Rook(137)

But no matter what odd and creepy facts tickle my imagination, for me, what writing a book really comes down to is story, like the Baroness Emma Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel. I’ve always loved this book, the quintessential tale of love, spies, and derring-do while cheating the French guillotine of its victims. Being swept away by story can be powerful, sometimes life-changing, and I think the adventure and heroism of books like The Scarlet Pimpernel are the essence of what story is. But I’ve also always wanted to reimagine that story. To replace some of the Edwardian syrup with a savory dose of Georgian-era spice. So the novel that became Rook is not as much a retelling as it is an homage, conveniently coupled with all those strange and disparate ideas that I find so intriguing. Rook is a tribute to story, and especially to the classic drama and characters first created by the Baroness Orczy more than a century before me.

Which makes sense. History always does seem to be repeating.





Thanking everyone who needs to be thanked is always an impossible task, but since my life is full of impossibilities, I’m giving this one a go.

Undying love and gratitude to my critique group, who have read every word of every story I’ve ever put to paper. Amy Eytchison, Howard Shirley, Angelika Stegmann, and Ruta Sepetys. You taught me to write. You read my pages again. You told me I could be a writer and then I was.

Jessica Young, Courtney Stevens, Genetta Adair, Kristin Tubb, Rae Ann Parker, and Susan Eaddy. I don’t think a day in the past 365 has gone by when one of you has failed to encourage me.

SCBWI Midsouth. You know who you are. Need I say more?

Ruta, your cabin contains magic.

Love and thanks to my beautiful, patient, kind, and oh so wise editor, Lisa Sandell. You make everything I do so much better. This is also magic.

David Levithan and my team at Scholastic: Sheila Marie Everett, Elizabeth Starr Baer, Jennifer Ung, Sharismar Rodriguez, and all those beautiful faces from Marketing, School and Library, Book Clubs, Book Fairs, and Foreign Rights. Not sure what I did to deserve you.

My intrepid agent and friend, Kelly Sonnack. I would be lost without you. Therefore I forgive your shocking lack of affinity for gingers.

Hannah Courtney, intern/blogger/writer extraordinaire. Keep those big ideas coming. You know I’ll say yes.

And mostly, all of my love to Philip, Chris, Stephen, and Elizabeth. Everything is for you.



SHARON CAMERON was awarded the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Sue Alexander Award for Most Promising New Work for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding, which was also awarded the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award and named an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. She is also the author of A Spark Unseen. Sharon lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee, and you can visit her online at sharoncameronbooks.com.