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WORK TITLE: Girl at the Grave
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.teribaileyblack.com/
CITY: Orange County
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: four.
EDUCATION:Attended college.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Teri Bailey Black is a writer based in Orange County, CA. She has released novels in the young adult genre.
In 2018, Black released her first book, Girl at the Grave. Set during the 1800s in Connecticut, it tells the story of an orphaned teen named Valentine. She determines to investigate the murder of Nigel Blackshaw, for which her mother was convicted and executed. Meanwhile, she becomes close to Blackshaw’s son, Rowan. Valentine also deals with conflicted romantic feelings for an old friend, Sam.
In an interview with a contributor to the Jean Book Nerd website, Black explained what inspired her to write the novel. She stated: “This book began with the image of a little girl in the 1800’s with wild hair and dirty feet looking through a schoolhouse window. The teacher tries to draw her inside, but she runs away. Once I thought up this little girl, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I wondered why she was an outcast and decided her mother was hanged for murdering a prominent man.” Black continued: “I wrote a hundred pages about that little girl, then realized I was more interested in the seventeen-year-old girl she becomes. So I started over, and it became a love story as well as a murder mystery. I thought up a few interesting plot twists and secrets—and I was off and running. Well … typing.” In the same interview, Black revealed that the inclusion of women’s rights as a theme in the book was a last-minute decision. She stated: “In final revisions, I was looking for a little something extra to add to the story when I stumbled across an amazing bit of research: the women’s rights movement in the United States started in this same area at the same time. Exactly what the story needed! My mind was on fire thinking of ways to incorporate it. Mrs. Blackshaw became a much more interesting character as a women’s rights advocate.”
Stacey Hayman, reviewer in Voice of Youth Advocates, commented: “Fans of Ruta Sepetys Out of the Easy … Jennifer Donnelly or Cat Winters’s writings, gothic fiction, and historical mysteries will love every page.” “While complications and conspiracies run rampant, the plot still feels a bit wooden, with its boilerplate love triangle [and] contrived plot twists,” remarked a Kirkus Reviews critic. However, Maggie Reagan, contributor to Booklist, suggested: “This gothic murder mystery will be a breath of fresh air for historical fiction buffs.” Reagan described the volume as an “atmospheric debut.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, June 1, 2018, Maggie Reagan, review of Girl at the Grave, p. 87.
Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2018, review of Girl at the Grave.
Voice of Youth Advocates, August, 2018, Stacey Hayman, review of Girl at the Grave, p. 54.
ONLINE
Jean Book Nerd, http://www.jeanbooknerd.com/ (August 1, 2018), author interview.
Teri Bailey Black website, https://www.teribaileyblack.com/ (October 4, 2018).
Hi everyone!
I'M TERI BAILEY BLACK
I live in Orange County, California, but spend much of my time in imaginary places. A crumbling mansion. A snowy graveyard. The occasional murder scene.
I grew up near the beach in a large, quirky family with no television or junk food, but an abundance of books and art supplies. Our house was filled with reading, writing, sewing, drawing, painting, hammering, planting, dreadful piano playing, healthy food, spiritual wisdom, and deep conversations late into the night. I loved it.
Three of my sisters went to art school, and I love art too, but my real obsession has always been books. At age nine, I won a school writing contest, and by the end of high school I'd filled a small filing cabinet with my stories.
Unfortunately, my free-spirited upbringing followed me to college, where I had a bad habit of only taking classes that sounded fun: creative writing, acting, history of costume. Needless to say, I never graduated.
Photo: Yes, that's six girls and one boy. I'm the one on my mother's lap.
I detoured from writing for a while when I married my wonderful husband and had four children. My first child was born with severe disabilities, which brought unexpected challenges, but also unique blessings. Three more children joined the party and life became a whirlwind of babies and toddlers, walking to kindergarten, baking cookies, and sewing Halloween costumes. I also started a successful home business that kept me busy.
More recently, my house has been filled with teenagers and their hungry friends, who take over my dining room with gaming laptops and Dungeons & Dragons, raid the fridge, bake their own cookies (have you ever seen five teenaged boys bake cookies together?), and borrow from my enormous pile of YA books. In other words, heaven.
In the midst of all that lovely chaos, I started writing again. I wandered aimlessly for a while trying to figure out what I wanted to write, then I found the right story and some amazing critique friends, put in the hours, attended writing conferences, endured my fair share of rejection, rewrote the entire book twice, and then - wow! - found success when literary agent Barbara Poelle emailed on Labor Day 2016 to say that she loved loved loved my manuscript.
It was a dark and
stormy night when
suddenly
Now, I'm eagerly awaiting the release of my first published novel, Girl at the Grave, a YA Gothic murder mystery, August 2018 from TorTeen.
Also, busy writing the next book, of course. Life is good.
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY
QUOTED: "This book began with the image of a little girl in the 1800’s with wild hair and dirty feet looking through a schoolhouse window. The teacher tries to draw her inside, but she runs away. Once I thought up this little girl, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I wondered why she was an outcast and decided her mother was hanged for murdering a prominent man."
"I wrote a hundred pages about that little girl, then realized I was more interested in the seventeen-year-old girl she becomes. So I started over, and it became a love story as well as a murder mystery. I thought up a few interesting plot twists and secrets—and I was off and running. Well . . . typing."
"In final revisions, I was looking for a little something extra to add to the story when I stumbled across an amazing bit of research: the women’s rights movement in the United States started in this same area at the same time. Exactly what the story needed! My mind was on fire thinking of ways to incorporate it. Mrs. Blackshaw became a much more interesting character as a women’s rights advocate."
Teri Bailey Black Author Interview
4:00 AM Girl at the Grave, JBN, Jean Book Nerd Official Blog Tour, Teri Bailey Black Author Interview 2 comments
Photo Content from Teri Bailey Black
Teri Bailey Black grew up near the beach in Southern California in a large, quirky family with no television or junk food, but an abundance of books and art supplies. She’s happiest when she’s creating things, whether it’s with words, fabric, or digging in the garden. She makes an amazing chocolate cherry cake—frequently. She and her husband have four children and live in Orange County, California. Girl at the Grave is her debut novel.
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen (August 7, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765399482
ISBN-13: 978-0765399489
Praise for GIRL AT THE GRAVE
"With its vibrant, atmospheric setting and lush, captivating prose, Girl at the Grave is a searing Gothic story of love and murder that will burn in readers' hearts and minds long after reading." ―#1 New York Times bestselling author Kerri Maniscalco
“Girl at the Grave kept me up late at night with its non-stop secrets, twists, and scandals. An entertaining homage to classic Gothic romances that will keep readers guessing until the very last chapter.” ―Cat Winters, author of Odd & True
Was there a particular event or time that you recognized that writing was not just a hobby.
I always intended to be a serious writer, but the goal took a backseat for a while when my four kids were young. My first child was born with severe disabilities, which brought a few extra challenges. Plus, I started a home business that took off and kept me creatively happy. Life was busy!
Now, my house is filled with teenagers and I have a little more time on my hands, so I started writing again. I found some amazing critique partners, put in the hours, attended writing conferences, endured my fair share of rejection, and finally received that wonderful phone call of success!
Has reading a book ever changed your life? Which one and why, if yes?
It was amazing to share a book obsession with my kids when all the Harry Potter books were coming out—to watch them love reading as much as I do. We stood in line at midnight together at the bookstore, wearing costumes. Then again for the next book. I had to buy two Deathly Hallows because no one wanted to wait their turn. Years of bonding over BOOKS with my kids. Priceless! (My daughter won first place in the costume contest dressed as a prisoner of Azkaban.)
Another book that stands out—when I was thirteen I took a school class called Fellowship of the Ring, where we did nothing but read and analyze Tolkien all year. Pretty much heaven. I’ve been obsessed with fantasy books ever since.
In your new book; GIRL AT THE GRAVE, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it and why they should read your novel?
It’s a story of romance and murder set in 1849 in Connecticut. As a child, Valentine saw her mother hanged for murdering the wealthiest man in town. She’s grown up motherless, fending for herself in a crumbling estate, trying to prove herself at Drake Academy and overcome her mother’s crime. But when a new string of murders strikes the town, everyone suspects Valentine, the daughter of a killer. As Valentine hunts the killer to clear her own name, she uncovers dark secrets. Oh, and there are a couple of good looking guys in her life as well—a childhood best friend and the rich, handsome son of the man her mother murdered.
What was the most surprising thing you learned in creating your characters?
Ha! Your question reminds me—I nearly forgot. Lead boy Rowan Blackshaw was named Morgan when I wrote the manuscript, got an agent, sold the book, and went through revisions with the editor. At the final hour, a friend happened to mention that Morgan is a girl’s name. It can also be a boy’s name, but she got me thinking about the YA audience. I texted every teenager I know (quite a few since I work with the youth group at church) and every single one of them said Morgan was a girl’s name. Glad I caught that! So, at the final hour, Morgan became Rowan—and that immediately felt right.
Why do you feel you had to tell this story?
I’m a very visual person, so for me, a story usually starts as an image in my mind. This book began with the image of a little girl in the 1800’s with wild hair and dirty feet looking through a schoolhouse window. The teacher tries to draw her inside, but she runs away. Once I thought up this little girl, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I wondered why she was an outcast and decided her mother was hanged for murdering a prominent man. I wrote a hundred pages about that little girl, then realized I was more interested in the 17-year-old girl she becomes. So I started over, and it became a love story as well as a murder mystery. I thought up a few interesting plot twists and secrets—and I was off and running. Well . . . typing.
What was the most magical thing that happened while creating Valentine?
In final revisions, I was looking for a little something extra to add to the story when I stumbled across an amazing bit of research: the women’s rights movement in the United States started in this same area at the same time. Exactly what the story needed! My mind was on fire thinking of ways to incorporate it. Mrs. Blackshaw became a much more interesting character as a women’s rights advocate. And I loved throwing a little attention on the gutsy women who fought for their rights (my rights) nearly two hundred years ago.
If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
This question is blowing my mind, haha. Worlds colliding. Combining books feels dangerous and wrong and nuclear. I guess my imagination only goes so far.
What part of Rowan did you enjoy writing the most?
His artistic talent. I love that he hides it from the world because it doesn’t fit the lifestyle his grandmother envisions for him. I love when Valentine discovers his secret—and finds drawings of herself in his sketchbook.
What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
I have two books in the works, both Young Adult, both too early to say much. One is a murder mystery set in Old Hollywood. The other is . . . gosh, I don’t even know how to describe it. About a brother and sister and a murder that happened years ago. It’s set in modern-day California near the beach—like me!
If you could be born into history as any famous person who would it be and why?
Well, the person who immediately comes to mind is J. K. Rowling, of course, because she’s brilliant, and gets to write all day, I’d love to know all those little wizarding world secrets that are in her head alone. And her bank account isn’t bad either.
What do you do most when you are bored?
I am never bored! Seriously—never. I tend to be high energy, full of ideas, busy busy busy. I have four children, one with severe disabilities. Never a dull moment. I love to create, whether it’s writing, sewing, gardening, baking, or decorating the house. I often meet friends for lunch. I meet once a week with a critique group of 6 writers. I serve on church committees. Hopefully, a date night with my husband. And endless reading, of course.
What were you doing at midnight last night?
I’m always asleep at midnight because I’m a total morning person. I wake up at 4 or 5 every morning and immediately start writing. It’s so easy to write when the world is dark and asleep. Then the sun rises, children wake up, my husband turns on the TV news and—bleh, I’m back in the real world. I still write all day, but those golden hours come before dawn. The flip side of that is that I melt at 8 pm.
Most horrifying dream you have ever had?
My reoccurring nightmare is showing up for something and I’m not prepared. The scene changes, but that feeling of panic doesn’t. Everyone else is ready—except me. WHY DIDN’T I PREPARE? Ugh.
Tell me about your first kiss
Oh, such a fun question! I was at a high school party when, out of the blue, the best looking, most popular boy in my school asked me to slow dance and started kissing me. It was sort of flattering but also bothered me because he didn’t know me very well, just assumed he could do that because he was such a hot commodity. I avoided his flirtations the rest of the party—good instincts. I’ve never been interested in cool, cocky guys. Give me a nerd any day. (That’s you, Husband.)
Most memorable summer job?
I learned at age twelve that if you work and earn money, you get to shop and buy clothes! I was hooked! Shopping is my happy place. I worked many jobs throughout high school—sometimes had three jobs at once. Worked until midnight at a drug store, then woke up early to work at a real estate office. I like shopping and I’m willing to work for it.
When I was twenty, I was the inventory controller at a diamond company. I sat in the vault room and counted and weighed diamonds all day. Kept track of them in the computer.
What did you do for your last birthday?
NOTHING thank you very much. I like being ignored. I am super low maintenance. I keep telling my husband he is so lucky. That comes from growing up in the middle of a large family. One of the worst moments of my life was a surprise party thrown for me. Noooooo! I like celebrating someone else’s birthday—not mine.
TEN REASONS TO READ GIRL AT THE GRAVE
A creepy mansion.
Murder. And then more murder.
Romance.
Dark secrets.
Plot twists. And then more plot twists.
Guilt and redemption.
The start of the women’s rights movement in the U.S.
Difficult choices.
A satisfying ending.
No ghosts.
DELETED SCENES FROM GIRL AT THE GRAVE
Backstory: The original manuscript included a lot of Valentine’s childhood. Without a mother, she learned about life by spying through windows. I decided the window spying was creepy, so it was cut. In fact, I cut all of the childhood scenes and started the story when she was 17 years old.
DELETED PARAGRAPHS
I watched life on tiptoe, peering through windows: the blacksmith's wife nursing her new baby; the shoemaker coming home drunk and getting slapped by his wife; the Greene family singing around the piano, voices rising in perfect harmony; old Mr. Snow eating alone after his wife died. I saw boys crawling out of bedroom windows after dark and girls sneaking back inside before dawn.
It was through windows that I experienced Christmas: smelled roast beef and Yorkshire pudding; sang carols; watched children opening presents; listened to grandfathers read Luke, Chapter Two.
I spent hours wedged in trees, crouched on top of water barrels, and hiding in alleyways. I knew which windows were the most interesting, the most accessible, the most dangerous. I knew what time of day I could find Mrs. Greene reading aloud to her children at the kitchen table. When Miss Janet was most likely to be practicing on the church piano. The perfect hiding place to watch Judge Stoker play cards with his friends.
I knew the windows of Feavers Crossing the way most children know their own friends.
QUOTED: "Fans of Ruta Sepetys Out of the Easy ... Jennifer Donnelly or Cat Winters's writings, gothic fiction, and historical mysteries will love every page."
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Print Marked Items
Black, Teri Bailey. Girl at the Grave
Stacey Hayman
Voice of Youth Advocates.
41.3 (Aug. 2018): p54.
COPYRIGHT 2018 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
Black, Teri Bailey. Girl at the Grave. Tor Teen/ Macmillan, August 2018. 336p. $17.99. 978-07653-9948-9.
5Q * 4P * M * J * S (a)
In the small village of Feavers Crossing, Connecticut, Valentine Delucas mother pulled the trigger and
killed a man. Now 1849, eleven years later, a majority of the town continues to shun Valentine and her
father in response. Valentine is smart and an anonymous benefactor has been paying the cost of her tuition
to Drake Academy, with students she has know from birth and previously considered to be friends. As
graduation approaches, Valentine is under renewed scrutiny and old secrets lead toward new problems.
Dark, mysterious, and deadly are not words most would want to use in a description of their world, but they
are spot on for this bountiful, amazing tale of gothic woe. The murky and depressed atmosphere invades
even the potential romantic connections, causing some degree of hand-wringing worry for all involved. The
main, and even the secondary, characters are brought to life through their words and actions, allowing
readers to come to their own understanding of motivations and events. The work of establishing this
complex atmosphere pays off in how easy it is to engage with and care for all the characters, even those of a
more villainous nature. Suspense builds as characters reveal, or learn, secrets from the past within the
context of Valentine's present struggles. The core mystery and solution are tightly woven throughout the
story, without being obvious nor hiding key facts, making for a surprising but satisfying resolution. Fans of
Ruta Sepetys Out of the Easy (Penguin, 2013), Jennifer Donnelly or Cat Winters's writings, gothic fiction,
and historical mysteries will love every page.--Stacey Hayman.
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Hayman, Stacey. "Black, Teri Bailey. Girl at the Grave." Voice of Youth Advocates, Aug. 2018, p. 54.
General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A551167804/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=679a1923. Accessed 30 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A551167804
QUOTED: "While complications and conspiracies run rampant, the plot still feels a bit wooden, with its boilerplate love triangle [and] contrived plot twists."
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Black, Teri Bailey: GIRL AT THE
GRAVE
Kirkus Reviews.
(June 1, 2018):
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Black, Teri Bailey GIRL AT THE GRAVE Tor Teen (Young Adult Fiction) $17.99 8, 7 ISBN: 978-0-7653-
9948-9
In 1849 New England a girl with a scandalous past finds herself at a crossroads.
With a mane of wild curls, unconventional beauty Valentine DeLuca lives in a dilapidated estate with her
aloof father. Her mother was hanged for the murder of Nigel Blackshaw, an eminent member of her small
town of Feavers Crossing. Due to a benefactor shrouded in mystery, Valentine attends the prestigious Drake
Academy, where Nigel's heir, Rowan Blackshaw, is also a student. Despite their troublesome connection,
Valentine and Rowan predictably fall for each other. However, many dark secrets threaten to rip the ill-fated
lovers apart. Valentine must eventually decide between a simple life with Sam, the boy next door; going on
the lam with Rowan; and her own independence. Bleak, inclement Connecticut features prominently in this
gothic melodrama which is refreshingly free of any paranormal content, despite its otherworldly title. An
indecisive heroine, Valentine's inability to make a decision may be polarizing; either readers will swoon as
she agonizes or leave frustrated. While complications and conspiracies run rampant, the plot still feels a bit
wooden, with its boilerplate love triangle, contrived plot twists, and endless descriptions of smoldering eyes
and pouty mouths. Valentine and the other denizens of Feavers Crossing are white; one adult character is
developmentally disabled and is treated kindly by Valentine, in contrast to the behavior of other residents.
A soapy romance mired in contrivance. (Gothic romance. 13-adult)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Black, Teri Bailey: GIRL AT THE GRAVE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2018. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A540723233/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=25ef63d1.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A540723233
QUOTED: "This gothic murder mystery will be a breath of fresh air for historical fiction buffs."
"atmospheric debut."
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Girl at the Grave
Maggie Reagan
Booklist.
114.19-20 (June 1, 2018): p87+.
COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Girl at the Grave. By Teri Bailey Black. Aug. 2018. 336p. Tor Teen, $17.99 (9780765399489). Gr. 9-12.
Even before her father disappears, Valentine is half an orphan: years ago, her mother was hanged for the
murder of a prominent local man. Now Valentine is more or less an outcast in her mid-1800s Connecticut
town, focusing on her schoolwork and ignoring the jeers from her classmates. When an acquaintance claims
her mother was wrongly accused of murder, Valentine is confused; she may have been only six at the time,
but she was there the night her mother shot Nigel Blackshaw, and she's sure she was guilty. Then the man
who makes the claim dies under suspicious circumstances, and Valentine's father vanishes. As Valentine
learns more about the night Nigel died, she also finds herself caught between Sam (her childhood love) and
Rowan (the son of the man her mother allegedly murdered). In a market that can seem overly saturated with
the paranormal, this gothic murder mystery will be a breath of fresh air for historical fiction buffs.
Resourceful Valentine anchors this atmospheric debut, which marks Black as a writer to watch.--Maggie
Reagan
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Reagan, Maggie. "Girl at the Grave." Booklist, 1 June 2018, p. 87+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A546287653/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=c907265a.
Accessed 30 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A546287653