Happy Thursday, friend! Welcome to an interview with author Alisse Lee Goldenberg about her Middle Grade Fantasy novel, The Ghost in the Garden. I am excited to make time for it.
Get to know the author: Alisse Lee Goldenberg
Hi Alisee! Welcome back to Armed with A Book. Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself!
Hi! I am an award-winning author of Children’s Lit, Horror, Young Adult Paranormal Romance, and Young Adult Fantasy fiction. I’m currently working on four series: The Sitnalta Series, The Children of Colonodona, The Dybbuk Scrolls, and The Bath Salts Journals (co-authored with An Tran). I have my Bachelors of Education and a Fine Arts degree, and have studied fantasy and folk lore since I was a child. I’m also a screenwriter and playwright, creating the world of Jay & Shilo. I’m currently living in Toronto with my husband Brian, our triplets Joseph, Phillip, and Hailey, and a full menagerie of animals, including a crazy dog named Simba, an antisocial gerbil named Stitch, a troublesome rescue rat named Loki, and a grumpy hedgehog named Sonic.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wrote The Ghost in the Garden around a time when my own kids were dealing with a lot of change in their lives. Not only were the three of them all back in in person school, but we had moved twice in short succession, and they were starting a new school, with a whole new peer group. I wanted to look at these challenges, but, on top of that, my daughter asked if I could write her a good ghost story. So, I asked myself, what would it look like if a kid moved to a new town, and into a haunted house? The rest of the story grew organically from there.
What intrigued me about writing this book was the fact that Sophie’s issues are, at the heart of the story, real stresses that kids deal with, and can identify with (with added ghosts). Most kids have asked themselves “as the new kid, will the others like me?” “What if I don’t like my new school?” “Why did we have to move?”. The key in this novel, is that Sophie learns that it’s okay to ask for help, just as much as it’s okay to solve your own problems.
How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?
I’d say that I’ve been working on this story from start to finish for at least a couple of years. As with so many projects I’ve had on the go, being a Zoom School tech specialist for triplets, moving, unpacking, and moving again, put this on hiatus a few times!
What makes your story unique?
The Ghost in the Garden is, at heart, a story about friendship and family. Sophie, as the protagonist is dealing with a lot of upheaval, and, through her, Middle Grade readers will see a lot of what kids go through on a day-to-day basis: Friendships ending, beginning, and the stresses of major changes in one’s life.
Who would enjoy reading your book?
Kids aged 9-13.
Did you bring any of your experiences into this book?
As a parent of three thirteen-year-old children, I’d say that this book looks more at their experiences than my own. The way kids communicate (texting, how they talk to each other), how they make new friends, and the concept of ghosting (I’m not referring to the supernatural here), are all on display in the pages of this book. My kids were my first beta readers on this project, and they assure me that I got the voices right.
What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?
I hope that readers will learn that it’s okay to ask the adults in your life for help. They may not always get it right, but, for the most part, parents and teachers have your best interests at heart. Also, change is not always a bad thing. It can be scary, but it can also help you learn and grow as a person.
Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
Without giving too much away, it’s definitely the last scene that Sophie has with her mother. My own daughter says it’s one of her favourites as well.
What is something you have learned on your author journey so far?
That as an author, you have to be your own biggest cheerleader. It’s something I’ve struggled with along the way. Maybe I’m finally improving at it. No one will know your work better than you, and no one will push it as hard as you do.
What’s the best piece of advice you have received related to writing?
Keep at it. Just like with anything else in life, practice makes perfect.
If you could give a shout out to someone(s) who has helped in your writer journey, please feel free to mention them below!
There are two people who have really been my favourite cheerleaders and partners in crime along this journey: An Tran, who I’ve known since I was seventeen, and with whom I’ve written the (for grownups) novel Bath Salts. And author Jen Frankel, who is an incredible author, and believes in sharing opportunities, and is a joy to be around.
Where can readers find you on the Internet?
Goodreads, X, Instagram and my website.
The Ghost in the Garden
Twelve-year-old Sophie Madison has no idea what she’s in for when she moves from the big city of Calgary to Stratford, Ontario. She misses her friends, her apartment, and all her favorite places. Although her parents found a beautiful house with a bedroom she loves, none of them knew it was full of secrets and surprises. When a young girl keeps lurking in the back garden, she begins to suspect her new home is haunted.
Content notes: Mild violence and language. Discussion of death.
Book Excerpt from
The Ghost in the Garden
Sophie sat with the journal open on the floor of her bedroom. A night of uninterrupted sleep had done wonders for her. Starting out on the couch had been the best thing for her. With no noises, no nightmares, and no fears pulling her from her dreams, she’d finally fallen asleep and stayed that way for the first time in days. Now, she could sit and go through the journal again with her mind clear, looking for clues.
It was a sad and sobering experience. Through Tabitha’s words, Sophie read how her world shrank and shrank to the four walls that surrounded her now. She didn’t know how she would’ve been able to cope if she’d been in that situation.
She sighed. It wouldn’t do to spend the day cooped up, dwelling on a past she could do nothing about. Tucking the journal under the pillow on her bed, Sophie headed downstairs and then out the door.
Walking down the increasingly familiar streets, Sophie made her way to Fitz’s house. She looked up at the white wood walls, and bright green shutters, and smiled. It looked like a more modern version of Green Gables. She hopped up the porch’s steps to the front door and pressed the bell.
“Hi, Mr. Thompson,” Sophie said as Fitz’s father opened the door.
“Hello, Sophie,” he said.
“I came to see Fitz,” Sophie said with a smile. “I was wondering if he wanted to hang out today.”
“He’s out back,” Mr. Thompson told her. “Why don’t you go around and join him.”
“Okay, thanks!” Sophie trotted off to see what Fitz was up to.
Turning the corner of the house, the backyard came into view. Sophie’s smile widened into a grin as she saw what was back there. A massive, spreading oak tree grew tall and proud with
a rope ladder dangling down to the ground. Up in the higher branches was a grand treehouse. It had a wrap-around porch with a railing, on which Fitz had put a couple folding camp chairs.
It was the type of tree fort that Sophie had always dreamed of having.
“Fitz?” Sophie called up. “Are you there?”
Fitz came out of the door to the treehouse and leaned over the railing. “Sophie?” he said. “What are you doing here?”
“I came by to see if you wanted to hang out today,” she replied. “Can I come up?”
“Of course!” Fitz said with a smile.
Sophie quickly clambered up the rope ladder to join Fitz at the top. They each took a seat in a camp chair, looking out over the yard.
“This is awesome,” Sophie said.
“Yeah,” Fitz said. “My mom and I built it together.”
“That’s so cool,” Sophie said. “The biggest thing I ever built was a bookcase from Ikea.”
Fitz laughed. “I think those are harder,” he said. “So, did you read the journal?”
“I did,” Sophie told him. “Mr. McGilvray- I mean, Joe, is going to freak. It’s so cool reading about this place back then.”
“Anything we can use?” Fitz asked.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “But with everything that happened yesterday, I totally forgot I tried to take Tabitha’s picture.” She pulled out her phone and showed it to Fitz. “Look.”
Fitz took the phone and examined the picture. “That is so cool!” he exclaimed. “Look at that orb! It’s just like all those ghost hunting shows. I can’t believe I’m looking at a picture of a real ghost!”
Sophie couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction. “You want to see something else?” she asked, taking the phone back from him.
Fitz nodded enthusiastically.
Sophie swiped over to her recording app and tapped on the recording she had made of her conversation with Tabitha. “Listen to this,” she said, pressing play.
Fitz listened intently as he heard Sophie asking Tabitha all her questions, but where there should have been a response, he heard a strange hissing static. He scrunched up his brow, as he pressed his ear closer to the phone.
“There’s nothing,” Sophie said. “She can’t have her picture taken and you can’t record her.”
“Shh!” Fitz said.
“What?” Sophie said, confused.
“Play that part back again,” Fitz demanded.
Sophie rewound a bit and hit play again.
I suppose, the way you see it, it doesn’t, Sophie heard herself say in the recording. Tabitha, you told me there was something monstrous in my closet. Do you remember that conversation?
She leaned closer to the phone; her head so close to Fitz’s that they were touching. She listened for the answer, but she only heard the static hissing that followed her words.
“There’s nothing there,” she said in a low voice, looking into Fitz’s eyes with a frown. What was he trying to show her?
“Play that part again and make it louder,” Fitz insisted. “There’s something there. I know it! I swear, I heard something!”
Sophie sighed and did as he asked.
I suppose, the way you see it, it doesn’t. Tabitha, you told me there was something monstrous in my closet. Do you remember that conversation?
Static, then the briefest whisper.
…
Can you tell me what it is? the Sophie on the recording asked. …hurt… remember…hurt…, came a soft, echoey voice.
It’s okay, recorded Sophie said.
…safe…
Sophie looked at Fitz with wide eyes. “I heard it,” she whispered. “Did you?”
Fitz nodded; his face alive with excitement. “I’m sure there’s a way to make it even more clear,” he said.
“If Mister, um, Joe is so crazy about ghosts,” Sophie said. “He may even have a way to hear it better.”
“Probably,” Fitz agreed. “Isn’t tonight the dinner with him?” “Uh huh,” Sophie said.
“We can talk about it then,” he told her.
“In front of my parents?” she asked.
“Why not?” he asked.
“Well, they don’t exactly believe in this stuff,” she said.
“Trust me on this,” he said. “I’m a master at conversation.”
Sophie laughed. “I can’t wait to see this,” she muttered with a small smile.
Interested?
Find The Ghost in the Garden on Crimson Dragon Press, Amazon and Goodreads.
Thanks for taking the time to join us for this interview!
If you are an indie author and would like to do a book excerpt, check out my work with me page for details. Check out other book excerpts here.
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