Ellen Hopkins, Author of Nine New York Times Bestsellers, Signs Two-Book Deal With Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
NEW YORK, NY – Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing announced today that it has signed two new titles with New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins.
The two-book deal, which is for world rights, was brokered by Justin Chanda, Vice President & Publisher of Margaret K. McElderry Books, and Laura Rennert of Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Inc. The first book, Chameleon, will be published in Fall 2016.
Ellen Hopkins—who has been called “the bestselling living poet in the country” by mediabistro.com—has over four million books in print, many reaching #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Garnering critical review attention, Hopkin’s award-winning novels are well known for her no-holds-barred approach to tackling tough issues facing today’s teens. These two new titles will continue to deal with teens in crisis and will be written in Hopkins’s signature verse style.
In Chameleon, Arielle Pearson has moved around a lot—mostly because her father can’t keep a job. Her father, who is ex-military, constantly reminds Arielle of her absent mother and after a few drinks he’s happy to offer ugly details, claiming her lesbian mother chose another woman over her family. After a little more than a year living in Sonora, Arielle is hopeful that she’ll be able to finish her junior year without pulling up stakes. She has an ally in Monica Torres and as Arielle will discover that closeness is evolving into love. Then, Arielle’s mother arrives and Arielle discovers a painful truth—her mother didn’t leave her. Her father kidnapped her and her mom has been searching for her ever since. She wants to take Arielle home with her, but Arielle feels no connection and despite what her dad did, she loves him. She pushes her mother away, devastating both of them, and once she’s gone (again) Arielle is torn. Monica’s devotion sees her through, and with her help Arielle makes some tough decisions.
Chameleon is a coming of age story that examines parental alienation and poses the question: when love is buried by lies, can it be unearthed again?
“Ellen Hopkins is a fearless person and writer,” said Justin Chanda, VP Publisher of Margaret K. McElderry Books. “She has always challenged her readers, and millions of teens have proven they are up for that challenge. We are very proud to continue this amazing publishing partnership.”
“Simon & Schuster has championed my work through praise, challenges, awards, and controversy for over a decade,” says Ellen Hopkins. “I can’t imagine a more supportive team, and am thrilled to remain a member of this esteemed publishing family.”
Hopkins’s next young adult novel, Traffick, which is the sequel to #1 New York Times bestselling Tricks, hits stores in November 2015.
Ellen Hopkins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical,Tricks, Fallout, Perfect, Tilt, Smoke, and Rumble, as well as the adult novels Triangles, Collateral, and the forthcoming Love Lies Beneath. She lives with her family in Carson City, Nevada, where she has founded Ventana Sierra, a nonprofit youth housing and resource initiative. Visit her at EllenHopkins.com and on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter at @EllenHopkinsYA. For more information on Ventana Sierra, go to VentanaSierra.org.
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