The Story Behind the Story

My 14-year-old daughter was annoyed because YA lit was always about the juniors and never about the freshmen. (So much wrongness.)

So I wrote the novel I would have wanted to read when I was in the ninth grade and needing an escape. It had to be humorous. (Check.) It had to be about a girl who’s smart but has dingbat moments that bring her grief. (Double Check.)

She had to be struggling to discover who she was – all while trying to find her tribe in the same kind of hostile territory I’d encountered.(Checkity-check-check.)

And there had to be a boy.

A really nice, really cute boy. (SO checked.)

I’d always wanted to write a novel, so I participated in NaNoRiMo, writing 72,402 words in 30 days. (That was a rough draft in more ways than one.) Looking back, I’m really lucky there were no books about freshmen for freshmen, or I might have missed out on one of the best experiences of my life. I’ve grown as much as Dash, I think, and I’m looking forward to writing a sequel and other books.

I hope you enjoy reading Little But Fierce as much as I enjoyed writing it!