Interview with Mary Elizabeth Summer (Debut Author of TRUST ME, I’M LYING)
19January 3, 2014 by Alice in Readerland
I’m so excited about this interview, you guys! Trust Me, I’m Lying is one of my top anticipated reads of this year, and the cover was just revealed yesterday on YA Books Central! Before the interview, let’s reread the synopsis of Trust Me, I’m Lying:
Julep Dupree is good at telling lies. She has to be if she wants to stay at St. Agatha’s, the swanky private school where she runs petty scams that earn her tuition money. Luckily, deception is just part of the family business.
But when Julep comes home to a ransacked apartment and her con artist father missing, things get serious fast. Tyler Richland, a senior with a hotness factor approaching solar levels, offers his help, and suddenly Julep’s life gets even messier. She has to follow a trail of clues through a maze of creepy stalkers, hit attempts, and family secrets. Julep is in way over her head . . . but that’s not going to stop her from using every trick in the book to find her dad before his mark finds her. Because that would be criminal.
Now, let’s welcome author Mary Elizabeth Summer to my blog:
I love the concept of Trust Me, I’m Lying, it sounds fantastic!
How did you come up with the story idea and get into the mind of a teenage con artist?
Thank you! I came up with the protagonist, Julep, before I came up with anything else. Or maybe I should say she came up with herself, since I woke up one day with her lodged in my brain, fully formed and ordering me around. From there, I just kept asking myself (and her) questions until the story unfolded completely. And I’ll tell you this, it shocked the heck out of me in a couple of places. I wish I could take credit for some of the twists and turns, but I’m as surprised as anybody.
Was there any kind of research you had to do while working on this book?
Lots of research. And you would be amazed what people get away with publishing these days. I bought and read an entire book on how to make fake IDs. Sorry, “novelty” IDs. I also researched the ten basic cons and how to be a con artist and guns and all kinds of things about Chicago and the Ukrainian mob. Oops. I’ve said too much.
I saw that you watch Leverage and White Collar, and that just makes me so excited because Leverage is my favorite T.V. show! Did these shows help influence Trust Me, I’m Lying in any way?
Absolutely! White Collar and I have this hilarious relationship wherein I come up with ideas for the book, and then the NEXT EPISODE tells me exactly what I need to write to make it happen. It’s uncanny. I got a book on how to win a ten-spot in a bar, used one of the tricks in a scene, and then White Collar used the same trick on an episode a few weeks later. I swear the writers for that show and I are reading the same books.
Leverage influenced me in a different way in that it taught me how to use a crew to pull a con, and how to make sure all the loose ends tie neatly into a final resolution that the audience never sees coming. You’ll see what I mean when you read the book. ;-) Also, Leverage was filmed right here in Portland, which makes it even more near and dear to my heart. *hugs Leverage*
What was your favorite scene to write in Trust Me, I’m Lying?
This is a tough one for me. There are so many scenes I just loved to write! One of my favorite scenes, though, happens just after Julep and her best friend get run off the road. It sounds simple enough–> bad guy runs them off the road. But as with any twisty mystery, not everything is as it seems. Plus, there’s some good love-interest tension (via phone) and a significant reveal at the end.
What are five words to describe your next WIP?
My current work-in-progress is the second book in the Julep series, so I’ll go with… hitman cult mother rye revenge
~*~
Thank you so much, Mary Elizabeth! I loved reading your answers, it makes me even more excited to read Trust Me, I’m Lying!
You can add Trust Me, I’m Lying on Goodreads here and find out more about Mary Elizabeth on her website here.
Happy reading!
Alice in Readerland 
Love love love the new cover, and cannot wait for this book OR the sequel!
I love how the face is divided on the cover, and I got so excited when I heard that she was writing a sequel! :D
Awww, shucks. Thanks you guys. :-)))
I hope you have a fantastic debut year! :)
I remember reading Ally Carter’s first Heist book and wishing the main character had stayed at boarding school… now I get my wish! (I loved Leverage too – I can’t believe they cancelled it, so not fair!) Is there an official publication date now there’s a cover? :-)
Yep! October 14th, though the usual subject-to-change caveats apply. Thanks for commenting! I hope you like the book! :-)
Me too! :-) Just added it to my goodreads ‘to read’ shelf.
This sounds SO good! Love the cover too – will definitely look out for this this year :) xx
I was so excited to finally get to see the cover yesterday! :)
Thanks, Jenny! I hope you like it!
Con artists! Ah, I love this kind of story and I love the cover! Leverage…what a fantastic show. Great interview, ladies!
Doesn’t the concept sound awesome?! :) Leverage <3
I agree about Leverage! Who was your favorite character? I’m torn between Parker and Hardison. I loved them both SO MUCH. I loved them even better as an item. Sam, Julep’s BFF in TRUST ME, I’M LYING, is similar to Hardison in a lot of ways.
I love this sort of theme! Reminds me a bit of Heist Society by Ally Carter! That cover is gorgeous. I also love that the author actually does real research. I hate it when books seem too “fake”. I’m adding this one to my to-read list!
-Marianne
Thanks for the comment, Marianne! The research was one of the more fun parts for sure. Like I said in the interview, I was surprised how easy it was to find some of the info I needed, considering most of it’s highly illegal. God bless America.
The tradition continues for book 2. I’m heading to the gun range to experience what that’s like so I can describe it better. I have a habit of putting scenes in unusual locations, so I often have to scour the Internet (or the library) for info about random things like canal systems, hidden speakeasies, abandoned airfields, and such.
Luckily, I picked the best city for finding unusual locations. Chicago is full of them! :-)
Woah gun range! That sounds really fun! Definitely makes the story much more interesting!
This is one of most anticipated debuts this year – I am so happy to finally see a cover! I can’t wait to read it. I am a sucker for mysteries :) Lovely interview!
I’m happy to finally see the cover too, and I agree, good mysteries are such amazing reads. :)
[…] guys, the author of this book is sooo nice! I read an interview with her over at Alice in Readerland and since then this book has been on my radar. I love books with trickery and deception, so I […]