I was spellbound when my teacher read The Boxcar Children to my second grade class. From then on, I loved the suspense and puzzle of a good mystery. I think The Hardy Boys collection were probably the first ones I actually read by myself. Nancy Drew came later.
As an adult, I found Sue Grafton's series A is for Alibi when it started. Still my favorite author (And I was delighted to meet her at the KY Book Fair a couple of years ago) I think her latest, T is for Tresspass is maybe her best. I can't wait for "U" to come out.
Although I had no early plans to write a mystery, it just happened. A good story came along in my teaching career and I went for it. Why Johnny Died is the first of the Margo Brown Mysteries and still the best-selling of the three. Since it features a 13-yr.-old boy who dies mysteriously and the case is solved by two of his teachers, it is popular among middle and high school students.
Later, I decided to write a mystery for middle-grade students. As I set up the plot, fantasy worked its way into the story. So, The Secret of Bailey's Chase is a mixture of mystery and magic.
Kids love fantasy. After all, what child wouldn't love to fly or be able to communicate with animals?
The sequel, Back to Bailey's Chase (2010) is loaded with mystery and the two young protagonists turn into regular little Nancy Drews as they catch a cat burglar, expose a puppy mill, find a kidnapped child, and bust a meth lab.
It's a mystery to me why everyone doesn't read mysteries.
You may order all four of my mysteries at www.quakeme.com
or visit www.marlisday.com
http://wwwmarlisday.blogspot.com
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