Before I post my roundup of Miami, I have to post this!


How cute is that? Thank you to illustrator Debra Ziss! I've seen a few interior spreads and just can't wait to hold the entire book. Launch date is June 1. Title and bubbles will have foil.

And who else do I have to thank? First, my fab agent Elizabeth Harding from Curtis Brown, Ltd. (No photo of Elizabeth. *sigh* We have not yet met face-to-face!)

And then Rotem Moscovich, Associate Editor at Scholastic! She's been awesome to work with through this process. Together we brainstormed the title. Look how adorable she is:


I haven't met her either, but Joan Holub found this photo on Publisher's Weekly for me! She's the best Grouchy Ladybug ever. :~) I hope to work with her on many more projects.

So that's the news for today. *do a little dance*

Yay for an awesome team and a new book coming soon!

Oops. I didn't import this from my blogspot last Friday. Here it is!

One of the highlights of being a writer is getting to critique other authors' works before publication. In the past I have worked with:



Susan Uhlig,
Margaret Chodos Irvine,
Leslie Patricelli.
and Laura Kvasnosky.

Currently my critique partners are:



Dia Calhoun,
Joan Holub,
and Justina Chen Headley.

Each of these ladies has poured into my work, and I've learned much from critiquing their pieces. So what brought everyone to mind is that this amazing book just came in the mail from Joan. She actually wrote this piece years ago. Knuckleheads!



Joan sent me a copy this week to thank me for believing in this work from the start. I did! Even back when she was taking photos of her hands in socks, I knew there was a unique story here. Her dedication sweetly reads:

"A high five to author and friend Lorie Ann Grover"

How sweet is that? It probably discounts my following review, but I have to say what I think! It's been such a long wait to hold this work, and Chronicle has executed a beautiful job. From the texture of the book cover to the endpapers, it is gorgeous! Brava, design team!

Michael Slack is the perfect partner to illustrate Joan's text. I would buy plush figures of his oddball characters in a second! I especially love his color pallette, and whimsical quality of line. Michael's layouts carry Joan's humor so well from one spread to another.



This work contains Joan's humor at its best. Me, the slow draw on the pun, is still finding puns! Here is one of my favorite portions of Knuckleheads:


These fractured fairy tales are sure to win the admiration of picture book lovers, and I've always said there's potential for college students to champion this work. Be ready for a laugh, a giggle, and a fun ride with the witch who weaves her way through Handsel and Gretel, Handerella, Thumbelina, and Nose White. This is a classic for all bookshelves.

I'm so privileged to have seen this picture book from Joan's first dummy to this final work. And now, I really must go read it again!

I had so much fun dressing up for a recent Superhero party, I thought to share a few photos.


So my husband and I were Olive Oyl and Popeye. I y'am what I y'am.


Ellen went as Maleficent. You can do so much with two cornucopia baskets. :~)


Emily and Gianni went as Trinity and Morpheus. They were offering red and blue jelly beans.


And my mom rounded out the night as a newsboy announcing the sightings of Batman. She had far too much fun with the tooth blacking.

We stretched the definition of Superhero. Artistic license, I say!

Here's to sweet friends who throw awesome parties!

I'm whipping the last minute deets together for the month changeover at rgz. The whole team is busy contributing!

We are looking at blog posts on voting, and a chat with Joseph Bruchac and Cynthia Leitich Smith on November 6th to celebrate Native American Month.



Plus a trivia blog contest. There's a great addition to announce on the 3rd in a forthcoming press release, and meetings for TBD 09. And yesterday I gave the group forum stripes like my stripey socks.

Playlist, slideshow, issue, and community service are done! Woot!

Now a few more days to chat with Rachel Cohn. Perfect.

Maybe I need another cup of coffee...

Poetry Friday! Writing on the Spot. This haiku popped out for breakfast. :~)