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SUCH A PRETTY GIRL -- Meredith was promised nine years of safety, but they only gave her three. Her father, who was sent to prison for sexually abusing Meredith and other children in their small town, has been released on good behavior. He was supposed to be locked up beyond Meredith's eighteenth birthday, when she could legally be free of both her abusive father and her delusional mother who dwells on a fantasy that the three of them will be a happy family once more.
But Meredith is only fifteen, and her father is out of prison...and her mother is bringing him home. And Meredith won't let him hurt her, or anyone else, ever again. No matter what the cost.
Lyrical, suspenseful, and emotionally shattering, Such a Pretty Girl captures a young woman's painful fight for survival -- and her journey back to herself.
My name is Laura Wiess (or Laura Battyanyi, if we went to school together and have known each other forever) and I'm excited to say that my new thriller Such a Pretty Girl, published by MTV Books, came out in January 2007.
Reader email has been amazing, humbling and inspiring, and I send heartfelt thanks to those of you who have written, and to those who have recommended or shared this book with teachers, friends and family. I'm also thrilled that Pretty Girl was recently nominated for ALA's 2008 Best Books for Young Adults, and for YALSA's 2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers.
For those of you who have asked for more, my next MTV book LEFTOVERS is due out in January 2008.
If you'd like to read an excerpt of Pretty Girl, reviews, check out event photos or just want to know more, feel free to head over to my website http://www.laurawiess.com. Thanks again for stopping in, and enjoy!

My Interests

Reading, writing, photography, what-iffing, nature, animals, bugs, very casual gardening, hanging out, good conversations, good strong coffee, laughing, friends, family, being specific, reconnecting with old friends

Movies:

Auntie Mame, Smoke Signals, Skins, Moll Flanders, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974/75 original), Sense & Sensibility (Emma Thompson version), The Haunting of Hill House, True Grit, 13th Warrior, Southern Comfort, Fried Green Tomatoes,

Books:

Way too many to list

My Blog

Happy first day of spring!

It’s the vernal equinox, the robins are singing outside, the wind is blustering, there’s a faint green sheen over the land and it’s spring. All things seem possible again. Rebir...
Posted by laura wiess on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:58:00 PST

back to brunette

Well, this isn’t writing-related but it’s a big move for me, and I’m excited about it so what the heck. For the first time in a LONG time, I’m not a redhead anymore. Thanks to ...
Posted by laura wiess on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:48:00 PST

Thanks, Illinois!

I just got word that SUCH A PRETTY GIRL has been nominated for the 2009 Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award! It’s one of twenty-two final titles and was nominated by high scho...
Posted by laura wiess on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:03:00 PST

Want to talk Leftovers?

If you and your bookclub have read LEFTOVERS and want to ask me anything about it -- on the phone! -- then head on over to Simon & Schuster's site here http://www.bookclubreader.com and ...
Posted by laura wiess on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:01:00 PST

Such a Pretty Girl BBYA & QP 2008

Well, if I sound shocked and thrilled it's because I absolutely am. SUCH A PRETTY GIRL was just named one of the the American Library Association's 2008 Best Books for Young Adults and Quick Picks for...
Posted by laura wiess on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:29:00 PST

REPOSSESSED Printz Honor Winner

Hooray hooray hooray to A.M. Jenkins, whose wonderful YA novel REPOSSESSED just won a Printz Honor Award! I love this book and its author, and couldn't be happier. And sincere congratulations to all t...
Posted by laura wiess on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:16:00 PST

YA FRESH

I was lucky enough to spend some time with author Kelly Parra (Graffiti Girl, MTV Books) at her blog YA Fresh recently and the interview is up here: http://yafresh.blogspot.com/Thanks, Kelly! It was m...
Posted by laura wiess on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:40:00 PST

Leftovers Release -- Countdown til Jan 1, 2008

We've been running crazy here prepping for houseguests and a party but I can't believe there's only four days left til Leftovers hits the stands. I'm hoping to drop in at my local bookstore ...
Posted by laura wiess on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 07:22:00 PST

Something About the Jingle Horse

Every time yes, every single time I hear or sing, "Giddyup jingle horse, pick up your feet," from Jingle Bell Rock it chokes me up in a laughing "Oh come ON, why am I so attached to this jingle ho...
Posted by laura wiess on Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:37:00 PST

Holiday Wish

Mollie over at TeenTroves reviewed LEFTOVERS so if you'd like to know more, head on over here http://teentroves.com/blog/ . Thank you, Mollie, and I'm so glad you enjoyd it!Two wee...
Posted by laura wiess on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:58:00 PST