Family Fiction: The idea for FIRSTBORN

So happy to share the interview about Firstborn that Family Fiction ran through the month of December. The questions were awesome. Here's just one, otherwise follow the link...

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA?
Firstborn sprang from a news article I read concerning gendercide. I was horrified to learn that over 37 million girls are missing in China alone, due to the One Child Policy enacted in 1980. The work of All Girls Allowed and the Global Gendercide Advocacy and Alliance Group provided further chilling information regarding the killing of females at birth. My anger brought my novel to form. I wanted to write a fiction work to bring light to gendercide while declaring the value of our daughters. The dedication of my book is: To firstborn females, may they all be allowed to live.

Poetry Friday: Flight

Flight

On the edge of the

caldera, we take flight on

 our laughter and love.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Holiday, 2013

Holiday, 2013 by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

FIRSTBORN Trailer

I LOVE THIS TRAILER! Thank you, Blink!

Poetry Friday: Cemented Stones

 

 

Cemented stones knob

like knuckle bones beneath skin;

fists beneath my feet.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

FIRSTBORN Trailer, released by Hypable

The trailer for FIRSTBORN was just released at Hypable!!! On the front page. And it's looking awesome! Blink did an amazing job, don't you think? I'm so happy!

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

FIRSTBORN E-book: Special PRE-SALE!

Following the fab star review from Kirkus Reviews, Blink is offering a pre-sale of FIRSTBORN right now. Which is pretty cool. Check the different sites if you like. I saw $3.79 at Amazon.

And here's the full review! Yay! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

KIRKUS REVIEW

A fantasy that reads like a lost history tome and deftly examines issues of gender.

Tiadone is the first declared male in his R’tan village, though he was born female: Tiadone’s father declared him male to save him from abandonment and certain death on the Scree, as is the fate for all firstborn R’tan females, as dictated by the oppressive rule of the Madronians. Soon, Tiadone, along with his best friend, Ratho, and their “twined” rapions (birds of prey bonded to R’tan companions), travels to the Perimeter. During their mandatory year of service in Perimeter Defense, they will protect their people from invaders, desert cats and sandstorms. Once there, Tiadone chronicles the ways he must cope with the scorn of the other boys, the cruelty of the Madronians in power and his own changing body and blossoming sexuality—all as he struggles with his feelings surrounding being a declared male. Over the course of the year, Tiadone comes to recognize and deconstruct the carefully crafted lies that his life has been founded on and eventually finds a strength, peace and freedom he never dared hope for. Through the beautifully drawn Tiadone—whom readers will come to care for and relate to—Grover questions both gender norms and gender conformity in an honest, light-handed manner.

An engrossing story with welcome depths. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

Poetry Friday: Santorini Sunset (2)

 

 

Santorini Sunset (2)

 

Marbled footfalls and

languages weave a pattern

in nightfall's whisper. 

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Poetry Friday: Snaking Passage

 

Snaking Passage

 

Twisting concrete drags

smooth underbelly below 

scaled, cold casement.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013 



Poetry Friday: Santorini Sunset

 

Santorini Sunset

 

On this curve, we stop

to watch the sun wink in night,

clapping starlight free.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Poetry Friday: Hidden

Hidden



I'm wondering what

might be slipping under your

still aqua waters.

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Off to Santorini

Off to Santorini by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: Nob Falls

Nob Falls



The thrum of the pound

of the falls, beats on my bones

until joy smacks free.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Destination: London

Destination: London by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: Sea Skip

Sea Skip

Over the curve and

roll of the wave, my joy and

the sky's skip sea foam.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Over It

Over It by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: Mamma Duck

Mamma Duck



My orange shoes will quack

flip, flap me wherever I

may want to waddle.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

 



Poetry Friday: Grown Children

Grown Children



Fathers contemplate

how the dance ended before

they realized it.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Poetry Friday: Retreat

Retreat

 

My escape pod is

sealed, impervious to your

incessant questions. 

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Thinking

Thinking by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: Buoyant Hope

Buoyant Hope

 

Stretched thin and drifting,

hope is lightly buoyant; we

only need look up.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Poetry Friday: The Reception

 The Reception

We negotiate

this dance of joy and loss. We

cut the rug of life!

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013



Poetry Friday: Sister of the Bride

Sister of the Bride

 

Years of dress-up from

the costume box, swish and swirl

in her wedding dress.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

 

 

Poetry Friday: Parents of the Bride

Parents of the Bride

 

Joy curves around the

hollowed empty space of her

leaving us behind.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Poetry Friday: Mother of the Bride

Mother of the Bride

Seated behind her,

rising from the chair to dance

into her future.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

 

My lupus flared the night before the wedding. Arriving in a wheelchair, I was blessed to stand and walk down the aisle for the ceremony and then to dance at the reception. Joy! 

Poetry Friday: Father of the Bride

Father of the Bride

 

Caught in the rearview

is your childhood, fluttering

in my gasping heart.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Happily Ever After, George and Elle Fricks!

It's so good to be back! I've been a bit busy with my daughter's wedding. Here's a peek from our dear friend, Pam Villanueva. And here's to living happily ever after, George and Elle Fricks! Congratulations!

Poetry Friday: Lit Passage

Lit Passage

Like molten glass, light

spills, pours, gleams in the corners.

Steps illuminate. 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Poetry Friday: Whispered Through Steam

 

Whispered Through Steam

 

How many stories

were whispered through steam as cups

clinked women's secrets?

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

I'm Happy You Exist

I'm Happy You Exist by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: Blue Branches

 

Blue Branches



Like arthritic bones,

blue branches twist and stretch,

clicking to the sky.

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

 

This grove of trees stands in downtown Seattle. I've only ever seen them from the car in passing. 

Poetry Friday: Daily Catch

Daily Catch

 

tumble and rattle

gold fish swim through memories

chubby fisted smiles

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

I Will be Grateful

I Will be Grateful by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: Wedding White



Wedding White

 

White light glances in

and illuminates love in

women's precision.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

 

We are busy with preparations for the upcoming wedding! 



Poetry Friday: A Glimpse of My Crinoline

A Glimpse of My Crinoline 

Turquoise, aqua tulle,

a sea foam dance swishing and

swirling in my wake. 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

I'll Let You Be in My Dreams

I'll Let You Be in My Dreams by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: Lupus Laughter

 

Lupus Laughter

 

It's a sunglasses-

party-hat kind of cheer to

laugh away lupus.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Poetry Friday: Triangle Dresses

Women stand on strong

legs, on the warm earth, in their

triangle dresses.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

 

I ran across this adorable image marking the women's bathroom in Mexico. 

Living with Lupus: After One Hundred Days

Logo from this blog.


One hundred days for this lupus flare came and went, and I decided not to count any longer. This is my new normal.

The second round of prednisone wasn't effective, but I escaped through the withdrawals and compromised immune system without losing any teeth this time! Yay!

A few weeks back, my husband loaded me into the car at dusk and drove me through the neighborhood to see spring had sprung. It was glorious!

With more research, I discovered I need sunscreen at all times, UV clothing doesn't hurt, and to not trust shade as rays bounce. Here's what I've learned regarding the sun triggering lupus:

UV causes skin cells to express proteins, which attract antibodies, which attract white blood cells, which attack skin cells, which leads to inflammation in skin and internal organs.

That's the gist. I read that often lupus patients flare from October to April. That seems pretty close to what I experienced with a little head start in September. 

I am happy to say the symptoms are still continuing to lessen at a snail's pace. A week or so ago I tried an outing alone and ended up crying in Home Improvement on a couch because I was too sick to get through the checkout line. Today I drove myself to the doctor and back home again without difficulty!

Hopefully, this will be the last lupus update for awhile at On Pointe. Thanks for all your prayers and support. They've meant so much!

Poetry Friday: The Best Medicine

The Best Medicine

By moon and stars, ears

and smiles, they lift me to laugh

above my illness. 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

Many thanks to all who have made me laugh during this lupus flare. 

Blessed

Blessed by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Poetry Friday: Bobbing

Bobbing in bubbles,

warm, soft water buoying

curved rubber smiles.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013



#rockthedrop tomorrow!

April 18, 2013, rgz are celebrating Support Teen Literature Day! In addition to dropping YA titles for readers to discover, consider a book donation to 826NYC to help grow their library. Team with Figment, I Heart Daily, Soho Teen, and 826NYC to celebrate YA lit.

 •Follow @readergirlz on twitter and tweet #rockthedrop

 

•Print out the below bookplate (designed by the super-talented Lindsay Frantz) and drop books in your area on Support Teen Literature Day:

 

•Donate books to 826NYC: 

826NYC

attn: Joan Kim

c/o: readergirlz Rock the Drop
372 Fifth Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215

 

Post pics at our facebook of any books you drop or find! That's the skinny. Now get ready to drop!

Poetry Friday: Blink

 

 

Within the orb of

my eye, pulse living stories,

caught between each blink.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

 

Many congratulations to Zondervan for the launch of their new imprint, Blink! I'm thrilled to be onboard!

Busy in the Stillness

Busy in the Stillness by lorieanngrover featuring a grey cardigan

Living with Lupus: How Very Vampiric

Aha! A quick post to share that I've learned the sun can nab me in the shade and through windows. Artificial light is also a culprit. That said, sunscreen is my new friend, outdoors and indoors, around the clock.

Short trips out at night have been the most successful. How very vampiric, right? You can still see spring in the moonlight. 

Approaching 100 days, I'm finding a normal in the slow climb out of the hole. Strangely, as the lupus gradually loses strength, the rheumatoid increases. I find it easier to function with bone pain in a limited way rather than to be knocked completely flat by my entire body. So, I am encouraged.

With difficulty chewing the jaw specialist recommended:



Pretty clever, huh? He also said this is my new normal. Thankfully, much scrumptious food is soft. Just think of giant marshmallows... Anyway, I've been adapting since October 2012, so this isn't new news. And now I have a cookbook to consult.

Hm. Maybe this not chewing is also vampiric. Just staying in style. Here's hoping I bypass the zombie craze. For sure.

I have a few drug potentials in the arsenal, but having had cancer already once, I'm hoping to avoid them. We'll see what must be done. In the meantime, I'm off to simmer soup, sunscreened.

Poetry Friday: 28 Years

 

28 Years

 

Calendar pages

collected and stored, our

memories, our life.

 

 

Lorie Ann Grover, 2013

 

Reading Viktor Frankl's, Man's Search for Meaning, I was struck by an illustration he offered. Think of your life as a calendar wherein you tear off a page each day. You have the choice to look at the little that is left of the calendar in your hand or you can store each page in a drawer and dwell on those treasured memories. Lovely, yes?

 

Here's to 28 years of marriage memories! 



Weird

Weird by lorieanngrover on Polyvore