Olympic Gold Medalist and Gymnastic Superstar Shawn Johnson to Publish Debut Young Adult Novel
New York, NY — Olympic gold medalist and reality TV star Shawn Johnson will publish her debut young adult novel, The Flip Side, with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. The novel will published on June 7, 2016, to coincide with the Summer 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Inspired by her own experiences as a fifteen-year-old Olympic gymnast, The Flip Side features high school sophomore Charlie Ryland and her secret quest to become one of the best gymnasts on the planet. Charlie may seem like your average high school teen—but she’s just really good at pretending. Outside of school, Charlie spends all her waking hours training and is determined to keep her double life under wraps.
“I am beyond excited to share The Flip Side with teen readers! Working with Simon & Schuster on this story brought back so many amazing memories of my teenage years, training for the Olympics, and everything it entails,” said Shawn Johnson.
Shawn Johnson has accomplished a lifetime of achievements that include winning two Olympic medals, writing a New York Times bestselling memoir, starting her own business, and establishing a career in broadcasting. Johnson is a 2007 World Champion gymnast, a 2008 Olympic women’s gymnastics gold and silver medalist, and a 2006, 2007, and 2008 gymnastics National Champion—all titles she attained by the time she turned sixteen. At the age of seventeen, she became the youngest-ever contestant on ABC’s eighth season of Dancing with the Stars, and in May 2009 she was crowned champion.
“Shawn Johnson is an incredibly accomplished young woman who has proven her poise and dedication both on the balance beam and off. Whether she’s winning gold medals or writing her debut young adult novel, she doesn’t do anything partway, and she always manages to have fun while she’s at it,” said Kristin Ostby, Senior Editor of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, who acquired the novel.
Ostby acquired World rights from Jennifer Keene at Octagon.
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Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, one of the leading children’s book publishers in the world, is comprised of the following imprints: Aladdin, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Beach Lane Books, Libros para niños, Little Simon®, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Paula Wiseman Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, and Simon Spotlight®. While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and bestselling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such high-profile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy™, Henry & Mudge®, The Hardy Boys®, Nancy Drew®, the Dork Diaries series, the Mortal Instruments series, Mike the Knight, and the original Cupcake Diaries and Creepover series. For more information about Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.
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