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Teen author Lauren Hudson racks up recognitions; will be at Southern Kentucky Book Fair Saturday


Staff report

Teen author Lauren Hudson, a high school junior at Dixie Heights, has garnered more than a dozen awards for her two books, Our Best Tomorrow – Students Teaching Capitalism to America and The Ascension, including a recent Best Young Adult Book Award at the London Book Festival.

Lauren Hudson, with a copy of The Ascension

During the book’s initial release, it charted as an Amazon Top 10 Hot New Release and Bestseller in the Categories of Unexplained Mysteries, Time Travel and Young Adult Fantasy.

An imaginative conversation with a fellow student in middle school has turned into an international adventure for the Villa Hills teen author.  That conversation about teens with special powers led to Hudson’s first fantasy fiction novel entitled “The Ascension,” published by Headline Books.

After returning from London where she received the Best Young Adult Book award at the London Book Festival, the Dixie Heights Junior began sweeping awards at book festivals in the United States, including Grand Prize at the Great Southwest Book Festival, along with winning Best Young Adult Book awards at the Great Southeast and Great Northwest Book Festivals.

New adventures await Hudson and the characters she created for “The Ascension.”

She recently authored a television series pilot script which was recognized at the Cincinnati Film Society’s River-Reel Film Festival in March.  She will also make presentations to inspire young authors at the upcoming Southern Kentucky Book Festival in Bowling Green, Kentucky on April 21.

“The Ascension,” which charted as an Amazon Top 10 Hot New Release and Bestseller in several categories, tells the story of three teens whose lives turn upside down on their fifteenth birthdays.  As members of a race of guardian angels, they fight battles to confront evil and help mankind.

Hudson praises her soccer team, drama club, and the Dixie Heights community for supporting her efforts.

“My school has allowed time off to travel to promote the book and we’re exploring some independent study time during which I will be able to write the sequel.  My friends at school were the first to line up at local book signings.  I couldn’t have asked for more support and encouragement.”

Among her awards and recognitions are:

Southwest Book Festival – GRAND PRIZE WINNER and Best Young Adult Book
London Book Festival – Best Young Adult Book
Northwest Book Festival – Best Young Adult Book
Southeast Book Festival – Best Young Adult Book
Readers’ Choice Five Star Review
Amazon Five Star Rating

Hudson will appear and present at the Southern Kentucky Book Fest at the Knicely Conference Center, 2355 Nashville Road, in Bowling Green on April 21.  She will be signing copies of The Ascension from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and from 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. CST.

She will also be presenting tips for budding authors, young and old, during her presentation at noon, entitled “Flights of Fantasy & Visits to Beyond.”

The Southern Kentucky Book Fest is one of the state’s largest literary events, drawing thousands of readers, librarians and teachers from across the region.

Hudson has also appeared multiple times on national television and radio.

Her television series script placed as a semi-finalist in the Nashville Film Festival’s young screenwriter category.

The Ascension is a young adult fantasy/fiction tale of three siblings whose lives are turned upside down when they learn their true identities as part of a race of guardian angels.

Hudson has also authored a play, based on Our Best Tomorrow, which has been produced to teach students about the American dream. Our Best Tomorrow, the book, is now used in several states to teach principles of capitalism to middle school and high school students.

In Our Best Tomorrow, Hudson presents the stories of childhood friends who grow up to achieve in business, politics and life through education, determination, and hard work.

To learn more about “The Ascension,” click here.


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