Would you please tell us a little about your book, Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity?
The fifth volume in the Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteryseries finds Myrtle embroiled in an age-old treasure hunt at a haunted castle in Scotland! But her search takes on a sinister twist when a series of mysterious attacks (and a murder) hits closer and closer to home—endangering her beloved governess, Miss Judson. I’ve been thinking of it as And Then There Were None meets Scooby Doo. With foxhounds.
What was the inspiration for the Myrtle Hardcastle books?
The inspiration was twofold. The title of Book 1, Premeditated Myrtle, was the world’s most fortuitious slip of the tongue, and I immediately said, “That is a middle grade mystery!” The second inspiration was Myrtle’s Highly Opinionated Cat, Peony. She was inspired by a real-life cat I met the summer I began writing the book, who really did say “No!” every time she meowed.
The foxhounds in Myrtle, Means, and Opportunityare inspired by my own real-life dogs, who are actually pictured on the cover.
Random Question! What’s your favorite time of year?
I live in the Midwest, and I’m all about fall. I love the early part, when summer is just winding down and the leaves are starting to change and the colors are warm and glorious… and I love the later part, when everything is chill and spooky and bleak, bare trees and dead leaves skittering along the ground… Fall is the only season that has two wildly different moods, which is one of my favorite things about it.
If you’re able to talk about it, what are you currently working on?
I am getting a new manuscript (one of my favorites ever) ready for submission! That doesn’t tell you much, alas, but prepare to be dazzled. :D
What are some of your favorite MG books you've read recently? And what are some that you're looking forward to reading?
The book I am most looking forward to is Sarah Jean Horwitz’s The Demon Sword Asperides (coming from Algonquin Young Readers in July). I think Sarah is one of the current masters of middle grade fantasy—her books are so clever and funny but with tremendous heart.
I’ve just finished Delilah S. Dawson’s Mine, which is a deliciously creepy contemporary ghost story set in Florida, and would make a fantastic readalong to Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon, a terrific historical mystery with a ghostly twist, set in Florida at the turn of the 20thcentury. (You can tell I’ve had ghosts on my mind lately.That’s actually true all the time, really, and it was probably inevitable that they crept into a Myrtle book eventually!)
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Great interview. I'm a huge fan of Elizabeth's. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. It was great learning the inspiration for this series. Natalie @ Literary Rambles
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