JAY ASHER has worked at an independent bookstore, an outlet bookstore, a chain bookstore, and two public libraries. Jays first writing award earned him a free fruit smoothie every day for an entire year. More recently, Thirteen Reasons Whywon him the Smartwriters.com Write-It-Now Award, and the 2003 SCBWI Work in Progress grant. He was also named one of the Hot Men in Childrens Literature by the librarian-run website A Fuse 8 Production.