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00:00:01
Christie for Kids
62 Plays2 hours ago
Brook and Sarah discuss adapting Agatha Christie and other classic mystery tales for younger audiences with Marci Kay Monson, author of the Mini Mystery series.
Discussed and mentioned
And Then There Were None (1939) Agatha Christie
The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) Agatha Christie
The Mystery of the Blue Train (1929) Agatha Christie
The Secret of the Blue Clock (1930) Carolyn Keene
About Marci
Marci Kay Monson is the author of the Mini Mystery series. These are interactive picture book mysteries for children. She's an avid reader, crafter, and gardener. She received her BS in technical communications from Utah State University and a graduate certificate in publishing from the Denver Publishing Institute. She found a love for Agatha Christie when her book club read And Then There Were None and never looked back. She loves story, bright colors, and a bit of cozy and fictional murder. Raised in Japan, England, and Germany, she now lives with her dog Suki in Leighton, Utah.
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Music: Signs To Nowhere by Shane Ivers – www.silvermansound.com
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For a full episode transcript, visit https://cluedinmystery.com/christie-for-kids/
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Transcript
Introduction and Author Background
00:00:11
Speaker
Welcome to Clued in Mystery. I'm Sarah. And I'm Brooke, and we both love mystery. Hi, Brooke. Hi, Sarah. We have such a treat today. We have an interview episode, one of our favorite things to do, author interviews.
00:00:29
Speaker
Yes. And I'm really looking forward to this one because we, I am sure, are going to have a really interesting conversation about children's books and Agatha Christie. And those two things don't always go together.
00:00:43
Speaker
That's right. This is going to be a fun conversation with Marcy
Inspiration and Challenges of Adapting Christie
00:00:47
Speaker
K. Monson, who is the author of the mini mystery series. These are interactive picture book mysteries for children.
00:00:55
Speaker
She's an avid reader, crafter, and gardener. She received her BS in technical communications from Utah State University and a graduate certificate in publishing from the Denver Publishing Institute.
00:01:08
Speaker
She found a love for Agatha Christie when her book club read And Then There Were None and Never Looked Back. She loves story, bright colors, and a bit of cozy and fictional murder. Raised in Japan, England, and Germany, she now lives with her dog Suki in Leighton, Utah. Thank you so much for joining us, Marcy.
00:01:30
Speaker
Of course. I'm so excited to be here.
00:01:35
Speaker
Marcy, what inspired you to adapt Agatha Christie for a younger audience? And in doing that, how much flexibility did you feel like you had? Yeah, so I um have always loved the Babylit books. um They board books for babies, but it's Pride and Prejudice and Alice in Wonderland. And, um you know, those, ah they just did War and Peace. And so they're taking giant concepts and making them into 20 50 word board books for babies.
00:02:13
Speaker
I don't have children and I have collected those books for, they've actually been out 15 years. So I've been, I have all of them and I've collected them. And I just kept saying, someone needs to do that for Agatha Christie. She's now in the public domain. Like someone really needs to do this. and then, you know, after a couple of years of saying that, I thought, oh, wait, I should do this. Yeah.
00:02:37
Speaker
stop telling other people to do this. I should do this. So um yeah, that was where my inspiration came from. And then um i realized how hard that is to take this high concept adult book and ah really whittle it down As for flexibility, um i really learned from those baby lip books, you know, they are taking pride and Prejudice and making it into a tiny, ah you know, just one word per page. And so I really felt like that kind of gave me the freedom in mind. However, Agatha Christie writes pretty complicated mysteries, and I wanted to make sure that I was still telling the story.
00:03:21
Speaker
Or, you know, the main storyline obviously can't do all of the details and the intricacies that she does. But I wanted to make sure that I was still, you know, true to that story. And so maybe less flexibility than a baby lit book where it's just like colors from a book. And, um but still flexibility because it's a children's book and it's 32 pages. So you've got to cut out a lot and people understand that.
00:03:50
Speaker
I have to say, I think you do it a terrific job because i have a young reader and we have enjoyed reading your books together.
Target Audience and Interactive Elements
00:03:59
Speaker
um How old would you say is your target audience?
00:04:04
Speaker
Yeah, I think the and age listed is four to eight. And um I think an interesting part of the books is that the four-year-olds come in and they like the bright colors of the illustrations and they like the activities. And the eight-year-olds come in and they get into the mystery and the storyline. And so I think that it can grow with the child where...
00:04:28
Speaker
you know, they can come in with that smaller concept and eventually grow it and and really read it and understand it as they grow.
00:04:38
Speaker
Yeah, that's an important part ah about your books is they're multi-layered. um One thing I love about them is they remind me of kind of the way children's books used to be when we were younger. i think that the you know the budgets and the the creativity was maybe a little bit more. I personally had a lot of books that had the little, like the pull tabs so you could make the character do an action or Maybe you had a flap that opened that revealed something and you don't see that quite so much anymore. But your books really harken back to that. And I love that there's an activity on each page or a character that you're following through the story. That's a side plot almost. And I just I love that about them.
00:05:27
Speaker
Yeah, I actually, as I'm thinking back on my answer, it's like four-year-olds like the bright colors and looking for the mouse or the cat. There's a mouse in the first and the cat in the second. And then the six-year-olds are into the activities and then the eight-year-olds are into the stories. So yeah, I think that's a good point is that there's different levels along the way.
00:05:47
Speaker
i love it. So clever.
Selecting and Adapting Stories
00:05:49
Speaker
Well, ah murder mystery isn't usually a topic for kids' books. Do you think that there are any Christie stories or or other mysteries that would kind of be off limits that you just wouldn't ever adapt for one of your books?
00:06:05
Speaker
Yeah, so I think it's important that people understand beforehand, like, that this is a murder mystery, but the body, like, all you see of the body is her feet, um you know, at the end of a bed.
00:06:19
Speaker
Christy doesn't do a lot of gore anyway, which is why she does make it good to adapt. But, um yeah, we're not showing children, people being murdered, so that's good.
00:06:31
Speaker
um But I do think, like, off-limits... ah we've kind of struggled with what do we do with some of her books that have murder in the title or that have like the body in the library. Do we say the mystery of the library? Do we say the mystery on the Orient Express? um So, and how true do we have to stay in order for people to understand what it is? um But I don't know that we'd have to really stay away from any of the actual stories. Although my favorite Christie is And Then There Was None, which a lot of people die in that book. It's a little bit of a spoiler, but a lot of people die. That might be a hard one to adapt as it'd be hard to get around the all of the death and do it in a cozy way by killing off that many characters. Right.
00:07:23
Speaker
Right. think I heard an interview with you at one point or maybe read an interview where you talked about um trying to make the romantic subplot or maybe the romantic motive applicable to kids. Is that sometimes difficult as well?
00:07:42
Speaker
Yeah, so in the first book, The Mysterious Affair at Stiles, that is all based on an affair and um a woman marrying a man that turns out to be nefarious. But I think kids can understand cheating without understanding what the mechanics of that are what that really means. But, you know, that he lied to his wife and he, he ended up killing his wife, you know, without, without, um without getting into the nitty gritty. Kids are okay with cheating. you know, some of the overhead details. In The Mystery of the Blue Train, my second book, that is based on four affairs. So that was a little tricky to get around.
00:08:31
Speaker
And again, it was kind of like he was mean to his wife. He lied to his wife instead of the reality of Agatha Christie's work where he cheated on his wife and she was cheating on him. and But, you know, kids can understand, you know, even in a friendship concept of, you Well, my friend was mean to me and, you know, they can they can make that work. So, yes, I did have to take out some of the more illicit things in the mystery of the blue train.
00:08:59
Speaker
And so how do you think Agatha Christie would react to your books? ah So that is not a question I had ever thought of before you asked. um I have been very worried about Agatha Christie fans because I know there are some rabid fans out there. And I was very worried about people reading this book and being like, well, you didn't get this tiny detail that the whole story hinges on.
00:09:22
Speaker
And ah I was very worried that, yeah, they would come in and pick it apart. But I've actually gotten pretty good reception of people understanding this is a 32-page version. And yeah, the the main story's there. So people have been very kind. um As for Agatha Christie, she loved children's books. She taught herself to read at age five, and she absolutely loved picture books. And she said that once she learned to read, she... um She demanded books for Christmas and birthday from then on. And so I think, I hope that she would maybe be pleased that I'm introducing work her work to kids a little earlier. and my hope, my goal is that kids will read my version
00:10:09
Speaker
and they'll become familiar with it and then when they're a little bit older they'll say oh wait I know this book I know this story and they'll be able to then go to her version and and that will open up this lifelong not that my books alone will open up a lifelong reading love of reading but hopefully it'll just be like a little one little door to that to that love absolutely I think kids love mystery. And so you are making mystery, classic and well-loved mysteries accessible to kids. And I think, yeah, you probably are opening the door to future Christie readers.
00:10:52
Speaker
but That's the goal. I would love that. Well, Marcy, what other classic crime stories are you adapting for kids?
New Book Announcements and Illustrators
00:11:02
Speaker
So I actually have a third book releasing in April that I'm really excited about. And it's um in the same mini mystery series, but it's Nancy Drew's The Secret of the Old Clock.
00:11:14
Speaker
um And so adapting one of my favorite childhood characters, Nancy Drew, And taking the same concept, same length, a brand new illustrator who just really nailed it. and And yeah, so we're doing Nancy Drew next. And I'm just really excited for everyone to see that one because it is beautiful and it is fun. And she's just, she's such a fun character in all of her different ways. So that will be coming out in April.
00:11:45
Speaker
So I'm interested that in a couple of things here that you have a separate illustrator for this. ah What kind of drove that decision?
00:11:58
Speaker
Yeah. So we kind of wanted to keep the two. So it's the same series, but we wanted to keep the two um breakoffs separates. Yeah. And so Greg Peprocki will continue to illustrate any Agatha Christie's that we do. And my new illustrator, Ryan Wheatcraft, will do any Nancy Drew and kind of just keep different styles for each.
00:12:22
Speaker
and I think Greg's lends itself really well to that time period of Agatha Christie, Golden Age, that kind of thing. While and Ryan Wheatcraft does a really lovely job with Nancy's slightly more modern era. And so... Yeah, just kind of keeping them separate while they still have all the same trim size and binding and that kind of thing. So they're part of a series, but little different. And the Nancy Drew books have the yellow binding that I was very clear from the start. They've got to have yellow spines.
00:12:55
Speaker
Fun. um Of course, that series is originally written for kids, maybe a little bit older kids, but was that a different experience in adapting those since maybe you didn't have some of those concepts or ideas we spoke about before to to work around?
00:13:12
Speaker
Yes, I will say I think that it was in a lot of ways easier because it's already written for a younger audience. and Nancy Drew is already a younger character. um she's She's barely even talking to Ned Nickerson. So there's definitely not any anything illicit in there. Yeah.
00:13:31
Speaker
I will say the ah where I ran into problems is that Nancy Drew has been updated over the years. And so I used the 1960s version to write my first draft. And my illustrator actually came in and said, this isn't the right version. We have to use the 1930s because of the rules of public domain.
00:13:52
Speaker
And the 1930s version was actually very different than the 1960s version. There were a lot of characters taken out. um Some of the storyline was pretty changed. And so that was actually more of a complication is I had to go back and read and find the 1930s version and then write from that.
00:14:12
Speaker
So I'm writing my second Nancy Drew right now. And I learned my lesson this time. So hopefully I'll make it much easier on myself and start from the versions. Yeah, that's interesting. Sarah and I have done an episode on, um you know, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and some of those long standing series, and they did sanitize them over the years. The other thing that I find really interesting about some of the early versions is the reckless and rather dangerous things that the characters do. um So I suppose there's some of that that you're you're working around.
00:14:47
Speaker
Yes. I actually just listened to your Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys episode last week, I think. And you talked about having her having a gun. and I had just read that part. It's in the second book that I'm working on. But her dad hands her a revolver and is like, here, will you safe.
00:15:06
Speaker
And she's like, okay. And she's like, I brought enough ammo that it'll... And I just was like, oh my word, Nancy. So that will not be part of my book. but Yeah.
Future Adaptations and Collaborations
00:15:19
Speaker
ah So you mentioned your release coming out in April is a Nancy Drew story and you're currently working on another Nancy Drew adaptation. Will you be doing another k Christie adaptation and will it feature Hastings the mouse?
00:15:34
Speaker
I would love to do another Hercule Poirot book. ah So far, that's not in the plans, but I would absolutely love to continue with that character. I think Hercule is just, he's pompous and funny and I love him. And then, yeah, I really love Hastings the mouse and that um whole concept. So I really hope we get to do more. um We'll see. Right now we're continuing with Nancy, but I think as the whole series goes on, there might be more opportunities for more more Agatha Christie, I hope.
00:16:09
Speaker
And do you think you would tackle any other well-loved series? you know Brooke and I have talked a lot about Sherlock Holmes and kind of the adaptations and the and the variations that we've seen on that character. But there are lots of other kind of early mysteries that um could be ripe for this kind of treatment.
00:16:33
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. We've talked about um possibly Sherlock Holmes. That seems like the obvious one. my publisher, my editor mentioned the Bobsy twins was her love. And she was like, let's do them. um My dad really wants me to do the Maltese Falcon. i think that just came into public domain this year. and i've I've never read that one. So I think, I think there are lots of opportunities. It's,
00:16:59
Speaker
It's fun. And especially as the series becomes maybe more known, hopefully, um we can move into those areas where you don't have to have the known author or the known um character to build on, but maybe go spread out a little bit.
00:17:22
Speaker
I could even see, Marcy, that... authors who are writing now, like rather than relying on public domain titles, authors say, hey, I would love to have the mini mystery version of this book so that, you know, the younger audience could enjoy my mystery too. So we'll see where it goes, right?
00:17:45
Speaker
I hope Richard Osman listens to this and wants me to do Thursday Murder Club kids versions. I would buy That would be incredible.
00:17:56
Speaker
Yeah, I know. That would be terrific.
Closing and Contact Information
00:17:59
Speaker
ah So Marcy, where can listeners find you? Yes. So my website is marcykmonson.com and it's K-A-Y. So my full name for my website. And then I'm also on Instagram and I have a book recommendation handle there. So it's Marcy's Book Rex, R-E-C-S. So I try to post book recs and talk about what's going on with the books. And I get to go visit a school next week and do some fun things for Nancy Drew. So follow me there to see some updates.
00:18:34
Speaker
That's so fun. And we'll make sure that we put links to those in the show notes. Thank you again for joining us, Marci. And thank you listeners for being here today on Clued in Mystery.
00:18:45
Speaker
Until next time, I'm Brooke. And I'm Sarah. And we both love mystery. Clued in Mystery is written and produced by Brooke Peterson and Sarah M. Stephen.
00:18:56
Speaker
Music is by Shane Ivers. If you liked what you heard, please consider telling a friend, leaving a review, or subscribing with your favorite podcast listening app. Visit our website to sign up for our newsletter, The Clued in Chronicle, and get mystery news, podcast updates, and bonus episodes.
00:19:12
Speaker
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