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May 9 – May 15, 2011 Edition Simon and Schuster Launches Social Voting App
NEW YORK, May 9 – Do you prefer chick lit or paranormal? Who has the best recipe for spaghetti carbonara? Which Stephen King book do you like better, UNDER THE DOME or DUMA KEY?

Beginning today, readers and fans on Facebook can enjoy expressing their literary preferences on Book Battle (http://apps.facebook.com/teenbookbattle/), a fun way to engage with their favorite books and authors on all manner of book-related topics.

Created by Simon & Schuster, Book Battle is a social voting application that allows Facebook users to vote on their favorites in a series of “match-ups” between two items. Match-ups in Book Battle, which are viewed in slideshow format, can be based on virtually any pairing or topic from the larger literary landscape, including book covers, series, genres, characters and authors. The inaugural match-ups for Book Battle will feature bestselling author Cassandra Clare’s wildly popular MORTAL INSTRUMENTS and INFERNAL DEVICES series. Fans will be asked to vote for their favorite of the two series, express preferences for key characters and which character they would most like to take to the prom. Other match-ups at launch will feature the UGLIES series by Scott Westerfield and the NIGHT WORLD series by L.J. Smith.

Once a user selects their favorites in a given match-up, they can share their choices with their Facebook friends, helping to spread the word virally. And although Book Battle has been developed specifically as Facebook application, it can be promoted from any website, including author and fan pages, and through ad banners.

“With Book Battle we are giving readers a fun, friendly way for readers to engage with their favorite books and authors and express their passions while at the same time participating in the increasingly popular digital pastime — voting” said Ellie Hirschorn, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer. “Whether it is amusing and lighthearted, such as Chocolate vs. Red Velvet in the ‘cupcake showdown’ from Cake Boss, or more serious minded, Book Battle gives readers an active way to voice their opinions and let their friends know what they like best about our content library at Simon & Schuster. Let the battles begin!”

To “like” Book Battle and to find out more, visit http://apps.facebook.com/teenbookbattle/