 Chasing Vermeer is Blue Balliett 's first published book . Its original purpose was a book to read to her class for fun . She realized that a mystery about " real " art issues had not been written since E.L. Konigsburg 's From the Mixed @-@ Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and desired to write what she wished to read . Chasing Vermeer took about five years to complete , as Balliett was also a teacher and parent . She compared writing the book to weaving , as she first wrote mainly about art , but then incorporated the pentominoes and classroom scenes , creating many different levels to read on . She admits that it ended up more complex than she had thought it would be . 
 Chasing Vermeer <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>is</mark></a>Blue Balliett <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>first published book . Its original purpose was a book to read to her class for fun . She realized that a mystery about " real " art issues <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> not been written since E.L. Konigsburg <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>From the Mixed @-@ Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and desired to write what she wished to read . Chasing Vermeer took about five years to complete , as Balliett was also a teacher and parent . She compared writing the book to weaving , as she first wrote mainly about art , but then incorporated the pentominoes and classroom scenes , creating many different levels to read on . She <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>admits</mark></a> that it ended up more complex than she <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>had</mark></a> thought it would be . 
Chasing Vermeer Blue Balliett  first published book . Its original purpose was a book to read to her class fir fun . She realized that a mystery abt " real " art issues done not been written since E.L. Konigsburg  From the Mixed @-@ Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and desired to write wht she wished to read . Chasing Vermeer took about five yrs to complete , as Balliett was also a teacher and parent . She compared writing the book to weaving , as she first wrote mainly about art , but then incorporated da pentominoes and classroom scenes , creating many different levels to read on . She admit that it ended up more complex than she done thought it would be .