Rock the Drop: Photo Op!

"Okay, readergirlz, that was a BLAST! Left mine in a plaza and a coffee house frequented by the after school crowd." --Tamara Ireland Stone

Authors are Rocking the Drop All Day!

Authors are Rocking the Drop around their areas RIGHT NOW! Here's who's tweeting so far.... use the #rockthedrop tag and join in with readergirlz and Figment to ROCK THE DROP!

More updates to come throughout the day...

First Book Love!

You know we loved partnering with First Book for A Novel Gift last December, and we are just getting the engine running again for our next project. We'll have more soon, but watch this video for the origins of the organization. Shout out to our own Mitali!


The Story of First Book from First Book on Vimeo.

Story Secrets: BAMBOO PEOPLE by Mitali Perkins + Giveaway!

It's Book Party Day for one of the writers I admire most in the world, Mitali Perkins! Not only is this woman a deep and thoughtful writer, but she actively promotes discussion about culture and race in teen literature. All this, besides being a wonderful person to know!

Mitali's seventh book, BAMBOO PEOPLE , is born today, and already it's a Junior Library Guild Selection, an Indie Next Pick, and it received a Publisher's Weekly *starred review*. Stop by Mitali's blog today to help her celebrate!

*****

Bamboo People takes place against the political and military backdrop of modern-day Burma. It’s narrated by a fifteen-year-old teen forced to fight in the Army and a sixteen-year-old teen on the run. They’re on opposing sides of the conflict between the Burmese government and the Karenni, one of the many ethnic minorities in Burma. Chiko, the Burmese boy, isn’t a fighter by nature. He’s a book-loving boy whose father, a doctor, is in prison for resisting the government. Tu Reh, on the other hand, wants to fight for freedom after watching Burmese soldiers destroy his Karenni family's home and bamboo fields. When they meet in the jungle, their lives are changed forever.


Holly: Why this book, why now?

Mitali: I wanted to write a guy book before my teens got too old to enjoy it :)

For three years my husband, children, and I lived in Chiang Mai, Thailand. While we were there we visited the Karenni refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. I was astounded at how the Karenni kept their hopes up despite incredible loss, still dreaming and talking of the day when they would once again become a free people. I was impressed, too, by how creatively they used bamboo. Homes, bridges, transportation, weapons, food, storage, irrigation—all these and more depended on the resilient, lavish, and ecologically efficient bamboo plant. I began to think about that plant as an excellent symbol for the peoples of that region.

During that time I also began to understand how tough life is for Burmese teenagers. Only about a third are enrolled in school, and most can’t find jobs. According to international human rights organizations, Burma has the largest number of child soldiers in the world, and that number is growing...

Hear about Mitali's inspiration and enter the BAMBOO PEOPLE giveaway

~Holly Cupala

TRW Tribute: Mitali Perkins 12:00

"Stories can make any place on the planet feel like home."

Mitali Perkins

Retweet: Norma Fox Mazer

Just grabbed this from Mitali Perkins' tweet, ladies:



Norma Fox Mazer seriously ill with brain cancer. Send notes c/o Markson Thoma Literary Agency, 44 Greenwich Ave., New York, NY 10011

Sending her our love.

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!

Mitali Perkins on secrets of the writing life!

Readergirlz friend and Talent Scout Mitali Perkins posted today about her tips on the writing life:



We love you, Mitali!

Cover Stories: The Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins

Amazing readergirl Mitali Perkins shared her latest Cover Story for Secret Keeper, on my blog, and it was too good not to share with readergirlz! Here's Mitali:

"When it comes to art, I'm in the appreciator rather than the creator category. My publisher asked me for input, and I told her that there were a glut of covers set in India with girls peeking over veils or around sarees. I didn't want something that felt too 'ethnic.'

"When I saw this cover, I LOVED IT! I was so happy. I think it's a stock photo. Because I 100% loved it, I had no suggestions. I hope the art department enjoyed the rave email I sent to my editor.

"I am VERY pleased with this cover; I think it captures the feel of the story perfectly."

And sometimes, people, it's just that easy. Love at first cover. I think the cover model's downcast eyes (gorgeous lashes, btw!) are perfect for Mitali's story about a girl who keeps her heart in secret diaries. The colors and patterns are just indicative enough of its Indian setting.

What do you guys think?

Watch the book trailer here:

Make Something - and a Giveaway!

This is something I've been dying to try for a long time: glass marble magnets. And what could be more fun than magnets featuring your favorite (or even your own!) book covers?

You need:
Flat glass marbles (I used 3/4" ones from Michaels craft store)
1/2" magnets (50/pack at Michaels)
Elmer's Glue
Images
Scissors

I tracked down book cover jpgs at Google Images then tinkered with them in Adobe InDesign to get them just the right size for the flat side of the marbles (you can use Word, Publisher, whatever). Print them out and cut circles to size. Add glue to the flat side of the marble, then affix your image face-down so that it shows through the bubbled glass. Let dry, then glue the magnet.

Here's the set I made as a gift for Joni Sensel to celebrate the launch of her new book, The Farwalker's Quest:


And here is a set of readergirlz magnets (1st row: rgz splat, Lorie Ann Grover's On Pointe, Dia Calhoun's Avielle of Rhia, Justina Chen Headley's North of Beautiful, Martha Brockenbrough's Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar; 2nd row: Janet Lee Carey's Dragon's Keep, Melissa Walker's Lovestruck Summer, Mitali Perkins' Secret Keeper, Martha Brockenbrough's Things That Make Us [Sic], and Sara Easterly and Jaime Temairik's Fashion Studio!)


You can keep them, give them as gifts, or even as a blog giveaway! Which gives me an idea...a giveaway!

Leave a comment by midnight on Saturday, March 7th, and we'll randomly choose one person to receive a set of readergirlz magnets! We'll announce the winner on Monday, so check back to see if it's you!

Holly Cupala, author & rgz diva

Release Day for Secret Keeper, by Mitali Perkins!

Readergirl Mitali Perkins has a new book out today: Secret Keeper. Here's the fantastic trailer, with Mitali narrating!



Catch Mitali on tour this month:
SF BAY AREA
Book Signing and Chai, Thursday Jan. 15, 2009, 6:00 - 7:00 pm, Not Your Mother's Book Club, Books Inc., Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto, CA. Phone: 650-321-0600. Free Writing Workshop, Thursday Jan. 15, 2009, 7:00 - 8:00 pm, Not Your Mother's Book Club, Books Inc., Town & Country Village, 855 El Camino Real #74, Palo Alto, CA. Phone: 650-321-0600.

SEATTLE AREA
Book Launch Party, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, 2 p.m., Bellevue Barnes and Noble, 626 106th Ave. NE, Bellevue, WA. Phone: 425-453-7958.

Teen Writing Workshop, Chai, Naan, and Samosas, Sunday, January 18, 5:00 p.m., Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004. Phone: 425-450-1765.

BOSTON AREA
Book Launch Party, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, 2 p.m., Newtonville Books, 296 Walnut St, Newton, MA 02460. Phone: 617-244-6619.

Yay, Mitali! Congratulations!

Write4Kids honors Mitali Perkins!

The good people over at Children's Book Insider have put together a video to highlight some great blogs of the day, including our own, awesome Mitali Perkins! Check it out!



Happy Veteran's Day!

Holly Cupala, author and readergirlz diva

I Get Choked Up When I Vote

I remember singing MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE as a new American. I'd shut up for one line: "Land where my fathers died," because that wasn't true for me. But when it came to "Sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing," I BELTED it out, and still do.

I don't want to take for granted rights that people are willing to die for in other parts of the world. As I head to the polls on November 4, 2008, I remember two freedoms I cherish as an American by choice.

1. I can speak my mind.

Nobody's going to drag me off to prison if I stand on the street declaring my allegiance to either Barack Obama or John McCain. I can denounce the current administration in front of the White House day and night and the police would have to protect me.

It's not like that everywhere. In Burma, for example, I'd be hauled off to prison if I wrote or spoke my support of Aung San Suu Kyi, a leader chosen by the people but sentenced to silence and house arrest by the government for over a decade now.

And what about China? Author and rgz Diva Justina Chen Headley, who is spending a year in Shanghai, informed me that even my own little blog, Mitali's Fire Escape, is banned there. Why? Maybe because I posted my support of PEN's efforts to free Chinese dissident writers.

Here in the Land of the Free, I can speak my mind, write my mind, and share my mind with others. Alleluia.

2. I can vote.

This Tuesday, I'll head to our local elementary school, register, enter the privacy of a booth, and cast my vote without paying a penny.

As always, I'll think of the heroes, known and unknown, who fought for suffrage so that an immigrant brown-skinned woman like me can help choose our President.

I used to be embarrassed because my eyes got blurry as I submitted my ballot. Now I just bring the tissues and celebrate.

I know so many of you are passionate about picking your candidate, and that's wonderful, but that doesn't come first. What comes first is remembering the past struggle for freedom and giving thanks for this "sweet land of liberty." Then go cast your vote, and rant about the results all you want -- like a true American.

What are your thoughts about voting, rgz? Please keep this discussion non-partisan, and don't tell us your choice of candidates, just your reflections on our country's way of choosing them.

rgz blog for all

Since March 2007, readgirlz has been blogging at MySpace. As our amazing book community expands, the divas thought it best to establish our blog where all can access it.

Many thanks to co-founder of rgz, Janet Lee Carey, our first blogging diva in 2007. Then to Dia Calhoun who continued the posts through 2008 and now is moving on to be our author liaison diva. We are happy to welcome Melissa Walker as our new blogging diva on the first of November!

Melissa will be bringing the majority of our posts, while the other divas drop blogs throughout the week as well. You'll get updates from diva Justina Chen Headley in China. Divas Holly Cupala, Dia Calhoun, and Lorie Ann Grover will add their words from the Seattle area. And Mitali Perkins in Boston will move from diva to rgz Talent Scout on January 1 to keep us all up on the hottest novels off the press.

A press release is forthcoming!

So here's to a new beginning on Blogger! We are so happy to be here. Keep up with rgz at these sites:

www.readergirlz.com
www.myspace.com/readergirlz
http://groups.myspace.com/readergirlz
www.youtube/readergirlz

*waves to rgz around the world*

Lorie Ann Grover, co-founder of readergirlz and author