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Poetry Friday: Perspective

Perspective

Waiting in life's curve,
I watch from within the rocks
stacked about my soul.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2010

Self portrait photograph by Emily Kay Grover.

Pasco Author Cavalcade, 2010

Let me just start with a few highlights. Aren't these the best?

1. a six foot tall Native American guy with long hair and piercings connected to LOOSE THREADS
2. a teen girl told me, "I've read ON POINTE over 10 times!"
3. a mother told me HOLD ME TIGHT was helpful to her child in therapy
4. a teen texted her bestie to tell her she was standing next to me
5. and that one middle school girl returned for just one more hug

Needless to say, I had a WONDERFUL visit at the Pasco Author Cavalcade. It was AWESOME thanks to organizer, librarian Michelle Lane, and her volunteers! They worked so hard to get funds and prepare every facet of the experience. Radcon, a sci-fi conference. was a generous donor and provided a really fun environment for us all at the Red Lion.

Appearing authors included: Royce Buckingham, Dia Calhoun, Patrick Carman, Brenda Cooper, ME, Ben Mikaelsen, Deborah Reber, and Suzanne Selfors. We were treated like rock stars, I tell you.

Schools from all over the Tri-Cities were bused to the hotel. There were 4 workshops, 2 lunch sessions, and a signing.

My workshop was held in the Red Lion bar. :~) How many YA authors can say that? It was a great venue because the tables provided excellent space to collage. And I have admit that there was no alcohol in sight.

The high schoolers and middle schoolers made excellent visual maps of the verse entries that they wrote on the spot!


Even the guys were mapping out their words. Woohoo!


Dia and I were able to join author Maureen McQuerry for a wonderful lunch the following day as well. She was a lovely host!

Now that the whirlwind weekend is over, and Radcon just a great memory, I stumbled across this video created for On Pointe by the Cavalcade. How sweet it that? I HIGHLY recommend authors attending if you should get an invite. This is an area that appreciates authors and loves lit. You will be treasured!

So here's the video they created. Awesome possum! And thanks, Cavalcade!



Find more videos like this on Voicethread for Educators

Poetry Friday: Millie

This photo was taken by photographer Abigail Hodgins of her sister. Is it not so evocative? She's brilliant. Here's an on the spot haiku. Happy Poetry Friday, everyone!

Millie

Balanced on the edge
of adolescence I stand
with my arms thrown wide.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2010

*Smiling*

Little Willow is running a series on smiley smiles in honor of Raina Telgemeier's new graphic novel, Smile, which I LOVED! Really, really.

So the following is my entry from LW's site. This is what makes me smile. *ding*



Hearing my daughters laughing together in another room in our house makes me smile. The fact that they are connecting, enjoying each other, and growing, and I am blessed to be near to hear it is a complete joy. In makes me smile just thinking about it. :~)

- Lorie Ann Grover

Learn Lorie Ann's definition of hope.
Read my full-length interview with Lorie Ann.
Visit readergirlz, an online book group which Lorie Ann co-founded.

Want to know what makes other authors and readers smile? Follow the series of interviews.

Radcon 2010

You never know where you might end up during an author visit. Seriously. Dia Calhoun and I just returned from the Cavalcade of Authors in Pasco. I'll do a wrap up post about the awesome event soon, but it was RADCON who helped fund the author extravaganza. Dia and I were immersed in the sci-fi con that is:

This guy guarded the entrance to our hotel wing.


I saw things I've never seen before. Sorry I was slow to pick up the camera. Not sure of the protocol in the moment, I now realize that most would have loved to have their photos taken. *sigh* Well, here's a bit of what I saw:

* Weapons for zombie defense
* Animal tails swinging on backsides
* A lot of tinfoil hats to ward off aliens
* A shop filled with wands
* Death
* A 300 lb man dressed as a baby doll
* A lot of steampunk
* Pirates
* Manga characters
* Klingons
* Captain Kirk
* Zombie boy

And that's just what comes to mind right now...


I LOVED IT! What a blast mixing with folks who are such avid fans. Wouldn't it be awesome to have a YA Con? Just imagine the guest list. In the meantime, I'll be thinking about returning next year. But what will I wear?

Poetry Friday: First Friends

This is one of the first photos of me! And I still have the bear on my dresser. So, here's an on the spot haiku.

First Friends

Wide-eyed with you at
my side, the world is friendly.
Wave, wave, wave with me!

Lorie Ann Grover, 2010

I'll have to take this over to readertotz next week!

Poetry Friday: My Early Valentine

My Early Valentine

The cold morning is
just a little bit warmer
because of your heart.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2010

The Rheumatoid Factor: 2/4/10

I find folks are curious about rheumatoid arthritis so I thought I'd occasionally post about the disease. It may be a metaphor or it may be medical. Autoimmune diseases run in packs so here's the round up of mine:

1. Rheumatoid Arthritis
2. Sjogren's Syndrome
3. Former Hashimoto's Disease
4. Reynaud's Disease
5. Interstitial Cystitis

So those are the monkeys on back.

And here's a note about the title of these blogs. The rheumatoid factor is a test that can verify someone has rheumatoid arthritis. RF is an autoantibody in 80% of people with the disease, and close to 100% in Sjogren's patients. The antibodies are directed against the organisms own tissues.

Okay, here's my metaphor for today:



RA feels like someone has turned my joint tuning keys too tightly.

Yep. That's pretty spot on.

What a Girl Wants: To Vote for the Most Qualified

Colleen has collected responses for What a Girl Wants over at Chasing Ray. I wouldn't call myself a feminist (don't gasp), but I did pull together my thoughts and a few resources. Here you go. And be sure to read the whole article!

Lorie Ann Grover: "No way, should a girl vote for a woman just because she's a woman, Colleen! Both my girls would be upset to hear that they were expected to do so. Thankfully, they are not of my mother's world, but their own. They have the luxury of looking at issues over gender representation. That said, a hip young feminist blog is The F Bomb. This was recommended by iheartdaily, and it's a fresh voice for teen girls.

Girldrive by Nona Willis Aronowitz and Emma Bee Bernstein is compelling, both the book and blog. Here two young women hit the road and interview women across the country about feminism. Answers are different, current, and colorful.

Those two sources come immediately to mind. Other than that, I think reading broadly through YA lit will bring a great balance. The books of today empower girls to think for themselves and stride forward."

(ETA: Read a NY Magazine Q&A with Nona Aronowitz.)