Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee

KLiC: What was your inspiration for HEIRESS OF NOWHERE?

SL: The story began with a question: What would happen if someone who had always lived on the margins suddenly inherited enormous power?
Lucy has spent most of her life in the background—first as a maid, then as a research assistant to a magnate who runs his shipping empire from Orcas Island. When she unexpectedly inherits the estate and the business, it throws the entire island into turmoil.
I was also inspired by the edge-of-the-world setting of Orcas Island in Washington State. It’s a beautiful place with deep history, rugged landscapes, and a strong sense of community. Putting a mystery inside such a small, close-knit world creates wonderful tension—because everyone knows everyone, and secrets are very hard to keep.

KLiC: Please tell us about your writing process. How long did it take you to write and sell this book?
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SL: I start with a healthy dose of curiosity. A story has to absorb me for the entire journey, so I need to be hooked from day one. I knew I wanted to set the book in the San Juan Islands, and when I closed my eyes and imagined the story, I saw a girl walking down a beach and coming across the remains of someone very important to her. From there the questions began: Who was this person? Why was the discovery so meaningful to her?
We sold the book off a proposal and a few chapters to my wonderful editor, Sarah Dotts Barley, for her new imprint, Sarah Barley Books.

The first draft of HEIRESS OF NOWHERE took about a year to write. After that, I spent several more months revising the manuscript with my editor, shaping the clues and strengthening the characters. Mysteries require careful plotting, so I spent a lot of time making sure the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
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From the first idea to the finished book, the process took about two years.

KLiC: What kind of research did you do for HEIRESS OF NOWHERE?

SL: Research is one of my favorite parts of writing. For this book, I spent time learning about the history and ecology of the Pacific Northwest and the San Juan Islands.
I read about the plants and animals of the region—things like murrelets, tide pools, forests, and coastal wildlife—because the natural world is such an important part of life on the island.

I also visited the island and spoke with experts at the local museum as well as longtime residents to better understand early 20th-century communities in the Pacific Northwest. I toured fish canneries (cooler than you might think!) and learned about fishing methods, the kinds of boats people used, and the many different people who worked in those industries.

And somewhat unexpectedly, I also became an expert on lime production.

KLiC: Tell us about your cover art (cover provided by Sarah Barley Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's)

SL: HEIRESS OF NOWHERE isn’t an illustrated book, but I do love the atmospheric cover art. I think it captures the intense mood of the story and hints at the gothic mystery readers will find inside.

And I always encourage readers to check out the case under the dust jacket—it has a fun surprise.

KLiC: What’s the one thing you want readers to take away from your book?

SL: I hope readers come away thinking about courage in a new way.
Lucy doesn’t begin the story as the most powerful or confident person in the room. She isn’t even sure where she belongs. But over time she learns that leadership doesn’t come from status or inheritance—it comes from integrity and the willingness to face problems head-on.

Sometimes the people who seem least likely to lead are exactly the ones who change things.

KLiC: Do you have any tips for pre-published authors?

SL: My biggest advice is simple: keep writing and keep reading.
Writing is a craft that improves with practice. Every story teaches you something new. Reading widely is just as important, because it shows us all the different ways stories can be told.

And finally, be patient with yourself. Publishing can take time, but every book begins the same way—with someone sitting down and writing the first page.

KLiC: What’s next for you?
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SL: Right now I’m back in the forest, following story trails. It’s a great place to be. I love sniffing out story ideas and following them to wherever they lead.

And of course, I’m excited to share HEIRESS OF NOWHERE with readers and hear what they think about Lucy’s story.

Stacey Lee is the New York Times bestselling author of historical young adult fiction, including The Downstairs Girl, a Reese’s Book Pick; Luck of the Titanic, which received five starred reviews; and Outrun the Moon, winner of the Asian Pacific Award for Literature. A native of southern California and fourth-generation Chinese American, she is a founder of the We Need Diverse Books movement and writes stories for all kids (even the ones who look like adults).