The Monday Muse: Interview with Barrie Summy

Today's Muse: Barrie Summy

Author of: I So Don't Do Mysteries (review here)

Featured in: An interview!

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Bookworm: What made you want to right a mystery for teens?

Barrie: I was completely hooked on Nancy Drew when I was a kid. And I wanted to write one when I grew up. In fact, I So Don't Do Mysteries was originally written as a Nancy Drew. It was called The Mystery at the Wild Animal Park. But...it got rejected.

Bookworm: How long did it take you to write ISDDM?

Barrie: Well, like I was saying, I first wrote ISDDM as a Nancy Drew. After it got rejected, I set it aside for a little while and worked on something else. Finally, I realized that I just couldn't let go of the teen mystery. So, I So Don't Do Mysteries was born. And because I wasn't dealing with a Nancy Drew anymore, I didn't have to follow the guidelines. So, seventeen-year-old Nancy morphed into sassy thirteen-year-old Sherry. Bess and George morphed into Junie and Amber. Ned Nickerson became Josh Morton. I added more suspects, and the whole thing just got weird and wacky and fun with ghosts and spring break in San Diego and a difficult stepmother. Oops. I guess I never really answered the question. About seven years. Which looks very looong when typed out!

Bookworm: Is Sherry's character based off of yourself or anyone you know?

Barrie: Nah, she really isn't.

Bookworm: Who are your favorite modern YA authors?

Barrie: Oh, this is a toughie. A YA author you might not have read yet is Norah McClintock, a Canadian YA mystery writer. I also love Louise Rennison, Sarah Dessen, Laurie Halse Anderson, Siobhan Dowd. Also, I've been reading through the Class of 2k8's books, and there's some serious talent in there.

Bookworm: What's next for Sherry?

Barrie: Next is I So Don't Do Spooky where Sherry and her mom have to figure out who's stalking The Ruler [Sherry's totally annoying teacher/stepmother] and stop him/her. Josh is back along with Junie and Amber. There's a really fun psychic scene which I researched by actually going to a psychic fair. And there's a spooky cemetery scene which I researched

 by, you guessed it, going to a cemetery. 

TOTALLY RANDOM BONUS QUESTION: What's your favorite kind of muffin?

Barrie: Blueberry. Hands down.

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Thanks so much for the interview, Barrie! Don't forget to check out I So Don't Do Mysteries, which just came out December 9!