Now that contracts have been signed (wahoo!) I can officially announce my next fiction novel will be released by Simon and Schuster as part of Aladdin's MIX series. It's exciting to be in such fine MIX company as authors Barbara Dee and Lauren Barnholdt. My book is called Stealing Popular and the story revolves around a feisty middle school girl, who's had enough of the popular kids getting everything in life. So what does she do? She snags fame, glory, and success from the undeserving popular kids only to bestow these gifts on the unpopular, dorky, and forgotten (I could have used a little of that magic in my younger years). Of course, every action has a consequence and the result is a little more than our modern-day Robin Hood bargained for! I'll be working on final revisions this summer and the book will be released in the fall of 2012. More to come on this one ...
Also, I've just learned that publisher Autentica Editora has picked up the rights to publish all three Secrets of a Lab Rat titles in Brazil. With luck, No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay), Mom, There's a Dinosaur in Beeson's Lake, and Scab for Treasurer? will be released in South America by Christmas!
Finally, I opened my e-mail this morning to a review of Secrets of a Lab Rat 3: Scab for Treasurer? from School Library Journal. Gulp. As you may know, I make it a point to never read reviews, unless they are good, which this one was (I think my editor knows me well enough not to send the ugly ones). Here's a little of what SLJ had to say:  
"This book, with its amusing sidebar secrets and lists, is simple and funny enough to pull in reluctant readers, and youngsters will jump right in and enjoy the humor, fast-paced action, and gross-out moments."
Thank you, SLJ! So, all in all, a pleasant week with some nice surprises. Of course, we haven't hit Friday yet ...