Asheville writer Megan Shepherd’s book debut set for Jan. 29

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Congratulations to loyal reader Megan Shepherd of Asheville. In 2011, Shepherd was working at the Asheville Parks and Recreation Department and pursuing her writing in her spare time when she landed a big-deal publishing deal. She quit her job, and her first book will be out on Jan. 29. Very cool.

Here’s the info:

Asheville-based author Megan Shepherd’s debut novel, THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER, will be published by HarperCollins on January 29, 2013. A launch party to celebrate the book will be held at Highland Books in Brevard, NC, from 5-7:30 pm on January 29, 2013. The launch party will feature live music, wine & refreshments, giveaways, and an opportunity to have the book signed and meet the author. The public is invited to attend.

Shepherd will also participate in a Young Adult author panel at Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville NC at 7pm on February 2, 2013, also open to the public.

Shepherd is the daughter of Tim and Peggy Hansen of Brevard, owners of Highland Books, which recently celebrated its 35^th year in operation as the community’s independent bookstore. Shepherd says, “I couldn’t be happier to be celebrating the publication of my first novel in my family’s bookstore, which was a second home for me, and where I fell in love with books and reading.”

THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER is the first in a Gothic thriller trilogy for teens inspired by literary classics. THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER, which was inspired by HG Wells’ THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU, tells the story of a 16-year-old girl in 1894 London who travels to her estranged father’s island and finds murder, madness, and romance. Subsequent titles in the series are inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE and Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN. HarperCollins will publish the book in hardcopy, e-book, and audiobook.

Foreign rights for the trilogy have sold in the UK/Australia, Brazil, Spain, France, Turkey, Slovakia, Taiwan, and China. The trilogy was optioned for film by Paramount with Fake Empire (creators of GOSSIP GIRL and THE O.C.) producing, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa screenwriting.

Shepherd previously worked for the City of Asheville’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts division before leaving in 2011 to write full-time. She was born in Brevard and attended Brevard High School and UNC-Chapel Hill. She currently lives in Asheville with her husband and two cats and can often be found frequenting bookstores and coffee shops downtown. She is represented by Adams Literary, based in Charlotte NC.

More information on Shepherd and THE MADMAN’S DAUGHTER can be found at www.meganshepherd.com or by contacting Caroline Sun, Senior Publicity Manager, HarperCollins Children’s Books, at 212-207-7753 or [email protected]