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Author Jennifer Walkup ’04 Gains Accolades for Second Novel

Jennifer Walkup’s new young adult fiction novel, This Ordinary Life, explores a teenager’s dream of becoming a radio deejay while struggling with her brother’s epilepsy, her mother’s alcoholism, and her own broken heart.  Her realistic take on contemporary life apparently struck a chord with bestselling author Kim Michele Richardson, who included the book in her Huffington Post blog post on her favorite books of 2015.

Walkup told local online news site tapinto.net that she had long wanted to bring epilepsy to the forefront. “I unfortunately know so many people who have it and I wanted to show that you can still live a normal life,” she said. “There is just so much wrong information out there about it and so many stigmas surrounding it.” In addition to using her book to raise awareness, Walkup also donates a portion of the proceeds from her books to the National Epilepsy foundation.

Her first young adult novel, Second Verse, a romantic thriller, was the winner of a 2013 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, receiving gold in the young adult fiction – horror/mystery category.  In addition to writing novels, the West Orange resident works as an editor and creative writing instructor. To read her blog or learn more about her books, visit jenniferwalkup.com.

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