Rosie Schonell on her debut novel Breaking School Rules is Easy

Interview by Sophia Voukelatos.

Teacher-turned-author Rosie Schonell shares her lifelong passion for children’s literature and her journey to publishing her first book. Her middle-grade mystery, Breaking School Rules in Easy, is now available.

What has your professional life looked like?

I was an English teacher, working in both co-education and all-girls’ schools. I did a Master’s in Special Education and focused on working with children with unique learning requirements.

I’ve always been passionate about reading and literature, so a lot of my teaching experience was related to literacy.

Why did you decide to write a book?

I’ve always wanted to write a novel, but life was busy, working and taking time off to raise three children. Eventually, as my children grew up, I was able to focus on writing.

I realised you can’t just pick up a pen and write, you’ve got to learn the craft, so I undertook some creative writing courses, such as those offered by Sydney University and the Sydney Writer’s Centre.

Can you please share the blurb for Breaking School Rules is Easy?

Some places are hidden for a reason.

Something is happening in the old house behind the school in Mirrabooka. Strangers have moved in, a mysterious light appears in the tower at night, and someone, or something, is keeping watch.

When Minty and Billie investigate, they find themselves drawn into a one-hundred-year-old mystery, a town’s ghostly past and a search for lost treasure.

They must decide if it’s okay to break school rules to save their friendship. With the threat of another visit to the detention dungeon, or even expulsion, how far will they go?

What drew you to write a middle-grade mystery?

I’ve always been particularly interested in children’s and middle grade books. After visiting many bookshops, I recognised there are not a lot of middle-grade mysteries targeted for girls set in Australia, so I aimed to fill this gap in the market.

I enjoy reading mysteries and consuming mystery and crime-related media, such as television shows. I’m drawn to the pacing of mysteries.

I also appreciate the opportunity middle-grade fiction affords to incorporate important messages into a story.

What are the key messages and takeaways you want readers to gain from this book?

Firstly, the importance of friendship and sticking by one another.

Another key message is that academic achievement is not the only important part of school. Exam and school marks, while important, aren’t the sum of who you are. Education is about developing well-rounded individuals. This is reflected in Billie’s character, who isn’t academic, but has other great qualities like her can-do attitude.

The book also teaches children how they can overcome challenges and fears and develop a sense of empowerment. This is explored through the other protagonist, Minty, as despite struggling with anxiety, she faces her fears and overcomes various obstacles. By the end of the novel, she does things she couldn’t do before. Both characters grow.

Were you an avid reader growing up? What genre of books did you enjoy reading?

Yes, certainly. I loved mystery. I enjoyed reading the classic mystery novels such as those by Enid Blyton, as well as Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators, Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. When my children were growing up, I also read lots of mystery/adventure novels to them, such as Emily Eyefinger, the Deltora Quest series and Encyclopedia Brown to name a few.

What was your inspiration for the setting?

Obviously, my experience working in schools. I also believe all children can relate to school; it is a world they know.

Where did the idea for the treasure hunt come from?

I started with the thought that one of the characters was in a position of high stakes – having to leave the school if she couldn’t get a scholarship – and this kept the friends motivated on a quest to find the treasure.

Do you have any tips for authors?

It’s not just a matter of sitting down and writing. You have to learn the craft of writing. I recommend doing some courses. I’ve done some through the Australian Writers Centre, which were really good. I’ve also attended some author talks, which were really useful.

It’s a long process and you’ve got to really enjoy it to see it through.

What next? Would you like to write a sequel?

Definitely. When writing you build a world and bring to life characters that you grow attached to and want to reconnect with. I find I want to go back into that enjoyable place I’ve created. So yes, I left the end of the book open for a sequel.

You can follow Rosie Schonell on:
Instagram: @imrosiereads
Booksales link: Amazon Australia

Next time: and interview with P.D. McShane on Spies, Conspiracies and The Minerva Agenda