ABC Family's SWITCHED AT BIRTH to Return 9/3

ABC Family's award-winning hit drama series, SWITCHED AT BIRTH will return with all new episodes beginning Monday, September 3 at 8:00PM ET/PT. In advance of the premiere, Hyperion will release a Switched at Birth book (available at online retailers on August 28) divulging the contents of a memoir authored by the character Kathryn Kennish (played by Lea Thompson) in the series.

In addition, the network will air a special "Switched at Birth" marathon (13 episodes) on Monday, September 3, from 7:00AM - 8:00PM ET/PT, leading up to the season 1C premiere. "Switched at Birth" is a family drama that explores blended families and deaf culture, with an array of deaf and hard-of-hearing actors, and includes scenes shot entirely in American Sign Language. "Switched at Birth" launched as the network's #1 series debut of all time in Total Viewers, Adults 18-34, Women 18-34, Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49, and overall, ranked as the #1 new cable series of Summer 2011 across its core female demos.

The Switched at Birth book by Kathryn Kennish (played by Lea Thompson) is the inside story of the "Switched at Birth" family as only a mother could tell it. In her memoir, Kathryn reveals the surprising and intimate layers of her story - from the private details of the switched-at-birth revelation to all that occurs in its aftermath, including Regina and Daphne's move into the Kennish household. In the wake of this immense shift, secrets and previously unexamined issues from Kathryn's and her family's past surface as they are forced to reexamine everything they assumed about what makes a family a family. The book, like the show, touches on themes that any family who has ever felt different or "not normal" will recognize and appreciate.

Currently nominated for an Imagen Award and a Television Critics Association Award, "Switched at Birth" has been honored with AFTRA's (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) American Scene "Crystal" Award(R)", the Producers Guild of America George Sunga Award and a Gracie Award.

"Switched at Birth" is executive-produced by Lizzy Weiss ("Blue Crush"), Paul Stupin ("Make It or Break It"), Becky Hartman Edwards ("Parenthood") and John Ziffren ("Melissa & Joey," "Make It or Break It"). The series also stars Katie Leclerc as Daphne Vasquez; Vanessa Marano ("Gilmore Girls") as Bay Kennish; Constance Marie ("George Lopez") as Regina Vasquez; D.W. Moffett ("Friday Night Lights") as John Kennish; Lea Thompson ("Back to the Future," "Caroline in the City") as Kathryn Kennish; Lucas Grabeel ("High School Musical") as Toby Kennish; and Sean Berdy as Emmett Bledsoe, along with guest stars Gilles Marini ("Dancing with the Stars") and Marlee Matlin ("The West Wing").

Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 97 million homes. ABC Family features programming reflecting today's families, entertaining and connecting with adults through relatable programming about today's relationships - told with a mix of diversity, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family's programming is a combination of network defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. Emmy(R) Award-winning ABCFamily.com provides a variety of interactive entertainment and community features, from rich, fan-centric programming - including blogs, viewing parties, webisodes, full episodes of the network's hit programming, along with sneak peek exclusive previews and behind-the-scenes clips. ABC Family is also the destination for annual Holiday events with "13 Nights of Halloween" and "25 Days of Christmas." ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.

Hyperion, founded in 1991, publishes general-interest fiction and nonfiction hardcover, trade, and mass-market paperback books for adults, and includes the Voice and Hyperion eBook and Audio imprints. Hyperion is the adult trade book publishing unit of the Disney/ABC-Television Group, which is part of The Walt Disney Company.