By Heather W. Petty

"[An] outstanding young adult novel...True to canon, this sleuthing tale is rife with intrigues, puzzles, and vivid danger. Read at your own peril – nothing is more electrifying than the hunt for truth." --Christian Science Monitor

There are some manuscripts you receive on submission that you must read as soon and as quickly as possible. One, the premise is just too good. Two, you suspect that other editors are dropping their weekend plans to read it because that's what you're doing. Such was the case with Heather's LOCK & MORI. A modern-day young adult novel starring Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty...who happens to be a girl?! Yes, please!

As many of you know, the acquisitions process can take a bit of time. First, I have to read the manuscript, and despite my years of practice, I'm not a particularly fast reader. Plus, there's always a steady stream of first, second, and third drafts of the books I'm editing to be read. Next, I need to get the project on the agenda for my weekly staff meeting (where I gather with my publisher and fellow editors to talk shop). If all goes well, I take the manuscript to the following week's acquisitions meeting. And if the folks in that room like the book, only then can I extend an offer. From start to finish, we're looking at, on average, eight to ten weeks. I've acquired manuscripts that sat in my submissions folder for months (sorry 'bout that!).

I preempted Heather's trilogy in just under three weeks. 

There are so many things I love about Lock & Mori, but the thing that stands out in my mind is how expertly Heather makes the reader empathize for Moriarty, a character most of us have long detested. As Gregory Maguire did with Elphaba in Wicked, Heather creates a compelling back story for this future "villain," allowing us access to Mori's thoughts, pain, and struggle.

Krista Vossen oversaw the design, which I detailed here.

For more information and to buy the book, click here.