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Lorie Ann Grover carried Nancy Drew books before she could read them. She was a member of the Miami Ballet Company until she grew too tall for the profession. She then changed her focus and studied art at the University of Miami. Her love for the written word, however, soon yielded poetry, board books, and three novels: LOOSE THREADS, ON POINTE, and HOLD ME TIGHT. Her awards include: a starred review from Booklist, a Booklist Top Ten First Novel for Youth, a Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year, and a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. She home schooled her children and taught them to read early so they'd never have to just pretend. Along with Joan Holub, Lorie Ann is the co-founder of readertotz, a unique infant/toddler book blog aimed at raising the profile of this important literary form. Visit her website at www.lorieanngrover.com
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Dia Calhoun is the winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. She is the author of five young adult fantasy novels, three of which are ALA Best Books for Young Adults. Her books are AVIELLE OF RHIA, THE PHOENIX DANCE, WHITE MIDNIGHT, ARIA OF THE SEA, and FIREGOLD, which received a starred review in Booklist. Her other awards include a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age; Voya Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror; an IRA Teacher's Choice, and a Booklist Top Ten First Novel. She frequently presents a Fantasy Writing Workshop at schools and libraries. When she isn't writing, Dia sings Italian arias and fly-fishes. She lives in Tacoma, Washington. Learn more at www.diacalhoun.com
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Justina Chen Headley wrote her first fifty-page novel when she was eight years old. She is the winner of the Asian Pacific American Award for Literature for her debut novel, Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies), which was also a Borders' Original Voices nominee, BookSense pick, and NYPL Book for the Teen Age. Her most recent novel, GIRL OVERBOARD, is a Junior Library Guild Premier Selection, and Publishers Weekly writes, "Headley crafts a tale that will stand out in the crowd by offering a good dose of girl power and an intriguing family backstory." Justina ties community service in with every novel she publishes and she encourages everyone to check out her Go Overboard Challenge Grant at www.burton.com/GoOverboardGrant After graduating from Stanford University with honors, Justina worked as a marketing executive at Microsoft. She now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children. Her website is www.justinachenheadley.com She also encourages readers to visit her at www.myspace.com/justinachenheadley |
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Holly Cupala wrote teen romance novels before she ever actually experienced teen romance. When she did, it became all about tragic poetry and slightly less tragic novels. Her first novel, tentatively titled A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT, about 17-year-old Miranda's unexpected pregnancy and her gripping journey to navigate the labyrinth of her bad-girl sister's life, unravel the mystery of her death, and free herself in the process, sold to HarperCollins in a two-book deal, to be released Fall 2010. The novel also received an SCBWI Work-in-Progress Grant, sponsored by Judy Blume. When she isn't helping readergirlz, Holly writes and spends time with her husband and daughter in Seattle, Washington. These days, her writing is less about tragedy and more about hope. You can find her at www.hollycupala.com, visit her blog at http://brimstonesoup.blogspot.com, and be her friend at www.myspace.com/brimstonesoup |
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Melissa Walker is a writer who has worked as ELLEgirl Features Editor and Seventeen Prom Editor. All in the name of journalism, she has spent 24 hours with male models and attended an elite finishing school for girls in New Zealand, among other hardships. She is the author of the Violet series (VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY, VIOLET BY DESIGN, VIOLET IN PRIVATE), about an unlikely supermodel navigating the ups and downs of the fashion world. Violet on the Runway was a NYPL Book for the Teen Age, and was hailed by NPR as a book for teens who hate to read. Her next book, Lovestruck Summer, comes out in May 2009. Melissa lives in Brooklyn and has a BA in English from Vassar College. Visit her blog at melissacwalker.com |
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A Chat with the readergirlz Divas readergirlz was founded in March 2007 by Justina Chen Headley, Lorie Ann Grover, Dia Calhoun, and Janet Lee Carey. Read what the readergirlz divas have to say about their book community. 1. Where did you get your inspiration for readergirlz? Justina: When I was out on my book tour for Nothing but the Truth (and a few white lies), I made a concerted effort to visit urban high schools that didn't have the budgets to bring in authors. It broke my heart how few kids had ever met an author - even though they were avid readers. So I thought: how can I give all of my readers the opportunity to meet and talk with me - and my favorite writer-buddies? That's when I hit upon readergirlz as a concept. Dia: I meet girls when I visit schools, but there never seems to be enough time to talk about books and writing, especially on a personal level. So chatting about books and characters on readergirlz seemed like a fabulous idea. I love to talk about books - my books and other author's books - and with readergirlz, I will have the chance to do that with the girls I am actually writing for. Lorie Ann: I'm inspired to be a member of readergirlz to find others who love great characters and great books like I do. Whether it's discussing a favorite novel or sharing the backstory of one of my own, talking about books is inspiring! Janet: I do a lot of book events, but there are so many readers I never get to meet. I thought wouldn't it be great if there were a place where I could meet and talk with a reader anytime I wanted to? Where she could click a button and ask me a question as soon as it popped into her head? Where readers could meet around a favorite book and make friends? Readergirlz is just the place. 2. Who are readergirlz? Janet: Readergirlz are thinking girls who like to speak their minds. They love to read and pass their favorite books around. Girls who read are girls that lead. Lorie Ann: Readergirlz are book lovers who know that the written word has power to engage, encourage, and strengthen. Talking about books makes that power even stronger. Readergirlz read, think, dialogue, and act! Dia: Readergirlz are girls who are passionate about books and love to discuss them. Justina: Readergirlz are any girl or woman who's in touch with her inner girl and knows that bookish girls are cool girls. 3. What do you hope to accomplish with readergirlz? Lorie Ann: I learn so much through reading, and have fun, too. I find passion and answers and understanding in books. I hope to find all of these alongside other amazing readergirlz! Justina: I want girls to get excited about reading great books featuring super strong girl characters. And I want readers to connect deeply with books. I know for me that my appreciation and understanding of a book really deepens when I discuss it with my own book club. Janet: I learned how brave girls can be through books. I remember thinking, okay, if she can do it, I can do it. Great books cross cultures and break boundaries. I'm hoping readergirlz will challenge girls to dream big, support each other, and go for their dreams! Dia: Through reading books about strong girl characters, I want readergirlz to discover they have the power to change how they look at the world, change how they act in the world, and even change how they aim their dreams. |
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readergirlz-on-the-road The readergirlz co-founders are available for limited speaking engagements. As well, we are happy to offer an assembly for middle schools, high schools, libraries and conferences. Learn more about readergirlz-on-the-road by downloading the PDF brochure cover and inside scoop. |
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Introducing the postergirlz The readergirlz divas couldn't be happier to announce the formation of postergirlz for readergirlz, an advisory council which will generously lend their YA lit expertise to guide our book choices. This amazing group is made up of some of the biggest names in YA lit blogging as well as avid teen girl readers: * Little Willow, readergirlz webdiva and bookseller who writes the famous Bildungsroman blog * Jackie, the epitome of an enthusiastic and knowledgeable librarian who writes InteractiveReader * Miss Erin, the youngest Cybils' judge and author of her much-read and much-respected blog * ShelfElf, our team player representing the Canadians with her participation and fantastic YA lit blog * HipWriterMama, the candid blogger full of inspirational musings about life and lit who challenges her readers to reach their best |
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Many thanks
. . . to our rgz PR specialist Sara Easterly - SCBWI co-regional advisor and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award winner for her debut children's title, LIGHTS, CAMERA & FASHION! . . . to our rgz media specialist Martha Brockenbrough - hilarious Cinemama columnist on MSN, founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, and author of THINGS THAT MAKE US [SIC]. . . . to our rgz talent scout Mitali Perkins - author of multiple novels, including the FIRST DAUGHTER books, she'll be hunting down the latest new releases and publishing news for the rgz divas. . . . to our rgz Seattle Host Liz Gallagher - author of THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE, our rgz rep at local author signings and conferences. These ladies guarantee that readergirlz continues to rock and roll. |
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Salon appointments
The rgz salon is a book-reviewing collective of several esteemed names in young-adult literature: * Nancy Pearl, NPR Book Lust Reviewer/librarian * René Kirkpatrick, Book Buyer/Seller at Third Place Books in Seattle * Sharon Levin, librarian * Judy Nelson, librarian and past president of YALSA |
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Taking it to the street team Blogging teen dynamo Miss Erin heads up our rgz Street Team, which is dedicated to contributing young adult book reviews and maintaining a strong presence at the rgz MySpace group forum. The rgz street team includes: * Traci * Silence * Vanessa * Sarah * Alex * Carly |
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