Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham ISBN: 9780316283939
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers on May 19th 2015
Genres: General, Legends, Myths, Fables, Love & Romance, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 320
Goodreads
Meet Scarlett, a smart, sarcastic fifteen-year-old, ready to take on crime in her hometown. When Scarlett agrees to investigate a local boy's suicide, she figures she's in for an easy case and a quick buck. But it doesn't take long for suicide to start looking a lot like murder.
As Scarlett finds herself deep in a world of cults, curses, and the seemingly supernatural, she discovers that her own family secrets may have more to do with the situation than she thinks...and that cracking the case could lead to solving her father's murder.
Jennifer Latham delivers a compelling story and a character to remember in this one-of-a-kind debut novel.
Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Goodreads
About Jennifer:
I write because it’s the only job I’ve been able to stick to for more than two years. Seriously.
I’ve lived lots of different places. Here’s the list: New York City; San Francisco; Augusta, GA; Buffalo, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Madrid; Providence, RI; and now…Tulsa, OK.
I’ve had some really weird and really normal jobs. The weirdest was helping out with autopsies. The one I’d go back to if I couldn’t write is being a school psychologist. The one I still do sometimes is teach yoga.
I live with my two daughters, two dogs, a cat, three turtles, three hermit crabs, a bunch of fish, and a husband (mine, of course).
I love watching people.
And I love writing about the people who live inside my head, even when they don’t play nice.
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PLEASE WELCOME JENNIFER TO BOOKHOUNDS YA
I asked Jennifer a question:
How has all of the different jobs you have held contributed to your writing?
What a fun question!
My very first “real” job in high school (besides a whole lot of babysitting) was organizing activities for kids at a Boys and Girls Club. I also worked as a grocery store cashier and a chemistry tutor. In college, I kept play-by-play records for the football team, tutored some more, babysat some more, and worked at a food bank. During my summers, I typed up pathology reports and helped out with autopsies.
After college I did secretarial and temp work, sterilized test tubes in a virology lab, worked with HIV patients in a maximum security prison, counseled people with drug addictions, did psychological testing, taught undergraduate psychology classes, and eventually worked in a middle school as a psychologist. I also filled in as an English teacher for a year, and learned very quickly that being a good classroom teacher takes a special something I don’t have! I did turn out to be a pretty decent yoga teacher, though. Probably because everyone in the class wanted to be there and most people left feeling really good.
Looking back, I think I never settled into any one career because I craved challenges and new things. I wanted to meet new people and think about the world in different ways, too. And sure, I wrote a little on the side, sure, but I think I knew I’d be a better writer in the end if I spent time gathering up a big old stockpile of experiences. That stockpile is what I draw on when I’m writing – dreaming up characters, imagining their adventures and the places they’ll go.
All those jobs also taught me how to work hard. Which is a good thing, since writing takes a whole lot of dedication, not to mention the ability to stick with it even when things aren’t coming easy. I love writing, though. It’s what I’ve been meant to do all along. Well, that, and torturing my kids. But in the end, the kids will grow up and move away and have adventures all their own. And I’ll still be here, pecking away at my laptop, dredging up memories and using them to help me do the one job I plan on keeping for the rest of my life. Because I’m a writer now. And it is wonderful!
Thanks so much for including me on your blog
. As requested, I’ve included pictures of my writing buddies: Fin (the Great Pyrenees mix) and Molly (the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel).
Giveaway Details:
10 winners will receive a finished copy of SCARLETT UNDERCOVER. US Only.
I love your writing buddies. Great Pyranees are so mellow.
Thanks for all your sweet comments. Good luck with the giveaway 🙂
The synopsis of this book sounds really cool! Plus, I really liked the author’s answer! 😉
Thanks for the Awesome chance to win a copy of your book!
That’s a lot of jobs. I got tired just reading the list. No wonder you stick with writing. Don’t be so sure the kids leave…they sometimes come back. your book sounds good. I’d love to read it.
What an interesting and informative post. All the careers give you depth. Thanks for this great feature and giveaway.
Wow! I love all the different stuff Jennifer did, especially in college. That sounds so fascinating and diverse. I have no doubt that helped with writing. Those dogs are adorable!
This book has my heart with it’s teen detective in the same vein as Veronica Mars (Who I want to be when I grow up).
Can’t wait to read this one!
Murder Mysteries and Supernatural Stuff are both qualities I look for in a good book! I really look forward to reading your book!
Sounds great!
This book sounds amazing!
Wow! So many jobs at once I don’t know how you did it.