Boston Area Author Releases Debut Novel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 7, 2012 -- Hingham, MA -- Debut author AC Gaughen celebrates the release of her first book, SCARLET, a young adult novel that sweeps readers away in this new version of the Robin Hood tale full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

“Scarlet was such a fun character to write,” says Gaughen. “Her voice is incredibly unique, and as a writer, it really propelled the story forward for me.” She’s not your typical damsel in distress; this heroine makes the plans, saves the hero, and wields a set of deadly knives. “She’s tough!” Gaughen says. “It’s a totally new take on Robin Hood, because the legend never really featured a strong, capable, awesomely independent girl before. Scarlet is not afraid to be grumpy and angry and still save the day. I love that about her.”

Encouraging fresh perspective is nothing new for the first time author; she serves as a board member of Boston GLOW, a non-profit where she runs programming dedicated to helping teen girls in underfunded school systems find their voices and use them for positive change. “It’s rewarding,” Gaughen says. “It’s the coolest thing in the world when you see a girl develop confidence in herself and her writing.”

SCARLET debuts February 14th from the Walker Books division of Bloomsbury USA; the author will be signing books at Buttonwood Books in Cohasset, MA on February 14th, and at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, MA on February 21st. More appearances and information are available at www.acgaughen.com.

AC Gaughen is the author of several stories for Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies; she is a longtime freelance writer online and currently works in Boston, MA. She lives in her hometown of Hingham with two mischievously clever goldendoodles.

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Contact:
Katy Hershberger
katy.hershberger@bloomsbury.com

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