some very good news
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I’m posting a day early this week, but I can’t help myself. I have some very good news, and I just got the go-ahead to mention it here.
Here’s the official press release from Penguin:
PENGUIN YOUNG READERS GROUP ACQUIRES HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED DYSTOPIAN NOVEL MATCHED IN HEATED AUCTION
Newcomer Ally Condie’s Futuristic Novel Reminiscent of Brave New World and The Handmaid’s Tale
New York, NY – December 5, 2009 – It was announced today that Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, has acquired Ally Condie’s highly-anticipated dystopian novel MATCHED in a heated auction that included seven major publishers. One of this year’s most talked-about manuscripts, Condie’s futuristic novel tells the story of a teen-aged girl who has waited seventeen years to find out who “the Society” will select for her ideal mate, only to find herself falling in love with someone else. The novel is part of a three book deal brokered by Jodi Reamer of Writers House, LLC and Don Weisberg, President of Penguin Young Readers Group along with Lauri Hornik, President and Publisher of Dutton Children’s Books, and Julie Strauss-Gabel, Associate Publisher of Dutton Children’s Books, who will edit the novel.
Julie Strauss-Gabel commented, “With relatable humanity and formidable tension Ally shows us our future in Matched, a flawed utopia that will make readers crave the passion of uncertainty and cherish the power of the written word. I can’t wait for the world to discover the love story that has already consumed our hearts and minds at Penguin.”
Jodi Reamer remarked, “Reading Matched reminded me of the first time I read the Twilight manuscript. Ally combines the eloquence and dystopian setting of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the passion of Twilight and the game theory of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game to create one of the most provocative novels I have read in a long time.”
Lauri Hornik added, “I find myself talking about this fascinating novel constantly. Not only has Ally delivered a complex, dystopian suspense novel, she has also written an unforgettable tale of forbidden romance.”
Foreign rights for MATCHED have already been sold in Germany, Italy, Brazil.
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CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so excited for you. I knew it would happen.
Ally ~ Wahoo! I’m so excited for you – hoping rights are sold in the UK too
Can’t wait to read it!
Oh this book sounds so fantastic! What wonderful news, congratulations Ally!!!
Oh, Ally! You are amazing! I’m just so proud of you!!!!!
I can’t wait to read it!!! Way to go Ally!
I am so, so, so, so happy for you!!! I can’t wait to read it!
You are definitely deserving of this!! big time congratulations!!
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read your book:)
So excited that you can finally talk about it! That means I can talk about it too..happy day happy day! Ally so proud of you.
You really are the coolest. I am so very proud of you. I CANNOT WAIT to read this book!
Yay, you finally got to announce it!!!! I’m SO excited for you, as you know! (And wow, those were some pretty amazing things Julie and Jodi both said. Wow.) You are so talented and just, wow. Way to go, girl.
Way to go Ally!!! So proud of you. Can’t wait to read it.
Congratulations – you’re amazing!
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read. It sounds amazing!!!
Oh I have goosebumps, that is so exciting. Way to GO!!!
Congratulations, Ally! It sounds so exciting, MATCHED, and I can’t wait to read it!
Awesome doesn’t begin to cover how I feel about your news. So excited for you Ally and inspired! Love ya tons cuz you’re sweet and humble and you deserve it!
Wow! idon’t know what else to say.
Yes I do. When does it come out?
Congratulations on such an incredible achievement! That’s wonderful news.
Matched is not just as good as everything they wrote–it’s better. It has intrigued me from day one and I’m really excited to see it get the attention it deserves. And I’m so happy for you! Good things come to those who work, as I like to say.
Awesome! I am so excited to read it!!! My little Savannah is now a bookworm (reads a book in 2-3 days if time allows), and will surely love it too!
Um, where was I yesterday when everyone was getting on the Ally Wagon? You know I’m thrilled and delighted. As my cute Husband said, it couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Thanks for sharing this wonderful, fantastic news with us! XO
Yay Ally!!! I got goosebumps reading the reviews for your book. You are going places! =)
So, no pressure, right?
Good luck as you go forward with all of this craziness. I can’t help smiling every time I think about all your hard work coming to this end. Congratulations!
congrads – sounds amazing – guess it was “the one”
cant wiat to cheer you on your journey!
can. not. wait.
Ally! YAY for announcements. It could not have happened to someone more amazing! I have been trying to reply on your blog for a while on internet explorer but it won’t let me! Very annoying!
Anywho! You know I love you!
That is Great!!! I can’t wait to read it. You are awesome.
Congratulations. If you become famous you have to pay the fee for the next relay.
That is such a great thing. And so well deserved. It’s awesome to see someone who has put in the time and effort when the returns were pretty small hit it big. Yay for DB authors.
Ally, what an amazing article! This is SO exciting! I am freaking out!!!
Hi Ally,
I’m a YA writer in Utah, so I just wanted to stop by and say congratulations! It’s always a great to see someone who has worked hard for many years find such fabulous success!! Cheers!
Amy Finnegan
Congrats Ally, glad good things are going your way.
Wow! With accolades like that even before it’s published…I’m getting very excited too! Love my UT authors.
Shut-up!! That is such amazing news–I wish I could jump up and down with you and give you a HUGE HUG!! It’s so deserving and I am dying to read it–and make all my friends read it, the mail carrier read it, my neighbors read it…..
Ally, I’m so happy for you. You never cease to amaze me! I can’t wait to read Matched and same goes for me as Jenn, I’m going to try my darnest to get everyone I know to read it.
Wanted to stop by and say congratulations (such an awesome thing!) AND tell you I just made a weird connection. You taught my nieces Kari and Kristi Lowell. They love you and your writing. I’m so happy for you.
Yay! I saw the PW announcement a while back and have been waiting for you to be able to officially put it on your blog. I am so excited for you.
MATCHED sounds great, and I can’t wait to read it.
This is amazing! You’re an inspiration to all of us who strive to carve a writing career out of our toddler’s naptimes!
Super huge congrats! You are on your way
Congratulations! I thought I posted this last week, but it must not have gone through. But I saw your post today… Way to go–it makes me happy to see local girls make good.
Yay! I actually saw this on agent Laurie McClean’s blog as well. It’s the talk of the writing gossip chain. Can I be president of your fan club?
That’s so cool! How long did it take for you to hear back from Dutton? Julie has three chapters of one of my novels right now since May or June of last year. I know she had a baby in September. I look forward to meeting you at the Writing for Young Reader’s conference.
Wow! You have made it to the big time! Congratulations times ten!