Local author publishes first young adult fiction novel

The stories Stephanie Morrill of Overland Park writes usually feature a girl who is quiet and sticks behind the scenes. Until Morrill started writing about Skyler.

Teen fiction readers will meet Skyler when Morrill’s recently published book “Me, Just Different” is released this month.

It is the first in what will be a three-part series about Skyler, who is definitely not the shy, quiet type, Morrill said.

“I thought, ‘Why don’t I find a character who has everything, doesn’t have problems with self-confidence but is still struggling to figure out who she is?’” Morrill said. “That’s where that concept came from.”

Morrill has focused on writing for eight years, since her high school graduation from Notre Dame de Sion, 10631 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Mo. Though 25, Morrill has maintained an interest in the teen fiction genre, she said.

“I’ve always been drawn to writing teenage stories,” Morrill said. “I loved reading them when I was in high school, and then after I was in high school those were the only ideas that I had. I decided that must be what I was meant to write about and that’s what I should focus on now.”

In Morrill’s book, Skyler will soon be a high school senior. She finds herself in a potentially dangerous party situation. Skyler makes the decision to change her lifestyle and make a fresh start. She struggles, however, because she does not want to end friendships she has developed.

“I think what is attractive is she is very flawed,” Morrill said. “Even though she looks like she knows what she is doing, she has a lot of flaws and she is aware of her flaws, but isn’t sure how to fix them.”

Skyler’s books are based in the Kansas City area and local readers will likely relate to her shout-outs to popular locales, Morrill said. Morrill wrote the book when she lived in Orlando, Fla. Writing about her hometown gave Morrill a chance to live vicariously through her character, referencing sports teams and restaurants she missed, she said.

Prior to attending Notre Dame de Sion, Morrill attended Cottonwood Point Elementary School and Harmony Middle School in the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park. Morrill said she began writing while in first grade.

“A lot of kids play sports in school,” Morrill said. “For me it was always writing. That’s what I was always interested in. I did a lot of reading and just liked creating my own stories after school or after class.”

Morrill’s book is released at a point when young adult and teen fiction book sales are on the rise. The Children’s Book Council has reported teen fiction sales have increased more than 25 percent in recent years.

“I think book series like the Harry Potter series and the Twilight series just prove that teenagers are interested in reading and are willing to take the time to read,” Morrill said.

Morrill said books offer something different from other entertainment genres.

“I guess because it goes deeper into the emotions and actions of characters,” Morrill said.  “It is always interesting to me to be transported into somebody else’s mind and live through them.”

Morrill said she hopes readers will be able to relate to the inner strength Skyler has to find.

“Skyler is trying to live her life by these morals and convictions and she is surrounded by people who don’t believe the same things as her,” Morrill said. “I think that’s a pretty common situation for teenage girls to be in – to not be surrounded by people who believe in everything they do. I hope they can look at Skyler’s situation and find inner strength and courage.”

“Me, Just Different” is available through bookstores and online booksellers.

“I’m looking forward to talking to the girls who read it,” Morrill said. “I’m looking forward to interacting with them, knowing how it affected them, what they liked, what they didn’t like and how they related to it.”

Subsequent books are set to release in January 2010 and July 2010.

Morrill will sign books from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at Barnes and Noble at Oak Park Mall, 11149 W. 95th St., Overland Park.

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