Authors at Home: Katryn Bury, “Drew Leclair Crushes the Case”
Today on Authors at Home, we’re excited to be featuring Katryn Bury. She is an author, librarian, and mom. Her new book, Drew Leclair Crushes the Case is the second in a series following a middle school detective and friends as they crack the case of a sneaky locker thief. While Drew would like nothing more than to go about her mystery-solving ways and follow in the footsteps of her true-crime idol in peace, she also finds herself dealing with shifting friendships and the return of her mother — who may not be as unhelpful as Drew thinks. Drew Leclair Crushes the Case (a book I honestly wish I’d had as a kid) was published in April by HarperCollins, full of engaging characters and quite a few twists as the mystery progresses. Learn more about Katryn, her process of writing mysteries for young people, and how Katryn has been dealing with the wave of book ban attempts across the country below. Make sure to pick up a copy of Drew Leclair Crushes the Case at your indie bookseller or local library!
What’s your process for writing mysteries? Do you make a detailed outline of the clues and the answers, or are you more go-with-the-flow?
I have to admit, I’m terrible at solving mysteries, so writing them can be a challenge! I do make an outline of the story, but I tend to change my mind and throw out the plan. I don’t plan my clues ahead of time, but instead let them come to the story organically. In revisions is when I go full detective like Drew Leclair! Once I have the story, as well as some good clues and set-ups, I create my own crime board — making sure to construct a mystery that is challenging but solvable!
I was thrilled by the strong voices of your characters — Drew felt like an extraordinarily authentic seventh grader, self-doubt and dramatics included. What’s your approach to writing middle-school characters for middle-grade readers?
My approach is actually a terrible curse — that I am doomed to remember everything about being a kid and teenager in detail! I think that’s how I’m able to bring the authentic inner world of Drew. When it comes to the modern language and dialogue, I am lucky enough to spend my work days with middle schoolers as a youth library technician. The kids I work with love to give me tips.
What’s your favorite thing about writing for young readers?
I think it has to be making kids who are struggling feel seen and accepted. I needed that so much as a kid, and stories helped me feel as though I was a part of something bigger. Still, I rarely saw my whole self reflected on the page. I think my favorite moments of this process have been seeing kids’ eyes light up with a familiar glint of hope when I talked about the challenges I faced before I found success.
I loved seeing all the diversity of your characters, from representing queer kids to kids of color. How important was that diversity to you in writing?
Writing a story set in Oakland, I insisted on a diverse cast of characters. Oakland, and especially the foothills areas, are marked by a true blending of backgrounds, and I was so excited to put that on the page. Whenever I write a book, I tend to take a lot of time to study the setting and the demographics. Then, I look into common and less common last names and naming conventions for varying backgrounds. I’m a huge research nerd, so I really view this part of writing as painting an accurate picture of the area I’m writing.
On diversity, I heard Drew Leclair has been one of the books caught up in this new wave of book bans across the country. How are you dealing with this movement regarding your own work, but also considering the hundreds of other, already-well established, books that are being taken out of kids’ hands?
When I first found out, I had so many feelings. The first — a very personal emotion — was the familiar sense of shame and fear. This, of course, is exactly why I didn’t come out when I was younger. That being said, when I had the opportunity to think about it from the perspective of a librarian, and an author wanting to uplift children, I got mad. In my day job, I work tirelessly to make sure that members have equitable access to materials (and, yes, it goes the other way! There are many books I don’t like to see, but we have the right to access them). In my writing life, I plan to be as strong in my convictions. I have made a mindful and concerted decision to get loud about ending censorship — and encouraging others to get loud with me. This is an issue that will directly and negatively impact kids. Since so much of my motivation in writing children’s books is to make kids feel like it’s okay to be themselves, I will fight to the bitter end to protect that.
Any advice for writing mysteries/plot twists?
Create a crime board and deconstruct the mystery like you would a recipe — stripping it down to each basic ingredient.
Is there more to come from Drew and the crew?
I have a great idea for a third book, so I really hope so. My daughter is very excited to see how a certain crush in book two pans out, and so am I!
Book Summary:
Fan-favorite detective Drew Leclair returns to crack the case of a sneaky locker thief in this heartfelt sequel to the critically acclaimed middle grade mystery series that’s been called “the perfect story for readers ready to progress from Nancy Drew.” (SLJ, starred review).
After breaking school rules the last time she solved a mystery, Drew Leclair has a new mission: get good grades, stay under the radar, and do not get suspended.
But when Drew finds out that there’s a thief breaking into the P.E. lockers and leaving behind cryptic ransom notes, it’s hard to resist cracking a new case. Especially when one of the victims is her best friend Shrey’s crush, and he’s practically begging her to get involved.
Can Drew catch the thief red-handed while staying out of trouble? And what does it mean when everyone around Drew is obsessing over crushes and the upcoming Wonderland dance, and Drew would rather work on her latest crime board?
About Katryn Bury:
Katryn Bury is the author of the middle grade mystery Drew Leclair Gets a Clue and the sequel Drew Leclair Crushes the Case. A lifelong true crime nerd, she has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminology. Her short and serialized fiction can be found in Suspense Magazine and The Sleuth. By day, she is a library technician who is lucky enough to work with her target audience. She lives in Oakland, California, with her family and a vast collection of Nancy Drew mysteries.
