Thrice Interview: THE LITTLE WOODS

Hi! Today we’re celebrating the release of THE LITTLE WOODS by McCormick Templeman!

The synopsis: Are the woods behind St. Bede’s Academy really haunted, or does bad stuff just happen there? When Calista Wood, a new student, arrives midway through her junior year, St. Bede’s feels like a normal school . . . until she discovers that a girl had disappeared a couple of months earlier. Some kids think she ran away, others think she was murdered, but it’s only when Cally starts digging around that she finds the startling truth.

Watch as Cally enters a world of privilege, weekend-long parties, high school romances, and . . . well-kept secrets. This page-turner will appeal to teens looking for a fast-paced thriller. Written in a voice at once gripping and crystal clear, debut novelist, McCormick Templeman, will take readers on a twisting and turning journey as only a “new girl” can experience.

My take: I really enjoyed THE LITTLE WOODS. I love a good boarding school mystery, and this one features its share of damaged, quirky, potentially homicidal rich girls; secret trysts with cute boys; mysterious professors; and a creepy setting in the nearby woods. Cally’s interest in Iris’s disappearance is believable because of her own family tragedy. She’s a likable, compassionate protagonist with a wry sense of humor. The way the mystery played out surprised me, but it also felt believable. I highly recommend it!

Now for the interview!

1. Describe your main character in 3 adjectives + a noun.

Cally is a sweet, messed-up, sarcastic punk. (JS: I love this! So apt.)

2. Describe your book in 3 adjectives + a noun.

THE LITTLE WOODS is a creepy, fun, moody wake.

3. Describe yourself in 3 adjectives + a noun.

I am an introverted, extroverted, wide-eyed weirdo. (JS: Ha!)

4. If you could travel to any 3 countries, what would they be?

China, Ireland, and Romania.

5. If you could take any 3 non-writing-related classes, what would they be?

Microbiology, marine biology, some kind of musical theater class where I’d get to sing and prance around a stage a lot.

6. If you could have 3 alternate careers, what would they be?

Emergency room doctor, Ichthyologist (is that even a word?), rock star.

7. What are 3 of your favorite flowers?

Iris, birds of paradise, honeysuckle

8. What are 3 of your favorite foods?

Tomatoes, barbecue, cucumbers

9. What are 3 of your favorite books?

ADA or ARDOR (Vladimir Nabokov), ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE (Gabriel Garcia Márquez), THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (Douglas Adams).

Thanks so much for coming by, McCormick! Happy book birthday!