For many people, summer brings lazier days and, at least in theory, more opportunities to read fiction. So for the past few years, we’ve tried to introduce local readers to local writers.

Our annual Summer Fiction series starts today with Cammie McGovern, a mystery writer from Amherst who’s just published her first young adult novel. “Say What You Will” is about the relationship between Amy, a high schooler with cerebral palsy who can’t walk or talk, and Matthew, who has obsessive compulsive disorder. McGovern tells New England Public Radio’s Karen Brown that she’s long wanted to write about the intersection of love and disability.

Play Interview Above.

Below, you can hear a section of the book, “Say What You Will.” McGovern reads an essay written by her character Amy about her disability — and it ends up sparking an interest in her classmate Matthew.