I suppose if I could have one non-serious wish come true is that I would continue to be able to write spooky books for kids. If you would have one non-serious wish that would come true, what would it be?Īlly: Oh! That’s a good question. Kathie: I love how the villain, Principal Scratch, convinces the town that he’s trustworthy and that they were able to manifest their most desired wishes. The most challenging was Nellie and Zee, simply because I hate bullies, which both girls at times are guilty of, and writing their increased agitation was hard. I found the way Zee and Elijah offset and then balanced each other was one of my favorite relationships to write. I think a lot of his personality is based on my father. Where she’s all noise and bluster, Elijah is quiet and careful.

He came so easily to me, and I thought he was a good opposite to Zee. Which character or relationship did you most enjoy writing, and which was the most challenging for you?Īlly: I loved writing Elijah so I’m so happy to hear that he resonated with you. Kathie: I think Elijah is my favorite character he is a devoted friend, helps unite Zee and Nellie, shows a quiet strength when it’s most needed, and so desperately wants his one wish to come true. The second inspiration is the library that I currently work at in Brooklyn! The physical building, with the lower decks and the wings like the covers of a book, is based on the Central Library at Brooklyn Public Library. It had three floors which blew my mind when I was little. I grew up near there and always loved when we would go because that was, as I called it, the Big Library. One is the Newburgh Library in the Hudson Valley.

Can you tell us where the inspiration for this part of the story came from?Īlly:Yes I can! It’s a combination of two libraries. Kathie: I absolutely loved the role that the library played in this story (surprise, surprise!).

Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko