no one likes to lose. We lost this one as a team, just like we’ve won six as a team. But there are a few things to remember. We’re still in first place. Next game we’ve got Chase up on the mound. And if anyone had asked us before the season started if we’d like to be 6-2 at this point, all of us probably would have said ‘yes’. So I’m counting on you toThu, 13 Jun 2024 13:30:53http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-13-2024-excerpt-from-the-season-s-not-overhttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-12-2024-winning-secretsIf you're coaching youth baseball or softball and want some tips to improve your team and win games, you need a copy of my book, Winning Secrets. It is the most thorough, comprehensive and easy-reading book available to youth league coaches.Wed, 12 Jun 2024 13:44:03http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-12-2024-winning-secretshttp://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-11-2024A boy's love for two things: Soccer and his dog, Willy. That's what you'll read about in my youth sports novel, Time for Willy. Loved universally by kids everywhere.Wed, 12 Jun 2024 13:40:59http://booksbygotta.com/blog/june-11-2024