Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Lost Girl of Astor Street
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.stephaniemorrill.com/
CITY: Overland Park
STATE: KS
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: n 2009008169
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/n2009008169
HEADING: Morrill, Stephanie
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670 __ |a Morrill, Stephanie. Me, just different, c2009: |b ECIP t.p. (Stephanie Morrill) galley (in her 20s; lives in Overland Park, Kan.)
670 __ |a Out with the in crowd, 2010 |b ECIP t.p. (Stephanie Morrill) data view (b. 1983)
953 __ |a rc13 |b re05
PERSONAL
Married; husband’s name Ben; children: McKenna, Connor, Eli.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Stephanie Morrill is a writer of young adult novels. She began publishing stories for young adults with her “The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt” series. Morrill is also a staunch advocate in encouraging would-be teen writers to explore their craft. She offers helpful tips and guidance to teen writers on her blog and in her 2013 book, Go Teen Writers: How to Turn Your First Draft into a Published Book.
In an interview in the Laura Kurk website, Morrill talked with Naomi Downing about her start as a writer and her writing process. She admitted that what made her want to become a writer was “how much I enjoyed it.” Recalling her early start at writing stories in an interview with Susan Sleeman in the Suspense Zone Website, Morrill said that “I’ve wanted to be a writer since first grade. My elementary school encouraged writing time and we had freedom to write whatever kind of stories we desired.”
In the Laura Kurk website interview, Morrill revealed that the most difficult part of writing for her is “coming up with an ending I like. That part of the story always takes more drafts than others.” Morrill also shared that her primary goal as a writer is “to tell a good story that challenges the reader to think differently about the world, but that also brings hope to their current situation.” In the Suspense Zone website interview, Morrill also shared her inspirations. “Like most writers, I get story ideas all the time. I’ll be at the grocery store, and I’ll overhear a bit of conversation. Or I’ll drive past a boarded up house and think about people who used to call it home. Not all the ideas stick, but a lot of times they start sticking to each other and building momentum.”
In an interview on the Family Fiction website, Morrill shared how she is able to put herself into the appropriate mentality to write for young adults. She admitted: “It’s very easy for me, because I’m still working my way through insecurities I’ve had since childhood. While I’ve grown a lot in confidence and being secure in who I am, like most people I’m still prone to flare-ups,” adding that it is easy for her to “feel like I’m still my uncomfortable teenage self.”
The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet
Morrill published The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet, the sequel to The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet, in 2015. Although Ellie has so many of her previous life challenges under control, she finds that her life doesn’t feel any easier than before. Ellie’s editor is very supportive of her upcoming debut novel, but the rest of the publishing community has been very harsh toward her, causing trouble in her relationship with Chase and also with her creative output. She begins to wonder how trustworthy those closest to her are and if publishing her first novel is going to be worth it overall.
In an interview in the INSPY’s Website, admitted that “the hardest thing about writing The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet was that the first book had just been released, so I was getting a bunch of reader feedback AS I wrote the sequel. My readers are wonderfully opinionated girls and they let me know who they liked and who they didn’t like. When I experienced that with my first series … I had already written all three books.”
The Lost Girl of Astor Street
Morrill published The Lost Girl of Astor Street in 2016, a novel set in Chicago in the 1920s. Eighteen-year-old Piper Sail is disappointed with the direction of the police investigation concerning the disappearance of her best friend, Lydia. Lydia fell in love with the wrong guy but has otherwise lived a meticulous life. Her disappearance baffles everyone. Piper enlists the help of a handsome detective to track down Lydia. She learns, however, that Lydia’s disappearance may be connected to the network of corruption that has a stranglehold over the city, leading Piper into some very dangerous territory. As Piper continues to investigate, though, she finds that the trail leads back to her own affluent neighborhood, potentially threatening the privileged life she has enjoyed.
Morrill talked about all she learned while writing The Lost Girl of Astor Street in an interview in the Jean Book Nerd Website. She confessed: “I had never written a historical or a whodunit kind of mystery, so I learned loads about my craft. When I started the story, I didn’t know much about the 1920s, and I wasn’t prepared for how I would fall in love with the decade. Teens living in the 1920s were the first generation to be targeted by advertisers from such a young age, and it fascinated me to see how many parallels there were to” the types of problems faced by contemporary teens.
In an interview in the Singing Librarian Books website, Morrill discussed her hopes for what her readers would take away from reading this novel. She claimed that the message “I was learning as I wrote it is that we can only take responsibility for our own choices. It’s wonderful to try to stir change in our communities, but ultimately we can only control our choices.”
A Kirkus Reviews contributor called it “a mostly well-crafted historical whodunit.” The same reviewer stated: “Here’s hoping this won’t be the last case for this strong and admirable female sleuth to solve.” A contributor to Publishers Weekly opined that the author “crafts a well-plotted mystery novel with plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings.” A contributor reviewing the novel in Pursue concluded that “Morrill writes a colorful cast of characters in a beautiful yet realistic story stained with organized crime. I would definitely recommend this book to other avid bookworms.” In a review in the Story Sanctuary website, Kasey Giard confessed that she “loved the characters, found the mystery elements well-paced, and seriously enjoyed the adventure in 1920s Chicago. This one is a must-read for mystery and historical lovers.” Reviewing the novel in Happy Ever After, Serena Chase reasoned that “the characters are real and relatable, yet resonate as true to their time in history.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2016, review of The Lost Girl of Astor Street.
Publishers Weekly, November 21, 2016, review of The Lost Girl of Astor Street, p. 110.
ONLINE
Family Fiction, https://www.familyfiction.com/ (February 9, 2017), “YA Q&A: Stephanie Morrill.”
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (February 7, 2017), Serena Chase, review of The Lost Girl of Astor Street.
INSPY’s, http://inspys.com/ (August 25, 2017), “Author Interview: Stephanie Morrill.”
Jean Book Nerd, http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/ (February 1, 2017), “Stephanie Morrill Author Interview.”
Laura Kurk, http://laurakurk.com/ (August 25, 2017), “Meet Stephanie Morrill.”
Pursue, http://pursuemagazine.net/ (May 17, 2017), review of The Lost Girl of Astor Street.
Singing Librarian Books, http://www.singinglibrarianbooks.com/ (February 7, 2017), “Interview with Stephanie Morrill.”
Stephanie Morrill Website, http://www.stephaniemorrill.com (August 25, 2017).
Story Sanctuary, http://thestorysanctuary.com/ (March 2, 2017), review of The Lost Girl of Astor Street.
Suspense Zone, http://www.thesuspensezone.com/ (February 27, 2017), “Stephanie Morrill Interview with Susan Sleeman.”*
About Me
Often when I’m on an author’s bio page, it’s because I’m trying to nab their bio for a feature on Go Teen Writers, so if you’re wanting a media-friendly bio or photo, you’ll find it at the bottom of this page.
But sometimes I’m just curious about an author and want to know more. In typical Stephanie fashion, I’ve decided to make a list.
Here are 7 somewhat interesting things about me:
1. I live in suburban Kansas City with my husband, Ben, and our three children, McKenna (8), Connor (5), and Eli (<1). We also have a dog, KC, but we aren’t the type to include him in family photos. I’m pretty sure he appreciates that.
Family picture
Eli
2. My husband was also my high school boyfriend. This has definitely shaped me as a writer, and I think it’s one of the reasons I’m drawn to writing books for teens.
3. I grew up devouring Boxcar Children and Babysitters Club books … but I kinda lost my hunger for reading when the workload of high school hit. Instead, if I had free time, I wrote. Fortunately, my love for reading came back full force once I graduated.
4. A morning without good coffee is just plain WRONG. And that’s all I have to say about that.
5. Some of my favorite authors are Jane Austen, Sarah Dessen, Lauren F. Winner, Ann Voskamp, Julie Klassen, Ally Carter, and J. K. Rowling.
6. When I grow up, I want to be The Pioneer Woman. Minus the cattle ranch in Oklahoma. And I don’t really want to homeschool. And we’re probably going to just have three kids instead of four. Okay, so what I really mean is that I want to be able to cook like Ree Drummond and be super kind to anyone who might have waited in a line to meet me:
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McKenna (age 4), me, Ree Drummond, and my friend, Kelli Stouder. at an event Ree was doing in Kansas City. There was a HUGE line but she was so nice and invited us back to take pictures.
7. In book The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet my main character hates her hair and keeps it tied back because all it ever does is fuzz. In middle school, I felt the same way about my hair. And then one night, I went to bed after my shower without brushing it … and I woke up to a head full of curls. Before that, I had no idea my hair was curly. Ellie learns the same thing, only she learns it from her hairdresser.
Bio and photo for Media Purposes:
Stephanie Morrill Low Res
Stephanie Morrill is the creator of GoTeenWriters.com and the author of several young adult novels, including the historical mystery, The Lost Girl of Astor Street. Despite loving cloche hats and drop-waist dresses, Stephanie would have been a terrible flapper because she can’t do the Charleston and looks awful with bobbed hair. She and her near-constant ponytail live in Kansas City with her husband and three kids.
YA Q&A: Stephanie Morrill (The Lost Girl of Astor Street)
Stephanie Morrill
February 9, 2017
The latest YA/Teen read from author Stephanie Morrill is The Lost Girl of Astor Street (Blink), an atmospheric jazz-age whodunit that takes readers from the glitzy homes of the elite to the dark underbelly of 1920s Chicago. In this Q&A, Stephanie shares the most challenging part of writing the novel, why she set her mystery in 1920s Chicago, and how she gets into the right frame of mind for YA readers…
What was the genesis behind The Lost Girl of Astor Street?
I wish the “how I got the idea” story was really cool, but it happened while I was putting away laundry. My mind was wandering, like it often does during mundane chores. I was thinking about the show Veronica Mars and how much I missed it. We had been binge watching Downton Abbey and I thought something like, “If only there was a show that was like Veronica Mars meets Downton Abbey… Maybe I could write something like that!”
What drew you to writing a mystery set in the 1920s?
I’ve loved Chicago since the first time I visited in 5th grade, and the history of that city during the 20s is so rich that it seemed like a great setting for a story.
How do you get into the right frame of mind to write for YA readers?
It’s very easy for me, because I’m still working my way through insecurities I’ve had since childhood. While I’ve grown a lot in confidence and being secure in who I am, like most people I’m still prone to flare-ups. A close friend will throw a party, and I’ll see pictures on Instagram, and might think, “Why didn’t I get invited? Was I not fun enough at the last party? Is it because I went out with friends last week and didn’t invite her?” Of course my thoughts don’t always go down that road, but sometimes they do, and it’s easy enough to drag up those old insecurities and feel like I’m still my uncomfortable teenage self.
What was the most challenging part of writing The Lost Girl of Astor Street?
I had never written a historical or a mystery before, so blending those genres and getting the layers right took me lots of drafts. I’m grateful for the patient feedback from writer friends who read the not-quite-there versions and pointed out where I needed help.
What do you hope readers take away after reading the novel?
There’s a scene where my main character, Piper, feels deeply disgusted with the corruption in her community. “At the end of the day, how much can one person really do?” she asks Mariano. And Mariano tells her, “Two people, right? You and me.”
Something I felt deeply as I wrote this story is that we can only control our choices, not those of everyone around us. I hope readers are encouraged by Piper’s journey to be wise with the choices they make.
The Lost Girl of Astor Street
The Lost Girl of Astor Street
Stephanie Morrill
Blink
Stephanie Morrill Author Interview
4:00 AM JBN, Jean Book Nerd, Stephanie Morrill Author Interview, Vlog Post 2 comments
Book Nerd Vlog Post
Stephanie Morrill lives in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and three kids. She is the author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series, Go Teen Writers: How to Turn Your First Draft Into a Published Book, and the Ellie Sweet series. She enjoys encouraging and teaching teen writers on her blog, www.GoTeenWriters.com. To connect with Stephanie and read samples of her books, check out www.StephanieMorrill.com
Social Media
Series: Blink
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Blink (February 7, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310758386
ISBN-13: 978-0310758389
"Morrill delivers a story that has it all - mystery, the mnafia, and a heroine you can't help but root for. If Veronica Mars met the Roaring Twenties, you'd end up with The Lost Girl of Astor Street!" Roseanna M. White, The Lost Heiress
What was your first introduction to YA literature, the one that made you choose that genre to write?
I was already writing YA literature, I just didn’t know it was a thing. I thought of it as “stories about teenagers.” This was in the early 2000s, so YA lit wasn’t nearly as big as it is now. But as I was looking for other books like mine, I found Sarah Dessen’s This Lullaby. (I wrote contemporary YA at the time.) I fell in love with Sarah’s voice, her main character, the conflict, everything. That was the first time I knew what YA literature was capable of being.
Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?
I’m sure every book I’ve ever read has played a part in my storytelling style. I already mentioned Sarah Dessen, but a few other writers who inspire me are Ally Carter, Maggie Stiefvater, and Joanne Bischof.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Tender-hearted, organized, and driven.
Did you learn anything from writing THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET and what was it?
Oh, I could talk for ages about all the things I learned from writing The Lost Girl of Astor Street! I had never written a historical or a whodunit kind of mystery, so I learned loads about my craft. When I started the story, I didn’t know much about the 1920s, and I wasn’t prepared for how I would fall in love with the decade. Teens living in the 1920s were the first generation to be targeted by advertisers from such a young age, and it fascinated me to see how many parallels there were to their struggles and those of modern day teens.
For those who are unfamiliar with Piper, how would you introduce her?
I think Mariano describes her the best. “You’re a force, for sure. A hurricane, really. But there’s a part of you that’s surprisingly tender. Mushy, even.”
What part of Lydia did you enjoy writing the most?
The conversation between Piper and Lydia in chapter three, which is the first time we see that yes, Lydia is gentle and proper, but she’s also very strong.
If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
If Piper could time transport to meet Veronica Mars, I think all the troublemakers in Chicago and Neptune would run for cover!
Which character have you enjoyed getting to know while writing THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET?
They’re all special to me, but Piper is my favorite. She felt very complex to me from the beginning, and I loved exploring Chicago with her.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
There are so many, it would be hard to pick! Any of the writers I’ve mentioned so far—Ally Carter, Sarah Dessen, Maggie Stiefvater, Joanne Bischof—have taught me a lot with their storytelling.
How many books have you written?
I’ve lost track of how many I’ve actually written, but The Lost Girl of Astor Street is my seventh published title.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your readers. What would it be?
In a world that’s intensely critical, quick to point fingers, and highly Photoshopped, I believe we can make the biggest impact by being empathetic, loving, and comfortable with our imperfections.
Who was your first boyfriend?
My first date was actually with the boy who grew up to be my husband! Ben and I met our freshman year of high school. We broke up a couple times, but dated almost all of high school, and got engaged right after graduation.
When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?
Just last week! My nine-year-old daughter likes to leave notes on my pillow, and I write her back.
Where did you go on your first airplane ride?
Boston, Massachusetts from Sacramento, California when I was eight-years-old. I’ve wanted to go back ever since!
What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a teenager?
The 20s, for sure! Mostly for the hats and the dresses.
What is your greatest adventure?
Parenthood. I have three children ages nine, six, and one, so life is chaotic and fun.
Where can readers find you?
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
Ten Quotes from THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET
1. “I am many things, Detective Cassano, but safe isn’t one of them.”
2. “There’s only so much a man can do to disguise his true identity.”
3. “Grief is not weakness. And I would never accuse you of it, Piper.”
4. “My archenemies in this world are children, dogs, and my Home Economics teacher, so if we could please move faster.”
5. “You’re a force, for sure. A hurricane, really. But there’s a part of you that’s surprisingly tender. Mushy, even.”
6. “I’m a terrible dancer.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“I am. I always try to lead.”
Mariano huffs a laugh. “Now that, I believe.”
7.“Piper, my girl. To love anyone is to risk.”
8. “In a perfect world that’s how things would work. But this isn’t a perfect world. This is Chicago.”
9. “You said that you didn’t know any other way to play the game except to give it all. To leave it all on the field. That’s how I feel about Lydia. I don’t know how to do anything else but leave it all on the field.”
10. “Piper’s creativity blossoms when it comes to finding new ways to get herself in trouble.”
Lydia has vanished.
Lydia, who’s never broken any rules, except falling in love with the wrong boy. Lydia, who’s been Piper’s best friend since they were children. Lydia, who never even said good-bye.
Convinced the police are looking in all the wrong places, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail begins her own investigation in an attempt to solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance. With the reluctant help of a handsome young detective, Piper goes searching for answers in the dark underbelly of 1924 Chicago, determined to find Lydia at any cost.
When Piper discovers those answers might stem from the corruption strangling the city—and quite possibly lead back to the doors of her affluent neighborhood—she must decide how deep she’s willing to dig, how much she should reveal, and if she’s willing to risk her life of privilege for the sake of the truth.
From the glitzy homes of the elite to the mob-run streets of 1920s Chicago, Stephanie Morrill’s jazz-age mystery shows just how far a girl will go to save her friend.
You can purchase The Lost Girl of Astor Street at the following Retailers:
Meet Stephanie Morrill, author of The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet and the fantastic follow-up The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet.
Stephanie Morrill lives in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and three kids. She is the author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series, Go Teen Writers: How to Turn Your First Draft Into a Published Book, and the Ellie Sweet series. She enjoys encouraging and teaching teen writers on her blog,www.GoTeenWriters.com. To connect with Stephanie and read samples of her books, check outwww.StephanieMorrill.com
Publicity intern Naomi Downing’s interview of BHP author Stephanie Morrill reveals how The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet changed from the first draft to the last and touches on Morrill’s writing process.
For you, what is the hardest part of writing?
Coming up with an ending I like. That part of the story always takes more drafts than others because I want something that’s surprising but also inevitable and satisfying.
Where did you get the idea for The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet?
That story came together in several stages, so it’s actually hard to remember! Originally Ellie wasn’t a teen writer. My first draft was much more about Ellie trying to reconcile the fact that she had become very different from her childhood friends. That topic interested me because I moved so often as a kid that I always just traded in old friends for new friends. I started wondering what life would have been like if I had never moved, because I know my path would have eventually diverged. The first draft came in crazy short and was clearly missing something. Turned out Ellie was a writer! That wound up being the missing piece that made the whole thing work.
What do you do to keep yourself writing when you really don’t feel like it?
Fortunately, I usually feel like it. On the days that I don’t, however, I usually set a timer for 25 minutes and tell myself I can’t do anything else until I’ve written for 25 minutes. By the time the timer goes off, I’m usually motivated to keep going.
What is your goal as a writer?
To tell a good story that challenges the reader to think differently about the world, but that also brings hope to their current situation.
What is your writing process like?
I could talk about this for a while, but I’ll try to be succinct! I tend to hang out with an idea for a while before I try to write it. When I have a good idea of how I want it to open, I’ll write a chapter or two and then pause to brainstorm how I think the rest of the book will play out. It typically takes me about 8-10 weeks to write my first draft if I’m getting good writing time. Then I take time off to get away from the book. It’s a lot easier to edit without mercy if I’ve been away from the book for at least 6 weeks. Because I write bare bones first drafts, editing can take me quite a while, often a few months. I like to edit a book twice before I let my writing friends see it. Once they’ve seen it, I make their changes and at that point, I usually send it to my agent.
It doesn’t always play out this way, but it often does!
What made you want to start writing?
How much I enjoyed it. As early as first grade, I loved writing stories and wanted to be an author.
Stephanie Morrill interview with Susan Sleeman
February 27, 2017
Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A: I’m Stephanie Morrill, and I live in the Kansas City area with my husband and our three children. I’ve been writing stories since elementary school, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have six novels published. The first five are young adult contemporaries, and my latest is The Lost Girl of Astor Street, which is a YA historical mystery. In addition to writing, I run a website to encourage and teach teen writers, GoTeenWriters.com.
Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A: I’ve wanted to be a writer since first grade. My elementary school encouraged writing time and we had freedom to write whatever kind of stories we desired. Then a parent volunteer would type our stories up for us, and we could pick the color for our cover and the binding. At the end we were supposed to illustrate it (I was awful) and then read it to the class. I loved it so much, and after that I always wanted to tell stories for a living.
Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A: I could talk a long time about this! I’ll try to be brief. Like I said, I knew from the time I was in first grade that I wanted to write books when I grew up. My junior and senior year of high school I became very serious about getting published and started mailing my manuscripts to publishers. Like, literally printing out copies and putting them in envelopes and hoping for the best.
Clearly I had a lot to learn!
I didn’t know anyone in publishing—I didn’t even know that the stories I wrote were YA—and this is before the days of writing blogs and online writing communities. Or before they were very big, anyway. I learned everything by doing it wrong the first time!
I started attending writing conferences in my early 20s and that made a huge difference. That’s how I built a network of writer friends, and how I met my first agent. I sold The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series to Revell in 2008, and those books came out in 2009 and 2010. I released the Ellie Sweet books and my first nonfiction, Go Teen Writers: How to Turn Your First Draft Into A Published Book, which I co-wrote with Jill Williamson, in 2013. I learned that three books in one year was a bit much for me!
Due to one of my sons being diagnosed with epilepsy, I took some time away from writing. I wasn’t good at this. I was spinning my wheels, still trying to write, but I wasn’t making much progress on anything.
After a friend counseled me to take time off to consider what I wanted to write, I landed on finally writing The Lost Girl of Astor Street. I had the idea for it months before, but I hadn’t felt brave enough to write it. Writing my first historical and my first mystery took much longer than I thought it would, but the investment was well worth it!
Q: Would you tell us about your current book release The Lost Girl of Astor Street?
A: The Lost Girl of Astor Street is a 1920s mystery set in Chicago. The main character, Piper, has a best friend who goes missing from their affluent neighborhood, and she knows her friend never would have run away. She throws herself into search efforts, and finds more than she bargained for. It has a Veronica Mars meets 1920s feel.
Q: Where did you get your inspiration for The Lost Girl of Astor Street?
A: My initial idea for The Lost Girl of Astor Street came while I was putting away laundry, of all things. My mind was wandering (as it often does during chores), and I started thinking about different stories I like. I thought about Veronica Mars for a while, and then something triggered a thought about Downton Abbey, and I thought, “I wish there was something out there that was like Veronica Mars but in a Downton Abbey kind of setting. Oh, maybe I could do that!”
Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: The lesson I was learning as I wrote it is that we can only take responsibility for our own choices. It’s wonderful to try to stir change in our communities, but ultimately we can only control our choices.
Q: What inspires you to write?
A: Like most writers, I get story ideas all the time. I’ll be at the grocery store, and I’ll overhear a bit of conversation. Or I’ll drive past a boarded up house and think about people who used to call it home. Not all the ideas stick, but a lot of times they start sticking to each other and building momentum.
Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A: I’m in the middle of edits for another book that is set in the same story world as Piper’s and has some overlap, but is a separate story. I have ideas for another Piper book, and I’ve done a tiny bit of writing on it, but I really want to make sure that it’s the right kind of sequel.
Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?
A: I have three kids, so usually if I’m not writing it’s because I’m chasing after them. I love to read, of course, and I also enjoy cooking and running.
Author Interview: Stephanie Morrill
We are thrilled to have Stephanie Morrill on the Inspy’s Blog today. Stephanie is the author of shortlisted young adult novel The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet. Stephanie writes young adult contemporary novels and is the creator of GoTeenWriters.com. Her novels include The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series (Revell) and the Ellie Sweet books (Playlist).
18741771For once, Ellie Sweet has it all together. Her hair now curls instead of fuzzes, she’s tamed the former bad-boy, Chase Cervantes (she has, right?), and her debut novel will hit shelves in less than a year. Even her ex-friends are leaving her alone. Well, except for Palmer Davis, but it can’t be helped that he works at her grandmother’s nursing home.
Life should feel perfect. And yet, it’s not that easy. Ellie’s editor loves her, but the rest of the publishing biz? Not so much. And they’re not shy about sharing their distrust over Ellie’s unlikely debut.
Ellie has always been able to escape reality in the pages of her novel, but with the stress of major edits and rocky relationships, her words dry up. In fiction, everything always comes together, but in real life, it seems to Ellie that hard work isn’t always enough, the people you love can’t always be trusted, and the dream-come-true of publishing her book could be the biggest mistake she’s made yet.
What led you to writing? I started writing stories in first grade. We were given writing time every day in class and could write about whatever we wanted. When we finished our stories, we turned them in and someone (a teacher or volunteer parent, maybe) would type them for us. We got to pick the color of our cover and binding, and then they printed out our “book” for us to illustrate and read to the class. I loved it and from then on I started telling people I wanted to be a novelist when I grew up.
Stephanie Morrill Low ResTell us of a book you feel epitomizes faith-driven literature. I adored The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson. Not only was the writing beautiful, but the story spoke about Jesus’s great love for us in a very organic way.
What were the challenges (literary, research, psychological, theological or logistical) in bringing your book to life? The hardest thing about writing The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet was that the first book had just been released, so I was getting a bunch of reader feedback AS I wrote the sequel. My readers are wonderfully opinionated girls and they let me know who they liked and who they didn’t like. When I experienced that with my first series (The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series) I had already written all three books. It was hard at times with The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet to drill into the story without letting in too many voices.
Favorite book ~ favorite movie ~ favorite tv show? I want to say Pride and Prejudice, but it seems like everyone says that. My favorite book that I read recently was 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I was in awe of it.
My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice, the one made in 2004. (Or 2005?)
I loved both Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars, and I lost them right around the same time. It was a dark time for me with TV 🙂 Fortunately, soon after, I discovered 30 Rock.
Stephanie's Office
Stephanie’s Office
What do you hope readers take away from The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet? I loved how Ellie’s sense of security came out in this book. In the first book, she made a lot of choices out of insecurity. In the continuation of her story, we see a lot more of her drawing a line in the sand and saying, “No, I’m not going to do that. That’s not who I am.” That was really fun to develop.
Stephanie, a writer after my own heart – 11-22-63 IS MY all-time favorite! Thank you so much for joining us today and sharing a bit more of how your novel came to be. To find out more about Stephanie, please visit her website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and if you’re a teen writer, definitely check out Go Teen Writers!
INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE MORRILL
2/7/2017
About the Author
Picture
Stephanie Morrill is the creator of GoTeenWriters.com and the author of several young adult novels, including the historical mystery, The Lost Girl of Astor Street. Despite loving cloche hats and drop-waist dresses, Stephanie would have been a terrible flapper because she can’t do the Charleston and looks awful with bobbed hair. She and her near-constant ponytail live in Kansas City with her husband and three kids.
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The Interview
1. What/whom inspired you to become an author?
I’ve wanted to be a writer since first grade. My elementary school encouraged writing time and we had freedom to write whatever kind of stories we desired. Then a parent volunteer would type our stories up for us, and we could pick the color for our cover and the binding. At the end we were supposed to illustrate it (I was awful) and then read it to the class. I loved it so much, and after that I always wanted to tell stories for a living.
2. What can you tell us about your current WIP?
The Lost Girl of Astor Street is a 1920s mystery set in Chicago. The main character, Piper, has a best friend who goes missing from their affluent neighborhood, and she knows her friend never would have run away. She throws herself into search efforts, and finds more than she bargained for. It has a Veronica Mars meets 1920s feel. February 7th is the official release date.
3. What are some of your favorite books?
I adored The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, the Heist Society series by Ally Carter, The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, and I just finished Stalking Jack The Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco.
4. What inspired the story for The Lost Girl of Astor Street?
My initial idea for The Lost Girl of Astor Street came while I was putting away laundry, of all things. My mind was wandering (as it often does during chores), and I started thinking about different stories I like. I thought about Veronica Mars for a while, and then something triggered a thought about Downton Abbey, and I thought, “I wish there was something out there that was like Veronica Mars but in a Downton Abbey kind of setting. Oh, maybe I could do that!”
5. What do you want readers to take away from reading The Lost Girl of
Astor Street?
The lesson I was learning as I wrote it is that we can only take responsibility for our own choices. It’s wonderful to try to stir change in our communities, but ultimately we can only control our choices.
Morrill, Stephanie: THE LOST GIRL OF
ASTOR STREET
Kirkus Reviews.
(Dec. 1, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Morrill, Stephanie THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET Blink (Children's Fiction) $17.99 2, 7 ISBN: 978-0-310-
75838-9
A debutante eschews convention to investigate the suspicious disappearance of her best friend.With her bobbed hair
and plucky attitude, Piper Sail pushes boundaries, but she isn't quite a flapper. Living in 1920s Chicago with her
brother and father--a powerful and wealthy attorney--the white teen has enjoyed a life of privilege alongside her best
friend, Lydia LeVine, also white and the daughter of an affluent doctor. Lydia suffers from devastating seizures, which
her father dismisses until they occur publicly. When Lydia suddenly disappears, Piper, unable to quietly sit by with her
hands folded, launches her own investigation. Soon the spirited ingenue finds herself entrenched in a dark web of
secrets, speak-easies, and Mafiosi, and everyone--from Lydia's family to their hired help (including a black
housekeeper with distressingly stereotyped speech patterns) to Lydia's employer--seems like a prime suspect. Aided by
a handsome young detective, Piper plunges herself further into the case, going undercover in an effort to bring Lydia
justice, which leads Piper to face some hard truths about her society life. After a somewhat slow and stiff start, readers
will be rewarded for their patience as tensions grow and red herrings abound. Morrill has a keen eye for historical
details and setting, making Jazz Age Chicago Piper's invisible yet omnipresent sidekick. Here's hoping this won't be the
last case for this strong and admirable female sleuth to solve. A mostly well-crafted historical whodunit. (Historical
mystery. 12-16)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Morrill, Stephanie: THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2016. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA471901886&it=r&asid=1317da45bce56131eef28430921b7b95.
Accessed 13 Aug. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A471901886
---
8/13/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1502642833766 2/2
The Lost Girl of Astor Street
Publishers Weekly.
263.47 (Nov. 21, 2016): p110.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Lost Girl of Astor Street
Stephanie Morrill. Blink. $17.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-310-75838-9
Chicago, 1924. With Prohibition in full swing, the city is full of mobsters, illegal gin joints, cops on the take, and
professionals who benefit from criminal activity. Piper Sail, 18, has a privileged life on Astor Street in Chicago's tony
Gold Coast neighborhood, but when her best friend Lydia is kidnapped, Piper--who has always been considered a bad
influence by her teachers and peers due to her independent and often reckless behavior--takes it upon herself to solve
the crime. She teams up with detective Mariano Cassano to find out what happened to Lydia, uncovering unsavory
information about her neighbors, her new crush (the detective), and even her own family. Morrill (the Elbe Sweet
series) crafts a well-plotted mystery novel with plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings. Piper's determination and
attitude make her an engaging protagonist, though her mix of naivete and nerve can make her character seem
inconsistent. Though this is an entertaining mystery, one doesn't feel especially connected to the time and place in
which it is set. Ages 13--up. Agent: Sandra Bishop, Transatlantic Literary. (Feb.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"The Lost Girl of Astor Street." Publishers Weekly, 21 Nov. 2016, p. 110. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA471274034&it=r&asid=3b58be7a3fd4e9179743bb1a680f1085.
Accessed 13 Aug. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A471274034
Book Review: The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill
May 17, 2017
View on Amazon
Back cover:
Lydia has vanished.
Lydia, who’s never broken any rules, except falling in love with the wrong boy. Lydia, who’s been Piper’s best friend since they were children. Lydia, who never even said goodbye.
Convinced the police are looking in all the wrong places, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail begins her own investigation in an attempt to solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance. With the reluctant help of a handsome young detective, Piper goes searching for answers in the dark underbelly of 1924 Chicago, determined to find Lydia at any cost.
When Piper discovers those answers might stem from the corruption strangling the city—and quite possibly lead back to the doors of her affluent neighborhood—she must decide how deep she’s willing to dig, how much she should reveal, and if she’s willing to risk her life of privilege for the sake of truth.
From the glitzy homes of the elite to the mob-run streets of 1920s Chicago, Stephanie Morrill’s Jazz-Age mystery shows just how far a girl will go to save her friend.
Naomi’s Review:
The Lost Girl of Astor Street tells the story of girl trying to fit in… but also to be herself. This book tells the story of how sometimes those things don’t line up, and how that can be okay anyway. Piper Sail is a relatable and real character readers can relate too.
When Piper’s best friend goes missing she does the only thing she can do—go looking for her. Piper is full of bravery and spunk but inside she still struggles with fear and doubt and loneliness.
Morrill takes us on an adventure with constant surprises where you never know what will happen next! Whenever I read or watch a mystery I always try to figure out ‘whodunit,’ but I couldn’t figure it out for this book. Even so, at the end, when it all came together, it wasn’t confusing at all.
The Lost Girl of Astor Street is set in the 1920s and Morrill brilliantly shows that throughout the story. There is no big history info dump full of boring facts, but presents the setting naturally as if it only made sense that this book was set in that time frame.
Honestly, when the book came out I kept hearing about how it really wasn’t for younger audiences. That had me slightly concerned because I’ve read her other books and, while I did really enjoy them, they didn’t have anything that would have scared me at a younger age. I was a little nervous that this book wouldn’t be as good, that it was darker and not what I wanted or expected from Stephanie Morrill. Really, though, it was very good! Now that I’ve read it I get what they were saying. This book does deal with ‘big’ criminals, gangsters, and heavier subjects that some younger readers might not want to read or something that they don’t need to be exposed too.
Morrill writes a colorful cast of characters in a beautiful yet realistic story stained with organized crime. I would definitely recommend this book to other avid bookworms!
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Review: The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill
By Kasey Giard | March 2, 2017 | Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Clean Fiction, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance, Young Adult/Teen Fiction
The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie MorrillThe Lost Girl of Astor Street
Stephanie Morrill
Blink
Published February 7, 2017
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Eighteen-year-old Piper Sail’s best friend Lydia goes missing from a neighborhood street in 1924 Chicago. Piper vows to find her friend, even if she has to take up the investigation herself. As Piper begins to hunt for Lydia, she soon learns everyone in her neighborhood hides a secret, even her father and the handsome detective who’s working the case. Piper realizes finding the truth may cost her newfound love, her respect for her family, and possibly, her own life.
I loved this book! I was hooked from the first page. Immediately we meet interesting (and funny!) characters and see complex relationships. There were a few elements of the mystery that I kind of saw coming, and I worried that would make the ending too obvious. It did not. The Lost Girl of Astor Street had plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing at the real story behind Lydia’s disappearance and the odd behavior of some of the other characters.
The plot elements tied together well enough to be believable but also not feel too convenient—which I think is a delicate balance in a mystery. Piper kept busy with a lot of sub-plots, all interesting stuff that ultimately provided other pieces in the grander puzzle of the story.
One really random thing I enjoyed a lot was all the hats. It seemed like whenever anyone went anywhere, there were great hats involved. I loved that!
I definitely recommend this book. I loved the characters, found the mystery elements well-paced, and seriously enjoyed the adventure in 1920s Chicago. This one is a must-read for mystery and historical lovers.
Recommended for Ages 14 up.
Cultural Elements
Piper learns a little bit about the Irish and Italian mafia. She dates an Italian detective, and some friends/family members disapprove of the relationship. Piper’s friend Lydia has seizures.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.
Romance/Sexual Content
A few brief male-female kisses. Piper hears a story about a girl her age rescued from a human trafficking ring. She visits some places that prostitutes frequent as part of her search for Lydia.
Spiritual Content
At one point, Piper feels discouraged, feeling like she’ll never find Lydia. She says the only thing left to do is cry out to God, if you believe He’s there.
A couple of scenes are set in a church—funeral and wedding.
Violent Content
A young woman is shot. A captor interrogates a young woman, hitting her and shoving her underwater when the girl refuses to answer questions.
Drug Content
Piper’s family enjoys wine with dinner, despite Prohibition laws. (Piper herself doesn’t drink.) Piper’s brother comes home drunk and says some unkind things to her.
Must-read YA historical romance: 'The Lost Girl of Astor Street' by Stephanie Morrill
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By: Serena Chase | February 7, 2017 12:00 am
the-lost-girl-of-astor-street-by-stephanie-morrillThe Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill
What it’s about (from publisher Blink):
When her best friend vanishes without so much as a good-bye, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail takes on the role of amateur sleuth in an attempt to solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance. Given that Piper’s tendency has always been to butt heads with high-society’s expectations of her, it’s no surprise that she doesn’t give a second thought to searching for answers to Lydia’s abduction from their privileged neighborhood.
As Piper discovers that those answers might stem from the corruption strangling 1924 Chicago—and quite possibly lead back to the doors of her affluent neighborhood—she must decide how deep she’s willing to dig, how much she should reveal, and if she’s willing to risk her life of privilege for the sake of the truth.
Perfect for fans of Libba Bray and Anna Godbersen, Stephanie Morrill’s atmospheric jazz-age mystery will take readers from the glitzy homes of the elite to the dark underbelly of 1920s Chicago.
Why you should read it: It is a rare thing, indeed, to discover a historical romance among the contemporary and fantasy tales crowding YA shelves, but Stephanie Morrill fills that void with The Lost Girl of Astor Street. With a plot-driving mystery that steadily ratchets the tension of Piper’s first-person, desperate devotion toward discovering the truth behind her best friend’s disappearance, this novel will not disappoint.
The characters are real and relatable, yet resonate as true to their time in history … and the romance is adorable, in the best possible way. If you’re the type of reader who collects book boyfriends, young police detective Mariano Cassano is sure to earn a spot on your list! Your heart will do the Charleston every time he steps into a scene.
A must-read you should absolutely add to your TBR, The Lost Girl of Astor Street delivers a page-turning, teen-friendly historical romance with tenderness and spunk.
Serena Chase is the author of the epic Eyes of E’veria fantasy series and of Intermission, a contemporary YA romance. She lives in Iowa with her husband and two teen daughters.
MORE ON HEA: See more of Serena’s romance recs