Jessica Burkhart
Encyclopedia
Jessica Ashley better known by her pen name Jessica Burkhart, is an American
author
. Burkhart works primarily in the tween fiction genre, and is the writer of the Canterwood Crest
series of novels.
, and later developed a fondness for writing. Her freelance work was eventually featured in a number of magazines, including The Writer
. She began college at age 16 and graduated in 2007 with a BA in English from Florida State University
.
. While browsing Burkhart's blog, a literary agent learned of the novel and offered to read it, which eventually led her to sign the author. Afterward, Burkhart's novel, Take the Reins, went through a series of revisions before being put on submission. In May 2007, she signed a four-book deal with Simon & Schuster
. As a result, Take the Reins became the first novel in the Canterwood Crest series—a story about disparate schoolgirls engaged in equestrian competitions at an academy.
Throughout 2008, Burkhart worked on additional books in the series while helping to promote the first one online, largely through blog
ging and vlogging. The Canterwood Crest series was later extended. In 2010, she announced plans to write in the young-adult genre under her own surname, while maintaining her work in middle-grade fiction.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. Burkhart works primarily in the tween fiction genre, and is the writer of the Canterwood Crest
Canterwood Crest
Canterwood Crest is a series of pre-teen novels by American author Jessica Burkhart, premiering with the 2009 book Take the Reins. The series follows young student Sasha Silver as she enters the Canterwood Crest Academy, an elite school housing highly competitive equestrian riders...
series of novels.
Personal life and education
During her childhood, Jessica Burkhart took an interest in equestrianismEquestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, and later developed a fondness for writing. Her freelance work was eventually featured in a number of magazines, including The Writer
The Writer
The Writer is a monthly magazine for writers published by the Kalmbach Publishing Company of Waukesha, Wisconsin. It was first established by William H. Hills and Robert Luce, two Boston Globe reporters, as "a monthly magazine to interest and help all literary workers", in April 1887. Until the...
. She began college at age 16 and graduated in 2007 with a BA in English from Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
.
Career
In 2006, she completed a manuscript as part of National Novel Writing MonthNational Novel Writing Month
National Novel Writing Month is an annual internet-based creative writing project which challenges participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel between November 1 and November 30...
. While browsing Burkhart's blog, a literary agent learned of the novel and offered to read it, which eventually led her to sign the author. Afterward, Burkhart's novel, Take the Reins, went through a series of revisions before being put on submission. In May 2007, she signed a four-book deal with Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
. As a result, Take the Reins became the first novel in the Canterwood Crest series—a story about disparate schoolgirls engaged in equestrian competitions at an academy.
Throughout 2008, Burkhart worked on additional books in the series while helping to promote the first one online, largely through blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ging and vlogging. The Canterwood Crest series was later extended. In 2010, she announced plans to write in the young-adult genre under her own surname, while maintaining her work in middle-grade fiction.
Canterwood Crest
- Take the Reins (January 2009)
- Chasing Blue (March 2009)
- Behind the Bit (May 2009)
- Triple Fault (August 2009)
- Best Enemies (October 2009)
- Little White Lies (December 2009)
- Rival Revenge (January 2010)
- Home Sweet Drama (April 2010)
- City Secrets (July 2010)
- Elite Ambition (September 2010)
- Scandals, Rumors, Lies (November 2010)
- Unfriendly Competition (January 2011)
- Initiation (January, 2, 2012)
- Popular (May, 1, 2012)