New Year's Phoenix: Original Poem

New Year’s Phoenix

This morn

Clatter the blinds
Up.
Slash open
The glistened glass.
Lean out
Into the wet fog.
Breathe spirit.
Exhale frost.
Climb onto
The cold sash.
Crouch on aching
Haunches and
Leap
To the swaying feeder.
Drink red sweetness
Into lesioned cuts
Until they glisten
And pinions
Sprout.
Ruffle,
Leap,
Dive over dry brambles.
Soar.
Wink crimson
Over gray thorns.

Pluck the horizon

Until

Saffron

Seeps

Through.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2016

Christmas, 2016

Christmas, 2016 by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

One Minute till Bedtime: Blog Tour

I'm happy to be included in the Blog Tour orchestrated by Jackie Hosking. We are pausing to celebrate the release of One Minute till Bedtime, but also, we cheer a few additional poems from the included poets that didn't find their way on the pages. Here is mine, which may one day release as a board book. Wouldn't that be lovely? Enjoy the tour!

Dream Ball

by Lorie Ann Grover

Baby, I’ll:

Spin you a falling star gown;

Make rings, with dewdrops I found;        

Comb your hair with starlight earthbound;

Weave you a glitter snow crown;

Ask fireflies to glow all around;

Call loons to sing their sweet sounds;

And then,

we’ll dance on moonbeams to town.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2015

One Minute till Bedtime
compiled by Kenn Nesbitt
illustrated by Christoph Niemann

Little Brown, 2016

#OneMinutetillBedtime

So excited to be in this upcoming collection! Three starred reviews so far!

KIRKUS REVIEW

A substantial compilation of new poems for children by over 130 poets.
The opening salvo of former Children’s Poet Laureate Nesbitt’s hefty anthology of “60-second” poems designed to send children “off to sleep” lets the cat out of the bag as to what bedtime’s really about. Having performed basic end-of-day tasks (“Had a bath and / brushed my teeth; / those on top / and underneath”) and prepped for a good night’s sleep, Nesbitt’s speaker rejoices: “All that’s done; / at last I’m freed. / Finally, / it’s time to read.” Here, as throughout the collection, Niemann’s boldly inked drawing of a teddy bear’s free-fall dive into the waiting pool of an open book succinctly and suggestively captures the spirit of the accompanying poem—and, in this case, the entire anthology. Presented with over 140 new poems by many of today’s most prominent children’s poets (Mary Ann Hoberman, Margarita Engle, Jack Prelutsky, Ron Koertge, Nikki Grimes), readers are treated to lyric nighttime reflections on topics as disparate as relationships with favorite pets or grandparents, beloved “toasty, warm jammies,” and one’s blankie—“old and manky.” There’s also plenty of nonsense verse sure to inspire wild dreaming “on the road to morning.” These pithy poetic observations and Niemann’s engaging illustrations prove at once antidote and anodyne for the sleep-averse child demanding just one more….
A dreamy collection of bedtime poems and witty illustrations that’s anything but sleepy. (Poetry. 4-10)

"Toasty, warm jammies," is me!

#RocktheDrop for #TRW16

It's time to #RocktheDrop! Right now!!! Let's wrap up #TRW16 by leaving a YA book in a public place to be found and treasured. Here are your bookmarks. Full info here.

Show us your pic and post: #RocktheDrop and #TRW16. Happy #RocktheDrop to you and your community!

Invisible Illness Awareness Week

Polyvore, Lingering Lupus
Polyvore, Making My Way

This is Invisible Illness Awareness Week! The challenge is to share a facet of life, to help others understand. Just in time, I have a lupus flare. This is Day Four, and I'm out of the dark. Which is fast. I spent 2 days in a dark bedroom waiting for inflammation in my blood to drop. If I'm careful, I should continue to improve and gain strength and light toleration with each day. If I'm not careful, I'll be back in the dark room. There's always the chance that despite all efforts, I'll be back in the dark room. It's very crafty, this lupus.

So, this calls for a redefining of normal. A quieting. A slowing. A waiting. There are opportunities in each of those states. Opportunities I don't tend to take advantage of when I'm scurrying around under a UV umbrella and feeling healthy.

If my memoir places with a publishing house, I'll be happy to share all the details with you. We'll see. In the meantime, thanks for your support and patience with the chronically ill. We appreciate the understanding. May we be able to support you soon! 

#ThisisChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness

Lupa

Lupa by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Eyeprints

Eyeprints by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Sunday

Sunday by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Celebrating with Friends

Friends Lorie Ann Grover and Dia Calhoun have co-written a new book with the retired prez of Starbucks, Howard Behar, ‪#‎TheMagicCup‬ Foreword by the Chairman of Costco? Praised by the likes of a retired COO of Wells Fargo? Wowza! Congratulations, authors! ~Joan Holub

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Beware, I am a Tattletale

Beware, I am a Tattletale by lorieanngrover featuring Remington

Quit Being Sad, Rumi

Quit Being Sad, Rumi by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Highlights from Oman and Dubai

Here are a few highlights from our epic trip to Dubai and Oman. You can see the full stream at my Instagram, if you are interested. So much will fuel my future writing! It was an amazing experience hosted by our daughter and son-in-law. We say, "Shukran!" to them.

Spice Souk, Dubai

Muscat Mall, Oman

Old Souk, Dubai

Swimming with Bulls, Sohar, Oman

Camel Smiles, Oman

Lychee

Speaking at Al Batinah International School, Sohar, Oman

Sunset, Oman

Dunes, U.A.E.

Souk, Muscat

Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Wadi, Oman

Souk, Muscat, Oman

Mosque, Fanja, Oman

New Fanja, Oman

Grand Mosque, Muscat, Oman

Grand Mosque, Muscat, Oman

Omani Border

Burj Kalifha, Dubai

Restroom

Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai

Artwork, Dubai

Souk, Mall of Dubai

Sunrise, Burj Kalifha, Dubai

Joyous Travelers

Happy Book Birthday, The Magic Cup!

While I'm travelling in Oman, my next book releases March 29, 2016! Here's a blurb:

DIA CALHOUN and LORIE ANN GROVER announce the publication of THE MAGIC CUP with HOWARD BEHAR. The two critically acclaimed authors collaborated in the writing of the corporate fairy tale with Behar, former President of Starbucks International.

The business parable encapsulates the values Behar has held as a leader throughout his life, such as truth, courage, compassion, and responsibility. THE MAGIC CUP helps us discover that only by acting on sound moral values can we fill our lives with the personal and professional success and satisfaction we seek.

And a few reviews!

This gem of a book imparts deep leadership lessons in a compelling and enjoyable manner. It is destined to become a classic.―RAJ SISODIA, Co-founder, Conscious Capitalism Inc., and Olin Distinguished Professor, Babson College

This small but powerful book is full of magical advice: Be courageous, search for truth, and you will find great success in work and in your life.―JOHN MACKEY, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Whole Foods Market

This gem of a book imparts deep leadership lessons in a compelling and enjoyable manner. It is destined to become a classic.―RAJ SISODIA, Co-founder, Conscious Capitalism Inc., and Olin Distinguished Professor, Babson College

I'm so happy to share Howard's truth with the world. May the book reach the right hands. May your cup always be full!

The Magic Cup

by Howard Behar, Lorie Ann Grover, and Dia Calhoun
Center Street, Hatchette, March 29, 2016

Be Still

Be Still by lorieanngrover featuring white wall art

The Writing World

The Writing World by lorieanngrover on polyvore.com

Run with the Wolves

Run with the Wolves by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

A Few of My Favorites

A Few of My Favorites by lorieanngrover on polyvore.com

Untitled

Untitled by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Escaping From You

Escaping From You by lorieanngrover on Polyvore

Watch the Fireflies

Watch the Fireflies by lorieanngrover on Polyvore