Dia Calhoun profile picture

Dia Calhoun

Dia Calhoun Award-winning teen fantasy author

About Me

WINNER OF THE MYTHOPOEIC FANTASY AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
I am the author of five young adult fantasy novels. AVIELLE OF RHIA, THE PHOENIX DANCE, WHITE MIDNIGHT, ARIA OF THE SEA, and FIREGOLD.
Check out my brand new website at www.diacalhoun.com
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT
AVIELLE OF RHIA:

"This is not a light-and-fluffy fantasy: in Avielle's world, readers will see some reflection of their own. . . . Themes of free will and the classic nature-vs.-nurture debate are examined as Avielle discovers her magic and learns how to control it. This is a coming-of-age story disguised as a fantasy, and it should appeal to any girl who has ever felt uncomfortable in her own skin. --School Library Journal
"Avielle is clever and compassionate, and her spot-on descriptions of the individuals she encounters (the medals and the top of his head both shone, as if both had been freshly spat upon and polished") are delightful. Evocative scenes of Avielle's weaving symbolize her inner journey, and readers will empathize with the girl as she struggles to accept her Dredonian heritage, her magic, and her duty, while weathering prejudice and her own unconscious hatred. . . . the pattern author Calhoun weaves is rich and complex." --Booklist
"Calhoun's loyal following will be eager to read her latest entry . . . and the discussion it can engender in terms of choices, prejudice, and terrorism will certainly by timely." --VOYA
AVIELLE OF RHIA is a Cybil's Semi-Finalist in the Fantasy category.
AWARDS FOR THE PHOENIX DANCE,
--A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
--Nominated for a Top Ten Teen Pick
--Nominated for an ALA BBYA
The Phoenix Dance is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses Grimm's fairy tale. It is about a girl with bipolar illness named Phoenix Dance and was inspired by my personal struggle with bipolar illness. For the full story see my website at www.diacalhoun.com.
The Phoenix Dance was featured in CABF's (The Child and Adolescent Foundation's e-newsletter at http://www.bpkids.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=886 5
Please support CABF (The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation) in all their good work to support the families of children and teens with bipolar illness. Go to http://www.bpkids.org
AWARDS FOR FIREGOLD
--An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
--A Booklist Top Ten First Novel for Youth
--A Booklist Top Ten Fantasy Novel for Youth
--VOYA Best Fantasy/Science Fiction List
--Lone Star Reading List
--IRA Young Adult's Choice
AWARDS FOR ARIA OF THE SEA
--An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
--A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
--The Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature
--VOYA Best Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror List
--An IRA Teacher's Choice
--A Best Children's Book 2001 Bank Street College of Education
--ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award Silver Medal
AWARDS FOR WHITE MIDNIGHT
--An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
--VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
--New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
--Texas Tayshas Reading List
I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4 mspobj allowScriptAccess="never" allowNetworking="internal" enableJSURL="false" enableHREF="false" saveEmbedTags="true" type="application/x-

My Interests

Reading, writing, singing Italian Arias, fly-fishing, and canoeing. Especially interested in eating chocolate.

I'd like to meet:

I'd like to meet fantasy readers, writers, librarians, and teachers.

Dia Calhoun is one of the readergirlz divas, along with Mitali Perkins, Lorie Ann Grover, and Justina Chen Headley. Check out readergirlz at www.readergirlz.com and myspace.com/readergirlz.

Join Operation TBD (Teen Book Drop)hosted by readergirlz and YALSA. To build awareness for April 17, 2008, Support Teen Literature Day, readergirlz and YALSA have organized a massive, coordinated release of 10,000 publisher-donated YA books into the top pediatric hospitals across the country.We now invite YA authors and readergirlz everyowhere to celebrate Support Teen Lit Day with us. How? Donate one copy of a YA book into your own community and join an unprecedented online book bash: The TBD Post-Op Party. Please feel free to forward this email to any authors or readergirlz who might be interested in spreading the word about YA literature and teen literacy!

Music:

I love choral music. One of my favorite pieces is Carmina Burana.

Movies:

Pride and Prejudice (all the Jane Austen movies), The Lord of the Rings, the original Star Wars movies.

Television:

Gilmore Girls; The MacNeil Lehrer Report; Ugly Betty.

Books:

ON POINTE, by Lorie Ann Grover; NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen Headley; DRAGON'S KEEP, by Janet Lee Carey;
Get Your Own!THE BLUE SWORD by Robin McKinley; HATTIE BIG SKY by Kirby Larsen

Heroes:

My husband

My Blog

Operation TBD (Teen Book Drop) April 17

RECORD NUMBERS OF YOUNG-ADULT BOOKS WILL BE DONATED TO TEEN PATIENTS THURSDAY AS PART OF READERGIRLZ AND YALSA LITERACY PROGRAM "Operation TBD" puts 10,000 books into North America’s top pediatr...
Posted by Dia Calhoun on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:02:00 PST

Readergirlz Presents: Best Books for BFF

Readergirlz Presents: Best Books for BFF The holidays are here, readergirlz! And what better gift for your BFF than a book perfect for her passion? The divas, postergirlz, and one fabulous bookseller ...
Posted by Dia Calhoun on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:09:00 PST

31 Flavorite Authors for Teens Begins on readergirlz!

Hi Everyone, 31 Flavorite Authors for Teens begins October 1 at Oct 1 at 5:00 PDT / 8:00 EDT on the readergirlz group forum at groups.myspace.com/readergirlz. Chat every night with your favorite young...
Posted by Dia Calhoun on Sun, 30 Sep 2007 09:08:00 PST

Readergirlz The Phoenix Dance Issue is Up!

Hi Friends, I'm so please to announce that my young adult fantasy novel, The Phoenix Dance, is being highlighted by readergirlz for May, National Mental Health Month. Check out the issue at www.reader...
Posted by Dia Calhoun on Tue, 01 May 2007 12:55:00 PST

Lindsay Rush and readergirlz

I'm so pleased to let everyone know that singer/songwriter Lindsay Rush will be the readergirlz Shoutout Gutsy Girl for our readergirlz May Issue in celebration of National Mental Health Month. Not on...
Posted by Dia Calhoun on Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:56:00 PST

What happened to the Avielle of Rhia bookcover image? Read on!

Hi Everyone, I've changed my profile image from my Avielle of Rhia bookcover to my The Phoenix Dance bookcover in preparation for The Phoenix Dance issue of readergirlz which will be running for May, ...
Posted by Dia Calhoun on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:40:00 PST

readergirlz launches!

Today is March 1! At last readergirlz, www.readergirlz.com the new online book community celebrating gutsy girls in life & litis launching our first issue! YA novelists and readergirlz divas, Di...
Posted by Dia Calhoun on Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:20:00 PST

the readergirlz tour

To kick-off our readergirlz launch, the readergirlz divas will be going on tour in March. What better month to begin than Women's History Month?   We'll be presenting our fun panel TODAY'S GIRLS,...
Posted by Dia Calhoun on Thu, 08 Feb 2007 01:37:00 PST

ALA MIDWINTER

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my booth at ALA Midwinter. It was a thrill to meet so many wonderful librarians and sign so many books! I hope everyone enjoys AVIELLE OF RHIA. Best, D...
Posted by Dia Calhoun on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 08:38:00 PST

Starting a new young adult fantasy novel

I am working on a new young adult fantasy novel, working title, DARK CHORALE. I'm in the note-taking, journaling phase--so difficult. Definitely the hardest phase of writing for me because i...
Posted by Dia Calhoun on Fri, 22 Dec 2006 03:38:00 PST