Graceling and Hipwritermama

Hey rgz!

Postergirl Hipwritermama

has a most excellent interview up at her site with Kristin Cashore AND the publisher is offering 10 Graceling books as a giveaway!

Run over and check it out! The deadline is Wednesday!And let me just say you are going to need a copy of Graceling in the near future at rgz. *squeee*

Miss Erin in a MOVIE!

Standing "O" for postergirl Miss Erin, rgz! I just saw this at her blog:

"I AM GOING TO BE IN A MOVIE. MY FIRST FEATURE FILM EVER.

THE CAST AND CREW (myself included, obvi) WILL BE FLOWN OUT TO KENTUCKY IN JULY TO SHOOT ON LOCATION.

THE MOVIE WILL BE DIRECTED BY GLENN WITHROW. IT'S GOING TO STAR HALLIE TODD (!!!) AND MYSELF WITH A GROUP OF OTHER GIRLS. If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you'll know that those are two of my favorite people (and heroes/mentors) on EARTH.

THE MOVIE IS CALLED "THE MOORING" AND IT'S A HORROR-THRILLER."

Check out her full report here. *running around the room and squeeing for our Miss Erin*

May 2009: Laura Resau

Here's a roundup of all of Laura Resau's discussion posts for Red Glass this month. Feel free to jump in and add your thoughts at any time! Thanks again, Laura and rgz!

Welcome, Laura Resau
Poetry Friday: Red Glass
Have you ever taken a trip that changed your life?
What have you overcome?
Clothes or jewelry that make a difference?
Unusual behavior
What's your heritage?
Red Glass Party
Unexpected Reactions
rgz LIVE!
Older Female Inspirations
Looking Past Assumptions
Gracias, Laura

Family: Micol and David Ostow

Helping me close out this month's family series are siblings Micol and David Ostow.

Rumor has it I was less-than-thrilled about the birth of my baby brother. The details are hazy to me, seeing as I was three at the time, but the story goes that I'd been staying with my grandparents while my mother was in the hospital. We got the call that she'd given birth, and my father announced to me that I had a new little brother. To which I replied, "I want to live with Grandma and Grandpa now." ¹

That pretty much set the tone in our relationship from childhood through the college years.² I'm not sure what changed exactly, or when, but these days my brother is not only my writing partner³ but also one of my very best friends. And I have learned that a bonus in working with a partner who also happens to be your brother is that you are granted carte blanche to occasionally revert to your five-year-old self amidst times of stress.

Family has to love you, even when you're not being a mature and professional adult-type person.⁴

1. (It didn't fly.)
2. (His, not mine.)
3. (SO PUNK ROCK, an illustrated novel, due out this July!)
4. (Thank GAWD!)

- Micol Ostow

I disagree with Micol. Family does not have to love you. My very unscientific observations suggest that the odds of being born into a community of people who are prepared to love you for who you are and who – in their tolerance – deserve the same, are fairly slim.

For better and for worse, we Ostows have beaten those odds.

For better because the freedom to pursue our chosen paths has given Micol and me not only a clear perspective on our own selves, but on one another as well. And it turns out we're not so different. Our shared sense of entitlement, cynicism to the world at large, and tendency to laugh at the expense of others are the keys to any success with which So Punk Rock is met. Without the opportunity to harness all this negative energy and to deflect it outwards, Micol would still be throwing blunt objects at me – as she did when we were children - and I would still be sleeping with one eye open.

For worse because, having given us carte blanche to explore our creative sides, our parents paved the way for a long history to come of sibling competition. This was first evident when my sister, age 10, declared that she "could write circles around anything I drew." At the time, my 7-year-old self couldn’t make sense of the figurative nature of this comment and could scarcely understand why Micol wouldn't prefer the more standard medium of ruled paper to my pretty good drawing of Garfield which didn't call for any embellishment as far as I could tell. At 30 years old, I think I finally understand what she was getting at, and let’s just say the race is on to see who can exploit their talent faster and more effectively. (She's winning so far.)

Luckily - and perhaps in anticipation of this - our parents bequeathed to us another long-standing Ostow family institution: Therapy.

- David Ostow

Visit the websites for Micol, David, and So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother)

Follow the series of family posts.

Gracias, Laura Resau!

Here's a big gracias to the awesome Laura Resau for joining us at readergirlz this month! Red Glass touched us in so many ways, and I'd like to quote from the book a little. This is a message we can carry into our days, weeks and years:

"I felt taller, as if my whole life, I'd let fear cram me into a small box, a space so tiny I was always curled over, my shoulders hunched, my back bent. That box had seemed too strong to break through, so I hadn't tried before. But maybe, all along, the box was just flimsy cardboard, and all I had to do was stand up, punch through the top, and climb out." (p. 203)

Having Laura here this month has been inspiring. Thank you, Laura, for hanging out with readergirlz!!

Latino Images in Film: Rita Moreno

All month long, Turner Classic Movies has spotlighting Latino Images in Film as part of their Race & Hollywood series. In addition to airing an amazing lineup of classic and contemporary films featuring Latino actors and cultural storylines, they have also taped interviews with actors such as Edward James Olmos, Hector Elizondo, Rita Moreno, and John Saxon. I absolutely loved the interview with Rita Moreno, in which she discusses stereotypes and getting (or not getting) certain roles.

Watch the video with Rita.

Visit the Latino Images in Film website.

Little Willow's Book Bag

This Week's Picks
Warrior Princess by Frewin Jones

For Your Younger Siblings
Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Charles Vess
Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw

This Month's Spotlighted Title
Red Glass by Laura Resau

Rgz Street Team: Vanessa Reviews GoldenGirl by Micol Ostow

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Vanessa reviews GoldenGirl by Micol Ostow:

Written entirely in blog posts and status updates, GoldenGirl is definitely a modern story. Describing the lives of girls who would normally be upper class boarding school snobs, the blog aspect made the characters easy to understand in a way I've never experienced before with the 'mean girl' character. Being inside Spencer's head gave me a chance to learn what she was really going through and why she acted the way she did.

Neatly enough, the story doesn't end when the last page is turned, and no that's not just because book two is coming out soon - Bradford Prep continues online. The very blogs mentioned between the covers actually exist on the internet with additional information from the characters. Most of the girls even have Twitter and Facebook accounts too! Not only is the story fun to read, but it's interactive to boot.

Take a look at bradfordprep.com for a peek, then read the book for yourself.

[Adding the book trailer for fun!]:

Attention writergirlz: Summer Revision Smackdown!

Hey readergirlz: are you writergirlz, too? Have you written a story and need a licorice lash to get going on revision? If so, you're invited to come on over to diva Holly's blog for the Summer Revision Smackdown!


Post your goals, crack the whip alongside some fabulous writers, get tips from the experts, and win prizes! See the Smackdown post for all the details on how to participate. I hope to see some of you there!

Things to Know About Featured Author Laura Resau

The amazing Laura Resau, author of Red Glass, has shared a few things about herself with us:

On the nightstand: Orange ChapStick, notebook to record dreams, The Hunger Games (amazing book!)

Favorite drink while you write: Hot tea with lots of honey and milk

Pets: Half-corgi-half-lab named Luli. She's short and long and bratty - she gets lots of laughs.

Place to write: My *sweet lil fifties rig* - a cozy silver trailer in my driveway

Dream book tour: How about a series of candlelit readings in remote caves around the world? Getting there would be an adventure for everyone.

Favorite outfit: A très chic strapless silk dress I discovered last summer at a street market in Aix-en-Provence, France. Always looking for excuses to wear it — not easy here in Colorado -- the land of Polarfleece and Tevas.

WOW. I so want to meet Laura's dog, write in her rig and go to her candlelit cave readings (maybe even wearing her strapless dress). You guys? Find out more on readergirlz.com!

Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court Nominee

Quick note: How cool is it that the new Supreme Court nominee (federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor, left) is Latina, and during our big month celebrating Latin culture? Readergirlz and President Obama = same wavelength. It's history making!

Family: Lesley M.M. Blume

The literary family that I've adored continuously - from childhood to the present -- is J.D. Salinger's Glass family. I still really love that one footnote in Franny and Zooey" that describes each of the seven children: Franny, Zooey, Walter, Waker, Boo Boo, Buddy, and of course, Seymour. When I was at Cambridge, I wanted to stage a play based on 'Franny and Zooey,' but then I heard that Salinger sues the hell out of anybody who tries to dramatize anything based on the Glass family, so that was that.

I was amazed, then, when Wes Anderson dished up a remarkably similar family of child geniuses in his film The Royal Tenenbaums -- and came through it unscathed by Salinger's legal team. I loved the Tenenbaums with as much gusto as I loved the Glasses - from Margot with her play dioramas to Chad with his dalmation mice to Richie with his ballroom of paintings.

If I had to put my finger on what attracts me to these families, I'd have to say it's their combination of unbridled creativity and utter dysfunction. The narrative of enormous-yet-squandered brilliance and potential has always been very interesting to me, and I explore it a lot in my own writing. The Glasses and Tenenbaums have also been a big influence on me as I've created my own child-savant characters in my books: Cornelia in Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters is an expert in words; Franny in The Rising Star of Rusty Nail is a piano prodigy; and the title character in Tennyson is an uncannily sharp writer whose talents belie her age.

-- Lesley M.M. Blume

Follow the series of family posts.

The Teen Author Carnival in NYC THURSDAY May 28th!

Some very Awesome YA fans, those of the aptly named Five Awesome YA Fans ning, have put together quite a carnival of teen authors. So if you're in NYC this Thursday from 4-6pm, stop by the Jefferson Market Branch of the NY Public Library ( 425 Avenue of the Americas) and party with us! Who's on the guest list? See below. I can't tell you what the categories mean... I haven't found out myself (Though I'm glad to be a Caramel Apple). What I can tell you is this: It's going to be F-U-N. Come!


COTTON CANDY
Maureen Johnson
Robin Wasserman
Melissa Anelli
Carolyn MacCullough
Brian Sloan
Michelle Zink
Emma McLaughlin
Nicola Wheir
Beckie Weinheimer
Lauren Barnholdt
Robyn Schneider
Jennifer Lynn Barnes

CARAMEL APPLE
Libba Bray
Jenny Han
Sarah MacLean
Melissa Walker
Sasha Watson
Pam Bachorz
Greg Neri
David Ostow
Micol Ostow
Sarah Cross
Tish Cohen
Jessica Burkhart

TEAM FUNNEL CAKE

Cassie Clare
PG .Kain
David Levithan
Taylor Morris
Linda Gerber
Elizabeth Scott
Claudia Gray
Cinda Chima
Michel Northrop
Aimee Friedman
Susane Colosonti
Coe Booth

Family: Beth Kephart

Every meaningful relationship is born of, and returns to, trust. Family, for me, is composed of the people whom I trust. So that my husband, son, father, and siblings are there in my heart home, absolutely. But so are those with whom I dance two times a week - the teachers with whom I feel free to make mistakes, the other dancers who yearn as much as I do. Sometimes I don't even know what we are all yearning toward - I can't name it or define it. But I look around and I understand that we are all in that same wanting place, and that we trust each other, and that the conversations we are having, the lives we are living, will be tangled up together for a long time. That we are, in other words, family.

- Beth Kephart

Follow the series of family posts.

May: Looking Past Assumptions

One theme in The Little Prince quotes in Red Glass is that what's essential is invisible. Can you think of a time in your life when you had to look past surface appearances to find what was most important? Have you ever made an assumption about a person, and then, after you've gotten to know him or her, had a different impression?

Little Willow's Book Bag

This Week's Picks
Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde by Moises Kaufman
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

For Your Younger Siblings
The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
It's Not Fair by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Elephant & Piggie: Watch Me Throw the Ball! by Mo Willems
Amanda Pig, First Grader by Jean Van Leeuwen, illustrated by Ann Schweninger
Fairy School Dropout by Meredith Badger

This Month's Spotlighted Title
Red Glass by Laura Resau

Peace, Swings, & Book Giveaways!

I dared author Lauren Myracle to describe her newest book, Peace, Love, & Baby Ducks, solely in song titles - and she did! Only she didn't list the arists - just the songs - to test my song-recognizing prowess.

Do YOU recognize the songs and know who sang 'em? Read my interview with Lauren Myracle, figure out who sang what, and then leave a comment with your guesses before midnight PST on Sunday, May 24th. One random commenter will receive a signed copy of Peace, Love, & Baby Ducks. Good luck!

Update: Congratulations to Jenna, who was selected to be the winner!

View the complete Peace, Love, & Baby Ducks playlist.

Fellow postergirl HipWriterMama is, thanks to Candlewick, giving away 10 sets of Jo Knowles' two novels, Lessons From a Dead Girl and Jumping Off Swings! Leave a comment at her blog (after reading the awesome interview and the rules!) before Friday, May 29th.

Family: Holly Cupala

I have always thought of family as reaching beyond genetics and including friends. Several years ago, I realized family was even more. My husband and I lost our first daughter at birth, and I have never seen such an outpouring from our families, friends, colleagues, writing community, neighbors, and complete strangers. They called and visited. They sent cards. Meals. Flowers. Books. Every expression of kindness imaginable, to let us know we were not alone. When I think of that time, I think as much of the love as I do of the sadness. Now I know: a family is defined by love.

- Holly Cupala

Follow the series of family posts.

The Defining Twilight Contest

Brian Leaf, author of Defining Twilight: Vocabulary Workbook for Unlocking the SAT, ACT, GED, and SSAT (Wiley), is hosting a contest that sounds pretty darn cool.

Your job is to write a creative essay of no more than 1,000 words that incorporates the eight words listed on Brian's contest page.

You can write Twilight fan fiction or an entirely original essay. Each essay will be judged based on: correct and effective use of the eight vocabulary words, creativity, clear communication of ideas, correct syntax, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Oh yeah, it's serious grammar time. There are three age categories and five winners in each category. (First prize is $500 and a copy of the book; second prize is $50 and a copy of the book).

Deadline: Essays are due on or before Friday, July 31^st.

Good luck, readergirlz! Find the full rules and info here.

May: Older female inspirations

Sophie is blessed to know and love Dika, an older woman with a zest for living and complete acceptance of her body. Dika has lived through immense trials, but she has a joy for the day she's been given.

Do you have anyone in your life like Dika? Psst: what does she look like?

Cover Stories: The Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby

This is Amanda Ashby's second Cover Story (read the story behind You Had Me at Halo here), and we're happy to have her talk about the striking cover for her latest release, The Zombie Queen of Newbury High:

"I didn't even think about the cover while I was writing this book--firstly because it wasn't contracted so my main concern was to get it finished (without getting eaten by zombies) and then hope that my agent might be able to sell it (and yay--she did!). The other reason is that I'm really not a very visual person so it's never been part of my process to think about what the finished product might look like.

"My editor told me that even though the book was quite light and humorous they wanted to go for a slightly darker cover, which I was totally up for! The only idea I had was a girl sitting in a frothy/tulle sort of prom dress, with loads of zombie arms trying to grab at her legs. I still think that might've been cute but I much prefer the way it turned it out.

"I don't know how they put the photo together though I did see that the designer, Jeanine Henderson is up on Jacketflap. Here are a few of her other cover designs:



"When I first saw my cover, words failed me--that's how much I loved it. And every second I would look at a different part and decide that was my favorite bit. The wilted corsage. The lacy gloves. The black nail polish. The amazing dress (which by the way, I actually wrote into the story. At first Mia wasn't too happy at having to lose her gorgeous blue silk dress but as soon as she tried the new one, she was cool!).

"However, I think my absolute favorite part is the B-grade zombie movie font that was used on the sash. The whole reason I wanted to write a zombie movie was because every time I even said the word I thought of all the old zombie horror movies that my husband had made me watch. So to me that really captured the essence of the idea (not that the designer had any idea of this of course, but it's still cool!)"

I have to say, I LOVE the dark, goth style corsage that Mia has on. What do you guys think of this cover?

Mourning for ADAM!

WHAT? Are you kidding me. Bring it on, rgz. ADAM is my American Idol. Period. Exclamation point! What in the world happened? I called for 1 1/2 hours last night!

Diva Lorie Ann is having a very sad moment here, peeps. Here's to Adam. My American Idol.

May: rgz LIVE! with Laura Resau

Welcome to rgz LIVE! Jump into the party with Laura Resau, the divas, postergirlz, and rgz. Let's celebrate Latina month!

Family: Lorie Ann Grover

Family is either
what you are blessed to be born into
or those people you surround yourself with
who nurture
your body,
soul,
and aspirations.

I am flocked by
my natural family,
my Church brethren,
and then dearest friends
that I am thankful
to count as family.

- Lorie Ann Grover

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future. ~ Gail Lumet Buckley

Follow the series of family posts.

May: Unexpected Reactions

In Red Glass, Sophie encounters an extremely gross bathroom on her solo trip into Guatemala. She runs outside and ends up laughing hysterically. Why do you think she does this? What's the most shocking (or grossest!) place you've encountered? How did you react? Have you ever had a completely unexpected reaction to something?

PS-Don't forget to join us tonight at 9pm EST/6pm PST...

National Book Award Judges for 2009

This just in from the National Book Foundation's newsletter:

In Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and Young People's Literature

The National Book Foundation has announced the twenty writers who will serve as judges for the 2009 National Book Awards. These writers are from all across the country and represent a variety of backgrounds and diverse writing styles and include National Book Award Winners and Finalists, two Pulitzer Prize winners, a PEN-USA Award winner, a Whitbread Prize winner, and recipients of Newbery Honors and the Michael L. Printz award.

The Judges for the 2009 National Book Awards:

Young People's Literature panel: Kathi Appelt, Coe Booth, Carolyn Coman, Nancy Werlin (chair), Gene Luen Yang

Woohoo! Let's give it up to these fantastic writers for their service! We can't wait to see the finalists!

Reminder: The Guys Lit Wire Book Fair for Boys

Here's what Colleen says over at GLW, rgz:

"The Guys Lit Wire Book Fair for Boys to benefit the teens held in the LA County Juvenile Justice system is still rocking along! We really appreciate all the help we have gotten thus far and hope that folks will continue to share the link and let those who are unfamiliar with our project know about what we are trying to accomplish. Please read my earlier post on our partnership with InsideOut Writers in LA and how to access the Powells Wish List. Did a book change your life? Well now's the time to pay that literary favor forward."



I just bought Jacqueline Woodson's Locomotion for the teens. It's awesome having the chance to contribute. Just visiting the Wish List is very interesting. So many are affordable, btw.

Standing O for GLW!

Family: Courtney Sheinmel

A few days ago, the two-year-old son of one of my dearest friends was rushed to the hospital. (Before I go any further, let me just tell you that the baby is fine; he got an absolutely clean bill of health.) Moments after the ambulance came, my friend's husband called to tell me what was going on. I dropped the phone, ran outside, got a cab, and raced to the hospital. On the way over, I started to think about what I would tell the receptionist at the ER. I desperately wanted to be with my friend and her son, and I was afraid the emergency room staff wouldn't understand that we were such close friends that really we were family.

The thing is, I've always had a really broad definition of family. I don't think you need to share DNA or be legally related to someone to be their family. Tonight, just before I sat down to write this, I looked the word "family" up in the American Heritage College Dictionary. It was a pretty long entry, so I'm not going to reproduce the whole thing here, but this was my favorite part: "Two or more people who share goals and values, [and] have commitments to each other. . . ."

There are a lot of people in my life who fit this definition, people who are my family in the truest sense of the world, people for whom I am grateful every single day.

When I got to the hospital, I went straight back to the pediatric ER. I spotted my friend sitting on a gurney, the baby asleep in her arms. I sat down next to her, just like I belonged there. A few minutes later, a nurse came over to take the baby's vital signs. He woke up and started to cry. "It's okay,” the nurse said. "Settle down. Your family is here."

Yes, I thought. We are.

- Courtney Sheinmel

Follow the series of family posts.

Mark your calendars and spread the word!

Laura Resau's rgz LIVE chat is coming up this Wednesday, and we've got a new graphic to prove it!



Grab and repost this graphic, and spread the word! We'll be posting rgz LIVE featured book graphics like this every month, so get ready to tell your friends and chat live about great books!

 

Join Us!

Become one of the readergirlz

Joining readergirlz is simple, really. All you need to have is the love of reading - and the book of the month, of course! Get the book from your local library or bookstore. Then, as you read it, discuss it with other readers right here at the readergirlz blog.

Simply put, readergirlz is an interactive book group, open to all ages (and both genders - we do have readerguys!) But it's so much more than that. Reading a book isn't the same thing as experiencing a book. We want you to read, reflect, and reach out. That's why, every month, we pick a book which features strong, gutsy girls, then go beyond that. We recommend additional titles (see below for our postergirlz picks) and inform you of outreach programs that tie-in to the book we're discussing. Every issue also has an exclusive interview with the author of that month's book as well as a playlist created by the author, discussion questions, and tips on hosting your own book group.

Want to see what books we've spotlighted and discussed before? Browse through our archived issues.

This month, we're discussing Red Glass by Laura Resau. It's a perfect fit for both this month's theme of Family and for Latina Book Month. Find out more about the book by reading the May issue of readergirlz and the Red Glass roundtable discussion between me (Little Willow), Shelf Elf, Lorie Ann Grover, and Holly Cupala.

Blog site improvements

Many thanks to diva Holly Cupala for the header of amazingosity! Now everyone can see exactly what we are talking about for the month.

And how cute is this baby slideshow I found for the sidebar? We'll have the postergirlz fab recommends showing all month!

Let us know if you have any thoughts to improve our community at divasatreadergirlzdotcom.

Onward!

Little Willow's Book Bag

This Week's Picks
Re-Gifters by Mike Carey, Sonny Liew, and Marc Hempel (graphic novel)
Prince of Stories by Christopher Golden, Hank Wagner, and Stephen R. Bisette
Fairytales, poems, and other writings by Oscar Wilde

For Your Younger Siblings
The Baby-Sitters Club #118: Kristy Thomas, Dog Walker by Ann M. Martin
The Hollywood Sisters: Truth or Dare by Mary Wilcox
Rissa Bartholomew's Declaration of Independence by Lynda B. Comerford

This Month's Spotlighted Title
Red Glass by Laura Resau

May: Red Glass Party Ideas!

Wanna host a book party in honor of Red Glass? Laura Resau has some ideas for a colorful, musical fiesta!

Invite: Star-shaped invitations with The Little Prince quotes Under the Same Moon, Like Water for Chocolate, El Norte, The Motorcycle Diaries

Food: Mangos, fruitcake (um, if you're not into fruitcake, how about quesadillas?), red Jell-O -- and lime juice squeezed over EVERYTHING!

Décor: Scatter around little white flowers and hard corn kernels, red glass beads or marbles, chicken feathers, a map of the US, Mexico, and Guatemala (to trace Sophie's route)

Movies: Under the Same Moon, Like Water for Chocolate, El Norte, The Motorcycle Diaries

Craft: Learn to dance salsa, meringue, or cumbia; make corn tortillas

Congratulations, Mitali Perkins!

Mitali Perkins as been given an Honor Award from Skipping Stones Magazine.

"There's nothing I enjoy more than a good love story, but I didn't expect to be so emotionally pulled into this tale. I was spellbound by the details ... It was a book that both educated and inspired ..." Editor Françoise Bui

Mitali says:

"This is one of those awards that dovetails with my personal vision as a write', honoring books that 'promote cooperation and cultivate an awareness of our diverse cultures." Thank you, Skipping Stones!"

Give it up for Mitali, rgz! We love Secret Keeper, and our rgz Talent Scout!

May: What's your heritage?

In this month's roundtable concerning Red Glass, Little Willow asked:

"Anyone want to share their background or nationality? Are there any immigration stories in your immediate family?" Anyone celebrating their Latina heritage?

Sara Easterly on Writing a Graphic Novel, Part 5

This week we have author, readergirlz PR specialist, and former SCBWI WWA co-Regional Advisor Sara Easterly guest-blogging about the process of writing a graphic novel and working with her illustrator co-hort, Jaime Temairik. Today we have Where to Start. (All illustrations are copyright Jaime Temairik!) Welcome, Sara!

*****

While I’m not yet finished with the first (re)draft, the final manuscript page count for this first book in our series is probably going to wind up around 50 or 60 pages… which reminds me that things could’ve been much more catastrophic with the saved-over manuscript. Had I made it to 500 manuscript pages and the same percentage had been deleted, I most certainly would have listened to that bullying inner critic telling me it was a sign to give it up.

In the meantime, I’m reminding myself that countless writers finish a draft (or three) and then start completely over—as a writing exercise! I’ve always thought those kind of writers were a little south of sane, but I’m finding that once I let go and stop trying to recreate every single scene down to the exact word choice, the re-write really does seem stronger. Having a rough sense of where I’m going makes the process faster, too.

Of course, I still need procrastination breaks, so then it’s time for reading. Here are some of my favorite graphic novels and how-to books, in case you’re interested in giving any of them a read:

How-Tos:
Drawing Words and Writing Pictures by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden (First Second)
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Creating a Graphic Novel by Nat Gertler and Steve Lieber (Alpha/Penguin)
Writing for Comics with Peter David by Peter David (Impact Books)

Pleasure Reading:
Biker Girl by Misako Rocks! (Hyperion)
Nancy Drew series by Stefan Petrucha and Sho Murase (Papercutz)
Peach Fuzz by Lindsay Cibos and Jard Hodges (TOKYOPOP)
Robot Dreams by Sara Varon (First Second)
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman (Pantheon)


*****

This concludes our five-part series - thank you so much, Sara, for guest blogging on graphic novels! Now, to come up with a story...

 

Cover Stories: Evermore by Alyson Noel

EVERMORE, the first book in Alyson Noel's Immortals series, has been #1 on the New York Times bestseller list for weeks on end! This is definitely on my to-read list. And, Alyson shared her cover story on my blog this spring, and now I want to share it with readergirlz (have you guys read the book yet?!):

"I did use some visuals while I wrote. I have this image of a blond girl--this is how I imagined Ever to be. Except Ever has bangs, which are pretty significant in the story. But still, I was drawn to her wistful sadness with a hint of inner strength--that rang very 'Ever' to me!

"And I used this catalogue to decorate the house for a very significant Halloween party in EVERMORE--it was so much fun, I wish I could've done it for real!

"However, I had absolutely no visions for the cover! None. Nada. Zilch. Couldn't even imagine what it might look like. I work this way with all of my books! When my editor (the awesome Rose Hilliard) called one day to ask for my input, I didn't want her to know I hadn't given it the slightest thought, so I quickly mentioned some recent covers I liked, talked about colors (Purple! I love purple!), and mentioned that the tulips are hugely symbolic so we might want to add a few of those too. Then she took our ideas to the Art Department--et voila--a few weeks later, the EVERMORE cover appeared in my e-mail box and it was love at first sight!

"They used a photo-shopped stock photo. I learned this via one of my favorite YA bloggers who noticed they used the same photo on EVERMORE as they did in that gorgeous NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL cover. But they used the photo in such different ways it didn't really bother me at all. Just like it doesn't really bother me when someone is wearing the same dress as me--there's room for us all!

"When I first saw EVERMORE's cover, I thought: WOW! And then I called my husband into the room and we both stared at the computer screen and said a simultaneous: WOW! Like a chorus. Like we'd been practicing our 'wows' or something. I seriously fell in love with it, and I e-mailed my editor right away to tell her so!

"My editor is awesome to work with, and so far we've collaborated on both the EVERMORE and BLUE MOON covers. I'll be revealing BLUE MOON soon--I'm very excited about it! I did see an original for BLUE MOON, and it changed quite a bit--for the better!

"This brunette is the inspiration for two characters (identical twins) who show up in BLUE MOON. Her choppy bangs, her defiant oddness, her playfulness, really summed it up for me!

"The Art Department takes all suggestions to heart! Every single one of them! And I think they did such a tremendous job with both covers, I can't wait to see what they do with UNTITLED BOOK #3!

"I never saw an original version for EVERMORE, only the end result. Here's how I feel about the cover: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!"

I think it's gorgeous too, and I love the purple and red combo--it really stands out. What do you guys think?

Sara Easterly on Writing a Graphic Novel, Part 4

This week we have author, readergirlz PR specialist, and former SCBWI WWA co-Regional Advisor Sara Easterly guest-blogging about the process of writing a graphic novel and working with her illustrator co-hort, Jaime Temairik. Today we have Turning to the Experts. (All illustrations are copyright Jaime Temairik!) Welcome, Sara!

*****

When I interviewed Disney’s comic experts Steve Behling and Rich Thomas for the graphic novel article I mentioned earlier, one of the things that I found most interesting was their vision for the future, where graphic novels won’t fall under a separate category in the publishing world. They’ll simply be another form of storytelling, like novels in verse, for example. The vision, ultimately, is that graphic novels won’t sit on one or two bookshelves in a separate section of the bookstore, but would be intermingled as appropriate with other novels or biographies.

The other thing I really like about writing a graphic novel is the company I’m keeping. I’m stretching it, I know. But it’s pretty cool thinking about all the other great writers who are also writing graphic novels. The iconic Jane Yolen has two graphic novels soon to debut. And Avi, of course, was on the bandwagon early with City of Light, City of Dark, published by Scholastic in 1993.


*****

This will be a five-part series all this week on the why's of writing a graphic novel, illustrator collaboration, graphic wordplay, turning to the experts, and where to start. Tomorrow: Where to start!

 

13-year-old Adele's Literacy Library!

We are excited to hear about the ALL for Books WebStore, created for Adele's Literacy Library, is a non-profit organization founded by 13-year old Adele Taylor. Adele's passion for reading led her to start this organization that aims to donate millions of brand new books and bookmarks to schools, libraries and charitable organizations.

Launched as a joint project between Founder/CEO, Adele Ann Taylor, and a group of business school students from The University of California Irvine, the ALL for Books WebStore lets shoppers purchase books from the "Adele's List of Books to Donate" category and have them shipped directly to Adele's Literacy Library who will put them in the hands of the organizations/groups that need them. Shoppers can also purchase books for themselves or others from the New York Times Best Sellers List, and the proceeds are donated directly to Adele's Literacy Library to help it grow its one simple premise… read and be empowered.

Since December 2008, Adele's Literacy Library has successfully given away hundreds of brand new books and bookmarks to schools, libraries and various organizations. Adele’s goal is to give away millions of books to youth, elderly and disadvantaged individuals regardless of where they live. Ultimately Adele also wants to offer scholarships to high school graduates who want to pursue their educational dreams.

Visit ALL for Books to check it out!

Sara Easterly on Writing a Graphic Novel, Part 3

This week we have author, readergirlz PR specialist, and former SCBWI WWA co-Regional Advisor Sara Easterly guest-blogging about the process of writing a graphic novel and working with her illustrator co-hort, Jaime Temairik. Today we have Wordplay for the Graphic Novelist. (All illustrations are copyright Jaime Temairik!) Welcome, Sara!

*****

With any writing, every word counts. But with a graphic novel, every word really counts! I didn’t realize until trying my hand at the process just how teensy each of those speech balloons is. Naturally long-winded, it’s a real challenge for me to remember that each panel is like a billboard, where I’ve got a max of about 8 words to use—and sometimes that’s pushing it! In fact, some of the best graphic novels are completely barren of words, such as Robot Dreams by Sara Varon (First Second).

While I’ve never written a screenplay, I imagine the script looks somewhat the same—heavy on the dialogue. It’s tricky to look for ways to balance that out. But it’s the fun part, too! That’s where sound effects come in. BRRRAM! YOWWSA! And then there are thought balloons and narrative captions—setting or plot-advancing tools. The writer can also indicate entire panels, pages, or spreads where the plot advances only by the visuals. It’s liberating to learn to think that way.


*****

This will be a five-part series all this week on the why's of writing a graphic novel, illustrator collaboration, graphic wordplay, turning to the experts, and where to start. Tomorrow: Turning to the experts!

 

Graphic Novels on the Illustrator Side

For those of you following Sara Easterly's guest series on writing a graphic novel, check out her illustrator cohort Jaime Temairik's post on creating sketches for their project's main characters, Sana, Mischa, and Dano, pre- and post-pooberty:

(Illustration copyright Jaime Temairik, all rights reserved.)


And here's what she says about them: "In my world, a boy becomes a man when he switches from Super Big Gulps to Tall Americanos."


I totally agree. Read the rest at Jaime's blog!

 

Family: Daphne Grab

There are four members of my family who I have never met and who I most likely will never even set eyes on: the birth parents of my children. We adopted our kids from Kazakhstan four years ago and I think almost daily about the people who created my kids, gave them safe haven before birth and brought them to a place to be cared for when they were no longer able to offer that safety. In their staggering loss they gave me the greatest gift of my life and they are part of our home, our dialogue with our kids about our family, and our hearts. We kept the names given to our kids by their birth moms (and maybe their birth dads?) so that our kids could always have a connection to the parents who were there at the very beginnings of their lives and who will forever be an essential part of our family.

- Daphne Grab

Follow the series of family posts.

Rgz Street Team: Alex reviews Naomi and Ely's No-Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Alex reviews Naomi and Ely's No-Kiss List by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (did you guys know this book is slated to be a movie starring Hayden Panettiere?!):

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List is about a friendship that reaches a breaking point, a girl who likes a guy who likes guys, and college life. Ely and Naomi are best friends who have a “No Kiss List” which is made of up of who they cannot kiss in order to preserve their friendship. When Ely kisses Naomi’s boyfriend, Naomi is furious, not because Ely kissed her boyfriend but because she finally realized that Ely would rather kiss everyone else, but not her. In the end, Naomi finally understands that “gay” is not a choice and that Ely will always love her but as a sister.

This book was AMAZING! I love how it showed more than one side of each story. In life, there is always more than one point of view and it was fascinating to see one event from multiple points of view. It switched from character to character and slowly informed the reader of each character's past and their interests. It revolves around a BFF breakup and reading both Ely's and Naomi's point-of-view made it intense. It really makes one wonder what is going through the minds of others around when they are talking. Perhaps they are feeling the same about an event, perhaps not. One of my favorite lines in the book was said by Gabriel, the nighttime doorman. "Is he brown or yellow, or white, or what?" It appeals to me because I constantly have people asking me "What ARE you?" It also shows rather than states Gabriel's ethnicity and appearance. Books that make you visualize characters and scenes without outright describing them intrigue me.

Guys Lit Wire Book Fair for Boys

You know we love our guys over at GuysLitWire. So let's get the word out about their project full of heart and merit! Check this OUT! And get involved right now. Bravo, GuysLitWire!

Here's an excerpt from their site:

"Today we start the first two week Guys Lit Wire Book Fair for Boys to help the teens incarcerated in the LA County Juvenile Justice System. They have no books - at all - and they need them; they need them desperately.

There are currently about 50,000 incarcerated juveniles in the U.S.....About 300 of those kids (between the age of 12 and 18) are enrolled in voluntary classes through the InsideOut Writers Program. InsideOut is the GLW partner in the Book Fair for Boys.

The Book Fair for Boys is built around a wish list at Powells Books.We have put together what we think is the beginning of a library that will be available for any teens using the classrooms in the LA County system.

GLW intends to build a longterm relationship with IOW and run book fairs on a semi annual basis. We also have invited IOW to assist the boys in submitting book reviews to our site. We hope in this way to show them that their opinions are valued and to also give them a bit of writing and publishing experience.

You access the Book Fair for Boys list through the main wish list page. Enter our email: guyslitwire@gmail.com From there you can survey the list on one page and after you have made your selections, here is the mailing address:

Eve Porinchak
IOW
5850 Brookline Lane
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

The Guys Lit Wire Book Fair for Boys will run for two weeks and we invite everyone who buys a book to please comment on our site or send us an email and let us know your first name, where you are from and what you bought so we can run a list of how the Fair is going.

Hit the wishlist, buy a book and please, let us know what you think of the Book Fair for Boys."

Go to it, rgz! Rock this drop for Guys Lit Wire and incarcerated youth!

Innovations in Reading Award Certificate

Last week readergirlz was thrilled to be awarded the National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Prize. Today this fabulous framed certificate arrived in the mail. I feel honored and grateful, as does everyone on the readergirlz team!

Dia Calhoun

Sara Easterly on Writing a Graphic Novel, Part 2

This week we have author, readergirlz PR specialist, and former SCBWI WWA co-Regional Advisor Sara Easterly guest-blogging about the process of writing a graphic novel and working with her illustrator co-hort, Jaime Temairik. Today we have Collaborating with an Illustrator. (All illustrations are copyright Jaime Temairik!) Welcome, Sara!

*****

Unlike with picture books where it’s atypical to collaborate with your illustrator, with graphic novels that’s not always the case. And often, the writer, illustrator, penciler, and letterer are all the same person.

But I’m no Jackie of All Trades. So I collaborate with super-artist Jaime Temairik (cocoastomp.blogspot.com), one of the most creative and funny peeps I know. The best part about working on a book together (for the second time) is all the wacky brainstorming we get to do. We’ve spent countless hours at coffee shops and sushi restaurants, in hotels, over email, and on the phone chatting about our characters, plotlines, sequels, villains, and red herrings.

Then I run away and try to capture it all in words, leaving room—lots of room—for Jaime’s illustrations to finish, and usually make better, the job.

*****

This will be a five-part series all this week on the why's of writing a graphic novel, illustrator collaboration, graphic wordplay, turning to the experts, and where to start. Tomorrow: Graphic Wordplay!

 

May: Unusual Behavior

Each of the characters has an eccentric behavior - Dika holds her red glass, Angel carries his box, Sophie squeezes lime juice . . . Do you or someone you know have unusual behaviors? What might be some deeper reasons behind the behaviors?

Sara Easterly on Writing a Graphic Novel, Part 1

This week we're over the moon to have author, readergirlz PR specialist, and former SCBWI WWA co-Regional Advisor Sara Easterly guest-blogging about the process of writing a graphic novel and working with her illustrator co-hort, Jaime Temairik. I (Holly) am already a huge fan of both Sara and Jaime, having met them both in children's writing/illustrating classes at UW (in fact, I wrote an article five years ago for the SCBWI Bulletin all about meeting Jaime and her amazing drawings). Welcome, Sara!

This will be a five-part series all this week on the why's of writing a graphic novel, illustrator collaboration, graphic wordplay, turning to the experts, and where to start. So we'll start today with The Why's of Writing a Graphic Novel. (All illustrations copyright Jaime Temairik.)

********

Right now I’m writing a middle-grade graphic novel. To be accurate, though, the word is “rewriting.” That’s due to a dumble-fumble where I saved over my almost-finished draft with an older copy, cutting the whole thing back to a whopping nine pages.

But I won’t get into that sob story right now—which would be easy to do, believe me. Nope. Instead, as per Holly’s request, I’ll talk about the process of writing a graphic novel… with a tidbit or two about the exercise of starting over.

Why write a graphic novel? For me, I’d been dipping my toes into graphic novels ever since I wrote an article about them for the SCBWI Bulletin. The initial inspiration started there, but what struck me in the course of research was how with graphic novels, just about anything goes. No rules. No boundaries. No set format, even. I didn’t realize I had a rebellious alter-ego, but it was stirring with excitement at the possibilities.

*****

Tomorrow: Collaborating with an illustrator. Stay tuned!

 

Family: Melissa Walker

What does "family" mean to you?
Family includes the people who will drop everything when you need them -- and the ones who recognize when you really need them (even if you say you don't).

Who do you consider to be the members of your family?
Blood is definitely important - I would call on anyone in my traditional family, and I know they would answer. I also am lucky enough to have some friends - both lifelong and more recent - whom I know would do the same.

- Melissa Walker

Follow the series of family posts.

Reach Out: DREAM Act

All over the country, young students are being forced to give up on their dreams of a college education because of their immigration status. Many states deny in-state tuition benefits to students who entered the U.S. illegally, even if they've been here since they were young and have spent their entire school lives in America. This is an issue that our featured book, Red Glass, touches upon. And it couldn't be more timely.

Right now, Congress is considering The Federal DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act), which would provide undocumented immigrant youth in America with conditional residency and a chance for citizenship if they came to the U.S. before they were 16, graduated from high school or obtained a GED, attended two years of college or joined the military, and have no criminal records.

If the act doesn't pass, "another entire class of outstanding, law-abiding high school students will graduate without being able to plan for the future, and some will be removed from their homes to countries they barely know," says DreamACTivist.org on its site, which is dedicated to the passage of the DREAM Act. "This tragedy will cause America to lose a vital asset: an educated class of promising immigrant students who have demonstrated a commitment to hard work and a strong desire to be contributing members of our society."

Want to take action? Here are some ideas.

May: Special clothes or jewelry that make a difference

Sophie's new white dress and coconut jewelry make her feel like a different person. Do you have any special clothes or jewelry that make you feel different somehow?

Little Willow's Book Bag

This Week's Picks
The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde
The Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter (coming out in June)

For Your Younger Siblings
Amy Hodgepodge #2: Happy Birthday to Me by Kim Wayans and Kevin Knotts, illustrated by Soo Jeong
Amy Hodgepodge #3: Lost and Found by Kim Wayans and Kevin Knotts, illustrated by Soo Jeong
Miss Popularity Goes Camping by Francesco Sedita
From the Life Of Willa Havisham: Forget Me Not by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
The Baby-Sitters Club #111: Stacey and the Secret Friend by Ann M. Martin
The Baby-Sitters Club #120: Mary Anne and the Playground Fight by Ann M. Martin
Sweet Dreams of the Wild: Poems for Bedtime by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, illustrated by Aileen Leijten

This Month's Spotlighted Title
Red Glass by Laura Resau

Help Stamp Out Hunger

35 million Americans don't have enough food to eat. Today, May 9th, you can Help Stamp Out Hunger by donating food to the 17th annual nationwide food drive. Simply fill bags with non-perishable food items and leave them next to your mailbox, and your letter carrier will carry them off.

From the official Help Stamp Out Hunger press release:

Nation's Largest One-Day Food Drive Helps The Increasing Number of Americans Struggling with Hunger

CAMDEN, NJ (April 13, 2009) — On Saturday, May 9, Campbell Soup Company will join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to Stamp Out Hunger!(TM) across America in order to provide assistance to the one in eight Americans who struggle with hunger.

The Stamp Out Hunger! effort is the nation's largest single-day food drive, having collected more than 909 million pounds of food since its inception in 1993. Last year, letter carriers across the country collected a record total of more than 73.1 million pounds of food, but with hunger impacting many Americans – including working families, children and the elderly – help is needed now more than ever before.

To help Stamp Out Hunger! this year, simply leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, like canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal, next to your mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on May 9. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. The nation's 230,000 letter carriers will be collecting donations from homes across the country and delivering them to food bank members of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network) and other hunger relief organizations in more than 10,000 local communities.

"In these difficult economic times, hunger is an issue that must be addressed in every community across our country," said William H. Young, NALC president. "We see it daily out on our routes. That's why now more than ever before we need everybody’s help to make a real difference."

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 36 million Americans live in food insecure households, and approximately one in every three of these Americans is a child. Additionally, a recent survey of Feeding America food bank members reported a 30 percent increase in requests for emergency food assistance. The reasons cited for this dramatic increase in demand included rising cost of food, increasing unemployment and underemployment, the cost of fuel and the burden of mortgage or rent costs.

Food banks are also notoriously empty during summer months, having exhausted the supply of donations received from food drives conducted during the holidays that are then distributed during spring. Summer donations are even more critical since many children in need no longer have the benefit of their school lunch program.

Read the entire press release.

For more information about the food drive, visit http://www.helpstampouthunger.com and http://www.stampouthunger.info/

Click here to locate your nearby post office and make sure it is participating in the food drive.

Sarah Dessen Celebration

Over at The Sarah Dessen Diarist, the lovely Adele has put together an astonishing thirty days of posts(!) from authors, bloggers, and readergirlz in the month leading up to Sarah Dessen's birthday on June 6th.

Check out this super cute movie put together by our own readergirlz diva Melissa Walker, who grew up in Chapel Hill along with Ms. Dessen herself:



Stay tuned for blogs from an amazing list of authors and bloggers, plus divas Justina Chen Headley and Holly Cupala, and a special post from the readergirlz later in the month!

 

Cover Stories: Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee

Lisa Yee's latest novel, Absolutely Maybe, came out in February. It's full of friendship and family and pink hair. In short, I loved it. Lisa shared her Cover Story on my blog, and now I'm sharing it with readergirlz! Here's Lisa:

"It's weird, but I didn't have anything in mind at all for the cover. I used to be a Creative Director and my job was coming up with concepts and working with the art and copy departments to see them through. I think that once I became an author it was nice to be able to let go of that. Plus, I have total faith in my editors, Arthur Levine and Cheryl Klein, and Elizabeth Parasi, my art director.

"I knew the cover would be a photograph, but beyond that I didn't know what to expect. I was asked about what the main characters looked like:
'Does she look like Kelli Osbourne?'
'Well, the goth-y part of Maybe does, but Maybe's more petite and her hair is pink . . . and blue . . . and green.'
'Does Hollywood [the romantic interest] look like Napoleon Dynamite?'
'He's the same height, but better looking in a geek-chic way.'
That sort of thing.

MW Note: Here are some of the covers they tried out. (Alea, notice that the last one is a Lookalike for Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell!) You can see these, and read more about the book, on Lisa's site!



"Here's the first cover, that was later nixed. The name also changed because of the movie 'Definitely Maybe.' I loved the kids here, and thought it was cool that Ted, Maybe's best friend, is with her. It was adorable, only it looked more like a middle grade book cover. Because I also write MG, it was important that it be clear this book is YA. So it went back to get redesigned. However, the iconic feel of the final cover ultimately trumps this one.

"The Hollywood star in the background was a stock photo. Several models were considered and I saw some of their head shots. The model selected really captured the look I was going for. She was brought into the studio and her hair was dyed pink. For the shoot she was wearing a black Led Zeppelin t-shirt and the logo was photoshopped out. Here's the cover in comp phase before the final photoshopping and tweaking.

"Once the final design was approved, the model was brought back in for a second photo shoot. I thought that was so cool. That they really wanted to get it right and went to that much work and expense for the cover.

"In the end, I just love it so much. And if you get a chance to see it in person, it's even better. The lettering is raised and so is the question mark in the middle of the star. Perfection!"

I think it's really eye-catching too, and I thought about the cover while on my trip to LA last week! Maybe deserves a star on the Walk of Fame. What do you guys think of this cover vs. the others? I say they chose the best one (though I like seeing Ted!).

Online Auction for Bridget Zinn

Several of the divas has been touched by longterm illness, including cancer. Now, Librarian, Young Adult writer, and kidlitosphere friend Bridget Zinn is battling a difficult and expensive form.

Many wonderful people in the kidlit community have come together to create an online auction fundraiser at bridgetzinnauction.wordpress.com.

Looking for an advance, signed copy of Laini Taylor's next novel, Faeries of Dreamdark: Silksinger? Signed copies of Jennifer Holm and Matt Holm's Babymouse: The Musical, Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee, Don't Die Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton, or Far From You by Lisa Schroeder? A book launch consultation from Mitali Perkins, or a manuscript critique from Cynthia Lord? A signed first edition of Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse?

The auction goes until May 31st. All proceeds go toward treatment expenses. Read Bridget's blog and leave her a comment of support here.

 

A new Realm in YA

There's a new girl in town, about to take the graphic novel industry by storm. Readergirlz, check out Realm Lovejoy, author, illustrator, and videogame artist, including for the very cool "Portal" game.

Realm just launched her brand new, shiny website (with the help of our own designista, Little Willow) and blog. Read all about CLAN (hint: three teen clones who have the same body but nothing else in common...) and see her cool art!



 

May: postergirlz recommended reads

Thanks to our postergirlz for these recommended reads to accompany Laura Resau's Red Glass! What have you read? What will you pick up?

Fiction

Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa by Micol Ostow
Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle
Estrella's Quinceañera by Malin Alegria
Sofi Mendoza's Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico by Malin Alegria

Non-Fiction
Red Hot Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States edited by Lori Marie Carlson

Justina is a Hometown Hero!

Already a hero to us, our very own co-founding diva, Justina Chen Headley, is a Hometown Hero on TV!

She talks about readergirlz, community service tied to her novels, and the need for story to KING 5's Joyce Taylor right here! See divas Lorie Ann, Dia, and Holly in action (missing Melissa!) as we deliver books to Seattle Children's Hospital.

Hooray for our very own hero, Justina!



 

Family: Jackie Parker

I think I might be a little confused when it comes to what the idea of family is. I have blood family and friend family. I have Washington family and Michigan family - and family in between. I have online family and real life family. I have so many different circles of family that surely I must be mistaken, as how can one person be that lucky? Ultimately, family to me are those who nourishes my body, mind and soul. Family are those who comfort me, who I turn to, who I trust. Family are those who help make my life balanced, thoughtful, honest, and fun. I don't need church or state or my neighbor down the block to tell me who makes up my family - my heart knows all on its own.

- Jackie Parker

Follow the series of family posts.

Read this month's book pick, Red Glass by Laura Resau, then discuss the theme of family all month long here at the readergirlz blog.

Cheers for Girls Write Now!

An awesome organization, Girls Write Now, is spotlighted on NBC Nightly News:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

We salute you, GWN!

rgz wins an Innovations in Reading Prize from the National Book Foundation!

Celebrate with us, rgz! We just won an Innovations in Reading Prize from the National Book Foundation! Many thanks to rgz scout and YA author Mitali Perkins for pointing us to the opportunity. And we are indebted to former YALSA president and librarian Judy Nelson and librarian postergirl Jackie Parker for writing awesome letters of recommendation.

Let the party begin, ladies! The divas are meeting tomorrow and talking about how we might bring more awesome literacy events to rgz! Thank you National Book Foundation!

~Lorie Ann

National Book Foundation Announces Winners of its First

Innovations in Reading Prize:

Winners Include a Teacher, a Best-selling Author's Website,

a Reading Program in a Correctional Facility,

a Public Library System, and an Online Community for Teens

New York, NY, May 5, 2009 - The Board of the National Book Foundation has awarded its first Innovations in Reading Prizes to one individual and four organizations who are demonstrating passion, creativity, dedication, and leadership in the service of creating and sustaining a lifelong love of reading. The winners include: a teacher; an online resource created by best-selling author James Patterson and literary consultant Judy Freeman that helps identify books for kids; a program that allows inmates to read to their children via CDs that are mailed home bi-monthly; an online book community for teens girls that uses social networking; and a Dewey-less public library. The winners hail from Elroy Arizona, Gilbert, Arizona; Santa Fe, New Mexico; New York, NY; and Tacoma, Washington. Each winner will receive $2,500.00 and a framed certificate.

Leslie Shipman, Director of Programs for the National Book Foundation states, “The Innovations in Reading Prize is the National Book Foundation’s program to discover, promote, and, we hope, help replicate the innovative efforts of individuals and organizations who are sharing their passion for books and reading at the grassroots level, both in their communities and online. The enthusiasm and creativity shown by these five is remarkable. We hope other organizations across the country will be able to take these ideas and put them into practice in their own communities.” Innovations in Reading is supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation.

The Winners are:

Robert Wilder: Robert Wilder is both an elementary and high-school teacher in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the only individual to receive the prize. His creativity, commitment, and passion for sharing his love of books with his students are exceptional. He is a powerful example of the impact a single, devoted teacher can have on the lives of his students. “Books are my gesture toward a better life for anyone willing to turn some pages,” Bob says. “Like many teachers and writers, I find myriad ways to get good books into other people's hands, whether it's a kindergartner struggling over his first sentence, a high-school student trying to find her voice in the wilderness of adolescence, or an intellectually starved friend at a dinner party.”

James Patterson’s ReadKiddoRead: ReadKiddoRead.com is a hassle-free online resource that helps parents, teachers, adults, and librarians identify books that kids will love. When Patterson found out that his son Jack did not share his passion for books, He took it upon himself to fix the situation by choosing books he knew his son would love. He even started writing books for kids to get Jack interested. The author's motivation led him to create ReadKiddoRead.com. “There are millions of kids who have never read a book they’ve liked. There are also thousands of children’s books out there. This site lists the ones they won’t be able to resist,” Patterson says. Children’s literature consultant Judy Freeman also works on the site, writing a bulk of the reviews. Even though the original target audience was to be grownups, kids are using the site as well. “We’re ecstatic over winning this recognition,” says Patterson. “The site is working. And with the National Book Foundation on our side, I hope many more adults will be inspired to take their kids’ reading habits into their own hands.”

Fathers Bridging the Miles: Fathers Bridging the Miles is a program of Read to Me International, a Hawaii-based non-profit devoted to children's literacy. The program provides children of incarcerated fathers in the Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, Arizona, with a unique and meaningful way to develop a love of reading by recording inmates reading children’s books onto CDs. The recorded reading and a copy of the book are mailed to their children bimonthly. This program works on many levels. Incarcerated men maintain a strong bond with their children through books, as well as improve their reading skills. Their children are able to hear their fathers read stories to them, despite the miles between them. According to Pat Mizuno, the Program Director, “It is amazing to see the relationships between fathers and their children bloom over books and reading. The children enjoy getting the books in the mail and love listening to their fathers’ voices. We know our program is having an impact when we meet former program participants after being paroled and they are still reading to their children!”

Maricopa County Library District: Maricopa County Library District of Gilbert, Arizona, dropped the Dewey system two years ago to make their library more user-friendly. Based on customers' surveys, Maricopa decided that organizing the library into “neighborhoods,” the way bookstores are organized, was a better way to meet customers’ needs, and as a result, circulation has doubled. Maricopa has received national attention as well, from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and NPR, that has opened a serious discussion about how libraries can best serve the needs of the reading public. “The library is customer centric,” states Harry R. Courtright, the Director. “The Innovation in Reading Prize for the Dewey-less approach to organizing libraries may inspire other libraries to also try new ways to get people to read.”

readergirlz: readergirlz is an online book community for teen girls that is designed to make reading hip, compelling, and fun, as well as to promote teen literacy and leadership. Their mission is to get teens to read, reflect, and reach out. Using social networking sites, YouTube, and other online resources, teens are able to chat with their favorite Young Adult authors. readegirlz is led by five Young Adult authors: Dia Calhoun, Holly Cupala, Lorie Ann Grover, Justina Chen Headley, and Melissa Walker. When told that readergirlz was one of five winners, Dia Calhoun, author and co-founder, stated, “With this amazing and generous Innovations in Reading Prize, readergirlz can continue to find new ways to connect teens with the best authors in young adult literature, making reading hip and appealing using the latest technology.”

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The Mission of the National Book Foundation is to celebrate the best of American literature, to expand its audience, and to enhance the cultural value of good writing in America.

About the National Book Awards

The nation’s most prestigious literary prize, the National Book Awards has a stellar record of identifying and rewarding quality writing. In 1950, William Carlos Williams was the first winner in Poetry, the following year William Faulkner was honored, and so on through the years. Many previous Winners of a National Book Award are now firmly established in the canon of American literature. On November 18th, the National Book Awards will be presented in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People’s Literature.

Lovestruck Summer Release Day Contest!

Today's the day that my new release, Lovestruck Summer, officially hits stores. There's a week of Cover Stories and giveaways going on at melissacwalker.com, so come on over!

There's also this month-long contest that I'm co-hosing with Susane Colasanti, whose Waiting for You is released May 14th. Watch the video, and then go to my blog and Susane's blog to enter to win books and makeup and musical things!



Thanks for celebrating with me, readergirlz!

May: What have you overcome?

Laura says:

The main characters of Red Glass have to overcome past traumas or fears on order to connect with each other. For example, Sophie has to get over her fears in order to become close to Angel and ultimately, to help him. Have you had any fears that you feel proud of overcoming? How has your life changed now that you can deal with the fears? Do you have more fears that you hope to overcome one day?

Beth Kephart's Undercover Contest

Beth Kephart, whose book Undercover was a Postergirlz Suggested Read in March, is having a contest!

From now until May 10th, you can leave a comment at her blog with a link to a poem you've posted at your blog. Beth will be "assembling fragments of those poems for a future post, and I'll be asking a special person to choose a favorite."

Read about the contest here!

Check out Little Willow's review of Undercover here and her interview with Beth here.

Thanks to Little Willow for the link!

 

Family Ties

Last month, I published a series of posts about hope - what it meant to different people, and what made them hopeful.

Now, throughout May, we'll be discussing Family, this month's theme at readergirlz. I'll ask various authors and friends:

What does "family" mean to you?
Who do you consider to be the members of your family?

I will be posting their answers at both my blog, Bildungsroman, and the readergirlz blog. Stay tuned!

Rgz Street Team: Miss Erin reviews North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Miss Erin reviews North of Beautiful by our own Diva Justina Chen Headley!

Trying to describe all that this book is about is difficult... it encompasses so much. It's about a girl named Terra and the birthmark on her face that has made her life so ugly. It's about a girl longing to be free, and wishing for someone to give her permission to be so. It's about relationships - the one you have with yourself, and the ones you have with others. It's about what the word "beauty" really means . . . and how that's not such a simple term to define.

Justina Chen Headley has crafted a truly stellar novel in North of Beautiful. She managed meticulously the delicate balance of mixing dark with light in her story. Her talent for weaving various themes and imagery throughout a book is brilliant. It's a story that overwhelms you with truth; both characters and story ring with a painful, sweet honesty. The book made me cry...

To read the rest of Miss Erin's review, click here.

May: Have you ever taken a trip that changed your life?

Laura says:

Sophie's trip to Mexico and Guatemala makes her see herself - and her life - differently. Have you ever taken a trip that changed you or your life somehow?

Is there a trip you want to take someday? How do you think it might change you?

Little Willow's Book Bag

This Week's Picks
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamako and Steve Rolston (graphic novel)
30 Days to Finding and Keeping Sassy Sidekicks and BFFs: A Friendship Field Guide by Clea Hantman (non-fiction)
Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

For Your Younger Siblings
Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Lulu Atlantis and the Quest for True Blue Love by Patricia Martin
Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully by Julianne Moore, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

This Month's Spotlighted Title
Red Glass by Laura Resau

Yay for the Blatant Bibliophiles!

Ruth Fleet, media specialist extraordinaire over at Creekview High School in Canton, GA sent us this photo of her awesome Blatant Bibliophiles Book Club, plus the following note:


"Our Blatant Bibliophile Book Club participated in Operation Teen Book Drop by collecting books to help create a new library for teens and children at the Family Violence Center in Canton, Georgia. Our students and teachers collected over 500 books during the two weeks before Teen Literature Day. This drive was inspired by one of our students, a non-member, Meghan (left), who is a volunteer at the center. Another non-member, Falyn (right, with Josh), donated over 200 of the books!

I’m attaching pictures of some of our teens, including Paul (left) who donated 69 books, and Marlize (right) who donated 50 books. We even had donations from readergirlz diva Melissa Walker! Thanks, divas, for inspiring us to help teens and their families in need."

We are cheering you on, Ms. Fleet and the fantastic students and community members who donated to this great cause. You guys all RULE!

Tuesday: Lovestruck Summer Releases!!!

The divas are DANCING! Because we have a release of one of our very own! Melissa Walker's Lovestruck Summer hits the stores officially on Tuesday, May 5th!

As a summer romance in the HarperTeen "Beach Reads" category, here's Melissa's synopsis from her blog:

Lovestruck Summer is the story of 18-year-old Quinn, an indie-rock girl spending the summer in Austin on a coveted music internship. While she hopes to find the perfect hipster boyfriend, she unexpectedly falls in love with a college cowboy who makes her challenge her own stereotypes, expand her musical tastes, and ultimately open up her world.

Watch for Melissa to load cool contest info on Tuesday. Then get ready for summer romance, rgz! Congratulations, Melissa!

Poetry Friday: Red Glass

In honor of Latina Book Month and rgz guest author, Laura Resau, I wrote this for Poetry Friday.

Red Glass

Latina Month fires
piercing light through pure red glass,
to emblazon souls.

Catch the full roundup with the wonderful Maya Ganesan at Allegro.

Welcome, Laura Resau!

We are thrilled to welcome Laura Resau to readergirlz. Her novel, Red Glass, is our May pick! Check out the our interview with Laura, book party ideas themed around Red Glass, and our Reach Out project idea--as well as the awesome soundtrack Laura's chosen for the book--on readergirlz.com.

Here's a little about the book: One night Sophie's family is called to a hospital, where five-year-old Pablo is recovering from dehydration. He was the sole survivor of a group of Mexican immigrants crossing the border. Sophie's family takes him in and comes to love him. A year later, Sophie must take a road trip with an unlikely group of people to Pablo's hometown in Mexico. Full of fears at first, she ends up opening herself to adventure and growing closer to Angel -- a boy her age with a secret. When Sophie dares to travel alone into Guatemala to save Angel, she explores whether love is worth the risk of loss.

And the buzz...

"Rich, poetic language . . . a captivating read." - School Library Journal starred review

"A vibrant, large-hearted story." - Publishers Weekly starred review

International Reading Association Young Adult Book Award Winner

Americas Award Winner

Cybils Award Finalist 2007

We are psyched! Join us all month right here on the blog for discussions and mark your calendars a LIVE chat on Wednesday, May 20th at 6pm PST/9pm EST.

Happy May, readergirlz!

May: rgz Newsflash

Welcome to readergirlz in May! We are ready to salsa into Latina Book Month!

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We Rocked the Drop!

Many, many thanks for everyone’s participation in Operation Teen Book Drop (TBD ’09). Over 8,000 books were dropped, readers across the country left YA books in their communities, and we partied it up at our blog! We heart Support Teen Literature Day! Here’s one more round of applause for YALSA, GuysLitWire and our publishers:

Abrams Books, Bloomsbury/Walker Books, Candlewick Press, Full Cast Audio, Hachette Book Group, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Hyperion, Milkweed, Mirrorstone Books, Orca Book Publishers, Peachtree Books, Perseus Book Group/Running Press, Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Soft Skull Press & Red Rattle Books, TOKYOPOP and Tor/Forge/Starscape/Tor Teen.

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Welcome Laura Resau to rgz!

In May, we’ll celebrate Latina Book Month with author Laura Resau and discuss her critically acclaimed novel, Red Glass. The starred review from Publishers Weekly stated, “The prose captivates from the first chapter ... a vibrant, large-hearted story."

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Check out the postergirlz recommended reads!

The postergirlz have selected these works to accompany Red Glass:

* Emily Goldberg Learns to Salsa by Micol Ostow
* Estrella's Quinceanera by Malin Alegria
* Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa
* Sofi Mendoza's Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico by Malin Alegria
* The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle
* The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
* Red Hot Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Being Young and Latino in the United States

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Prepare for our summer rgz reads!

* Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
* The Plain Janes and Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg
* Kendra by Coe Booth

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Here’s to a sizzling month of reading. Contact us at divas@readergirlz.com.


~the readergirlz divas~

Lorie Ann Grover, On Pointe
Dia Calhoun, Avielle of Rhia
Holly Cupala, A Light That Never Goes Out (2010)
Justina Chen Headley, North of Beautiful
Melissa Walker, Violet Series


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