. . .

A thousand words

plum icicles cottage gray
taste june scratch
nine feet
her

you will never know.


_____
copyright Miss Erin McIntosh, 2009
please do not reprint without permission
Poetry Friday roundup at Big A little a

Readergirlz TRW: Day 4

The Teen Read Week awesomeness at the readergirlz blog continues tonight with LIVE! chats with Melissa Walker (LOVESTRUCK SUMMER), Cassandra Clare (CITY OF ASHES), and Patrick Ness (THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO).

So far the chats have been spectacular, with swag, prizes, and terrific author chats! The chats are all this week, October 19-23, Monday - Friday at 6pm PST/9pm EST at the blog!

Hope to see you....!

Readergirlz TRW: Day 3

Tonight don't miss the Teen Read Week rgz LIVE! chat with Holly Cupala (TELL ME A SECRET), Lisa McMann (WAKE), and Cynthia Leitich Smith (ETERNAL)!

There will be even more swag and prizes tonight, and Holly will have a special sneak-preview giveaway for TELL ME A SECRET.

The chats are all this week, October 19-23, Monday - Friday at 6pm PST/9pm EST at the readergirlz blog!

If you missed the previous chats, don't worry - you can see the transcripts at the blog.

Readergirlz TRW: Day 2

The Teen Read Week fun continues this evening at the readergirlz blog with a LIVE! chat event with Lorie Ann Grover (HOLD ME TIGHT), Elizabeth Scott (LIVING DEAD GIRL), and Lynn Weingarten (WHEREVER NINA LIES)! Plus lots of other readergirlz and awesome YA folks. It's at the usual time: 6PM Pacific, 9PM Eastern.

Last night's chat was super-fun, and I can't wait for tonight's. See you there!

Readergirlz TRW: Day 1

Tonight is the first chat in this year's readergirlz Teen Read Week series!

Come to the readergirlz blog tonight at 6PM Pacific/9PM Eastern to chat with authors Justina Chen Headley, Alyson Noel, and Zoe Marriott. I am soooo excited. Hyper-and-bouncing-in-my-chair excited. Par-tay!

readergirlz: Teen Read Week and Libba Bray

Exciting things happening at readergirlz this month! Here's the scoop:

Teen Read Week Tribute!

Do you love Teen Read Week? Let it out at your blog through a post or vlog, then send the link to readergirlz@gmail.com. Put in the subject line: Your name, TRW Tribute. We’ll collect contributions and post them at the rgz blog in a 24 hour time span. Tell us about your recent release, or a book you love dearly, and then give a shout out for Teen Read Week. The tribute will run October 23rd!

******

rgz Read Beyond Reality!

We are ready to Read Beyond Reality with YALSA, rgz! The divas will host nine young-adult authors—eight of whom are nominees for the Teens’ Top Ten—throughout Teen Read Week. The week’s chats will culminate with an online gala celebration, where Sylvia Engdahl, a pioneer in young-adult science fiction, will be hosted and honored for her contributions to the literary landscape. Watch for signed book prizes and swag from iHeartDaily.com!

• Monday, Oct. 19: Beyond Imagination with rgz diva Justina Chen (NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL), Alyson Noël (EVERMORE) and Zoe Marriott (DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES)


• Tuesday, Oct. 20: Beyond Hardship with rgz diva Lorie Ann Grover (HOLD ME TIGHT), Elizabeth Scott (LIVING DEAD GIRL) and Lynn Weingarten (WHEREVER NINA LIES)
  
• Wednesday, Oct. 21: Beyond Daily Life with rgz diva Holly Cupala (TELL ME A SECRET), Lisa McMann (WAKE) and Cynthia Leitich Smith (ETERNAL)


• Thursday, Oct. 22: Beyond Our World with rgz diva Melissa Walker (LOVESTRUCK SUMMER), Cassandra Clare (CITY OF ASHES) and Patrick Ness (THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO)
  
• Friday, Oct. 23: Into Our Beyond with rgz diva Dia Calhoun (AVIELLE OF RHIA) and pioneering YA sci-fi author Sylvia Engdahl (ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS)

It all happens at the rgz blog, Oct. 19-23 at 6 p.m. Pacific/9 p.m. Eastern. Spread the word with the press release, poster, banners, and trailer!

******

rgz welcomes New York Times Bestseller Libba Bray!

In October we are also psyched to host Libba Bray as our Divas’ Choice. We’ll discuss THE SWEET FAR THING and all things Gemma. Feel free to chat about related topics all month at the rgz blog. rgz LIVE! with Libba will be held on October 28th at 6 p.m. Pacific/9 p.m. Eastern. Join our celebration and enter the realms this month, rgz!

Download our October Libba Bray bookmark!

******


The Teen Read Week of chats is always one of my most-anticipated weeks of the year. Talking to authors all week long is completely inspiring. Hope to see you all there!

oh, cause blue skies are calling

This is a song for anyone

With a broken heart
This is a song for anyone
Who can't get out of bedI'll do anything
To be happy
Oh, cause blue skies are calling
But I know that it's hard
This is the last song
That I write
While still in love with you
This is the last song
That I write
While you're even on my mind
Cause it's time to leave
Those feelings behind
Oh, cause blue skies are calling
But I know that it's hard
I don't think that it's the end
But I know we can't keep going
I don't think that it's the end
But I know we can't keep going
But blue skies are calling
Oh yeah blue skies are calling
Oh, blue skies are calling
But I know that it's hard

Oh my, this song is my favorite right now. It is perfect for me at this moment. A theme song of sorts, you might say. The music video is also one of my favorite things. Noah and the Whale. I think that's a lovely name for musicians.

photo credits: metrix x, cblee, pink lemonade, logan jack, sita marie, colorful mess

slow down, little girl
take a breath, take it in
feeling lost and confused and gray
is not for you.
wait a while
your time will come
so wise and so childish
it doesn't matter what they think
or even what you do, yet
wait a while, young girl,
it takes your whole life to grow up,
and that is as it should be.
don't rush too fast,
don't fly too high,
nestle instead in this grass
under these trees
and don't be anything.

only be.


_____
copyright Miss Erin McIntosh, 2009
please do not reprint without permission
Poetry Friday roundup at Picture Book of the Day

I am standing outside of my cage.
For the first time.
It's only me.
I don't need to be hand-fed
Or cleaned.

Everything out here is so white.
And less clean than I'd imagined.

Losing my wings was a small price to pay
For feet.
For this dirty house
Instead of that dirty cage.

The light is unpleasant,
But it's better than none.
I don't think people realize the darkness
Metal and gray give off.

I almost touch it.
I pull away.
I have finished with that life.


_____
copyright Miss Erin McIntosh, 2009
please do not reprint without permission
Poetry Friday roundup at Crossover

2009 Cybils!

It is that time of year again....time for the fourth annual Cybils Awards! Nominations opened yesterday, and you have until the 15th to nominate favorite books published this year in multiple categories. Head on over and get nominating.

After three years as a panelist, this is my first year not working on the Cybils since they were founded. It feels a little funny, but it wasn't something I felt was right for me this year. I wish everyone working on the panels the very best: have fun, read lots, don't go too crazy....and I can't wait to see the lists y'all come up with!