BOOKS FOR ANNOYING 13-YEAR-OLDS: Parents know that the books they like may not always be the choices of their teen-aged readers. Indiana-based Tanglewood Press publisher Peggy Tierney has been “inspired by Ursula Nordstrom's statement that she published good books for bad children. We simply want to publish books that we think kids will love, that will make them want to read and that will help them realize that books can be one of the greatest sources of entertainment." Through her previous job at the Welfare League in Washington, D.C., Tierney met Audrey Penn, known best for her New York Times bestseller The Kissing Hand. Penn wanted to publish her teen book Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove, but knew characters such as 13-year-old Stefanie could be unlikable to adults – and probably mainstream publishers. "I didn't write the book for adults. If you've ever met a 13-year old girl, they're annoying as hell," Penn said. Tierney’s press chose Penn’s book as its first. Since then, Tanglewood Press has published two more books and has been profiled in Publishers Weekly. Tierney will publish two other books this year. The press’s most recent release was It All Began With a Bean, by Katie McKy, a story about what happens when everyone passes gas at once. “I like edgy,” concludes Tierney.

- posted by Michael Shay @ 10:06 AM