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Last Updated: 4/14/2009

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Gender: Male
Status: Single
Age: 23
Sign: Cancer

State: Washington DC
Country: US
Signup Date: 6/23/2007

Who Gives Kudos:

Maia (2)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 
Barrie Summy is the author of I So Don't Do Mysteries, one of this year's Class of 2k8 titles. She currently resides in San Diego with her husband and children.

1) How did you get the idea for I So Don't Do Mysteries?

I always always always wanted to write a Nancy Drew mystery. One day, when my first child was in grade three, he was sitting at the kitchen table, doing a little project on rhinos. He was reading aloud a bunch of rhino facts. When he got to "rhinos have a keen sense of smell," I stopped him and said, "Now, that would be a cool clue in a mystery." Then I sent away for the Nancy Drew guidelines and wrote The Mystery at the Wild Animal Park. Which was rejected. But which eventually morphed and changed and transformed into I So Don't Do Mysteries.


2) What are you working on right now? Can you tell us anything about it?

I'm waiting for the galleys for I So Don't Do Spooky. It's the second book in the I Don't Do series. Sherry and her mother team up to figure out who's stalking The Ruler (Sherry's stepmother) and stop him/her. The gang is back: Josh (THE eighth grade boy), Junie (Sherry's brainy best friend), Amber (Junie's boy-crazy cousin), Grandma Baldwin (Sherry's new-age grandmother) and, of course, Grandpa Baldwin.


3) In honor of Christmas, what's your favorite Christmas treat?

Homemade shortbread cookies with a cup of tea and Anne Murray singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas" in the background


4) Are you like your main character Sherry at all? Or are you more like another character in your book?

Hmmm....I don't think I'm zany or brave enough to be like Sherry. I'm not serious enough to be like Junie. And I'm definitely not boy crazy enough (anymore!) to be like Amber. So, I guess I don't think I'm like any of the characters in the book. Now, my family and friends might have a different take...


5) Was it difficult to write a mystery and keeping everything straight? What was your writing process like?

I used a poster board, divided into chapters, to keep it all straight. Otherwise, I'm sure I would've dropped the ball on something. My writing process? I'm an outliner. I like to have a book reasonably planned out before I start writing. Not to say surprises don't pop up and things don't change, but I like to, at least, feel that I'm in charge.


6) What book(s) are you reading right now, or are about to start?

I just finished Testimony by Anita Shreve, am in the middle of Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell and will start The Lucky Place by Zu Vincent (a Class of 2k8 book) followed by it's How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. How's that for too much info? ;) 


7) You're part of the Class of 2k8. How did you get involved with the group originally, and what has the experience been like?

N.A. Nelson, author of Bringing the Boy Home, found me on myspace. It was already partway through the year, but she suggested I put my name on the waiting list for the Class of 2k8. A middle-grade writer's (I forget who now) publication date got bumped to 2009. And, voila, I was in. It's been a great experience. I've learned a ton about the publishing world and marketing and writing. So far, I've met in real life (in alpha order): PJ Hoover (The Emerald Tablet), Jenny Meyerhoff (Third Grade Baby), Stacy Nyikos (Dragon Wishes), Nancy Viau (Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head) and Zu Vincent (The Lucky Place). Talk about fun times! I'm sorry the year is coming to an end, but I'm sure we'll keep in touch and plan some class reunions.



You can visit Barrie at her website, or her myspace, or on her blog! If you check out her myspace, be sure to friend her!
 
2:39 PM
 
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