Congratulations to Jess Rothenberg on the release of her debut novel, The Catastrophic History of You and Me (Dial, 2012). From the promotional copy:
Brie’s life ends at sixteen: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn’t love her, and the news breaks her heart–literally.
But now that she’s D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy Brie loved and lost–and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there’s Patrick, Brie’s mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul…who just might hold the key to her forever after.
With Patrick’s help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she’s ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?
Cynsational Notes
Jess Rothenberg lives in Brooklyn, New York. She received her BA from Vassar College and is pursuing her MFA in Children’s and Young Adult Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She recently gave up her job as a children’s book editor to write full time. This is her first book.
What’s Your Biggest Stumbling Block in the Writing Process and How Do You Overcome It? from Wastepaper Prose. Note: Jess and thirteen other authors chime in on this question.
Full disclosure: Jess is one of my former students. I’m so thrilled for her success!
As I have thought and said before, I might have to quit my day job to have time to read all these new promising books. The premise of this title is intriquing. Just the ticket for my teen readers.
Fantastic title and engaging trailer. Makes me want to dive right in.
Margie & Leslie, it's not a manuscript I worked with her on, but I was offered the honor of reading it in advance and offering a blurb. It's absolutely terrific.