Today, I’m thrilled to host this Q&A with the author of The Hand on the Wall (the third book in the Truly Devious series). Maureen Johnson answers a few questions about her writing and her creative process. Released on January 21, 2020, this book is published by Harper Collins and this Q&A is part of her Blog Tour hosted by FFBC Tour.
Now, let me introduce you to Maureen Johnson.
Maureen Johnson, Author of The Hand on the Wall (Truly Devious #3) – Q&A
What inspired you to write this book? How do you keep ideas flowing?
I wanted to write a proper mystery, with a detective. A mystery in a remote place, with a distinct cast of characters. The book is set at a remote boarding school called Ellingham Academy, which was the setting of what was called the crime of the century in 1936—the kidnapping of the founder’s wife and daughter and the death of a student. In the present day, the main character goes to the school in the hope of solving the case once and for all—and in the process, the events of the past come back in a very dangerous way. I took some pieces of real historical crimes for the backstory, as well as many elements of classic crime novels. This is a mystery, first and foremost!
Did you know how this book would end when you first started?
Pretty much, yes. I had to have a structure for all three because a mystery is all about how it ends. Who did it? Why? From there, I worked backwards, putting down the clues, making sure everyone was in the right place at the right time. I created a framework for all three books then I outlined each one.
That isn’t to say I didn’t make changes along the way! I draft, and then I throw out the draft. That’s my way. I’m a draft-trasher. But the fundamentals had to be there, and I always had to go back and check to make sure all the timelines and clues were correct. Mysteries are about planning. So much planning.
What were some of the challenges you faced when writing this book?
Technically, you shouldn’t write a mystery over three books. You should get your solution. But this was a big story with a lot of movements and twists, so I plotted it out over three books, with each book giving you a bigger piece of the puzzle. All the rewards come in book three!
Is there something about this book you can share with us that isn’t in the blurb?
I’d suggest taking a good look at the book itself—the art. There may be a clue in there.
What is your favorite place to write?
Anywhere my dog is.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAUREEN JOHNSON, FOR ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS! I NOW HAVE TO GO STUDY THE ART OF THE BOOK COVER! 🙂
The Hand on the Wall – Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson delivers the witty and pulse-pounding conclusion to the Truly Devious series as Stevie Bell solves the mystery that has haunted Ellingham Academy for over 75 years.
Ellingham Academy must be cursed. Three people are now dead. One, a victim of either a prank gone wrong or a murder. Another, dead by misadventure. And now, an accident in Burlington has claimed another life. All three in the wrong place at the wrong time. All at the exact moment of Stevie’s greatest triumph . . .
She knows who Truly Devious is. She’s solved it. The greatest case of the century.
At least, she thinks she has. With this latest tragedy, it’s hard to concentrate on the past. Not only has someone died in town, but David disappeared of his own free will and is up to something. Stevie is sure that somehow—somehow—all these things connect. The three deaths in the present. The deaths in the past. The missing Alice Ellingham and the missing David Eastman. Somewhere in this place of riddles and puzzles there must be answers.
Then another accident occurs as a massive storm heads toward Vermont. This is too much for the parents and administrators. Ellingham Academy is evacuated. Obviously, it’s time for Stevie to do something stupid. It’s time to stay on the mountain and face the storm—and a murderer.
In the tantalizing finale to the Truly Devious trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson expertly tangles her dual narrative threads and ignites an explosive end for all who’ve walked through Ellingham Academy.
BOOK DETAILS
- Author: Maureen Johnson
- Publisher: Harper Collins
- Release Date: January 21, 2020
- Book Length: 384 pages
- Genre: YA Mystery/Crime/Thriller
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About the Author – Maureen Johnson
Maureen Johnson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of several YA novels, including 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Suite Scarlett, The Name of the Star, and Truly Devious. She has also done collaborative works, such as Let It Snow (with John Green and Lauren Myracle), and The Bane Chronicles (with Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan).
Her work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Buzzfeed, and The Guardian, and she has also served as a scriptwriter for EA Games. She has an MFA in Writing from Columbia University and lives in New York City.
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US GIVEAWAY
PRIZE: Win a copy of THE HAND ON THE WALL by Maureen Johnson (US Only)
STARTS: 21st January 2020 – ENDS: 4th February 2020
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