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I can't believe I'm saying this, but I HAVE A BOOK DEAL!
Next year, I will be publishing my debut middle grade mystery with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt thanks to my amazing editor Emilia Rhodes, and equally amazing agent, Chelsea Eberly of Greenhouse Literary Agency.
Growing up as a kid in Catholic school in the 90's, I had more than three strikes against me. I was chronically ill, fat, anxious, bisexual (although not out loud), and I was fascinated by all things creepy. My dad and I even considered ourselves amateur Ripperologists from when I was as young as twelve! I won't lie, I got bullied. A LOT.
But I'm proud to say that I've turned that I've turned it into a great story (take that, bullies!). Drew Leclair, my main character, is a 12 year old true crime enthusiast (let's be honest, she's clearly a murderino!). When a cyberbully starts terrorizing her fellow seventh graders, Drew knows it's up to her to solve the case. After years of studying criminal profiling from her hero, Dr. Miyamoto, Drew can profile all the bullies at her school until she finds the culprit.
DREW LECLAIR GETS A CLUE is a modern, queer take on Harriet the Spy, a book that meant a lot to me as a kid because I related to her so much! My other big hero was Nancy Drew (hence, "Drew")! Growing up chronically sick, I worried that I would never be able to have the adventures I read about in books. Nancy Drew turned that around for me. She solved crimes using her brains instead of brawn. Why not me? With this book, I hope to appeal to those kids who have survived bullying, who are questioning their sexual identity, or who are looking for a character that is just like them. Drew is a lot more bold than I am, but she's also a big part of me.
I can't wait for you all to meet her!
