Jenn Bennett

Jenn Bennett is an American author of novels and short fiction for adults and teens. Her notable works include Kindling the Moon, The Anatomical Shape of a Heart (aka Night Owls), and Bitter Spirits. Her books have received critical acclaim and award recognition.

Personal life

Bennett was born in Germany.^[1] After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Troy University,^[2][3] she has lived in a number of places and traveled extensively.^[4] She currently resides in Atlanta with her husband.^[5]

Career

Arcadia Bell series

Bennett's debut novel, Kindling the Moon released from Pocket Books in July 2011. It is the first book in the Arcadia Bell series. Set in Central California, the story follows Arcadia "Cady" Bell, an occult magician and co-owner of a demon-friendly Tiki bar, who must track down a demon to prove her parents' innocence.^[6][7] A review from Romantic Times called the first novel "an impressive debut."^[8] Locus Magazine said it was "a solid start to a hot new urban fantasy series."^[9]

The second Arcadia Bell novel, Summoning the Night, was released in April 2012. Romantic Times awarded it 4-1/2 stars and "Top Pick" status, calling it "riveting."^[10] The book was also nominated for a "Reviewers' Choice Book Award" from Romantic Times.^[11]

Binding the Shadows, her third novel, was released in May 2013. Romantic Times again awarded it 4-1/2 stars and another "Top Pick" status: "From the opening line to the terrifying cliffhanger ending, this is an adventure readers won’t soon forget!"^[12] The final book in the series, Banishing the Dark, received praise from Publishers Weekly ("exciting all the way through")^[13] and a 4-1/2 stars "Top Pick" status from Romantic Times and was nominated for a "Reviewers' Choice Book Award.^[14]

Roaring Twenties series

In 2013, Bennett revealed that Berkley Books had acquired two books in a new historical paranormal romance series.^[15] Her first novel in this series, Bitter Spirits, released January 7, 2013 to highly positive critical reviews, receiving a Top Pick in Romantic Times ("stupendous") ^[16] (and later shortlisted for its Seal of Excellence ^[17]) and garnering coveted starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly ("spooky, sexy") and Booklist ("absolutely delightful").^[18][19] It was also only one of six romances published in 2014 to be named on Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2014.^[20] The book is set in a haunted San Francisco in the 1920s and features a romance between a spirit medium and a bootlegger.^[21] The second book in the series, Grim Shadows, released in June 2014 to positive reviews from Booklist ("a rollicking-good tale") and Romantic Times ("astounding").^[22][23] The final book in the series, Grave Phantoms, was awarded RT Book Reviews' Seal of Excellence.^[24]

Young Adult fiction

In 2014, Bennett announced that Feiwel and Friends, a division of Macmillan Publishers had acquired her debut young adult contemporary novel, The Anatomical Shape of a Heart, a romance between two aspiring artists living in San Francisco. Titled Night Owls internationally, foreign rights for the book were also acquired by Simon & Schuster UK, German publisher Carlsen Verlag's Königskinder imprint. Portuguese and Spanish translations were sold to South American publisher V & R Editoras, and Turkish rights went to Marti.^[25][26] Described by Kirkus Reviews as "a thought-provoking exploration of art as an expression of love and pain,^[27] the book received a Top Pick from RT Book Reviews and won a 2015 Reviewers' Choice Award for YA Protagonist from the magazine. It also won the 2016 RITA Award for Young Adult Romance.^[28][29]

In 2015, it was reported that Bennett had sold two more YA contemporary novels to Simon and Schuster. The first, Alex, Approximately, was pitched as a teen update of You've Got Mail. It is scheduled to publish simultaneously in the U.S. and U.K. in Spring of 2017. Translation rights have sold to several countries.^[30][31]

Bibliography

Arcadia Bell series

1. Kindling the Moon (July 2011, ISBN 978-1-4516-2052-8)
2. Summoning the Night (April 2012, ISBN 978-1-4516-2053-5)
3. Leashing the Tempest (December 2012, ISBN 978-1-4516-9507-6)
4. Binding the Shadows (May 2013, ISBN 978-1-4516-9508-3)
5. Banishing the Dark (May 2014, ISBN 978-1-4516-9509-0)

Roaring Twenties series

1. Bitter Spirits (January 2014, ISBN 978-0-4252-6957-2)
2. Grim Shadows (June 2014, ISBN 978-0-4252-6958-9)
3. Grave Phantoms (May 5, 2015, ISBN 978-0-4252-8076-8)

Young adult contemporary romance

1. The Anatomical Shape of a Heart - UK edition titled Night Owls (November 3, 2015, ISBN 978-1-2500-6645-9)
2. Alex, Approximately (Forthcoming, Spring 2017)

References

External links

• Author's Website
• Listing at Goodreads
• Jenn Bennett at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database