Joy Preble, Kristin Rae & Jennifer Mathieu: book signings and discussions

Murder by the Book presents Joy Preble, Kristin Rae & Jennifer Mathieu.

Jennifer Mathieu will sign and discuss The Truth About Alice (Roaring Brook Press; $16.99).

Jennifer Mathieu started writing stories when she was in kindergarten and now teaches English to middle and high schoolers. She lives in Texas with her husband, her son, her dog, and two cats. Nothing bad has ever been written on the bathroom stall about Jennifer. At least she doesn't think so.

The Truth About Alice is Jennifer's debut novel.

The Truth About Alice
By Jennifer Mathieu

Everyone knows Alice slept with two guys at one party. When Healy High star quarterback, Brandon Fitzsimmons, dies in a car crash, it was because he was sexting with Alice. Ask "anybody." Rumor has it Alice Franklin is a slut. It's written all over the "slut stall" in the girls' bathroom:

"Alice had sex in exchange for math test answers" and "Alice got an abortion last semester." After Brandon dies, the rumors start to spiral out of control. In this remarkable debut novel, four Healy High students tell all they "know" about Alice–and in doing so reveal their own secrets and motivations, painting a raw look at the realities of teen life.

But in this novel from Jennifer Mathieu, exactly what is the truth about Alice? In the end there's only one person to ask: Alice herself.

Joy Preble will sign and discuss The A-Word (Soho Teen; $17.99).

A former English teacher, Joy is the author of the DREAMING ANASTASIA series (Sourcebooks), which blends paranormal romance with historical fiction. The second in that series, HAUNTED, is out now, and the final book of the trilogy,  ANASTASIA FOREVER, was release in Fall 2012.

Another paranormal – about a sixteen-year-old stoner turned guardian angel – THE SWEET DEAD LIFE – is set in Houston and slated for May 2013, from Soho Press. Joy grew up in Chicago but now lives with her family in Houston where she writes full time and frequently gets into wild rumpuses and other mischief. She is not a fan of the Houston summer but does love cowboy boots, going to the rodeo, and the coffee drinks at Empire Café.

The A-Word: A Sweet Dead Life Novel: A Sweet Dead Life Novel
By Joy Preble

Jenna Samuels and her guardian angel brother battle heavenly head-honchos and earthbound bullies in this Texas-set hilarious follow up to "The Sweet Dead Life."

It's been almost a year since Jenna Samuel's stoner brother, Casey, bit the dust and returned as her guardian angel. A year since Casey and his "angel boss," Amber Velasco, saved Jenna's life and helped her foil the bad guys–more or less. A year in which Jenna has solved the true mystery of the universe: how to get one Ryan Sloboda to ask her out.

Jenna's feeling mighty cheery about life and love. But Casey, whose doomed relationship with Lanie Phelps (who has no idea her boyfriend is, well, dead) isn't doing much to distract him, has his own big question: Why is he still hanging around?

Bo Shivers, a heavenly head honcho Jenna and Casey didn't even know existed, might have the answer. Bo knows something big is coming. Something that might just change everything for Jenna Samuels, who once again finds herself up to her non-winged shoulders in heavenly secrets of global proportions–just as she's finally found the perfect Homecoming Dance dress.

Kristin Rae will sign and discuss her debut novel, Wish You Were Italian (Bloomsbury; Hardcover $17.99, Paperback $9.99)

Kristin Rae was born and raised in Texas though her accent would suggest otherwise. She's addicted to books, music, movies, crafty things, and chocolate. A former figure skating coach, LEGO merchandiser, and photographer, she's now happy to create stories while pretending to ignore the carton of gelato in the freezer.

Kristin lives in Houston with her husband and their two boxers. www.kristincreative.blogspot.com

Wish You Were Italian: An If Only novel
By Kristin Rae

Seventeen-year-old Pippa Preston, sent to Italy for a three-month art history program, decides instead to see the country on her own, armed with a list of such goals as eating an entire pizza and falling in love with an Italian, but soon finds herself attracted both to a dangerous local boy and an American archaeology student.