Lily’s role crystalized – as she plays a large role in book 2.Įlly: LOCK & MORI is a great mystery. During revision, the story didn’t change much, but the stakes got higher.

But when I started taking notes about the character, I realized Mori was meant to be a girl in this story. Heather: In the very beginning, Mori was going to be a boy. Kind of like what Smallville was for Superman.Įlly: Did you find the essence of your story changed a lot from when you first started writing? This is not a retelling, but a story of origin. I liked turning the good girl/ bad boy trope on its head. Heather: Sherlock has been so explored over time and is always the center of the story. Sherlock Holmes is obviously well-known for his crime solving, how did you decide to weave his teen self into this novel and not make him the main character? While I felt an authentic sense of loss while reading, I experienced it through Mori’s lens. And, I want you to know that you succeeded in your goal. And, when I finally did dive back in, I wanted to be sure I could write Mori’s story without it becoming my own.Įlly: I am so sorry for your loss. I was 15,000 words into writing this book when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Heather: In the story, we meet Mori after her mom has died (promise, no spoiler). What if Moriarty knew Sherlock in high school and something happened to turn them into enemies?Įlly: How did your own life impact the telling of Mori’s story? That made me wonder what if Sherlock had lied to Watson. Heather: I came up with the idea after reading a blog post about the relationships between heroes and villains that made the point that all we know: Moriarty is from Sherlock’s POV. LOCK & MORI is available for purchase at Target, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Powell’s, and IndieBound.Įlly: I loved this book and once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down until I reached the very end and knew what happened.Įlly: This story is about the mystery in life and death. Before they were mortal enemies, they were much more. The truth very well might drive them apart.

In modern-day London, two brilliant high school students, one Sherlock Holmes and a Miss James “Mori” Moriarty, meet. You can visit Heather on her website, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads, Facebook, and Pinterest. She lives in Reno, Nevada with her husband, daughter, and four hopelessly devious cats. Heather Petty has been obsessed with mysteries since she was twelve, which is when she decided that stories about murders in London drawing rooms and English seaside villages were far superior to all other stories. Petty about her debut YA detective mystery, LOCK & MORI (Septemfrom Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). Sweet Sixteener Elly Swartz recently spoke to Fearless Fifteener Heather W.

Lock & Mori by Heather W. Petty