Poetry Friday: Be Warned

Be Warned

We take volleyball
seriously. Amazon
women at the net.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2009

Catch the full roundup with Jama Rattigan at Jama Rattigan's Alphabet Soup.

And 31 years later...

I'm here! I've arrived in Chicago!

And sure enough, my 8th grade social studies teacher zipped through the airport and picked me up! Thirty-one years later, we had a TON of catching up to do!

Needless to say, he can still dish it out. So how weird is it to get into your teacher's car and then have him treat you in the local Chicago pub, McNamara's. Mind blowing, really. So many answers to questions I've wondered about for a long time.

A bit of trivia: Mr. Hoeksema appears in my first novel, Loose Threads. Yep, that would be he.

Here's to teachers who give their all and impact their students in life-changing ways. Thanks, Mr. Hoeksema! And to his folks who raised him so well and are starting a new beginning themselves. Cheers!

Off to ALA Annual!

And I'm off to ALA to dialogue about Operation TBD '10, meet the awesome Scholastic staff, and go to the Newbery and Printz awards! All of this, and I haven't even finished blogging about my trip to DC. So much to write! More soon...

Oh, AND my eighth grade social studies teacher is picking me up from the airport. Last time we saw each other was 1979. What did I look like at 14? Hm.

Now what did he look like?

What a Girl Wants: Who can write what?

Over at Chasing Ray, Colleen has posted a controversial subject: can an author write about a race, culture, or lifestyle not his/her own? The answers were varied. Much! But I wasn't totally alone. Catch the full discussion at Chasing Ray. And here's my entry.

Lorie Ann Grover: I do believe writers and publishers are bringing to the market a variety of story. With broad foreign rights sales, we are privy to an even wider range of storytellers in our country. To further unlock the untold, I believe we need to encourage writers of all walks to write their own stories well. At readergirlz we are constantly looking for unique voices to resonate in the field. What satisfaction to offer Rita Williams Garcia's No Laughter Here and discuss female circumcision and then Laura Resau's Red Glass and debate illegal immigration.

Authors can write of cultures and lifestyles beyond their experience, or we'd have no sci-fi fantasy, right? The challenge is to be faithful in full research and revelation. Red Glass is an excellent example of Laura Resau bringing to light a culture not her own. I also think of Laurie Halse Anderson's Chains, and Patricia McCormick's Sold. Why would we ever inhibit storytellers who have a burden to share truth, even if the story doesn't spring from their own immediate life experience?

Concerning publishers, initially, maybe the books aren't placed as quickly because of sales concern. In truth, there might not be broad sales at first as the experiences are foreign to American teens. Hopefully though, the books are published, purchased, and read, with connections made through shared desires and emotions. Is it the library market that feeds the groundswell until the books can crossover to the stores, maybe? I have to believe there are dedicated middle grade and YA editors out there who will bring these stories to light for the love of truth, regardless of questionable sales. I'm hoping to place one now myself!

As to characters resonating through my life from different places than my own, I have to say: Djo from Frances Temple's Taste of Salt, Liesel from Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, Junior from Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, or how about Devon Hope from Nikki Grimes' Bronx Masquerade? My list could go on and on. These are characters who wanted the very same things I do and just happened to be reaching for them in a different place. Their courage empowers me. There are so many examples, and for that, I am thankful.

Poetry Friday: Fezzik, the Poet

Fezzik, The Poet

Yes, Fezzik, I am
in awe of your heart and rhymes.
I'll take that peanut.

Catch the full roundup with Tabatha A. Yeatts.

Cecil's at rgz!

I just turned over the sites to welcome Cecil! Woot!



What a blast to have Sara Zarr all through June. Loved it!

Janet McCormick

So this is my friend Janet who said I didn't NAME her in my last post when I mentioned ONE of my besties. This is for JANET. On the left. And our 22 year friendship! Can you believe she's put up with me for THAT long? HA!