Anderson's YA -- Part 2 : Stephanie Hemphill

One of the authors I was most looking forward to meeting at Anderson's YA Conference this year was Stephanie Hemphill. I have fallen in love with writing novels in verse and Stephanie writes in verse. I confess I haven't finished reading WICKED GIRLS, but only because I haven't had the time. I promise a review when I do finish reading it.

WICKED GIRLS is a historical fiction account of the Salem witch trial from the points of view of the young girl accusers.

A couple notes from her speaking at the "In My 'hood" breakout (local authors):

• She describes her book as mean "mean girls crossed with 1692".
• She removed a descriptive line about a character's blond ringlet curls because of the cover picture (straight hair which would not be common in 1692).
• She grew up in the Naperville area and now splits time between Illinois and LA.

Two other note: I loved how she signed my copy (and not just because she called me a poet). Also, she will be doing a reading at Anderson's store in October.