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Lorie Ann Grover

Lorie Ann Grover


Last Updated: 5/31/2009

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Gender: Female
Status: Married
Age: 45
City: SUMNER
State: Washington
Country: US
Signup Date: 6/1/2006

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Thursday, February 19, 2009 

Current mood:  adventurous
Category: Writing and Poetry
I haven't stopped blogging, my peeps! I'm just pouring it all out at my official blogspot On Point. So, redirect there to get the latest scoop several times a week. And drop me a comment! Thanks so much!

Photobucket


4:27 PM 
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Friday, January 23, 2009 

Current mood:  artistic

Poetry Friday


Writing Retreat

Memories flicker
in the corners of the house
as the writer taps,

sloughing the echoes
along the white tin ceiling
and down the oak walls,

creaking the whispers
over the black-paned windows
to reflect her face.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2009

Catch the full roundup at Laura Salas' blog.

6:03 PM 
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Tuesday, January 06, 2009 

Category: Writing and Poetry
http://hamlib.edublogs.org/files/2008/01/northernlight.jpg

Over at rgz we are chatting with Jennifer about A Northern Light. I just posted a thread to get discussion going on this quote:

"I have read so many books, and not one of them tells the truth about babies. Dickens doesn't. Oliver's mother just dies in childbirth and that's that. Bronte doesn't. Catherine Earnshaw just has her daughter and that's that. There's no blood, no sweat, no pain, no fear, no heat, no stink.

Writers are damned liars. Every single one of them."

I love this so much! And then the following passage about Minnie giving birth is incredibly real.

Certainly in 1906 writers were restrained, especially in their portrayal of women. Thankfully, we are not so inhibited today. Although there still are a few harnesses left for writing YA, and certainly many more are in place for middle grade novels.

Despite those, I have a driving aim to tell the raw truth. Truly, that was my goal for Loose Threads.

http://www.textbooksrus.com/book_pics_large/1416955623.jpg

But even when we bust through barriers with publishers, we can still be held back. I was asked at a school visit for Loose Threads not to mention the word "breast" when discussing breast cancer with the fifth graders. I'm-not-kidding.

May we female writers push to tell our stories. Without one lie. To everyone who will listen.

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5:45 PM 
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Wednesday, December 17, 2008 

Current mood:  ecstatic
Category: Writing and Poetry

I'm psyched for my new release!


Immediate Release

CO-FOUNDER OF READERGIRLZ AND READERTOTZ CELEBRATES A NEW BOARD BOOK: HUG, HUG!

Author/illustrator Lorie Ann Grover's new board book for babies and toddlers embodies the love of a hug.


December 16, 2008 (Seattle, Wash.) – readergirlz and readertotz co-founder and author/illustrator Lorie Ann Grover's new board book Hug Hug! has just been released from Little Simon. Endearingly illustrated by Rebecca Malone, the work beautifully expresses love from the largest animals to the smallest bug.

Hugs with our noses. (elephants) Hugs in red roses. (ladybugs)

Hugs round the neck. (giraffes) Hugs with a peck. (chickens)

"I loved the thought that we all snuggle and hug each other," says Grover. "It was exemplified as I watched Sumner High School band students greeting each other, and swallows were nesting in the school vents. Pairing a rhyme with each spread was the perfect format to mimic a hug and share this concept with parents and their babies."

Hug Hug! is a sturdy board book which introduces a love of reading to preschoolers and reinforces the comfort of a hug.

About readergirlz, readertotz, Lorie Ann Grover, and Rebecca Malone

readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by six critically acclaimed YA authors. The site is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award and the Association for Library Services to Children, ALA, Great Web Sites Award. www.readergirlz.com

readertotz is a blog which showcases infant-toddler books as an important addition to children's literature. http://readertotz.blogspot.com

Lorie Ann Grover is the author of three young adult verse novels (Loose Threads, On Pointe, Hold Me Tight) and three board books (When Daddy Comes Home, Hug Hug!, Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish). http://lorieanngrover.blogspot.com

Rebecca Malone is an illustrator from Massachusetts who enjoys creating beautiful works with acrylic paints. www.rebeccamaloneillustration.com

Contact information:
Email: lorieanngrover@clearwire.net
Website: http://lorieanngrover.blogspot.com
Currently listening:
Holiday Spirits
By Straight No Chaser
Release date: 2008-10-28
12:13 AM 
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Wednesday, December 03, 2008 

Current mood:  adventurous
Category: Writing and Poetry

readertotz

 For more information contact:

Sara Easterly, Publicist, sara@saraeasterly.com, 206-632-8588


READERGIRLZ EXPANDS WITH A NEW FRANCHISE: READERTOTZ

Celebrated author/illustrators Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub launch readertotz in an effort to recognize the infant-toddler book as a vital addition to children's literature.

December 2, 2008 (Seattle, Wash.) – readergirlz co-founder and author/illustrator Lorie Ann Grover and author/illustrator Joan Holub have just launched readertotz (http://readertotz.blogspot.com/), a unique board book blog that aims to raise awareness of the infant-toddler book as a significant format of children's literature.

While picture books, books for beginning readers, middle-grade novels and young-adult literature have been recognized with major awards such as the Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal, the Newbery, the Printz and the National Book Award, it is rare to find such esteem given to infant-toddler books—despite their importance in instilling a life-long love of books and reading in the youngest readers.

"Board books are certainly overlooked and misunderstood, and they serve such an important purpose in introducing babies and toddlers to books," said Rotem Moscovich, Associate Editor, Scholastic. "What they are, how they work (and taste). The board makes it possible for them to do it themselves, and also to feel comfortable with books."

Taking the lead from readergirlz, which boasts more than 8,000 members, readertotz will showcase high-quality literature. Lorie Ann Grover and Joan Holub will feature weekly blog posts that highlight the best contributions in the infant-toddler book arena and recommend monthly community service projects appropriate for families with young children to enjoy. Also included each month: an age-appropriate playlist and a recommended book for the older sibling.

"readertotz is our effort to raise the bar in board and novelty book literature," says Lorie Ann Grover. "We're challenging our colleagues to write great books for the youngest readers and encouraging the industry to publish those works. Eventually, we hope to work with the American Library Association to establish an award for infant-toddler books that's equivalent to the Caldecott and Theodor Geisel Award."

Lorie Ann Grover (http://lorieanngrover.blogspot.com/) has authored three young-adult novels and three board books. Joan Holub (http://www.joanholub.com/) is the author of more than 100 children's books, many of which she has also illustrated.

About readergirlz

readergirlz is the foremost online book community for teen girls, led by six critically acclaimed YA authors—Dia Calhoun (Avielle of Rhia), Holly Cupala (A Light That Never Goes Out) Lorie Ann Grover (On Pointe), Justina Chen Headley (Girl Overboard), Mitali Perkins (First Daughter: White House Rules), and Melissa Walker (the Violet series). readergirlz is the recipient of a 2007 James Patterson PageTurner Award and the Association for Library Services to Children, ALA, Great Web Sites Award.

 

12:02 AM 
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Friday, November 28, 2008 

Category: Writing and Poetry
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/articles/blog/1790000379/Poetry%20Friday.JPG

http://www.made-in-china.com/image/2f0j00PeDtzuTGTHbqM/Blooming-Tea-Flower-Tea-F-06-Helianthus-.jpg

Tea Flower

Pale tea leaves unfurl
and reach through warm water like
a hand in friendship.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2008
10:30 PM 
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Friday, November 28, 2008 

Category: Writing and Poetry
My mother-in-law clipped an article for me from AARP's November/December 08 issue. "The Writer in Winter" is the title of an essay by novelist, poet John Updike.

http://repos-fs.matrix.msu.edu/cls/a0/a0/cls-a0a0r8-a.jpg

In the entry, Updike reviews his writing career candidly. I wanted to share a few of his words and get everyone's feedback. Do you agree with him? Is this your experience?

"Memories, impressions, and emotions from your first 20 years on earth are most writers' main material; little that comes afterward is quite so rich and resonant. By the age of 40, you have probably mined the purest veins of this precious lode; after that, continued creativity is a matter of sifting the leavings. You become playful and theoretical; you invent sequels, and attempt historical novels. The novels and stories thus generated may be more polished, more ingenious, even more humane than their predecessors; but none does quite the essential earth-moving work..."

I have to say this may be my experience. Yet, as Hawthorne praised Anthony Trollope's work, I hope to continue to write works "as real as if some giant had hewn a great lump out of the earth and put it under a glass case." Even in my forties. :~) How about you?
10:29 PM 
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Friday, November 28, 2008 

Category: Writing and Poetry

http://cdn.harpercollins.com/harperimages/isbn/large/6/9780061429286.jpg

There is more beauty in my life because I have read Beth Kephart's House of Dance.

It is one summer for Rosie, her mother, and her grandfather. One summer to reclaim memories and connections. One summer to explore the passion of music and ballroom dance. One summer to heal. And how often does healing begin with an understanding, as Rosie experiences at the start of House of Dance?

"...a mystery, and that was my thought of the hour: that maybe all of us are. That Grandad had been young before he'd been old. That Mom had been a daughter once, like me. That there were things on the verge of vanishing that I barely understood."

Kephart's Rosie lunges to catch the vanishing. "I had been put in charge of myself, and my grandfather was dying," she announces. Her choice is to reach out to him, comb through his possessions, and put those things "In Trust" that matter. Rosie enters his world and finds her own richly renewed.

Kephart's language is lyrical and her images sing. Her vivid descriptions of daily life make me pause and reread passages such as:

"At Pastrami's everything--big hanks of pink meat, sweating wedges of cheese, wide tumbles of tomatoes--was piled high, and down low, in front of the big backward-sloping cases, were the barrels of pickles that Mom once said had been floating on their backs forever."

I left the House of Dance with the reminder to connect while I have the opportunity. Kephart shows us that people do change, and that one can reach out and love even when one isn't receiving love. We matter to each other. The House of Dance greatly mattered to me.
10:28 PM 
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Sunday, November 23, 2008 

Current mood:  talkative
Category: Writing and Poetry

As I hoped, here's a round up of my Miami trip in photos!


These little lizards are everywhere. My mom used to make one "talk" to me daily when I was about 2. Interesting that the lizard always said it was time to nap.


French bakery in the elite Coral Gables, which boasts pink sidewalks.


My grandmother's hands and orchid.


My older little brother's rocking business!


Antong, the amazing exchange student from China.


So, it was a buffet. I could have whatever I wanted. :~)


Um. These just crack me up.

Dale

Carol and Kevin


Claudia and Dale caught in the act of buying an i phone and a nano as gifts for us!

I miss everyone already!
2:39 PM 
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Saturday, November 22, 2008 

Current mood:  thankful
Category: Writing and Poetry
Ten years ago, Janet Wong taught a poetry class in Laura Kvasnosky's basement. It was a magical time where I discovered that I was a verse novelist. I owe much to both ladies for my publishing career.

This poem was inspired this week by Janet Wong's poem "Old Friend" from Night Garden. It was first posted at Marilyn Carpenter's awesome blog, Creating Connections.

http://blaine.org/jules/night%20garden.JPG

My Old Friend, Janet Wong

In my mind,
a glimpse
of the black clad
poet
whose words lilt and rise
as echoes in my soul's ear.
Rhythms of poetry
and power,
loud laughter,
bold introductions,
an arm flung over the shoulder
of my memories.

Lorie Ann Grover, 2008
12:12 AM 
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