American author Maureen Johnson carries off the crown after winning an online poll
The head that bears the crown ... the writer Maureen Johnson
The American writer Maureen Johnson has carried off the 2012 Queen of Teen award.
Speaking in advance of Friday's ceremony, held in a pretty-pink tent in Surrey, Johnson said she was "thrilled" to win the award, and that she was looking forward to "bringing some American blood to your royal line"
"It is true we rebelled against the very idea of a crown," she said, "but I am prepared to put that aside and rule with a fair and temperate hand, and not to fire a few triumphant rounds in the air during the ceremony."
The prize aims to celebrate authors who deal with "real-life issues in a way that is honest, entertaining and fun" for a teenage audience. It is awarded once every two years on the results of an online poll, and this year saw a blizzard of campaigning from shortlisted authors on Twitter.
The American was up against nine other authors shortlisted in April for the award, who were Cathy Cassidy, Sarah Webb, Joanna Nadin, Cathy Hopkins, Samantha Mackintosh, Chris Higgins, Hayley Long, SC Ransom and James Dawson, the first male author to nominated for the Queen of Teen award. Cathy Cassidy won the crown in 2010, with Louise Rennison picking up the inaugural award in 2008.
Speaking in advance of Friday's ceremony, held in a pretty-pink tent in Surrey, Johnson said she was "thrilled" to win the award, and that she was looking forward to "bringing some American blood to your royal line"
"It is true we rebelled against the very idea of a crown," she said, "but I am prepared to put that aside and rule with a fair and temperate hand, and not to fire a few triumphant rounds in the air during the ceremony."
The prize aims to celebrate authors who deal with "real-life issues in a way that is honest, entertaining and fun" for a teenage audience. It is awarded once every two years on the results of an online poll, and this year saw a blizzard of campaigning from shortlisted authors on Twitter.
The American was up against nine other authors shortlisted in April for the award, who were Cathy Cassidy, Sarah Webb, Joanna Nadin, Cathy Hopkins, Samantha Mackintosh, Chris Higgins, Hayley Long, SC Ransom and James Dawson, the first male author to nominated for the Queen of Teen award. Cathy Cassidy won the crown in 2010, with Louise Rennison picking up the inaugural award in 2008.