Readergirlz: An Interview With the Founders of the New Online Book Salon Celebrating Gutsy Girls

Readergirlz have arrived!

In honor of Women's History Month, four young adult authors are launching readergirlz, a new online book salon celebrating gutsy girls in life and literature. Here's how and why they started this literacy project.

If readergirlz were The Baby-Sitters Club, the first book would be called Justina's Great Idea. Tell us about that light bulb going off in your brain, then how the project got its wings - and its name.

Justina: If that were the title, then the subtitle would be: And How She Got Dia, Janet, and Lorie Ann to Lose Sleep for 4 Months!

When I was out on my book tour last spring, I tried to visit urban areas that couldn't afford to host an author. I can't tell you how upset I was by the experience - all these incredibly insightful kids with dismal libraries and schools who'd never met an author before.

So I approached the three aforementioned now sleep-deprived YA authors - Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, and Lorie Ann Grover - to start readergirlz as a way to connect books to teen girls.

The name? Well, I've always thought of myself as a readergirl. That was my first choice for a group name. But to make sure it was the best name possible, we brainstormed 100 other candidates. Somehow, YAK - It just didn't have the same ring.

What role do each of you play in the group?

Dia: Janet Lee Carey juggles our busy appearance schedule. Lorie Ann Grover is our technical internet wizard and also does illustration. Justina Chen Headley shines as our marketing and community relations manager. And I tackle graphic design and copy-editing. Some tasks we all share - such as MySpace tending and working with the authors we'll be showcasing at readergirlz (like Holly Black!).

What do you hope to achieve with readergirlz?

Lorie Ann: I truly hope girls are inspired to claim their own voices, believe in their own abilities, and reach out to others with support and compassion. And then I'd love to hear from them about their growth so that other readergirlz, including me, might be encouraged and inspired.

The project has been generating a lot of buzz already. What has been one of the best or most moving responses to the project so far?