I’ve been hesitant to post about the book project I’ve been working on for the past year, due to my fear of jinxing it, but since it’s almost finished, I feel like I can do so.
Strange Times at Western High (see the cover at right) is being published by the fabulous Annick Press in the fall. It’s the first of a series of young adult mystery novels featuring a girl sleuth, Natalie Fuentes, who makes a zine and teams up with a cast of urban heroes to solve a crime that’s been stumping her new high school for the past year.
It’s not quite finished, but Annick has already printed their fall catalogue, so it feels official. I’ve been working on the final draft and the press is creating images to go inside. Images! So cool. Basically, Natalie carries around a cheap digital camera and snaps pix of things she thinks are weird or suspicious. We’re hoping that combined with Rose Cowles’ great cover art, this will give the book a ziney feel.
I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about one of my books. This series really fits me, like all my previous writing has led me to create a character like Natalie. It’s a great feeling…
I’m also super excited. I think this book is going to be met with tons of enthusiasm and excitement. We’ll all look back and wonder where were we when we first read about that hip young detective Natalie Fuentes.
Comment by Jesse Hirsh — March 24, 2006 @ 1:39 pm
I agree –I hope lots of “young adults” (!!!) find out about it. If I were in grade 8, I would want to read a book just like this.
Comment by Shirley — March 28, 2006 @ 2:32 am
Hey, thanks! Yeah, I’m trying to create the kind of character I would have liked to read when I was that age. Girls like Natalie were in short supply back then…
Comment by Emily — March 28, 2006 @ 10:11 am