Perfect for fans of Small Spaces and Nightbooks, Ally Malinenko’s middle-grade debut is an empowering and triumphant ghost story—with spooky twists sure to give readers a few good goosebumps!
We chat with author Ally Malinenko about all things Ghost Girl, as well as writing, book recommendations, and so much more!
Hi, Ally! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m Ally Malinenko, a writer, poet and librarian living in Brooklyn New York. I love all things horror, especially middle grade spooky books and I love to travel. The best trip I ever took was in 2019 to Japan. Such a beautiful country! I grew up in the Hudson Valley, frokling through the woods and making up stories, much like my character Zee. It is impossible for me to refuse a handful of Cheez-its.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I wrote my first short story when I was 8. It was about 6 pages long which I was convinced made it practically novel length and it sadly ended with someone dying in a car accident. Clearly, I took myself very seriously. In high school I mostly wrote bad poetry. College and post were when I started writing short stories and then when I moved to Brooklyn in 2003 I started writing novels. I spent seven years working on the novel that landed me my wonderful agent. But that never sold. Heartbroken I wrote something totally different, going back to the books that I loved the most when I was a kid: spooky middle grade! And then I churned Ghost Girl out in about 6 months!
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I remember reading was a nonfiction book about animals. It had all these facts and figures and I specifically remember being impressed at how high a cheetah can jump without a running start.
The book that made me want to be a writer was definitely Madeline L’Engle’s Wrinkle in Time. I think Meg was the first time I every saw myself in a character – flaws and all. She felt like a real person to me and the story blew me away. But most of all I think that was when I realized that author was a job and maybe, it was a job I could do.
And the book I can’t stop thinking about is The Girl From Rawblood by Catriona Ward. I’m constantly recommending that book to everyone I can. It is an epic twisty sprawling Gothic Horror. Everything Catriona Ward writes is amazing.
Your middle grade debut, Ghost Girl, is out August 10th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Spooky, adventurous, daring, steadfast and feminist
What can readers expect?
Ghost Girl is the story of Zee, her best buddy Elijah and her enemy turned friend Nellie who have to team up to figure out what is happening to their town. You see, after a bad storm blows through, a new principal starts at their school. He’s a strange one and suddenly everyone’s secret wishes and desires start to come true – but not always in good ways. And then Zee starts seeing things – scary red-eyed dogs and even a ghost! Zee loves spooky stories but she never expected to be living in one! In order to save their families and friends, Zee must accept what makes her strange and what truly makes her Ghost Girl.
Where did the inspiration for Ghost Girl come from?
Zee, my little loud-mouth white-haired spooky story-loving girl, has lived in my head for a long time. She once tried to make an appearance in a short story but it wasn’t the right fit. Then I was listening to a Nick Cave song called Tupelo and the track starts with a crash of thunder and right there, the story started to take shape and I knew I finally found her a home.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
Honestly the challenges were before writing Ghost Girl. This book was actually the cure for the challenges. As I mentioned before, I spent at least 7 years working on a young adult science fiction book that used chess as the magic system. It was the book that got me my agent and when it didn’t sell I was crushed. All the rejections were so nice and most of them focused on the fact that they felt like the book was middle grade because the main thrust of the story was a girl looking for her grandfather. So I sat down and I broke this story apart and reset it’s bones as a middle grade. It was the hardest thing I have ever done writing wise and many tears were shed. I didn’t like the new version but I sent it off to my agent and the next writing morning, needing a fresh start, I started something totally new – my spooky little Ghost Girl book. And when my agent read it she wrote me back and said, “This is your debut.” And she was right.
If the other book sold, I don’t know if I would have ever wrote Ghost Girl. Writing it was my opportunity to move back towards the books I loved the best when I feel in love with reading. It was a way to nurse my broken heart.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Elijah is probably my favorite character to write cause he’s just a nice sweet kid. My favorite scene was definitely when they go into the woods to try and help one of the ghosts. I was super excited that my illustrator chose that scene to highlight on the cover.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The best writing advice I have ever got is to write every day and the worst writing advice I have ever got is to write every day! It’s the best because in many ways, creating a schedule helps wire your brain for writing. I get up each morning at 4:45 and write for two hours before I go to my job. I’ve been doing this for a long time and I definitely have the pages to show for it. But at the same time, telling a writer to write every day is an insane ask. You need to take breaks. You need to stop and refill the well with someone else’s storytelling. You need to just be in the world.
What’s next for you?
My next spooky middle grade book is coming out next summer. It’s called This Appearing House and it’s A Monster Calls-esque story about the effects of trauma and illness following a girl and her best friend who get trapped inside a haunted house that turns out to be a lot more than it seems. I’m both very excited and very nervous for people to read this book. This is a very personal story for me.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I do! Some books that are coming out later this year that I’m so excited for is Me(Moth) by Amber McBride, a beautiful haunting YA in verse that I was lucky to read early. Also her second book next summer We Are All So Good At Smiling is going to blow people away. I can’t wait for more people to get to read Alison Ames’ To Break A Covenant which is deliciously creepy and available this September. And speaking of creepy Daka Hermon’s wonderfully spooky middle grade Hide and Seeker was a delight! Also anything K.A. Reynold’s writes should definitely be snatched up.
