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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 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 novel GIRL OVERBOARD is a Junior Library Guild Premier Selection, and Publishers Weekly writes, "[Chen] 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. For her latest novel, NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL, she created the Find Beauty Challenge. After graduating from Stanford University with honors, Justina worked as a marketing executive at Microsoft. She now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her two children. Her website is www.justinachenheadley.com She also encourages readers to visit her at www.myspace.com/justinachenheadley |
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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 newest book is called LOVESTRUCK SUMMER, and in July 2011, SMALL TOWN SINNERS will be released. Visit Melissa's blog at melissacwalker.com |
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Micol Ostow is half Puerto Rican, half Jewish, half reader, half writer, half chocolate, half peanut butter. When she is under deadline, she is often half asleep.
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readergirlz was founded in March 2007 by Justina Chen Headley, Lorie Ann Grover, Dia Calhoun, and Janet Lee Carey. Throughout the years, Mitali Perkins, Holly Cupala, Elizabeth Scott, Martha Brockenbrough, and Liz Gallagher also assisted as readergirlz divas. Thank you so much for your time and efforts, ladies!
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Introducing the postergirlz The readergirlz divas couldn't be happier to have the loyal assistance and advice from the postergirlz for readergirlz, a council which generously lends 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 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 Web Producer, Kat Ogden, who produces exclusive content from our featured authors for our monthly issues. Find Kat at Sabotage and Dialogue.
. . . to our Austin rgz HOST, Bethany Hegedus, who will be setting up events with authors in her neck of the woods. She is the author of Between Us Baxters and the forthcoming Truth with a Capital T. . . . to our LA rgz HOST, Little Willow, who is also our resident webdiva and runs our teen lit advisory council, postergirlz. As an actress, a singer, and a dancer, she's rarely still or quiet -- only so when reading or writing. . . . to our Miami rgz HOST, Crissa-Jean Chappell, author of the novel Total Constant Order and many short stories. By day, she teaches creative writing and cinema studies at Miami International University of Art and Design. . . . … to our Seattle rgz HOST, Stephanie Guerra, author of the novel Torn, which is coming in 2012. Stephanie also teaches at Seattle University and King County Jail, and does research on literacy instruction for incarcerated youth. These ladies guarantee that readergirlz continues to rock and roll. |
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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 blog. The rgz street team includes: * Priya * Silence * Vanessa * Sarah |
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