No, you are not experiencing deja vu: It's two Audrey Vernick book deal announcements in two consecutive weeks! Last week we mentioned that Audrey has twenty books published or under contract, and today we are pleased to share details about one of those, which we couldn't announce until an illustrator was secured.

Those of you who know Audrey and her books know that she has a thing for baseball. Some of her most successful projects are picture book biographies of people associated with the sport. We're so pleased that her latest subject is Max Patkin, a professional ballplayer turned baseball clown (whom I personally remember from BULL DURHAM). Audrey will publish this latest book, A CLOWN WALKED INTO A BALLPARK, with Jennifer Greene at Clarion, who also coached BROTHERS AT BAT and the forthcoming KID FROM DIAMOND STREET to publication (as well as many of Audrey's non-baseball-related books). Jennifer has signed up the wonderful Jenn Bower to illustrate, and her comedic touch should be perfect for this one!

Huge congratulations once again, Audrey!

—Erin