June: PAPER TOWNS, Which Cover is True?

John says, "The Paper Towns hardcover was released with two different covers (below). What does each version say about Margo? Do you think either one is 'correct'?"

Cover Stories: Sleepless by Thomas Fahy

Thomas Fahy's Sleepless has a creepy cover, to be sure. Here's the premise: Emma Montgomery has been having trouble sleeping. Whenever she closes her eyes, all she can see are horrible nightmares ... nightmares of gruesome murder. And she's not alone. All of the students in Dr. Beecher's secret society have been having terrible dreams and sleepwalking. Now, as their classmates start turning up dead, Emma and her friends race against the clock to keep themselves awake and find out what is causing them to kill in their sleep--before the next victim dies.

Here's Thomas to talk about the cover:

"Unlike some of my other books (where I had plenty of time to think about possible cover art), the cover for Sleepless is the first thing that my publisher decided on when I presented them with my book idea. My editor told me that when the staff at Simon & Schuster was discussing my book proposal someone in the room came up with the idea for the cover--a young girl wearing a sleep mask with blood oozing out beneath it..."
Read the rest of the Sleepless Cover Story, and hear about the cover for The Unspoken, at melissacwalker.com.

rgz NYC HOST: Confidentially, Sweet (Valley)

Hey, girlz! Liz here, ushering in your NYC Host, Micol. She's got fun news! Here she is:

One of the very best things about being a readergirlz host is that it gives me a whole new excuse to attend local book events (as if I even needed one!). Today, I relived some of my best YA memories (of both BEING a young adult, and READING young adult alike)!

It’s not an overstatement to say that my love of the Sweet Valley series is in large part responsible for my decision to forge a career in young adult publishing. Imagine my thrill, then, to be invited to join a small circle of diehard Sweet Valley fan bloggers to meet with the bigwigs at St. Martin’s Press to talk about the release of the upcoming sequel: Sweet Valley Confidential!

For anyone who’s ever had a love-hate relationship with the Wakefield twins (and with series for readers of all ages in print, who hasn’t?), this splashy, soapy follow-up (Elizabeth and Jessica are 27!) lets us catch up with the whole crew.



Over lunch (including yummy tiny cupcakes!), we readers talked about what exactly we loved about the series, and how we thought we might be able to build buzz for the book before its release next March. We filled pages and pages of notebooks with ideas, many of which will be rolled out very very soon. You’ll have the chance to read early chapters from Sweet Valley Confidential, to win swag like that pictured above (a teaser chapter from the book, a “Team Jessica” tee shirt, and a sparkly Wakefield compact mirror!), and much, much more!

I’ll be blogging about the first chapter of SV Confidential soon, but in the meantime, whether you’re new to the series or a long-standing groupie, now’s the time to get reading! It’s pretty sweet stuff!

Diva Delight: My Listography

Hey rgz!

I was just cruising through Chronicle's catalog and came across My Listography, My Amazing Life in Lists. I thought it looked fun and sure enough, it totally is.

Why not create an autobiography of your life this summer through lists? Get down 10 wishes, what you've been for Halloween, the cities you've been to, and of course fav books, right? There are many more opportunities to list, and each is accompanied by Nathaniel Russell's funky drawings.



In closing, there's a Best & Worst section, and pages to make further lists of your choice. Archive who you are this summer. My Listography will be fun to share now and a treasury of memories in your future.

My Listography
by Lisa Nola
illustrated by Nathaniel Russell
Chronicle Books

Little Willow's Book Bag

This Week's Pick
Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

This Month's Spotlighted Title
Paper Towns by John Green

Author in Residence Lisa Ann Sandell: Her Books!

Our third awesome Author in Residence, Lisa Ann Sandell, is a deeply insightful writer who will be on the rgz team through August! Check out her mini-issue at the rgz website.
Throughout her visit, she will be posting at the readergirlz blog (watch her first vlog, about writing inspirations, and her second, about the power of art).

Check out her list of awesome books, and then check out the books themselves!

Lisa told us that her first novel, The Weight of the Sky, is loosely autobiographical. This book tells the story of Sarah, an American teenager who travels to Israel on her first trip away from home by herself.In Israel, Sarah volunteers on a kibbutz, or communal farm, and falls in love with the land - and a boy - and comes to appreciate what really matters to her in life, what she wants to do and who she wants to be. A coming-of-age story about self-discovery.

Published March 2006

Song of the Sparrow tells the story of Elaine, a young woman who, with her father and brothers, lives in a military camp led by Arthur of Britain. The men fight against invaders from many directions, and Elaine does what she can to help the Britains by learning the healing arts to tend to wounded soldiers. There is romance and lots of adventure.

Lisa says, "What I love best about the stories of King Arthur are the

themes of friendship, equality, and justice - I think these ideals are what make the human race noble. I also tried to inject this novel with the notion that girls can be as strong as men, even if they aren't doing the same things. We all have a role to play and the role of girls and women is just as important as that of men."

Published May 2007

In A Map of the Known World, Cora Bradley's older brother has died in a car crash. Now she finds solace in drawing maps of and envisioning herself in exotic locales. Then, as she begins high school, Cora begins to spend time with Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, and she uncovers her brother's sec

ret artistic life, and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. The themes of this novel cover the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

Published April 2009
Did You Know?

Both Song of the Sparrow and Weight of the Sky are verse novels.

Lisa's short story entitled "See Me" was published in the anthology 21 Proms.

June: PAPER TOWNS, Finding What's Lost

John asks, "If you were in Q's position, would you look for Margo or let her go, like her parents did? Why?"

Follow-up: Have you ever had to find someone who seemed lost, either physically or emotionally?

Party It Up: Paper Towns

Planning your own book group get-together for Paper Towns? Here are some party ideas from author John Green!

Invite: A coded message

Décor: A dozen tulips, maps, mirrors

Food: Gas station snacks, a la road tripping

Project: Scavenger hunt

June: PAPER TOWNS, Music That Inspires

John asks, "Radar says, 'Coltrane's playing is literally the most convincing proof of God's existence I've ever come across' (p. 112). What music would be this important to you?"

Story Secrets: 13 REASONS WHY by Jay Asher

That's right, Jay Asher is on the scene, here to share secrets to his mega-hit, THIRTEEN REASONS WHY!

I probably don't have to tell you that 13RY is published in over a dozen countries and has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for...I don't know, two years now? And probably for the rest of Jay's life?

Well, anyway, it is that awesome. Plus Jay is a super nice, down-to-earth guy, and we are thrilled to welcome him today. (At left, Jay and I hang out at the SCBWI WWA Conference.)

*****

Thirteen Reasons Why is a suspenseful novel dealing with a lot of serious teen issues. Clay Jensen, a high school junior, finds a package on his doorstep addressed to him and containing several cassette tapes. The tapes were recorded by his classmate and crush, Hannah Baker, who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On each side of each tape, Hannah talks about a different person at their school who she feels led to her decision to take her life. And if you received the tapes, Hannah says, you're one of the reasons why.


Holly: 13RY is such a shocking, yet universal story - and you've told it in a way that resonates with so many readers. How did the idea strike?

Jay: I spent about nine years trying to find the right story to tell in this audiotour format, using two simultaneous first-person narrators. One narrator would be a recorded voice, and the other would react to what the recorded voice was saying. I wanted to structure a novel like that after taking an audiotour of a mock-up of King Tut's tomb. But I wanted to tell a story that would be enhanced by that structure rather than use that structure simply as a gimmick. Around the same time that I took that audiotour, a close relative of mine attempted suicide. She was, like the character in my book, a high school junior. Talking to her over the years let me see how someone could become like Hannah....

Read the rest and see the first of Hannah's video tapes here...

June: rgz LIVE! Twitter Chat Recap!

Okay, this is a tad long, but I really only picked highlights! This is for our non-Twitter peeps! Listen in to John, rgz:

I hope to tour again sometime next year, but we'll see.

I'm a very amateur philosopher, but I'm fascinated by the same big ?s that obsessed me as a teen.

I really liked Vonnegut, Toni Morrison, and Salinger.

I think I was inspired by the IDEA of books--using ink on paper to communicate something--more than particular books.

Yeah, I was really deeply engaged in the religion classes I took as a student (but that was in college).

In a very broad sense, my current novel is set on a beach.

I started writing as a kid, but I got serious in high school and more serious in college.

I can't find just one thing I love about nerdfighteria. It's a huge, huge part of my life.

Well, I believe the world is essentially broken, and I guess I think the only true ending is an ambiguous one.

Oh sure, sometimes I feel misread. But my books don't belong to me. They belong to their readers.

I feel happy if I write more than 1,000 words in a day, but sometimes I make more progress deleting 1,000 words.

No, I write alone these days (well, aside from skype friends).

My advice to other writers is to read and read and read and read. And listen to criticism. It hurts but it's right.

I write for my readers. I am inspired by them, and I feel challenged by them.

I am inspired by this infuriatingly broken world we live in. I want to put it back together in my head.

Well I think one of the general challenges in life is being sociable without being untrue to one's self.

I loved the babysitters club when I was growing up. I loved series. I was like Eudora Welty in a sweet devouring.

Hank takes it personally that I've never written a protagonist with a sibling. I haven't stolen much from Hank.

Nerdfighteria has profoundly influenced my writing by showing me how smart and engaged contemporary teens are.

I wrote Alaska because I was obsessed with the problem of theodicy--how evil can exist with an omnipotent god.

Well I think one of the points of literature is to help us understand how to be human in a compromised world...

Although you won't like this answer, I think intense critical analysis of literature is a hugely important skill.

Broadly speaking, I wanted to write because I loved reading and wanted to be on the other side of the page.

I still don't think of writing as a career. I love it, but I don't know that I'll be able to do it in 20 years.

That was fun! AND CRAZY! You guys are the best.

It was a super fun chat. Join us next time if you can!

rgz LIVE! Twitter chat with John Green!

Join us tonight for a twitter chat with this month's featured author, John Green! We'll be talking about Paper Towns, spontaneity and well--who knows???

The chat will start live at the top of the hour over at twitter. John Green can be found on twitter at realjohngreen and don't forget to put the #rgz tag on your questions to him!

Author in Residence Lisa Ann Sandell: Art as Inspiration

Our third awesome Author in Residence, Lisa Ann Sandell, is a deeply insightful writer who will be on the rgz team through August! Check out her mini-issue at the rgz website.

Throughout her visit, she will be posting at the readergirlz blog (watch her first vlog, about writing inspirations, here).

Here is the second of Lisa's vlog entries about writing, in which she shows us some inspirational art and what each piece means to her:

Lisa asks, "What is some of your favorite artwork?"

Learn more about Lisa Ann Sandell and our author-in-residence position.

We're chatting with John Green on Twitter

We can't wait for our chat with John on June 16. (Seriously. It's like a giddy, pre-prom feeling. We only hope our curling iron doesn't get stuck in our hair. Again.)

If you've never used Twitter before, here's how to do it in three easy steps:

1. First, create a Twitter account if you don’t have one already. It’s easy and free, and all you need is an e-mail address.

2. Log onto Twitter at 6 p.m. Pacific, 9 p.m. Eastern on June 16.

3. Type @realjohngreen plus your question, followed by #rgz. This asks John your question and funnels it into the readergirlz chat stream.

To follow along the chat, go here (the #rgz Twitter stream).

Going forward, you’ll be able to follow rgz and lots of your favorite authors on Twitter. You can find us and everyone we follow here: http://twitter.com/readergirlz

Questions? Post them in the comments and we'll take care of you.

rgz Newsflash: More comments!

Just a quick note that John has commented in the Hot Topics discussion questions (linked in the top of the sidebar), maybe after you dropped your thoughts. Be sure to click back and see what further things have been said!

Check out time bends and his accomplices.

Thanks, John!

Cover Stories: Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols

Jennifer Echols's Endless Summer is a repackaging of two previous books -- The Boys Next Door and Endless Summer. Look for a sweet and hot love triangle with the Vader Brothers next door during Lori's summer at the lake.

Here's Jenn, and she's got a whopper of a cover change to show!

"At first I had a cartoon cover. I thought it was adorable like my other cartoon covers, but I had heard the look of the books might be changing in the future, and I wished they had changed mine. I think covers have moved away from the cartoon, and it now looks younger than my books really are.

"And then they changed it..."

Read the rest of Jenn's Cover Story at melissacwalker.com.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer

Just saw this on rgz Street Team Priya's blog! What do you all think?



What do I think? Well, obviously, I need more Snape. :~)

June: PAPER TOWNS, Running Away and Being Found

John asks, "Do you think Margo wants to be found? Do you think Margo wants to be found by Q?"

Follow-up: Have you ever felt like running away? How did you deal with that feeling?

Diva Holly Cupala's Virtual Tour!

Hi, readergirlz!

To celebrate Tell Me a Secret, Holly's taking off on a big 'ol virtual tour!

The tour starts today at Market My Words. You can follow her at a different blog EVERY WEEKDAY until July 30!

Check out the complete tour schedule! You'll want to leave comments throughout virtual the tour. Holly's giving away tons of goodies! Check here for full details.

Welcome to the world, Tell Me a Secret! Go, Holly! We love you!

Cover Stories: This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas

This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas is a disturbing page-turner with great heart, warmth and depth. You'll be hearing a lot about this book this summer!

Also, it's got a great cover. Here's Donna with more on that:

"Because This Gorgeous Game is both so dark and so personal, at first I was at a complete loss as to what image might represent it -- I almost wouldn't let my mind go there. But when I did, because eventually of course I would, there were two images I kept thinking about. The cover would be of a girl andonly a girl -- even though This Gorgeous Game is about a girl who is stalked, I absolutely, positively did not want any hint of the stalker on the cover, I cannot express that strongly enough.

"The first image idea was of a girl walking down the street looking over her shoulder, almost looking behind her, but also at the reader, and the would seem anxious. The other image idea was a photo of a girl who looks trapped -- which I know is kind of vague. But I'd seen a photo on Getty of a girl who is curled up in a ball and she is literally inside a series of boxes -- a box inside a box inside a box, etc., and inside the smallest box at the center is the girl. It is a very disturbing photo, haunting and unforgettable. I knew it was a bit too much for the actual cover, but the idea was as close to the feeling I was going for as it gets..."

Read the rest of Donna's Cover Story, and see early cover versions, at melissacwalker.com.