Bildungsroman

Keep 'Em Coming!

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:57:22 GMT

This evening, I have an audition for a national commercial. I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm hoping for good things today. Thanks, Twinkie!

Yesterday's episodic shoot was fun. Based on a loose script, it was largely improvised. I spoke of Snow White, hand-holding sea otters, and True Blood, among other things.

Last night's audition for a new musical went very well, I think! My fingers are crossed and my smile is hopeful.

Any and all positive thoughts are felt, needed, and appreciated, believe me. Thank you.

Bring It

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:24:02 GMT

Many exciting things will happen today, including a shoot for an episode of a webseries in which I am to have a small role and an audition for a brand-new musical which sounds both fun and promising. All of that will come after a full day of work, and I'll follow it up with putting the finishing touches on a new website for an awesome client.

Bring it. Bring it big-time.

Crossed fingers, crossed toes, and other such things would be much appreciated.

Keri Smith giveaway at readergirlz

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:07:03 GMT

One of the recommended reads in this month's issue of readergirlz is the non-fic pick Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith. Many thanks to postergirl Miss Erin for bringing this cool, do-it-yourself book to our attention.

Wreck This Journal is exactly what the title implies: a journal you tear up, draw in, decorate, and create! I think The Plain Janes would be all over this book. Check out the awesome intro page as well as the Flickr group. Way to wreck a rec!

Want to win a free copy of Keri Smith's next book, How to Be an Explorer of the World? Click here to leave a comment with your email address at the readergirlz blog. One winner will be selected at random on Tuesday, July 14th and notified via email that day.
Note: Entrants must be residents of the U.S. or Canada and have a valid email address.

Lovely Day opens tonight! Two weekends only!

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:30:42 GMT

Hurricane Season, an annual national playwriting competition/new play festival, opens tonight. Nine scripts were selected from the submissions, and three one-act shows run back-to-back-to-back per weekend.

I'm performing in a comedic fairy tale entitled Lovely Day, which comes complete with knights, dragons, fair maidens, lots of quick costume changes, and lots of laughs.

Only six performances!
Friday, July 10th @ 8 PM
Saturday, July 11th @ 8 PM
Sunday, July 12th @ 2 PM
Friday, July 17th @ 8 PM
Saturday, July 18th @ 8 PM
Sunday, July 19th @ 2 PM

The line-up for the first two weekends is as follows:

Mastermind
Written by Michael Patrick Sullivan
Directed by Susan Lee
Featuring Brad Wilcox and Beth Ricketson

Lovely Day
Written by Kirsten Fatland
Directed by Maria Markosov
Featuring Allie Costa, Gwendolyn Druyor, Kristi Koehl, Vanessa Rice, Rendon Ramsey, and Zach Tewalthomas

Master of None
Written by Mira Gibson
Directed by Kerr Lordygan
Featuring Elan Garfias, Mason Hallberg, Albert Stroth, Erin Treanor, and Biff Wiff

The Sixth Annual Hurricane Season
at the Eclectic Company Theatre
5312 Laurel Canyon Boulevard
North Hollywood, California 91607

For more information, visit http://www.hurricaneseasontheatre.com - Click here for the full festival line-up!

To reserve tickets, call (818) 508-3003, email HurricaneSeason09@gmail.com or buy them online via Brown Paper Tickets. Tickets are $15 - and remember, you're getting three shows for the price of one!

See you at the theatre!

Poetry Friday: Interlude by Scudder Middleton

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:14:28 GMT

I am not old, but old enough
To know that you are very young.
It might be said I am the leaf,
And you the blossom newly sprung.

So I shall grow a while with you,
And hear the bee and watch the cloud,
Before the dragon on the branch,
The caterpillar, weaves a shroud.

- Interlude by Scudder Middleton

View all posts tagged as Poetry Friday at Bildungsroman.

Consult the Poetry Friday roundup schedule at Big A, little a.

Learn more about Poetry Friday.

Interview: Jessica Burkhart

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:24:11 GMT

Jessica Burkhart loves nothing more than horses. One conversation with her and you'll know it. When scoliosis sidelined her equestrian pursuits, she refused to let it diminish her passion for horses. Instead, she took up her pen, fired up her laptop, and began writing a book series for kids. Inspired by books she'd read as a child, Burkhart's Canterwood Crest series is completely worthy of being shelved alongside Throughbred and The Saddle Club, and I recommend it to horse lovers and riders.

Earlier this year, I spoke with Jess about her history, her writing, and her horses, both friend and fictional.

You are a reader, a writer, and a rider. Your new series for kids, Canterwood Crest, incorporates all three of these aspects of your life.

I'm so lucky to be able to bring all of those things together. I get to read and call it "work" and write about horses. I'm beyond grateful to be able to do that.

Your personal struggle with scoliosis stopped you from riding, but started you writing. Tell me about that.

I've been horse crazy since I could walk and my love of horses intensified even more when I started riding. I was a serious equestrian from second grade to early in my eighth grade year. When doctors told me that I needed a spinal fusion and that riding would be too risky after surgery, I was devastated! I thought my life had ended.

I started writing for magazines when I was fourteen as something to fill the void. Over a six year span, I had over a hundred articles published—not one of them about horses. I wouldn’t even look at a horse.

But then I got the idea for Take the Reins and I couldn't shake it. I had to write about girls who loved and rode horses. I was so scared that it would be painful to write about horses, but I went for it. And I loved every second of writing Take the Reins. I fell right back into the horse scene and my old knowledge about everything from tacking up a horse to naming the parts of a hoof was still there. Once you love horses, it's in your blood and I should have known better than to try to walk away from it. I'm so happy to have horses - even fictional ones - in my life again.

How can people get involved with Str8 Spines for Shriners?

Most kids are referred to me from Shriners Hospitals. Nurses know about Str8 Spines for Shriners and when they have a patient who is terrified of surgery, they tell him or her about my group. It's up to the patient if he or she wants to contact me. If a patient e-mails me, I answer any questions and try to ease the fears about surgery. A lot of the time, we end up talking about how bad hospital food is and if the hospital Wii has lots of good games. :) I hope that it makes kids feel better to talk to someone who has been through the surgery.

You've always been industrious. When you were a kid, you started Jessie's Tack Cleaning Service to pay for your own horseback riding lessons. How much did you charge? How long did your business last?

I think riding lessons were something like $15 an hour. So, I believe I charged $15 to clean a saddle or bridle. I’d spend hours scrubbing tack until I had saddle soap up to my elbows. I also charged that amount to groom, feed and exercise horses. Once, I even cleaned a carriage! I was in business for a couple of years until I moved, so I think it was a success. Truthfully, though, people probably paid me so I could take riding lessons instead of trying to sneak onto their horses! :)

Sasha, your main character, shares your love for horses, horseback riding, and lip gloss. Do you have anything else in common?

Like Sasha, I was a dork around boys when I was her age. In seventh grade, a super-annoying guy in my class smelled my lip gloss, but didn't see me put it on. He told our teacher that I was eating candy in class because he smelled something sweet. I pulled out my lip gloss and handed it to him. He thought I was crazy for giving him lip gloss and I said, "Just smell it." He did and got red in the face. He muttered an apology and told the teacher that I didn't have candy. That moment is similar to a scene in Take the Reins. Sasha and I also share a love for TV, movies, snow and junk food. Unlike Sasha, I'm not bad at science, but I can't do math.

Will all of the books be from Sasha's POV, or will they switch from book to book?

All of the books will be from Sasha's POV - but now you've got me thinking about how fun it would be to write from Heather's perspective. She's a mean girl, but she has her reasons.

I'd definitely read a book narrated by Heather, too. How many books are currently slated in the series?

I'm under contract for eight books on a bi-monthly publication schedule. There are six Canterwood books coming out in 2009 and two books in 2010.

Do you typically have more than one work-in-progress?

I'm usually juggling a couple of Canterwood books at once. I might be writing book four and checking over copy edits on book three. That's one of my favorite things about writing a series - it gives me a break when I'm in the middle of drafting a book because I can switch from writing to editing.

Are you working on any other series or books?

Since the Canterwood books come out every other month, it doesn't give me much time to write anything else. I actually don't mind that because I love staying in the Canterwood world as much as I can. But whenever I have free time, I pull out my idea folder and look at what I want to pursue next. I just started a detailed outline for a new tween book, so we'll see how that goes!

What's your favorite thing about horses? About riding?

My fave thing about horses is that if you treat them well, they'll always love you back. Horses are so smart and they're great listeners.

When I rode horses, my favorite thing was jumping. I'd jump anything -- fences, creeks, hay bales. I loved the feeling of being airborne and it was a total rush to jump.

Do you have a favorite breed or type of horse?

I've always been partial to Thoroughbreds since Joanna Campbell's series was my favorite. AJ, the horse I rode most often as a kid, was a scruffy appaloosa -- nothing like the sleek racehorses in the Thoroughbred books. But I didn't care - I loved him and I pretended he was a racehorse. I'd sneak out of my house super early in the morning and would ride AJ bareback with just a halter. I’d pretend he was Wonder - Ashleigh's horse in the Thoroughbred books -and I'd race him up and down the pasture. Yeah, my parents just loved that!

Any advice for young equestrians?

I'd encourage young equestrians to remember that horses just aren't about riding. That’s something I forgot after my surgery. I thought that just because I couldn't ride, I had to be out of Horse World. So not true! Spend time grooming, walking and talking to your horse. If you don't have a horse but want to be around them, offer to groom horses at a local stable. Or clean tack in exchange for riding lessons. Write about horses or read about them. Loving horses doesn't start and stop with riding.

What were your favorite horse-related books when you were a kid?

My bookshelves were stuffed with Thoroughbred, the Saddle Club, Riding Academy, the Black Stallion, Pony Pals, Pony Tails, Pine Hollow and another horse series that I can’t think of the name. It was a cool series about girls at a summer riding camp.

What are your top ten favorite books?

Oh, LW! You torture me with this question! *wink* Okay, in no particular order:

White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen
Private by Kate Brian
The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Ashleigh's Dream by Joanna Campbell (The book that inspired me to write Take the Reins!)
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Ride on over to the Canterwood Crest website and to Jessica's personal website. Visit Jessica's blog at either Blogspot or LiveJournal.

Related Booklist: Horsing Around

Interview: Katie Alender

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:46:10 GMT

Katie Alender is a television producer by day, writer by night, and dog lover 24/7. Her debut novel, Bad Girls Don't Die, will appeal to fans of possessed-by-a-ghost stories, such as those published for kids and teens in the eighties and nineties. In addition to our shared fondness for this type of tale, Katie and I also have a favorite poem in common, this famous acrostic by Lewis Carroll. When I interviewed Katie, we spoke of her fears, her film studies, and her fun jobs.

What inspired Bad Girls Don't Die? Have you always been fascinated or frightened by stories of ghosts or possession?

The initial idea was born one day when I imagined two sisters telling each other stories to ward off loneliness and to fill in gaps in their family history. As I wrote, the story just grew up around (and in some ways away from) that idea.

I’m fascinated by and scared of ghost stories. I think what gets me the most is the idea that you can move into a new house and make a new beginning and there’s something already living in the house. It could happen to anybody, and there’s something really frightening about that. It’s not like going and disturbing the mummy’s tomb, which is something most of us will never do - all you did to the ghost was enter its territory. (Note - I’ve never had any ghostly encounters myself, so I can’t say for sure whether they exist or not.) I’m also drawn to the idea that something can be scary without being gory. Blood and guts just don’t do it for me.

Do you have any favorite ghost stories? (Be they film/TV or classic tales or novels.)

One of my favorite movies is “The Others.” Another ghost story I love is a classic movie called “The Uninvited.” Reading-wise, ghost stories I’ve enjoyed include Stephen King’s “Bag of Bones” and Shirley Jackson’s “The Haunting of Hill House.” But I’m actually kind of a sissy when it comes to scary stuff, which is why I surprised myself by writing this type of book!

What did you feel was the biggest hurdle on the road to publication?

Before my sale, I’d say my biggest roadblock was myself.

I don’t get writer’s block, but I can disconnect from a project for months at a time. It’s easy to get so busy with your everyday life that a project ends up just sitting around and waiting for you. After the sale, I was challenged by the fact that Bad Girls is a pretty complex story. I tried to weave things together very tightly, so revising meant pulling threads that might unravel an entire element of the storyline. That was fun but tricky to deal with.

How much say did you have in the title? The cover art?

The title came from my list of ideas, but I had put it on there - dare I say it? - as a joke. Everybody at Hyperion loved it immediately, and after the initial shock wore off, it grew on me steadily. My editor was very nice and advised me to live with it for a while and see how I felt after time had passed. Now I honestly can’t imagine any other title.

I didn’t actually have any say in the cover, because I didn’t need to - I loved it the moment I saw it. It exceeded my wildest expectations and all I could do was swoon.

What led you to film school?

I went to an arts high school for Communications. Initially my focus was writing, but over time I became more interested in videography - probably because of the instant gratification factor. By the time I went to college, I wanted to be a director - but what I found out after film school is that when you’re a writer, you get to do all the directing you want, using language. In a way, having experience with actors helps a lot as a writer, because you learn to work with body language and movement, instead of just adding a line of dialogue to say, “I’m nervous!”

What was your favorite class?

My favorite class in film school was Film Aesthetics, where we explored what we liked and why we liked it. When you know why you automatically lean toward one choice over another, it makes it that much easier to challenge yourself.

My favorite non-film class was an honors class called “History of Life on Earth.” It was amazing. We sat around for three hours a week and talked theory. I almost switched to a Geology major at one point. Now I read papers I wrote for those classes and I can’t even understand what I was saying.

Tell me about your day job.

My day job is the best job ever. I produce televised dog shows. I’m responsible for putting together a script that we use for the voice-over session once the editors have shortened the show (there’s a fair amount of lag time at the initial taping) and jazzed it up for TV. I’ve produced 19 shows, and every time, we strive to make the show better, more fun, more interesting than the one before it.

What I do also involves writing a lot of dialogue and hearing it read aloud. I’ve learned to listen to the way people talk, their speech rhythms, the sounds they pronounce well or not-so-well, and the vocabulary they use, so I can reproduce it in written form in a way that sounds like they’re really speaking. It’s like the world’s best dialogue writing exercise.

Plus I get to bring my dog to the office with me, which rocks.

Has your dog ever appeared on any of your shows?

Yes, Winston and I both had the dubious honor of appearing in a promo for one of the show sponsors a few years ago. His job was to look cute and my job was to look like I was a crazy woman obsessed with my dog (well, technically it was “dog owner,” but it turns out my normal dog/owner interaction with Winston makes me look like a crazy woman obsessed with my dog). We both played our roles convincingly. He also had a guest spot on another show my company did a few years ago, but the actor stepped on his tail and that kind of wrecked his puppy mojo. He stayed as far away from the guy as he could.

Oh, poor puppy! Moving back from TV set to bookshelf: Name your ten favorite books.

In no particular order…

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

This Place Has No Atmosphere, by Paula Danziger

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl

On Writing, by Stephen King

Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell

Animals in Translation, by Temple Grandin

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver

Fair and Tender Ladies, by Lee Smith

The Cloister Walk, by Kathleen Norris

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand

Visit Katie's website and blog.

Related Booklist: Mind Readers and Ghostly Visitors

Interview: Nikki Goldstein

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:49:19 GMT

GirlForce, a non-fiction book and related website by Nikki Goldstein, encourages teen girls to be healthy: to find a healthy balance between school, work, family, and friends; to live well by eating healthful foods, exercising, resting, and reducing stress; to be self-confident and self-aware, each to a healthy degree. When I recently interviewed Nikki, we discussed all of these elements and more. 

In your own words, what is GirlForce?

GirlForce is the spirit or energy of life that resides in every human. I call it GirlForce so it's easy for girls to relate to, but it's happiness, peace, vitality, energy and especially love. When girls connect to their GirlForce (through practices outlined in my books such as yoga, meditation self-loving pampering, being in nature, having fun etc) they glow with the love-energy inside – their GirlForce!

One of the GirlForces quizzes determines your body type - Air, Fire, or Earth - based on Ayurveda principles. I'm Fire. Which element are you?

I am an Earth girl. And this is an important point, because being an Earth girl (with curves), I always found my look was out of step with fashion. As a teenager I struggled with my body image but at the same time I refused to diet. Somewhere deep inside I was rebelling against the rigid mores of fashion which dictated a very limited ideal of beauty. As I became a woman and worked in magazines I petitioned my editors to break with the code (that skinny, white, blonde equals beauty) and they always refused - saying that the prevailing ideal was actually what sold magazines. GirlForce is my way of rewriting the code. As an Earth girl I always wanted permission just to be myself, curves and all! I hope that no matter what shape or size, skin colour, nationality girls will relate to my self-love message.

What advice do you have for multi-tasking super-busy girls who are finding it hard to achieve those balances?

What I really don't want to do is make GirlForce feel onerous in any way! Firstly, I never tell girls to diet! I never tell them to cut things out of their routines. Instead, I encourage them to gently add self-loving practices such as yoga, meditation, massage, a bit of exercise, healthy eating - so that in time, in a loving and gentle way, non-loving practices (such as eating junk food, not exercising, not resting, stressing out), simply fall away. I believe that we can find ways to make change fun and uplifting, rather than stressful and painful. Girls today are so busy and so pressured that I am looking for ways to take the pressure off rather than adding to it.

What are your favorite activities?

My favourite activities are yoga, sleeping, reading, hanging out with my friends and family, watching movies, eating out. 

What makes you happy?

Happiness is something that comes and goes - it's not a constant state that can be captured. When I connect to my own GirlForce, or spirit, I am happy. It's something I try to remember to do as often as possible. As soon as I bring it to the forefront of my mind I experience happiness because I forget about my problems and am enveloped by the loving force of this energy. Loving and being loved makes me happy too.

You have an impressive resume, having written for magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, InStyle, and Cosmopolitan. As a beauty editor, do you find it difficult to find or write persuasive pieces about inner beauty vs. outer appearance?

I am very lucky that from the very beginning of my career in magazines I was supported in my "alternative" point of view. I determined I would only ever write articles that made women feel good about themselves. My way of working as a beauty editor has at times put me into conflict with different publishers but I have always maintained my integrity and I am proud to say that I have been rewarded for that stance. As a result, I have been able to write for brilliant editors and high-quality magazines and newspapers.

And in terms of whether it’s hard or easy to write persuasive pieces about inner versus out beauty, it’s as simple as this: I believe everyone is beautiful - we are all the same under the skin. Our individual challenge is to learn how to accept and celebrate our unique beauty. GirlForce is a daily practice that helps girls celebrate themselves - just the way they are.

How did you come to find Ayurveda (eye-ur-vee-dah)?

When I was 20 I contracted a very serious virus that put me into hospital and compromised my health. I discovered yoga and meditation as a way to regain health and strength and through my researches discovered that both yoga and meditation are branches of Ayurveda, the 5000 year old “life science” of India. Ayurveda was so easy to follow, had such common-sense principles and struck a chord with me that I wanted to share it. Since that time yoga and meditation have become completely mainstream. I believe it’s only a matter of time before the broader lifestyle principles in Ayurveda will gain broader acceptance.

Do you feel as though there are any major differences between the Australian and American expectations and perceptions of teen girls?

Essentially girls all over the world have the exact same issues, problems and dreams and goals. American and Australian teenage girls are concerned about bullying, boobs, boys, pimples, parents, friends and making their way in a complex world. I’ve talked to and surveyed many thousands of girls from both continents and the similarities far outweigh any differences.

I agree. What about the differences between the Australian and the American publishing markets?

In terms of publishing in both markets I can say that I have been incredibly fortunate to be supported by brilliant publishers who believe in the GirlForce message and want to share it with a generation of girls.

Do you have siblings? Do you have any children?

I have a younger brother and a younger sister. My sister was horribly bullied at school and it has continued to affect her. One of my reasons for writing GirlForce (and one of my subsequent books, Friends) was to combat bullying and improve relationship karma amongst girls. I also have a 5 year old daughter and I want her to grow up safe, secure and happy. I hope GirlForce will help girls to thrive in a complex and challenging world.

What inspired you to start gettoknowyourdaughter.com?

In 2005, I conducted a survey through the premier teen girl magazine, Girlfriend Magazine, and 14 thousand girls responded. To date this survey is the largest survey of teen girls ever conducted. We gained so much information and gleaned so many insights into this generation of teen girls that we wanted to share it with parents. gettoknowyourdaughter.com was a way to share the insights with parents and enable them to share their insights and issues with each other.

Would you ever consider writing a novel? Why or why not?

Next year I am launching my first picture book for young readers. It’s a gorgeous book and I can't wait to see it on the market. It was my way of dipping my toe into writing fiction. I have actually started writing a teen girl novel, which I hope will one day be published under the GirlForce umbrella. But it has a long way to go!

What are your ten favorite books?

I am a BIG reader so here are my all-time favourite books!

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Women Who Run with the Wolves – Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Portrait of a Lady – Henry James
A Room with A View – E. M Forster
Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle
North and South – Elizabeth Gaskell
Siddhartha – Herman Hesse
The Razor's Edge – W. Somerset Maugham
Jitterbug Perfume – Tom Robbins

To learn more about GirlForce, visit http://www.mygirlforce.com or http://www.girlforce.com.au

Best Books of June 2009

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:43:12 GMT

June 2009: 27 books read

For ages 13 and up
The President's Daughter by Ellen Emerson White
Paisley Hanover Acts Out by Cameron Tuttle
Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis
It's Not You, It's Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann
Broken by Alyxandra Harvey-Fitzhenry
Shine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger
Breathing by Cheryl Renée Herbsman
The Longest Distance by Beth Kephart (published in the anthology No Such Thing as the Real World, which contains stories written by six different authors)

For ages 10 and up
Juicy Gossip by Erin Downing
Julia Gillian (and the Quest for Joy) by Alison McGhee, with art by Drazen Kozjan

Non-Fiction
National Geographic: How to Be an Egyptian Princess by Jacqueline Morley, illustrated by Nicholas J. Hewetson

The Plain Janes art gallery at readergirlz

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:25:01 GMT

Thanks to Jim Rugg for this art gallery, which includes images from The Plain Janes, Janes in Love, and never-before-seen pages from Janes Go Summer, the third volume which Cecil & Jim had started working on before the Minx line of comics was cancelled.

Click any thumbnail below to open the full-sized image in a new window.

To learn more about the books and see even more images, check out the July issue of readergirlz!

Have questions about the art of Janes, or about drawing graphic novels? Ask the artist directly! Jim Rugg will be joining author Cecil Castellucci for this month's rgz LIVE! chat, which will be held at the readergirlz blog on Wednesday, July 22nd at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST. Hope you'll join us, too!

Poetry Friday: Superboy and the Invisible Girl from Next to Normal

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:06:03 GMT

Natalie:
Take a look at the Invisible Girl
Here she is, clear as the day
Please look closely and find her before she fades away

Natalie and Gabe:
Superboy and the Invisible Girl
Son of Steel and Daughter of Air
He's a hero, a lover, a prince
She's not there

- selected lyrics from Superboy and the Invisible Girl from the musical Next to Normal, music by Tom Kitt, lyrics by Brian Yorkey

Listen to the song as sung by Jennifer Damiano as Natalie and Aaron Tviet as Gabe.

View all posts tagged as Poetry Friday at Bildungsroman.

Consult the Poetry Friday roundup schedule at Big A, little a.

Learn more about Poetry Friday.

Readergirlz: July 2009

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:38:05 GMT

Join The Plain Janes and readergirlz to celebrate creativity

Looking for a great summer read? Love graphic novels? Pick up The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg. Art, community, and fear are all discussed in this poignant story about a girl named Jane who is forced to move from a hip city to the suburbs. She is surprised not only by the artistic (and same-name) friends she finds in her new school, but also by herself. Read my full-length review.

Want to talk about it? Get The Plain Janes and Janes in Love from your local library or bookstore. Then, as you read it, discuss it with other readers at the readergirlz blog.

readergirlz is an online book group that's open to everyone - the only requirement is a love of reading! Every month, we discuss a different book, ranging from historical fiction to fantasy, from contemporary fiction to these awesome graphic novels o' Janes. All of our spotlighted books celebrate gutsy girls, and we hope they inspire readers to get active not only in book groups but also in their communities. Every issue of readergirlz features additional information about the books we're discussing, exclusive author interviews, playlists, outreach programs related to the book of the month, and other recommended reads. Read the July 2009 issue of readergirlz, then browse through our archived issues.

rgz LIVE!

Chat live with Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg at the readergirlz blog on Wednesday, July 22nd. The chat will begin at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST and last for about an hour.

Download this month's bookmark.

Download our summer poster.

postergirlz picks
Check out this month's recommended reads, selected by the postergirlz, the teen lit advisory council for readergirlz.

Fiction
The Opposite of Invisible by Liz Gallagher
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki and Steve Rolston

Non-Fiction
Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith

Read, Reflect, Reach Out
How do you think Art Saves? Show us! Click here to download the Art Saves template, then print it out and decorate it however you'd like. Scan or photograph the final version and email it as a JPG to artsaves@slayground.net

I'm thrilled to be in charge of this project. I can't wait to see everyone's creations!

Learn more about the Art Saves project.

Recent readergirlz Reads
Last month's featured book: Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
Next month's featured book: Kendra by Coe Booth

Visit the readergirlz archive.

readergirlz on the web

Bookmark our main stomping grounds:
http://readergirlz.blogspot.com
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You may also follow and friend us on:
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Related Posts
Interview: Cecil Castellucci
Booklist: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Person
Booklist: MINX

Meet the readergirlz divas and the postergirlz advisory council
Read the original readergirlz press release
View all of the readergirlz-tagged posts at Bildungsroman

Art Saves! Get Involved!

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:36:33 GMT

How do you think Art Saves? Show us! Click here to download the Art Saves template, then print it out and decorate it however you'd like. Scan or photograph the final version and email it as a JPG to artsaves@slayground.net

You are not limited to the template, nor must you draw something. Make this your own special Art Attack! Send us your sketches, collages, photos - anything you think represents the thought that Art Saves. We'll post contributions at the readergirlz blog all month long, then archive them at the readergirlz website at the end of July.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Take a picture of your favorite bookstore, your best friends, or your pets.
- Piece together a tote bag made out of old clothes.
- Draw with chalk on your sidewalk. (Try making shadow outlines like those in Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian, one of this month's rec reads!)
- Gather with friends, dress up as the Janes, and recreate the book cover.
- Set up a park or beach clean-up day.
- Run/walk a marathon for a good cause and sing or dance every time you finish a lap.
- Go to an animal shelter, ask if you may take pictures of the critters and make posters to help get them adopted.
- Volunteer at a local library or hospital during arts-and-crafts time.

Don't stop there - Pay it forward! If you're a teen, make copies of the template (on recycled paper, naturally) and pass them out to your friends. If you're a teacher or librarian, distribute copies to your students or patrons, and have a drop-box where they may turn in their completed pages. Parents, break out the markers and crayons and have each member of your family make his or her own art - or have everyone contribute to the same picture!

This project is being launched in honor of the July issue of readergirlz which features The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg. Cecil and Jim are each going to contribute a little something to Art Saves, as are the readergirlz divas, the postergirlz, and some of your favorite contemporary YA authors, artists, activists, and bloggers. Keep checking the rgz blog throughout July to see their designs!

Send your piece to artsaves@slayground.net by July 20th, 2009.

The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:20:19 GMT

Graphic novels aren't just about superheroes. They can also be contemporary, realistic stories about everyday people.

Art, community, and fear are all discussed in The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg, a poignant story about a girl named Jane who is forced to move from a hip city to the suburbs. She is surprised not only by the artistic (and same-name) friends she finds in her new school, but also by herself. When she confronts the fears she has clung to since surviving a tragic event that happened back in the city, Jane's eyes are opened to the world and to her community. She and the other Janes declare themselves P.L.A.I.N. - People Loving Art In Neighborhoods - and setting up interesting, thoughtful displays of art around town, trying to call people's attention to things that really matter or are often overlooked. Not everyone "gets" their art, and some call them "art attacks." The girls take this in stride and continue with their unique art projects.

The story continues in the second volume, Janes in Love. If you're "not into romance," don't worry! Far from sappy or cliche, Janes in Love is just as thoughtful and fun as the first story.

Throughout both volumes, Castellucci's text and Rugg's art will keep readers turning pages. With their creative takes on activism and awareness coupled with consistently great art depicting a variety of realistic-looking characters, The Plain Janes and Janes in Love are great picks for reluctant readers and aspiring artists alike.

See art from The Plain Janes and Janes in Love as well as never-before-seen images from Janes Go Summer, which Cecil & Jim had started working on before the Minx line of comics was cancelled, in the July 2009 issue of readergirlz. (I posted some of the images here, but in order to see them all, you'll have to go to readergirlz!) I hope you'll join the readergirlz book group at http://www.readergirlz.com and join in the discussions at http://readergirlz.blogspot.com all month long!

Related Posts
Interview: Cecil Castellucci
Booklist: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Person
Booklist: MINX

Poetry Friday: The Fatima Sisters by Chris Evangelista

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:30:53 GMT

She liked to dance, and had studied ballet in high school and college. When she pirouetted, people would stop whatever they were doing and become fixed on her, her thin frame spinning, her hair flowing. She smelled faintly of vanilla and jasmine. She played in the rain and took naps up in birch trees. No one had ever heard her utter a curse word in her entire life.

- from The Fatima Sisters, a short story by Chris Evangelista. Reprinted with permission.

Read the entire short story.

View all posts tagged as Poetry Friday at Bildungsroman.

Consult the Poetry Friday roundup schedule at Big A, little a.

Learn more about Poetry Friday.

Interview: Grace Lin

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:28:26 GMT

In her newest book for upper elementary school readers, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Grace Lin combines folklore, fantasy, and full-color illustrations as a curious young girl named Minli heads out to meet the Man in the Moon, intending to ask him a thing or two. She meets a variety of interesting characters along the way.

Grace is going on a journey of her own: a ten-day book blog tour across the Internet. I have the honor of kicking off the tour here at Bildungsroman. Here, there be dragons - but only nice ones, I promise!

I think well of dragons, so I prefer it when they are friends (rather than foes) in fairytales and myths. My favorite fictional dragons are Falkor from The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende and Fiddlestick from Strangewood by Christopher Golden. Do you have a soft spot for any fictional dragons?

I have to admit my favorite dragon it my first friendly dragon in the book My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett. I loved that book and still do. When I first began writing Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, I thought I would try to write it with that same kind of light, fun and wonderful feeling. It didn't work out that way, but you may still see some of the similarities.

Some people believe in the Old Man on the Moon; others think it's made of cheese. Some wish on a shooting star or have superstitions about the symbolism of a full moon. When you look up at the moon in the sky at night, what do you see?

When I look up at the moon, I always think this poem:

May every sunrise hold more promise,
Every moonrise, hold more peace.

I don't know who wrote it, it seems to be anonymous.

That's lovely. I hadn't heard that before, but I really like it. Did your parents read to you as a child? Do you feel as though in oral traditions are fading or staying strong in today's technology-heavy society?

I don't think my parents read to me as a child (probably because English was their second language) but I do remember them constantly reading books. After dinner, my parents would bring us to the library. So books and stories were always an important part of my life.

I am hoping that with all of today's technology, the tradition of sharing stories has become even more important. As wonderful as virtual connections are, nothing compares to real-life sharing. I would think that as humans we eventually crave personal contact; and the oral traditions, reading or discussing a book together are the connections that cannot be broken. That is what I hope, at least!!

I share that hope with you.

Follow Grace's blog tour!
Wednesday, June 24th: Bildungsroman
Thursday, June 25th: Shelf Elf
Friday, June 26th: Paper Tigers
Saturday, June 27th: MotherReader
Sunday, June 28th: Charlotte's Library
Monday, June 29th: Write for a Reader
Tuesday, June 30th: The Mommy Files
Wednesday, July 1st: Thrifty Minnesota Mama
Thursday, July 2nd: Creative Madness
Friday, July 3rd: Abby the Librarian

Visit Grace directly at her website, blog, and Facebook page.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon will be released on July 1st. Learn more about the book at wherethemountainmeetsthemoon.com

Poetry Friday: Act 4, Scene 5 of Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:23:32 GMT

OPHELIA
There's rosemary, that's for remembrance;
pray, love, remember:
and there is pansies. That's for thoughts.

LAERTES
A document in madness, thoughts and remembrance fitted.

OPHELIA
There's fennel for you, and columbines:
there's rue for you; and here's some for me:
we may call it herb-grace o' Sundays:
O you must wear your rue with a difference.
There's a daisy: I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died:
they say he made a good end --
(sung) For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy.

- from Act 4, Scene 5 of Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Related Posts at Bildungsroman:
Never Doubt I Love from Hamlet by William Shakespeare
They All Want to Play Hamlet from People Who Must by Carl Sandburg
Booklist: Shakespeare Spinoffs
Shaking Up Shakespeare

External Links:

View all posts tagged as Poetry Friday at Bildungsroman.

Consult the Poetry Friday roundup schedule at Big A, little a.

Learn more about Poetry Friday.

Official So Punk Rock Press Release

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:29:48 GMT

Contact: Courtney Kish
Flux Publicity
Email: CourtneyK@fluxnow.com
Tel: 651-312-8452

For Immediate Attention

Sarcasm and Pop Culture Fill the Pages of Flux's First Hybrid Novel
Brother-sister duo create the rise and fall of a punk rock band born at a Jewish day school

"A rollicking, witty, and ultra-contemporary book that drums on the funny bone and reverberates through the heart." - Booklist (starred review)

"Heavy on the Jewish humor, the Ostows successfully balance culture and teen experience with pitch-perfect dialogue paired seamlessly with David Ostow's black-and-white panels." - Kirkus Reviews

ST. PAUL, MINN. - Quirky, fresh and loaded with humor, So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother) is an irreverent take on the theme of religious and personal identity. It is a tale of adolescent angst, romance, and coming-of-age, set to the strains of turn-of-the-twenty-first-century indie rock.

Fusing the techniques of a traditional novel with the highly popular graphic novel art form, So Punk Rock, tells the story of Ari Abramson and his perfect plan to get in with Sari, the girl of his dreams: he’s going to start his own punk rock band. This involves drafting his super-popular and super-conceited best friend, Jonas, an overly kosher drummer, Yossi, and his sassy lead-singing sister, Reena. Together they shoot to the heights of local fame but risk undoing everything when egos (and the Sabbath) get in the way.

Micol Ostow has written more than thirty-five published works for children and young adults. So Punk Rock was inspired by the thirteen years of Jewish day school that she and her brother David experienced. Micol is currently pursuing an MFA in writing through Vermont College of Fine Arts and teaching YA writing up and down the Eastern seaboard. The author resides in New York City.

Illustrator David Ostow was trained as an architect. He currently works at a large design firm in New York City and also illustrates on a freelance basis. So Punk Rock is his first literary endeavor. The author resides in New Jersey.

For more information, visit their website at: www.KosherPunkRock.com

"Ostow's cutting-edge prose-graphic hybrid is smart, laugh-out-loud witty, and a quirky affirmation of faith and self. Read it, and you'll want to be in a Jewish indie rock band, too!" - Cynthia Leitich Smith, author of Tantalize

So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother) by Micol Ostow; art by David Ostow

US $9.95 CAN $11.50 | Paperback Original | ISBN: 978-0-7387-1471-4

PUB DATE: July 2009 | Flux Books | Ages 12 & up

For more information, please visit www.fluxnow.com and www.KosherPunkRock.com

Review Copies and Interview Opportunities

To request a review copy or arrange an interview with the author, please contact:

Courtney Kish, Flux Publicity
Email: CourtneyK@fluxnow.com
Tel: 651-312-8452

Read my previous post about So Punk Rock for even more info. Rock on!

Interview: Sarah Darer Littman

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:42:07 GMT

When I informed Sarah Darer Littman that her most recent novel, Purge, was included in this month's issue of readergirlz, she was quite excited - and so was I! She then offered more backstory, and shared this:

I can't tell you how thrilled I was when I heard that the postergirlz recommended my most recent novel, Purge, to accompany Sara Zarr's Sweethearts. I'm a huge fan of Sara Zarr, both as a writer and as a person. As someone who is passionate about the subject of body image, her blog post on being unwillingly Photoshopped by a photographer is a must read.

Like Jenna in Sweethearts, Janie [the protagonist in Purge] has a complicated relationship with food, and there is a strong emotional component to her eating - when she is bingeing she is eating without enjoyment, but rather to fill what she calls "the black hole" inside.

My mom was taking her old pictures out of albums and scanning them onto the computer and she sent me this picture of myself on a Caribbean holiday when I was 14.

Looking at it as a woman with two kids in my mid-forties, my first thought was: "Wow, I had a nice figure!" But it only took a second for the voice of the girl in the picture to start up in my head - the one that told me she was fat and ugly. I started thinking about how throughout my life how much time and energy has been wasted obsessing about food and body image and feeling bad about myself - and, ultimately, being bulimic for six years as an adult - and I wanted to write a story that might help others avoid making that same mistake.

I'm so excited and grateful to be in such great company. I know E. Lockhart from our NYC Teen Author Drinks Nights and adored The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and now have a great list of other books on my always growing "must read" list.

Thank you, readergirlz and postergirlz!

~ Sarah Darer Littman

Purge is one of the additional titles recommended in the June issue of readergirlz, and it gets a very strong recommendation from me. In fact, I paired Sweethearts and Purge together in a column for SparkNotes I wrote back in November.

Read my 2008 interview with Sarah.

Poetry Friday: Feather in the Wind by Mindy Gledhill

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:44:50 GMT

I'm a feather in the wind
I'm up and then I'm down again
And all the places I have been
To heaven's gates and 'round the bend

But things are never what they appear to be
'Cause people always trying to grab ahold of me
So catch me if you can
Set me free again
Like a feather in the wind

I'm a reflection in the glass
'Cause I can't keep from looking back
I know the pieces that I left
Are stuck inside a broken past

Things are never what they appear to be
So I'll dig a little deeper
Than what the eye can see
And if anybody asks
I'm making friends at last
With my reflection in the glass

- selected lyrics from Feather in the Wind by Mindy Gledhill

Listen to the song in full at Mindy's website or her MySpace page. Watch the video at YouTube.

View all posts tagged as Poetry Friday at Bildungsroman.

Consult the Poetry Friday roundup schedule at A Year of Reading.

Learn more about Poetry Friday.

Mutts: Waiting for Godot

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:59:25 GMT

Reason #656 why I love Mutts:

Chat with Melissa Walker TONIGHT!

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:17:28 GMT

Join us tonight, Tuesday, June 9th, at 6 PM PST/9 PM EST for a special chat at the readergirlz blog! We'll be chatting with readergirlz diva Melissa Walker and celebrating the release of her newest book, Lovestruck Summer.

Next Wednesday, June 17th, we'll be chatting live with Sara Zarr. That chat will also begin at 6 PM PM/9 PM EST at the readergirlz blog.

Looking for an online book group like no other? Visit http://www.readergirlz.com

Interview: Rachel Renee Russell

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:00:30 GMT

I thought Rachel Renee Russell's debut novel, Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life, was adorable. (Click here to read my review of the book.) I'm very happy to have Rachel dropping by Bildungsroman today as one of the many stops on her blog tour.

Nikki expressed herself through her diary entries, which were filled with her rants, her raves, and her sketches. Have you, as a kid or as an adult, ever kept a diary-slash-sketchbook like Nikki's?

In both middle school and high school, several of my teachers required students to keep a written journal in a spiral notebook as a class assignment. Inevitably, after I added doodles, sketches, and comic strips, my journal entries ended up being more artwork than writing. However, my teachers always gave me "A's" on them, even though I usually did most of the work the night before the journal was due.

Was Nikki an established character in your artwork prior to her becoming a narrator, or did you create her with this book in mind?

Nikki came to me as a slightly insecure middle school girl with a quirky sense of humor, who expressed herself through her art as much as her writing. She was created especially for Dork Diaries. However, in the very early drafts of the book, Nikki had a fairy godmother who helped her out. In the end, Nikki's voice was so compelling that my literary agent (Daniel Lazar) and I ended up axing the fairy godmother. Of course, figuratively, not literally.

I loved the art, especially Nikki's creations for Chloe and Zoey. Do you write first, then add the art, or vice-versa?

I usually write a few pages and then go back and decide what the art is going to be. Due to the illustrated format of the book, if a scene does not inspire funny artwork, I may delete it or rewrite it over and over and over, until it does.

I liked the fact that Nikki was left-handed - something only revealed in the pictures! Which hand do you use for writing and drawing?

I'm right-handed. But, it seems most of the professional artists I know are left-handed, which is why I made Nikki left-handed. I think it's just the way artists' left-thinking brains are hard-wired.

Which mediums or formats do you prefer to use for your art?

Actually, I don't even consider myself a "real" artist. I just sketch in pencil and then ink it with a felt tip pen. I'm probably more of an "arts and crafts" person than a "fine arts" person. I can make a Lazy Boy chair out of Elmers glue, kleenex and popsicle sticks.

You consulted your daughters while working on Dork Diaries, didn't you?

My daughters were my "consultants," NOT my critique group. My critique group consisted of my three tween nieces, aged 13, 10 and 9. And, boy were they brutal! They said my drawing of Nick Jonas looked like Johnny Depp. They made me draw him over 3 times, before they approved it.

Rumor has it you're working on the sequel to Dork Diaries. Does it have a title or release date yet? Will this be an ongoing series?

I'm working on Dork Diaries Book 2 right now and I'm still kicking around ideas for the title. The release date will be scheduled for Spring 2010. I'm really hoping Dork Diaries will become a series. But, the final decision will be up to my publisher...and, of course, Nikki Maxwell, since she'll have to agree to appear in any future books.

Author Giveaway!

Throughout her blog tour, Rachel Russell gave away copies of Dork Diaries. One lucky winner was chosen at random from among those who left comments on this post. Congratulations, Lindsay! Rachel will be sending you a book bag (aka Nikki's Purse) stuffed with body spray, lip gloss, candy treats, an ink pen, and lots of other goodies mentioned in the novel as well as the book itself.

What a Girl Wants at Chasing Ray

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:20:03 GMT

This week, Colleen Mondor of the fabulous blog Chasing Ray will launch a series of posts featuring writers whose YA novels feature strong female characters. This endeavor, aptly titled What a Girl Wants, will include authors Margo Rabb, Sara Ryan, Jacqueline Kelly, Loree Griffin Burns, Zetta Elliott, Beth Kephart, Laurel Snyder, Mayra Lazara Dole, Melissa Wyatt, Kekla Magoon, Jenny Davidson, and Lorie Ann Grover. I really look forward to seeing what these ladies have to say. Go, Colleen.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch The Tony Awards and wish I was there... and know that I will be, someday.

The 48 Hour Book Challenge 2009

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:51:41 GMT

MotherReader created The 48-Hour Book Challenge (48HBC) in 2006. I've played faithfully every year - see my posts from 2006, 2007, and 2008 - but this year, I knew I wouldn't be able to read for as long as usual due my crazy schedule: work, work, special events, more work, and (yay!) the first blocking rehearsal for a new play.

Thus, my only goals for this weekend were to spend my time wisely, to get everything done that needed to be done, to enjoy the events I attended and do my part to ensure that they were successful, to read whenever I could and enjoy what I read, and to make sure that I slept a decent amount of time each night. When all was said and done, I only had a handful of hours to read, and they weren't in a row. They were here and there. I crammed in reading as little pockets of time presented themselves: as I walked somewhere; a bit of time before I fell asleep; when I was on the way to an event; while I cooked macaroni elbows (and got ketchup all over my book); and so on.

Here's what I read this weekend:

How I Survived Middle School #10: Into the Woods by Nancy Krulik
116 pages, 30 minutes
This series revolves around a sixth-grade girl named Jenny and her classmates. Into the Woods follows them on a school trip to science camp. One of the popular girls brings her hair dryer and hair straightener and proceeds to blow out the fuses. This series = clean reads for tweens.

Julia Gillian (and the Quest for Joy) by Alison McGhee, with art by Drazen Kozjan
313 pages, 90 minutes
Fifth-grade student Julia worries that her best friend, Bonwit, is keeping something from her because he won't let her go to his house any more. Meanwhile, they've both taken up the trumpet at school, but Julia can't seem to play a note, something she tries to hide from her classmates, her teachers, and her family. Through it all, she confides in her St. Bernard, Bigfoot. Sequel to Julia Gillian (and the Art of Knowing). Actually, it's the second in a planned trilogy, as Julia Gillian (and the Art of Being Human) is scheduled to be released in June 2010.

Water Baby written and illustrated by Ross Campbell, with lettering by Jared K. Fletcher - 156 pages, 30 minutes
What happens to a girl after a shark bites off the majority of one of her legs while she's surfing. Part of the Minx imprint. Sadly, very little happens in this book. I wanted it to detail her physical therapy, her emotional and physical journey and recovery. It didn't. Instead, it was mostly about her ex-boyfriend overstaying his welcome. Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham is infinitely better. I recommend that book instead.

My New Best Friend by Julie Bowe
181 pages, 45 minutes
Ida May's new best friend, Stacey, is full of ideas, and they usually lead to fun things. Lately, though, Stacey's been lying to her divorced parents about where she is - and she's not going anywhere 'bad' or doing anything 'wild,' she'd just rather stay at Ida's for the weekend than go to her dad's place. Caught in the middle, Ida isn't sure if she should tell on her best friend. The sequel to My Last Best Friend.

It's Not You, It's Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann
176 pages, 75 minutes
A sixteen-year-old girl is dumped by her boyfriend of six months. This book chronicles the first thirty days after their breakup, as she tries to figure out why he broke up with her and how to win him back. With thoughtful writing and a quick pace, this book was a pleasant surprise.

Total: 942 pages, five books, in four and a half hours, aka 270 minutes.
3.49 pages per minute.

Recurring themes were friendship, loyalty, honesty, and music - some of my favorite things!

I would have read more tonight, but I'm treating myself to The Tonys!