Halloween 1976

So much fun! Here's to childhood memories.

Happy Autumn, everyone!

Photototz: Call for Entries

Feel free to repost!

Joan and I are launching a segment called: Photototz over at readertotz! We are inviting all authors/illustrators to send a cover of their latest book AND a photo of when they were a tot. We'll stream these onto the blog and collect the entries in the sidebar. It should be fun!

If you'd like to participate, send your images to readertotzatclearwiredotnet Share a little baby smile and celebrate your recent release!

To get things going, here's mine. I'm a tot of 20 months. :~)

And if you are a parent or grandparent of a tot, feel free to send a photo of you reading together to the above address. We'll be happy to share it with our growing community!

Show us those baby faces, readertotz!

Poetry Friday: Harvest

Harvest

Sitting atop these

giant pumpkins, our laughter

curls like pumpkin vines.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2009

Jennie of Biblio File is hosting this week's Poetry Friday.

Poetry Friday: Bathing Beauties

Bathing Beauties

I remember the plastic vinyl
squeezing my head
like a tight hug.
Gold buttons winking
as brightly as the aqua waves.

Knowing myself to be
truly
as beautiful
as my grandmother.

We filled the salted air
with our laughter
that still
resonates.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2009

The roundup is with Kelly!

rgz Teen Read Week: GALA Celebration with Sylvia and Dia!

It's down to our last night hanging out together for Teen Read Week. And I'm so excited we are hosting Dia Calhoun and Sylvia Engdahl. What an honor to have both ladies!

Sylvia truly is the pioneer of Sci-Fi lit for YA. When we saw her active on MySpace, we knew we had to snatch her up and have a celebration for her contributions to the literary landscape. Enchantress From the Stars was first printed in 1971. Sylvia is our first Senior guest.

And Dia is my good friend, nonprofit partner, and critique partner. Her words are luminous.

Here's to an amazing party. And be sure to catch the TRW Tribute rolling at rgz. I loaded 48 blogs of love!!!

rgz Teen Read Week: Melissa, Cassandra, and Patrick

Here's tonight's chat! Cassie will be checking in from MEXICO! Let's hope her internet connection holds. She's concerned...And Patrick is in ENGLAND. I believe he's going to check in tomorrow morning for questions. We totally give it up for Zoe Marriott and Diane Duane for staying up till 2:00 themselves!

We are averaging 10 comments per minute. It's fast and furious!

See you at the chat!

rgz Teen Read Week: Holly, Cynthia, and Lisa

And now it's Holly, Cynthia, and Lisa's turn! Come by for the party and celebrate Teen Read Week! Last night we had an average of 10 comments per minute!

See you there!

rgz Teen Read Week: ME and Elizabeth Scott and Lynn Weingarten!

Look! Tonight it's ME, Elizabeth Scott, and Lynn Weingarten!



I'm actually focusing on HOLD ME TIGHT rather than ON POINTE as it fits the theme of the evening better. All three of the feature books touch on kidnapping!

Hope you can make it tonight at 6:00 Pacific at the rgz blog. Off to look for an awesome celebratory headpiece for the occasion. Here's mine from last night. :~)

rgz Teen Read Week: Read Beyond Imagination

Yay! Teen Read Week is here! I'm so excited. :~)
Here's our lineup for tonight. Hope you can join us as we Read Beyond Imagination. Woohoo!

Poetry Friday: Dogged Through Autumn

Dogged Through Autumn

When the wind blows and
the harsh chills creep through the cracks,
I am so ready.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2009

Catch the roundup with Laura Salas!

Hold Me Tight Trailer

Finally, I pulled together a book trailer for Hold Me Tight. I've wanted to do this for so long. And now it's done! The funny thing is that while I was loading it, I received sweet fan mail. It's just a good day for my 3rd novel. :~)

Poetry Friday: College Hope

College Hope

One generation
works and waits in love for the
other to fly far.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2009

My mom and I were able to visit Em at WWU this past weekend. This poem came to mind. Catch the full Poetry Friday roundup with Anastasia Suen at Picture Book of the Day.

What a Girl Wants: Superheroes!

Colleen Mondor has just posted her newest blog for What a Girl Wants. She asked:

Are girls missing out on something by not having a kick butt heroine to look up to? Is it all just testosterone for boys and girls don't need it? Should we find our heroes elsewhere? Am I wrong to pine for a world where girls can have a superhero birthday party with only female characters and everyone knows their names?

Here's my entry. Not a huge comic book fan, but I do enjoy the manga I've picked up, and you all know I love Heroes. :~)

Lorie Ann Grover: "I was not a comic book reader growing up. At the most, my mom would buy one for us before a summer road trip, and it was usually Archie, I guess. Which I didn't actually enjoy. As an adult, I don't even read newspaper comics.

So, I definitely didn't grow up with female superheroes, aside from Wonder Woman on TV. I despised her costume but thought it was cool that she was so tall. In some measure she gave me reassurance for my body type. I remember glimpses of Cat Woman, but something told me never to trust her. I still don't.

How interesting that there is a vacuum of female superheroes in teen lit. Every time I think I've thought of one, I realize that they don't truly have super powers. They are just super smart or strong. I'm thinking of Kiki Strike and Cammie of the Gallagher Girls series. It's almost as if this generation's superheroes wear urban fantasy masks: Aislinn from Wicked Lovely, Kaye in Ironside.

As a YA author and reader, I do get the same kind of reading enjoyment through fantasy characters that I get from male superheroes on screen. I will say it's a blast to have a true female superhero like Claire in Heroes!

I think we girls will always demand character depth and growth in our superheroes, Powers just aren't enough. But it can be done. So maybe Colleen is on the cusp of a trend that might start right here... "

Poetry Friday: Like Hiro and Ando

Hiro and Ando
cross my mind as we stand firm
by the friend we love.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2009

I always thought Ando was taller! Ha! (We've been watching Heroes every night! I'm guessing they are still good guys after Season Three...)

I'm looking for the full poetry roundup...Just found it with Kelly at Crossover!