Abby Wright, with her cute English accent and cool way of saying things, is Jeri McKane's biology lab partner and close friend. When a mysterious explosion in their lab sends Abby to the hospital, Jeri's sleuthing nose smells more than just smoke. Can she unravel the mystery before anyone else gets hurt, and worse yet, is the firebug at Landmark School targeting her? Danger and mystery abound for the group of middle-school friends as they are faced with the daily choice to trust God or give into their fears in the face of overwhelming challenges.
Kristi Holl's first middle-grade novel was published by Atheneum (1983). To date, Kristi has sold 34 middle-grade books (29 fiction and 5 nonfiction) and Writer's First Aid, an adult book to help writers survive the writing life. (Eleven of her books are mysteries; her Haunting of Cabin 13 won the Maryland Children's Book Award.)
She loves being around other writers. Kristi is a frequent speaker at SCBWI conferences and taught at the Highlights Foundation Chautauqua writing workshop in 1998 and 2004. Kristi's Writer's First Aid blog has 40,000 subscribers. "I love keeping in touch with other writers this way," she says. "They encourage me every bit as much as I try to encourage them."
Kristi has three grown daughters and three perfect grandchildren. Iowa born and raised, Kristi moved to Texas in 2003 to be near her kids and grandkids. She and husband live in San Antonio. "I do miss the four seasons and the snow, and I still scream for help when I spot a rattlesnake or scorpion," she admits. "But I wouldn't miss being near my family for anything in the world. I started writing when my kids were babies and toddlers--now it's just come full circle."
With an elementary teaching degree and 25 years as an instructor of writing for children, Kristi's books have been nominated for numerous Children's Choice Awards.
