The Uber-Talented Simone Elkeles

I was lucky enough to get to spend some quality time with Simone last Friday. We were both invited to a special luncheon for Illinois authors. There were 45 authors in attendance and each author sat with a table of teachers and librarians. Local art classes even made posters depicting our books. It was super cool. But best of all, I got to catch up with Simone. If you have never had the pleasure of meeting Simone, I highly suggest it. She is hilarious and so full of energy. I swear I get a buzz just being around her!

Simone has had some very exciting news recently. First off, the Illinois Association of Teachers of English has named her the 2008 Illinois Author of the Year. They are having a big shin dig in her honor in October. As if that weren't enough, she recently sold her fourth (and personal favorite) book.

Author of Leaving Paradise and How to Ruin a Summer Vacation Simone Elkeles' ZERO TOLERANCE(changed to PERFECT CHEMISTRY), a Romeo and Juliet story about a gang member who wants to change his life for the girl on the right side of the tracks, but the consequences of leaving the gang are more than he bargained for, to Emily Easton at Walker, by Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency

Check out all the awards that Simone's first three books have gotten.

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation: ISBN: 978-0-7387-0961-1
Voted #3 on the Top Ten Teen book of the year (2007) by YALSA, the young adult division of the American Library Association (www.ala.org/teenstopten)
Silver medal in the (IPPY’s) independent publisher book awards in the Multicultural Children’s fiction category
Finalist in the 2007 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest
Finalist in the 2007 National Readers Choice Awards
Finalist in the 2007Aspen Gold book awards
Winner, Chick Lit Stiletto contest in the Young Adult category, 2005

Leaving Paradise: ISBN: 978-0-7387-1018-1
Book Sense (independent book stores) “2007 Summer Picks” List
Chosen for Barnes & Noble’s Popular Teen Reads table for September, 2007
Video trailer for Leaving Paradise a finalist in the Cameo Book Trailer Awards in the professional category (watch it at http://www.simoneelkeles.com/)
Nominated, Cybil award 2007

How to Ruin my Teenage Life: ISBN: 978-0-7387-1019-8
Nominated, Cybil award 2007
An Association of Jewish Libraries 2008 Notable Book for Teen Readers

I know, right? Like how about leaving some awards for the rest of us? Just kidding, Simone. May your list of sales and awards keep growing for many years to come!

xo,

Stephanie

www.stephaniehale.com