Forgive the blog silence, Minions, but Auntie Heather has been travelling lately (in fact, I got back from LA Times Festival of Books on Sunday afternoon and I’m typing this while sitting at the airport in Saint Louis, on my way to the Romantic Times Convention in Columbus, OH until May 2nd), not to mention dealing with monster edits on TWELFTH GRADE KILLS (yes…AGAIN. Like the fifth round of edits. But only the best for my Minion Horde!). But I write to you now with excellent news. News I have had to keep secret for quite some time.

WE WON! We won an award that I have been hoping so badly that we would win, Minions! EIGHTH GRADE BITES is the 2010 Truman Readers Award winner here in Missouri! YAY, US!!!

The best part of this award is that you Missouri Minions chose the winner. Which means you really like me (& Vlad, of course), and I am humbled beyond belief. Thank you!

And if you’re not in Missouri, thank you too! Because without you, I’d just be plain ol’ Heather. But with you, I’m Auntie Heather, Supreme Ruler of the Minion Horde!

By the way…if you want constant updates on me and what I’m up to, follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/heatherbrewer. Even if you don’t have a twitter account (which are free and easy to get), you can still read my updates.

A new contest is coming soon, so watch the Win Things page….can you say HOODIES???

I love happy news! The UK/AUS sale of The Chronicles of Vladimnir Tod is official! Check out this fangtastic press release!

I couldn’t be more pleased about this, Minions. I’ve been waiting a LONG, LONG time for foreign sales, and it may have taken me until I reached the end of the series, but it’s totally been worth the wait. And the folks at Penguin UK/AUS hve been so friendly and amazing already. I’m sure we’ll be very happy together.

Almost as happy as I am with my wonderful husband, who somehow managed to pull off the miracle of all miracles. If you’ve heard me speak at events, you’ll know just how much this gift means to me.

That’s right! It’s a first edition copy of Carrie by Stephen King. And EVEN BETTER, it’s signed! And EVEN BETTER THAN THAT…it’s signed TO ME, by the man himself!!!

It says “For Heather – With best wishes and admiration for all your hard work. Oh! And with love from Paul, and my niece, Kathy – Stephen King 3/25/10 P.S. I didn’t have a trust fund either ”

I cried when Paul gave it to me. I cried when I read Stephen’s inscription. I cried again today when I saw it on my table. It just means so much to me. This was the book, and the author, that showed me what my dreams were, that made me see what I wanted to be when I grew up. Stephen King changed my life forever, and I’m eternally grateful. And then yesterday, when Paul gave me that book, Stephen King changed my life again. My husband is the greatest husband alive, and I owe him my life for being so good to me, and getting it – really getting it. (Love you, Paul!)

And none of this would have been possible without Stephen’s niece Kathy and my ever-helpful agent, Michael Bourret. You people ROCK!!!

It’s an intriguing irony that the book that kick started my dreams is about a wildly unpopular girl in high school…

Okay, Minions, so you may have noticed the lack of blogging around here. And the lack of event pics! But I swear to Vlad I have a great excuse. No, I didn’t forget or lose my camera this time. No, monsters from the Deep Dark Awful didn’t whisk me away in the middle of the night (but thanks for asking). In fact, my excuse, and my FANGtastic news….

…..wait for it…..

is that I’ve been busy feeling dizzy! Because ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS is a New York Times Bestseller!!!! I debuted at #5 on the series list, and cracking that series list is next to impossble…let along at #5. I also managed to grab #69 on the USA Today bestseller list AND #13 on the Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list!

So. Now people around the world will refer to me as “New York Times Bestselling Author Heather Brewer”.

But you, my Minions, may call me Auntie Heather.

And to celebrate being #5…I’m going to give away FIVE hoodies to random Minions who comment here. Your choice between the pullover and the zip-up. I’ll ick awinner on the 22nd. GO!!!

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!!!! If your name is listed here, please email Auntie Heather’s assistant, Paul at paul@heatherbrewer.com and give him your mailing address, along with type of hoodie you prefer.

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