Thanks to Holly Cupala for the gorgeous poster for rgz! Happy reading, everyone! Print your own poster by clicking here.
Books by Lorie Ann Grover
Kirkus Starred Review, Firstborn: "A fantasy that reads like a lost history tome and deftly examines issues of gender...An engrossing story with welcome depths."
Showing posts with label Holly Cupala. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holly Cupala. Show all posts
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Happy Teen Read Week!
Thanks to Holly Cupala for the gorgeous poster for rgz! Happy reading, everyone! Print your own poster by clicking here.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Dinner with Cory Doctorow!
Can I give a shout out to TOR for hosting a lovely dinner with Cory Doctorow, YA author, blogger extraordinaire of Boing Boing, and enthusiastic activist? Here we are as happy as can be at Cafe Flora in Seattle. (Front row: Dia Calhoun and Holly Cupala. Back row: me and Cory)
We were celebrating the upcoming release of For the Win, Cory's sci-fi gaming book with some seriously kicking female characters. I had to give Cory props for giving us a character who takes a boy down who was intent on raping her, and then she says:
"I don't like you. You shouldn't chase girls or the girls might turn around and catch you."
For the Win is such an intelligent read. It cinches the entire world closer, and reaffirms how we all are truly connected. I read the work as engaged as I would be playing a multiplayer online game. In fact, I'd often lose sight that this was sci-fi! Sounds totally inline for our rgz, right? Stay tuned on that account!
Sitting beside Cory, Nancy Pearl, amidst an awesome table of book buyers and librarians, how could we not talk books? Here's a list of those batted around the table, some soon to be released, adult to board books, beginning with a couple video games:
Smokescreen by Alice Taylor, Cory's wife
Left 4 Dead, Alice's latest fav video game
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
Taltos by Steven Brust (a first person fantasy with excellent exposition)
Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin (Nancy's fav Ursula work)
The Passage by Justin Cronin
Under the Poppy by Kathe Koje
The Borrible Trilogy by Michael De Larrabeiti
Night Cars by Teddy Jam and Eric Beddows
Talk about fun! It was a lovely night with wonderful folks from the children's industry. Happy launch, Cory, and safe travels!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
rgz Teen Read Week: Holly, Cynthia, and Lisa
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Thoughts on Revision or Run, Chicken, Run
So I'm working on a manuscript I've been nursing a few years. Just recently I grasped a major plot and structure change. What commenced was a frantic urge to get to my computer to tackle the ideas. I became irritated, grumpy, and driven. Other activities and people were a test in patience. (Sorry, you guys.)
This morning I landed on the last page, all changes poured from head onto the screen. Like separating the yolk and white with eggshells. Slippery, bloopy stuff.
And now there's peace again. I can do rgz work, clean, chat with friends. I'm still revising. But there's not the urgency that I had before. What I have is a dead, plucked, uncooked, floppy chicken. However, it's not going anywhere.
These are my thoughts. If you hit me at the egg separating moment, please accept my apologies. I'll be dancing with the floppy chicken soon enough and hoping people will join my conga line.
Here's to good friends and family who tolerate revising writers! Love ya! Smack!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
A fantastic signing at Costco!
What is better than finding you are one of the featured items of the day? Woohoo! So glad there's no mention of price per pound. :~)
Then you find there's a lovely display with posters and plants, and folks are walking past with fliers about your work!
Your friends come out and support you AND you meet fantastic new people and sell many, many books!
Besties from different parts of your life meet for the first time!
Your last customer you've never met before is named Lucy, and she just happens to be dressed just like you. All the way down to her teeny tiny Chucks! She's excited about your book that is now her book.
Is she not adorable? Thanks to her sweet folks for allowing me to share her picture.
What a fantastic day. Special thanks to Dave, the South Hill Costco manager; Pennie Clark Ianniciello, Costco Book Buyer; Assistant Buyer for Children books, Melissa McMeekin; and my Scholastic editor Rotem Moscovich!
And of course kudos to all my supportive friends and family. How did I not end up with a photo of Holly Cupala and her purchases? IT WAS A HUGE STACK.
Thanks again, my dear friends!
Then you find there's a lovely display with posters and plants, and folks are walking past with fliers about your work!
Your friends come out and support you AND you meet fantastic new people and sell many, many books!
Besties from different parts of your life meet for the first time!
Your last customer you've never met before is named Lucy, and she just happens to be dressed just like you. All the way down to her teeny tiny Chucks! She's excited about your book that is now her book.
Is she not adorable? Thanks to her sweet folks for allowing me to share her picture.
What a fantastic day. Special thanks to Dave, the South Hill Costco manager; Pennie Clark Ianniciello, Costco Book Buyer; Assistant Buyer for Children books, Melissa McMeekin; and my Scholastic editor Rotem Moscovich!
And of course kudos to all my supportive friends and family. How did I not end up with a photo of Holly Cupala and her purchases? IT WAS A HUGE STACK.
Thanks again, my dear friends!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Marble or wire: Two processes to writing a novel
I was just smiling over Holly Cupala's post on her revision. Chatting with authors the past nineteen years, I find there are two approaches to writing a novel. I believe it became apparent to me when I was speaking with Randy Powell.
The first is like Randy and Holly. They are like Michelangelo sculpting a large piece of marble.
They write many, many, many words (their blocks of stone) and then they begin to chisel. Tap, tap, tap. Until the story forms and stands before them.
Ah, a reason to post David. :~)
Then there are writers like me. We begin with the thinnest armature wire.
And we build layer upon layer. One word added at a time. One word, then another, and another. Until our sculpture is created like a Giacometti appears to have been formed.
What different processes! And yet both end in novels! So, which are you?
The first is like Randy and Holly. They are like Michelangelo sculpting a large piece of marble.
They write many, many, many words (their blocks of stone) and then they begin to chisel. Tap, tap, tap. Until the story forms and stands before them.
Ah, a reason to post David. :~)
Then there are writers like me. We begin with the thinnest armature wire.
And we build layer upon layer. One word added at a time. One word, then another, and another. Until our sculpture is created like a Giacometti appears to have been formed.
What different processes! And yet both end in novels! So, which are you?
Monday, March 16, 2009
TBD '09 Challenge!
Hey all!
Here's a word from Holly:
The time has come for a contest! Actually, five weeks of contests!
Here's the deal: each week from now until Support Teen Literature Day on April 16th, we'll be awarding a package of books to one winner. To enter, you just comment at the readergirlz blog (comments on older posts count - a point for each comment!) and get an extra ten points for taking up the week's challenge. Get ten more any time by becoming one of our blog followers!
Report your post at the readergirlz blog with the URL (and get eleven points!). We'll keep track of the comments and urls and award the winners each week. Books! Prizes! And you'll be supporting teen lit and hospitalized teens across the country.
This week's challenge:
Post the Operation TBD trailer on your blog (trailer below). Spread the word about Operation TBD!
Remember, for your posts to count toward the contest, you must post at the readergirlz blog. Hope to see you there!
Here's a word from Holly:
The time has come for a contest! Actually, five weeks of contests!Here's the deal: each week from now until Support Teen Literature Day on April 16th, we'll be awarding a package of books to one winner. To enter, you just comment at the readergirlz blog (comments on older posts count - a point for each comment!) and get an extra ten points for taking up the week's challenge. Get ten more any time by becoming one of our blog followers!
Report your post at the readergirlz blog with the URL (and get eleven points!). We'll keep track of the comments and urls and award the winners each week. Books! Prizes! And you'll be supporting teen lit and hospitalized teens across the country.
This week's challenge:
Post the Operation TBD trailer on your blog (trailer below). Spread the word about Operation TBD!
Remember, for your posts to count toward the contest, you must post at the readergirlz blog. Hope to see you there!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Find Beauty Challenge: Me!
So, of course, I had to make one! Here's my submission for the Find Beauty Challenge!
Appearances: Miss Erin, Ellen and Emily, Jackie Parker, Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, Cathy Garber, Kato the dog, Justina Chen Headley, Holly Cupala, and me! Yay!
Appearances: Miss Erin, Ellen and Emily, Jackie Parker, Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, Cathy Garber, Kato the dog, Justina Chen Headley, Holly Cupala, and me! Yay!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
TBD '09 Trailer
I'm psyched to get to post our TBD '09 trailer by Holly Cupala! She rocked this piece. And I love Andrea Wittgen's music. Thank you, ladies! And here we go! Press release is coming soon. Consider this a sneakity peek. And please feel free to repost it everywhere. Thanks!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Mitali Perkins Visits Seattle
Okay, before I post the retreat photos, it's back to Mitali Perkin's visit and the celebration of the release of Secret Keeper!
So, the ladies turned out to the Bellevue Barnes & Noble store.
Pictured here: Justina Chen Headley, Mitali Perkins, Jackie Parker, me, Holly Cupala, Sarah Woodard, and Dia Calhoun. Special thanks to Brenda Gurung, the beautiful and passionate, for hosting!
We were only missing our beloved rgz diva Melissa Walker!
It was definitely a day of hugs! It's always a blast to get to hang with Jackie, postergirl for rgz, and author of Interactive Reader blog o' awesomeness.
Mitali's reading and backstory for Secret Keeper was inspiring and beautiful. She spoke of sisters, secrets, and sacrifice. The novel truly has the most amazing sacrifice. A heartbreak for certain!
Then we were off to the Bellevue Library for a writing exercise on creating place. Mitali got us all thinking of how descriptions of place can reveal your characters. Thank you, Darcy Brixey for hosting!
By then, we were all sporting bindis. Here's rgz Sarah with her sister, Elizabeth.
We ended the evening over dinner, sharing stories, talking books, and laughing--a lot. We all have a heart for YA lit, and so we are back to work. Until the next launch that is. Thank you for visiting, Mitali!
So, the ladies turned out to the Bellevue Barnes & Noble store.
Pictured here: Justina Chen Headley, Mitali Perkins, Jackie Parker, me, Holly Cupala, Sarah Woodard, and Dia Calhoun. Special thanks to Brenda Gurung, the beautiful and passionate, for hosting!
We were only missing our beloved rgz diva Melissa Walker!
It was definitely a day of hugs! It's always a blast to get to hang with Jackie, postergirl for rgz, and author of Interactive Reader blog o' awesomeness.
Mitali's reading and backstory for Secret Keeper was inspiring and beautiful. She spoke of sisters, secrets, and sacrifice. The novel truly has the most amazing sacrifice. A heartbreak for certain!
Then we were off to the Bellevue Library for a writing exercise on creating place. Mitali got us all thinking of how descriptions of place can reveal your characters. Thank you, Darcy Brixey for hosting!
By then, we were all sporting bindis. Here's rgz Sarah with her sister, Elizabeth.
We ended the evening over dinner, sharing stories, talking books, and laughing--a lot. We all have a heart for YA lit, and so we are back to work. Until the next launch that is. Thank you for visiting, Mitali!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
rgz TV: rgz panel highlights, Kidlitosphere Conference, 2008
Finally, I have the movie made of rgz highlights from the opening panel at the Kidlitosphere Blogging Conference. Can you BELIEVE the opening Holly Cupala made for this series. HA!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Kidlitosphere 2008, Part Three, Voodoo Donuts
Okay, getting back to the kidlitosphere conference, I have to show Voodoo Doughnut.
No comment on the tag. None. Anyway. Why did we go? Jackie Parker. The woman was on a mission. So we all piled in Holly Cupala's Prius and hauled it into Portland.
That's Colleen Mondor, Dia Calhoun, and mission director Jackie Parker. So what did we find at Voodoo Doughnut? I'll let the photos do the talkin'.
Except, I have to interject that this was the first time I could ever buy panties with my donut.
Yeah, so, that's what I bought. And I did have a bite of the maple bacon bar, Colleen Mondor! Ha! Anyway, I thought everything was going to be fine, until I spotted this arm just ready to creep out and steal my donuts. I'm not kidding. It was like a dehydrated arm!
Yep. There's really nothing more to say. Thanks for the run, Jackie! You can always count on a librarian to add spice to your conference, right? Or at least a few sprinkles to your donut.
No comment on the tag. None. Anyway. Why did we go? Jackie Parker. The woman was on a mission. So we all piled in Holly Cupala's Prius and hauled it into Portland.
That's Colleen Mondor, Dia Calhoun, and mission director Jackie Parker. So what did we find at Voodoo Doughnut? I'll let the photos do the talkin'.
Except, I have to interject that this was the first time I could ever buy panties with my donut.
Yeah, so, that's what I bought. And I did have a bite of the maple bacon bar, Colleen Mondor! Ha! Anyway, I thought everything was going to be fine, until I spotted this arm just ready to creep out and steal my donuts. I'm not kidding. It was like a dehydrated arm!
Yep. There's really nothing more to say. Thanks for the run, Jackie! You can always count on a librarian to add spice to your conference, right? Or at least a few sprinkles to your donut.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Kidlitosphere 2008, Part Two, Holly Cupala's Diva Debut
Dia Calhoun, Holly Cupala, and I traveled to Portland to speak at the Kidlitosphere Conference, to garner amazing advice from top bloggers in the community, and to announce Holly Cupala as our newest rgz diva!
Do you see how excited she was?
The rgz divas: Mitali Perkins, Justina Chen Headley, Dia, and I are so happy to have her on the rgz team. She's worked hard for an entire year, and it's a joy to recognize her as a diva.We threw a Diva Debut the night of the conference in the Sheraton Bar & Grill. Can I just say the partaaaaaay went until 2:00 am? There were gifties, diva book give-aways, and sock puppets. Yep.
We were also celebrating Holly's 2 book contract with HarperCollins of course!
So, give a warm welcome to Holly Cupala. Is it just me or does it look like this diva has a little something up her sleeve for rgz?
Do you see how excited she was?
The rgz divas: Mitali Perkins, Justina Chen Headley, Dia, and I are so happy to have her on the rgz team. She's worked hard for an entire year, and it's a joy to recognize her as a diva.We threw a Diva Debut the night of the conference in the Sheraton Bar & Grill. Can I just say the partaaaaaay went until 2:00 am? There were gifties, diva book give-aways, and sock puppets. Yep.
We were also celebrating Holly's 2 book contract with HarperCollins of course!
So, give a warm welcome to Holly Cupala. Is it just me or does it look like this diva has a little something up her sleeve for rgz?
Friday, September 5, 2008
Hopping Across My Laptop
Things are hopping across my laptop for readergirlz right now. So what does that look like? Without giving away top secret rgz diva info, this is what's boinging around.
1. First there's Operation Teen Book Drop, 2009! I just outreached to the Woodmark Pediatric Hospital group to see who's in for TBD in April. Already we have 4 hospitals signed up! Thanks to Holly Cupala for our new green version of the logo.
3. There's a top secret meeting on Thurs. I can't say more. Very nervy-making.
4. Nearly all the bookings are complete for our amazing Teen Read Week. Did you see the poster Holly made for us? Woot! Soon there will be a final edition with book covers and a pdf available at rgz.
4. We have the Kidlit Conference we are headed down to the end of the month where we hope to make great connections and fab rgz tv. Plus there will be a very special partaaaay. More about that soon!
5. Then Dia and I have a couple speaking gigs to prepare for. She is a wiz at Powerpoint. Yay!
6. Mitali and I are hunting down great features for rgz. Right now we are concentrating on Latina work. Very fun.
7. We are getting ready to turn around the October issue.
8. We are ordering buttons to give away. I made a new button at the Zazzle Store with the new rgz tv logo designed by Holly. It's the cutest!
9. New coolio bookmarks are on the way.
10. And we are having a blast chatting with Paula Yoo about Good Enough at the rgz MySpace group forum!
Of course, all of that is between when I'm checking Facebook to see if Justina Chen Headley is on in China. Obviously, there's a ton to talk about. And of course, now that she's settled, her new ideas for rgz will be hopping too. Boing, boing, boing!
1. First there's Operation Teen Book Drop, 2009! I just outreached to the Woodmark Pediatric Hospital group to see who's in for TBD in April. Already we have 4 hospitals signed up! Thanks to Holly Cupala for our new green version of the logo.
3. There's a top secret meeting on Thurs. I can't say more. Very nervy-making.
4. Nearly all the bookings are complete for our amazing Teen Read Week. Did you see the poster Holly made for us? Woot! Soon there will be a final edition with book covers and a pdf available at rgz.
4. We have the Kidlit Conference we are headed down to the end of the month where we hope to make great connections and fab rgz tv. Plus there will be a very special partaaaay. More about that soon!
5. Then Dia and I have a couple speaking gigs to prepare for. She is a wiz at Powerpoint. Yay!
6. Mitali and I are hunting down great features for rgz. Right now we are concentrating on Latina work. Very fun.
7. We are getting ready to turn around the October issue.
8. We are ordering buttons to give away. I made a new button at the Zazzle Store with the new rgz tv logo designed by Holly. It's the cutest!
9. New coolio bookmarks are on the way.10. And we are having a blast chatting with Paula Yoo about Good Enough at the rgz MySpace group forum!
Of course, all of that is between when I'm checking Facebook to see if Justina Chen Headley is on in China. Obviously, there's a ton to talk about. And of course, now that she's settled, her new ideas for rgz will be hopping too. Boing, boing, boing!
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