This just in from Little Brown, the publishers of the Twilight Saga:

LITTLE, BROWN BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS ANNOUNCES OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD IN THE US OF STEPHENIE MEYER’S THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER OVER ONE MILLION DOLLARS ALREADY RAISED FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE FUND !

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, has announced today that it has sold over one million copies of The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: an Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer. The novella, released on June 5th, has already become the biggest selling new book of the year so far. As previously announced, one dollar for each book sold in the US from the first printing is being donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund* resulting in a donation of over one million dollars to the American Red Cross to date.

“The generosity of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Stephenie Meyer and the one million fans who purchased the novella is both awe inspiring and humbling,” said David Meltzer, senior vice president of international services with the American Red Cross. “Their collective support will help the American Red Cross respond to international crises, prevent life-threatening diseases, prepare for disasters overseas and provide support to help those in need around the world.”

Since its release, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner has dominated bestseller lists both in the US and around the world. The novella, the first new work from Meyer in nearly two years, debuted at #1 on the USA Today, Wall Street Journal and IndieBound bestseller lists as well as bestseller lists in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the UK.

In addition to the phenomenal sales of the print edition, fans from around the world have been given exclusive access to the novel at www.breetanner.com until July 5, 2010. So far an estimated 75,000 fans have read the book in its entirety online. Visitors to the site are also able to make a donation to the American Red Cross.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is the riveting story of Bree Tanner, a newborn vampire first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the world she inhabits. The novella chronicles the newborn vampire army’s journey as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion. The character Bree not only features prominently in the book Eclipse, but in the movie from Summit Entertainment which is being released on June 30th.

In less than five years, Stephenie Meyer has become a worldwide publishing phenomenon. The Twilight Saga’s translation rights have been sold in nearly 50 countries and 100 million copies have been sold worldwide.

*Donations to the American Red Cross from the US sales of The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner will continue until all first printing copies have been sold or at the end of a two-year period from the initial publication date, whichever is the first to occur.