SHAILA HOLMES FAIRY DETECTIVE
Welcome to the blog, Lori! I’m so happy to have this opportunity to talk about your new chapter book SHAILA HOLMES FAIRY DETECTIVE. As a fan of fairies, I really enjoyed this book and I’m delighted to feature it so that others can get to know more about how it came to be.
Published by Literary Leaf Press on March 17th, 2026 with illustrations by Kyria McKie, this adorable book will be perfect for readers who like fantasy and enjoy solving mysteries.
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A bit about SHAILA HOLMES FAIRY DETECTIVE:
In this charming early reader mystery, Detective Shaila Holmes and her hummingbird sidekick, Itsy, tackle five whimsical cases in Englewood Forest. From a vanished black widow marking to a missing festival pie, each mystery brims with curious clues, woodland surprises, and gentle suspense. Filled with light humor, fairy magic, and clever problem-solving. Young readers will delight in cozy adventures, forest critters, and magical detective fun. Perfect for emerging readers who love animals, small-scale mysteries, and imaginative tales with heart.
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Now on to our interview:
M. Lori, congratulations on such an adorable book! Can you share what inspired you to write this story? Why a fairy? Why a detective?
L. Thank you so much, Mariana, for inviting me to your blog. I’m so happy to be here! The inspiration for this story really goes back to my childhood. I have always adored fairies and anything whimsical and full of wonder, and I also grew up watching The Hardy Boys Mysteries and Nancy Drew. I’ve always been drawn to a good mystery. One day, the idea of combining those two worlds just came to me, the same way many of my ideas do. It felt like such a fun and natural pairing, and I couldn’t wait to bring it to life.
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M. That’s wonderful! Fairies and mysteries do make a great combo! What 3 words would describe Shaila best? Why was it important for you to highlight those traits in your main character?
L. The three words that best describe Shaila are smart, determined, and empathetic. It was important to me that she had these traits because I wanted young readers to see a character who not only solves problems with her mind but also leads with her heart. She stays focused, keeps going even when things get tough, and truly cares about others. That empathy often ends up being the key to solving her cases.
As for her name, I wanted something that felt unique and magical, but still warm and approachable. I also loved that the name “Shaila” is often associated with meanings like “style,” “grace,” or even “daughter of the mountain,” depending on its origin. Those meanings felt fitting for her character, someone who is strong, grounded, and quietly confident in her own way.
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M. Perfect choice for the 3 words! I agree those traits come natural to Shaila. Can you tell us how did you come up with Shaila’s sidekick? Why did you give her one?
L. The very first editor I worked with on this project, Ashley White, suggested adding a sidekick. It honestly had not crossed my mind before, but once the idea was there, I loved it. That is how Itsy came to life. I really wanted her to stand out and feel different from the rest of the characters. Since Itsy does not talk, her “voice” comes through in her animated actions and expressions, and the little bits of mischief she gets into. She brings a lot of fun and energy to the story in her own unique way. Readers seem to really connect with her, which has been so wonderful to see.
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M. I must say Ashley made a great contribution to this project, I love Itsy! Lori, please tell us how did you imagine the different cases Shaila must solve? Where did you get inspiration for those? Was there research involved?
L. The cases were truly a family effort. My daughter and husband helped brainstorm each of the five cases, along with the characters involved, which made the process even more special. I wanted each case to center around a problem that could be solved with compassion and understanding, not just logic. At the end of each chapter, I also included a nonfiction spotlight on one of the characters, with fun facts for kids to learn more. For example, they might learn something new about a black widow spider, or a gray wolf, and other creatures along the way. So, there was some research involved, but it was the fun kind.
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M. How special that the whole family was involved in coming up with the mysteries! This must be a very special book for all of you. I think the addition of the nonfiction facts ad the end of the cases is a valuable addition to the book. Regarding the illustrations, can you share how was it for you to meet the adorable characters created by Kyria McKie? Did you have any input in the illustration process?
L. Kyria was such a joy to work with. She does not need much direction to create such distinct and lovable characters. Seeing each illustration for the first time was always exciting and so special. My main input was providing the text that would guide what each scene needed to show. From there, Kyria truly worked her magic and brought everything to life in a way that exceeded my expectations.
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M. The illustrations are wonderful and they are truly a great addition to the story. Kyria did an amazing job! Lori, congrats again on such a special book. I hope that Shaila and her friends will receive a lot of love from readers everywhere. Thanks for the chat!
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LORI’S BIO
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Award-winning author Lori Keating spins imaginative, page-turning stories that make kids laugh, dream, and fall in love with reading. Her books are full of adventure, humor, and heart, delighting young readers and families alike. When she is not writing or illustrating, Lori enjoys soaking up sunshine with her husband and daughter at the beach, out on the boat, or cruising with the music blasting and the sunroof open. She loves finding inspiration in everyday adventures and turning those moments into stories that spark curiosity and imagination.
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Thanks for reading!
M
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Cover photo by Magda Ehlers.
