Jennifer Brown

It's officially summer break! We've already had a sleepover (7 boys), gone to the swimming pool 6 times since last Thursday, been bowling (I bowled a 108 and a 101! Woohoo!), signed up for the library summer reading program, bought bags and bags of paperbacks at a used book sale, and played more baseball and tee-ball games than I can count!

Because it's been so busy, I've had precious little time to update my blog, so I'm just going to drop in with some notes.

*I have been tirelessly working on copyedits for my next YA book, right now called Bitter End. I'm so excited to be at this stage of the process, and I've learned so much. Did you know that "Dumpster" must be capitalized? Neither did I! Copyeditors amaze me. Right now I have a tentative release date of May 1st. What a perfect birthday present this will be!

*Hate List has been chosen by the John Carroll School for their Summer Reading Program. This is seriously one of the proudest moments I've had since the book came out. I am so honored.

*Hate List has made VOYA's Perfect Tens list, a list of books that has received a rating of 5Q for literary quality and 5P for teen appeal. 

*Hate List has also been nominated for the 2011 New Hampshire Flume Award! This is a teen reader's choice award, and what I'm loving most about this nomination is that my book is on the same list as some of my favorite books EVER! So even if I don't win the award... dude, I totally win just by being on the list.

*I have found out that my whirlwind German reading tour this fall will include the cities of Munich, Stuttgart, Speyer, and Frankfurt, where I'll get to be a part of the 2010 Frankfurt Book Fair! Words cannot describe the excitement I feel about this. (Okay, some words can. Words such as terrified, scared-to-death, nervous-as-hell, hyperventilation...). I simply cannot wait to meet my German publisher!

That's it for now! Back to the pool!