10 Year Celebration and a Fond Farewell

Dearest readergirlz,

When we began this nonprofit organization ten years ago, readers in all demographics did not have access to authors. This access was our aim, our mission. The founders of readergirlz were driven to make those connections around the world. And we did.

Beginning in Myspace, traveling to Blogger, Facebook, and Twitter, readers connected directly with young adult authors. One such memory: midnight, October 31, 2008, readers around the world chatted with Stephenie Meyer, and we sat back with glee. Whether a best seller or not, we brought  diverse books to the spotlight, including the quiet and profound, such as No Laughter Here.

Our second passion over the ten years has been to get books into the hands of underserved teens. Readergirlz dropped hundreds of thousands of books to teens in hospitals and on Tribal Lands with the help of amazing partners like YALSA, First Book, and If I Can Read I Can Do Anything. Around the world, readergirlz celebrated Support Teen Lit Day and Teen Read Week by leaving young adult books in public places to be found by other readers. Operation Teen Book Drop and #RocktheDrop brought joy to many.

Our motto has been: Read, Reflect, and Reach Out. We have done that together. At our busiest, there were 30 volunteers from across the industry giving their time to books that featured gutsy girls and to the gutsy readers themselves. Librarians, teachers, booksellers, bloggers, and authors gave generously. Our funding was from our own pockets, libraries and schools who generously donated, and award money we garnered from The James Patterson PageTurner Award and The National Book Foundation's Innovation in Learning Prize. We never sold ad space to remain unbiased in bringing the best literature forward to you.

In ten years, we have seen girls graduate high school, enter the workforce, go to college, pursue master's degrees, marry, and have children. Together, we mourned the passing of one of our dearest. We miss her still.

Readergirlz, you have encouraged one another and motivated authors to keep writing. Some of you have grown to become writers yourselves. And we are so happy for you! You are gutsy women, strong citizens, and it is an honor walk beside you.

In light of the ease and accessibility today to find, follow, and enjoy connections between authors and readers, the co-founders, divas, and support team are returning to their own work fully, ending readergirlz. Many former contributors will continue to write the very best books for the very best readers, young adults. The readergirlz website will be active through the end of 2017. The blog is complete, archiving our past, and it will remain accessible but not active.

As an aside, I, Lorie Ann Grover, will keep the readergirlz facebook page open as I love occasionally sharing what crosses my desk and having a touch point with you in the future.

So, raise a book, to what we created together, rgz. It has been an honor to read together, reflect together, and reach out together. I speak for all who worked in our organization over the 10 years: we love you so, and we will see you soon. In person or on page.

<3 Lorie Ann Grover

with Justina Chen, Janet Lee Carey, Dia Calhoun, Little Willow, Holly Cupala, Martha Brockenbrough, Micol Ostow, Melissa Walker, Mitali Perkins, Liz Gallagher, Elizabeth Scott, Sara Easterly, Jackie Parker-Robinson, Hipwritermama, Miss Erin, ShelfElf, Jen, Kat Ogden, Bethany Hegadus, Crissa Jean Chappell, Stephanie Guerra, Rene Kirkpatrick, Judy Nelson, Sharon Levin, Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Professor Nana, Priya, Silence is Golden, Vanessa, Sarah, Enna Isalee, Jacqueline, Olivia, Alex, Marlena, Taylor, Vampire, and Nancy Pearl

rgz tour: #hitwithgratitude

 

The concept of #hitwithgratitude began with the release of my young adult novel HIT coinciding with the release of Justina Chen's YA novel release, A BLIND SPOT FOR BOYS. As close friends, critique partners, and co-founders of readergirlz, it was a short leap to the thought of going on tour together. Rather than rgz coming to us, we'd go to you all!

To join two houses, Blink Young Adult Books and Little Brown Books for Young Readers, would be novel. Yet, with a love of literacy, two books releasing so close together, the support of two houses, and being besties ourselves, it was an easy decision to hit the road side-by-side. 

How about the hashtag #hitwithgratitude? Where did that come from? Justina and I a few years before had taken a test, springing from Shawn Achor's book THE HAPPINESS ADVANTAGE. We discovered out of more than 20 personal strengths, we both ranked Gratitude in our top five abilities. It was interesting, and we filed it away. We also ran across Ann Voskamp's book, ONE THOUSAND GIFTS: A DARE TO LIVE FULLY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE, and we discussed the beauty of numbering our blessings. Personally, I was being hit with wave after wave of chronic illness diagnoses from lupus to rheumatoid arthritis and cancer, while Justina was being hit by an unexpected divorce, being abandoned in China, and finding her long way home. 

In 2014, as Justina read HIT and I read A BLIND SPOT FOR BOYS, we were struck by how both novels carried the theme of enduring trial with a thankful heart. A theme we've shared with readergirlz across the country since our beginning in 2007. We chatted about choosing to be BETTER NOT BITTER and choosing PRAISE NOT PITY. There was room to be thankful in the midst of trial: not because of it (that would be irrational), not in spite of it (that would be grim determination), but thanks in the midst of it, knowing there is a greater purpose and lessons to be learned.

With #hitwithgratitude, we set out initially on tour with our books to encourage readers of all ages to hit back with gratitude even when hit by heartache, loss, and physical testing. As time passes, we'll likely travel together around the globe more, carrying the same injunction. Along the way, we'll meet with readergirlz, media, librarians, teachers, students, and book clubs of all ages. We'll exchange stories, listening wholeheartedly, and encourage everyone to share a pic, a text, a video, or a post with the hashtag: #hitwithgratitude. Sharing, our personal gratitude we can hit, encourage one another, with our thanks...over and over...and over. 

Join us, rgz. Let's run and #hitwithgratitude!

Hit-and-Run: the Gratitude Tour
Portland: October 2
Yakima: October 3, 4
Launch Party, Sumner, WA: October 7
Tempe: October 16-18
South TX: November 12-16
YALSA Symposium: November 15

(If you'd like to contact us regarding a visit, virtual or personal, jot an email to lorieanngroveratclearwiredotnet. We'd love to see you, rgz, and share a bit of our gratitude for each one of you!)

Quote Call: See It, Say It

Hey rgz,

Can you believe our 7 year birthday is coming? Seriously, March 1, we are 7 years old! Watch for posts throughout the month of authors we featured in the past. They will be sharing 7 Things We Don't Know or giving a speedy update on their writing.

But now, I'm posting to make a quote call. Let's See It, Say It. Take your favorite quote from YA lit, snap a pic of the page, or write the quote out and take a pic, or design something awesome over at Polyvore. However you like, get it visual and post it on our Facebook page. Authors, draw from your own works and others; readers share the best bits from the books you heart; and librarians, teachers, and booksellers, jump on in.

Our beloved Ellen Hopkins has done this for awhile:



Here's one from co-founder Dia Calhoun:

And here's another from co-founder Justina Chen:

Here's one from me which I put together on Polyvore:



So you get the idea right? Okay! Find those quotes and get them onto our Facebook page. We'll make an album and cull some for the blog as well. Thanks for celebrating with us! Happy early birthday, rgz! xox

rgz Newsflash: Change is in the Air!

Change is in the air! Can you feel it?

We at readergirlz are assessing and redirecting. Active divas Micol, Melissa, and I have decided on a few tweaks as we rewrite and prepare for our own book releases. Micol's is tomorrow! Family premieres tomorrow! 

Back to the point. Here's what you can look forward to:

* The blog will be your point of reference for Cover Stories, industry newsflashes, HOST reports from across the country, as well as Street Team, SALON, and Diva reviews of great YA lit.

* Like our Facebook page to stay up to the the minute on all things rgz. We hope to pull awesome posts from the wall as blog posts! So keep us informed of what you are doing/reading, and we'll let you know if everyone's headed to Twitter for a chat!

* Watch for at least two literacy initiatives a year, like the massively successful Rock the Drop! 

So that's the scoop for your rgz 4.0. We are psyched and hope you are as well. Drop any questions or thoughts in the comments then read, reflect, and reach out!

Love Letter to readergirlz

As we get ready to change to our new format, I wanted to reflect on how we came to be, remember what we've done together, and just pause to appreciate our journey. I made this for all of you. Thank you for being a part of rgz. Thanks for the lemonade. :~)

Feel free to repost!

rgz on Polyvore

Lorie Ann Grover, 2010, Polyvore

I made this for you. xox

Teen Literacy?

readergirlz' mission is to champion teen literacy and corresponding social service. Does that mean we are teaching teens to read? It could! Who knows what our next special project will unveil.

Generally though, we use the term "literacy" in a broader sense. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has created a definition for literacy:

"the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society."

Does that make our intention clearer?

You might also ask if the social service is performed by rgz as a nonprofit organization or by teens. We answer, both! This is a community where we encourage each other to read, reflect, and reach out. You'll find everyone giving back in some capacity.

Just wanted to help clarify our efforts. Onward!

What is readergirlz?

Mission Statement

readergirlz

"To champion teen literacy and corresponding social service."

Description

"The cutting-edge literacy and social media project for teens."

Launched in March 2007, in celebration of Women's National History Month, readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by eight critically acclaimed YA authors—Martha Brockenbrough (Things That Make Us (Sic)), Holly Cupala (Tell Me a Secret), Liz Gallagher (Opposite of Invisible), Melissa Walker (Lovestruck Summer), and co-founders Lorie Ann Grover (Hold Me Tight), Justina Chen (North of Beautiful), and Dia Calhoun (Avielle of Rhia). Readergirlz is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award, and the 2009 National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Prize.

To promote teen literacy and leadership in girls, readergirlz features a different YA novel and corresponding community service project every month. Twice a year, they hold special literacy projects, including Operation Teen Book Drop which has donated 30,000 new YA books to hospitalized teens and Native teens on tribal lands. For more information about readergirlz, please visit www.readergirlz.com and http://readergirlz.blogspot.com, or contact readergirlzdivasatgmail.com

the rgz nonprofit team

Did you know rgz is operated by volunteers? The community is a nonprofit entity currently funded by grants and staff donations. Actually, the co-founders each took a year away from their own writing to launch this effort for teen literacy.

So, who are the team players? Here's a list of our current 25 contributors. (For a description of roles click here.)

rgz co-founders and YA authors:
Lorie Ann Grover: program manager
Dia Calhoun: program facilitator
Justina Chen: program consultant

divas and YA authors:
Holly Cupala: visual design, secretary
Melissa Walker: blogger

postergirlz:
Little Willow: leader and webdiva
Jackie
Miss Erin
Shelf Elf
Hipwritermama

rgz PR specialist: Sara Easterly

rgz media specialist: Martha Brockenbrough, treasurer

rgz SCOUT: Mitali Perkins

rgz Seattle HOST: Liz Gallagher

rgz SALON:
Nancy Pearl
Sharon Levin
Judy Nelson
Rene Kirkpatrick
Lyn Miller-Lachmann

rgz Street Team:
Miss Erin: leader
Traci
Silence
Vanessa
Sarah
Carly
Alex

Thanks to each one who volunteers her time to help operate our award winning community. Together we'll continue to read, reflect, and reach out for you!

Press Release: rgz and Teen Read Week, 2009

For more information contact:

Sara Easterly, Publicist for readergirlz

Sara Easterly & Friends

sara@saraeasterly.com

206-632-8588

READERGIRLZ URGES TEENS TO READ BEYOND REALITY

In Support of YALSA’s Teen Read Week, readergirlz hosts live author chats
with many Teens’ Top Ten Nominees for 2009

Sept. 22, 2009 (Seattle, Wash.) —Teen Read Week, a week-long celebration of literacy, is scheduled for Oct. 18-24, 2009, and will include live chats with top teen authors on readergirlz.com, the most popular online reading community for teen girls.

Since 1998, Teen Read Week has been run by the American Library Association’s Young Adult Library Service Association. This year’s theme is “Read Beyond Reality.” Teens are also visiting the YALSA website to vote for their favorite books from a list of nominees. Winners who’ve made the Teens’ Top Ten will be announced via a webcast during Teen Read Week.

In support of this tremendous literary initiative, the readergirlz divas will host nine young-adult authors—eight of whom are nominees for the Teens’ Top Ten—throughout Teen Read Week. By visiting http://readergirlz.blogspot.com, teens will be able to chat with these author stars, live, to ask burning questions about the authors’ books, find out about their daily lives, and learn about their writing process.

The week’s chats will culminate with an online gala celebration, where Sylvia Engdahl, a pioneer in young-adult science fiction, will be hosted and honored for her contributions to the literary landscape.

Like the monthly chats readergirlz is known for, the five-day series of candid online conversations with authors includes giveaways of signed books and swag from iHeartDaily.com. Promising to be a stellar week, the complete line-up is as follows:

• Monday, Oct. 19: Beyond Imagination with rgz diva Justina Chen Headley (NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL), Alyson Noël (EVERMORE) and Zoe Marriott (DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES)
• Tuesday, Oct. 20: Beyond Hardship with rgz diva Lorie Ann Grover (HOLD ME TIGHT), Elizabeth Scott (LIVING DEAD GIRL) and Lynn Weingarten (WHEREVER NINA LIES)
• Wednesday, Oct. 21: Beyond Daily Life with rgz diva Holly Cupala (TELL ME A SECRET), Lisa McMann (WAKE) and Cynthia Leitich Smith (ETERNAL)
• Thursday, Oct. 22: Beyond Our World with rgz diva Melissa Walker (LOVESTRUCK SUMMER), Cassandra Clare (CITY OF ASHES) and Patrick Ness (THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO)
• Friday, Oct. 23: Into Our Beyond with rgz diva Dia Calhoun (AVIELLE OF RHIA) and pioneering YA sci-fi author Sylvia Engdahl (ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS)

It all happens at the rgz blog (http://readergirlz.blogspot.com) beginning at 6 p.m. Pacific Time (9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time), Oct. 19-23.

In conjunction with the author chats, readergirlz will be hosting a Teen Read Week Tribute. Anyone who loves YALSA's Teen Read Week is encouraged to let it out on their blog through a post or vlog, then send the link to readergirlz@gmail.com (subject line: entrant’s name, TRW Tribute). readergirlz will collect all contributions and post them at the rgz blog in a tribute that will run October 23.

Watch the rgz Teen Read Week trailer at rgz tv www.youtube.com/readergirlz.

About readergirlz

readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by five critically acclaimed YA authors—Dia Calhoun (Avielle of Rhia), Holly Cupala (Tell Me a Secret) Lorie Ann Grover (Hold Me Tight), Justina Chen Headley (North of Beautiful), and Melissa Walker (Lovestruck Summer). readergirlz is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award, and the 2009 National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Prize.

To promote teen literacy and leadership in girls, readergirlz features a different YA novel and corresponding community service project every month. Twice a year, they hold special literacy projects, including Operation Teen Book Drop which has donated 20,000 new YA books to hospitalized teens. For more information about readergirlz, please visit www.readergirlz.com and http://readergirlz.blogspot.com, or contact divas@readergirlz.com

Ó2009 readergirlz

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.

Oprah's YA picks and rgz

Has everyone seen Oprah's YA picks?

Slam by Nick Hornby
Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham
Ringside, 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial by Jen Bryant
You Know Where to Find Me by Rachel Cohn
The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante
Paper Towns by John Green
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy; illustrated by Tom Percival
Red Glass by Laura Resau
Trouble by Gary D. Schmidt
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
The Arrival by Shaun Tan
Big Fat Manifesto by Susan Vaught
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

And have you realized how many of these works have been featured on rgz as a main feature or postergirlz recommended read? How cool is that?

Especially note that Red Glass by Laura Resau is our pick for Latina Month, and Sara Zarr is our guest in June with Sweethearts!



Thanks for highlighting YA lit, Oprah. We are definitely on the same page!

Rock the Drop: report in, authors and rgz!

You know rgz, GuysLitWire, YALSA, and publishers are dropping 8,000 new young-adult novels, audiobooks, and graphic novels into hospitals for teens across the country on April 16th, 2009.

Now it's time to focus on YOU! We invite all of you teen readers and YA authors to participate in Operation TBD. Help spur reading on a national scale! Leave a YA book in a public place on April 16th. Look at the joy you can share when a teen finds your book!

So what right now? You need a bookplate!

Click for bookplates!

Then leave a comment here telling us what you are going to drop in your community. Want to tell us where? Think about taking a photo when you drop your book. You can upload it during the TBD Post-Op Party, a live chat in another blog post that night at 6 PM Pacific/9 PM Eastern. You never know who you might bump into...

Are you an author? Drop a comment here with your title and link to your site. We'd love to celebrate your work as you leave a free copy in your town! Mark your calendar for the Post-Op Party.

Spread the news about this blog! Report in now to rock the drop!

March: Happy Anniversary, rgz!

Can you believe it, ladies? We are two years old! *confetti falls* Thanks to Mary E. Pearson for joining us in this special month!



So much to celebrate AND so much to look forward to. Thanks to every member of the team and every person who contributes and READS, REFLECTS, and REACHES OUT!

Toot your horns by leaving a comment! xox

Happy Valentine's Day!

A special thanks to our entire team and every individual who participates in this amazing online book community! xox

~Lorie Ann

Shaping Youth: All Things Girl

I have recent word from Amy Jussel at Shaping Youth.

All Things Girl On Shaping Youth Kicks Off NEXT Week

The week has been postponed because of our elections! So get out and vote!

Amy says, "Meanwhile, the offer still stands to ALL readers to deluge me with their favorite sites, books, media, and hubs for BOYS to cover shortly thereafter."

I left a shout out comment for GuysLitWire of course!

Here's some of what Shaping Youth has up and coming:

"I’m excited about sharing the latest from the Girls For A Change road tour of action zones, the Respect Rx rallies, and Hardy Girls Healthy Women plus new developments at Girls Horse Club, (including their amazing and inspiring tween written blog!) and what’s on the minds of tween girls at New Moon Girl Media, Beacon Street Girls, Reign of the Girl Child and tips for teen girls at Dr. Jenn for Girls and our own Dr. Robyn Silverman’s body image resource, Kiss My Assets…We’ll even be hosting a slogan contest for Girl Mogul tees, with the prize being hardbacks of Packaging Girlhood written by Shaping Youth advisory board members Dr. Sharon Lamb and Dr. Lyn Mikel Brown!"

Looking forward to your awesome week of info for girls, Shaping Youth!

Lorie Ann Grover, rgz diva/ author

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 press release: Melissa Walker Returns to rgz!

For more information contact:
Sara Easterly, Publicist for readergirlz
Sara Easterly & Friends
sara@saraeasterly.com
206-632-8588


MELISSA WALKER RETURNS TO READERGIRLZ
The author of August’s featured novel returns… this time, as a rgz diva.


October 31, 2008 (Seattle, Wash.) – readergirlz (rgz) proudly welcomes Melissa Walker as its newest diva. Melissa, whose novel Violet in Private was featured in the rgz forum in August, was all the rage with participating teen readers. Now Melissa’s countless fans and readergirlz everywhere will hear more from the author as she officially joins rgz with a focus on blogging.

Melissa is the author of the popular and award-winning Violet series (Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design, and Violet in Private) about an unlikely supermodel navigating the ups and downs of the fashion world. Violet on the Runway was a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, and was hailed by National Public Radio as a book for teens who hate to read. Her next book, Lovestruck Summer, comes out in May 2009.

“Melissa’s an author we’ve all had a lot of admiration for,” said Dia Calhoun, co-founder of readergirlz, “so it’s a huge thrill for us to have her as part of the team, helping to connect girls to books and the world with technology.”

Melissa lives in Brooklyn and has a BA in English from Vassar College. She has worked as ELLEgirl Features Editor and Seventeen Prom Editor. Visit her blog at www.melissacwalker.com.

About readergirlz
readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by six critically acclaimed YA authors—Dia Calhoun (Avielle of Rhia), Holly Cupala (A Light That Never Goes Out) Lorie Ann Grover (On Pointe), Justina Chen Headley (Girl Overboard), Mitali Perkins (First Daughter: White House Rules), and Melissa Walker (the Violet series). readergirlz is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award.

To promote teen literacy and leadership in girls, readergirlz features a different YA novel and corresponding community service project every month. For more information about readergirlz, please visit www.readergirlz.com and www.myspace.com/readergirlz, or contact divas@readergirlz.com.

2008 readergirlz

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