Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Maggie Edkins Willis (Little Ghost Makes a Friend)!
Meet the Author: Maggie Edkins Willis
Maggie Edkins Willis grew up in Missouri and Maine in houses that, sadly, were not haunted. She now writes and illustrates books for children from her home studio in Poughkeepsie, New York, where she lives with her husband and son. Their last house is maybe haunted, but she’s still waiting to meet the ghost. You can visit her online at MaggieMadeThis.com.
About the Book: Little Ghost Makes a Friend
A shy ghost learns the secret to making friends is being his spooky, sparkly self in this charming debut picture book that’s perfect for fans of Stumpkin.
Little Ghost and his mom have been happily haunting their creaky old house for years, just the two of them. When a new girl moves in next door, Little Ghost wants to introduce himself. But making friends can be scary…until he comes up with the perfect plan: he’s going to invite her over for a Halloween party! But what costume will make her want to be friends with him?
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~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
This book actually started as an Instagram post. I drew an illustration of Little Ghost in a bunch of different costume pieces just as a one-off a few weeks before Halloween in 2021. An Art Director I had crossed paths with in the past, Sarah Creech, saw it and reposted it to her stories, which is where my editor, Catherine, saw it. Catherine was on the look out for a sweet character with autumnal vibes, and she reached out to my agent to ask whether I would be interested in creating a book based on that character. I was, of course, and now here we are! Sarah ended up being my Art Director on the project, and the original piece of art from the instagram post is included in the book! It’s a very serendipitous, full-circle kind of project.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
I love the Halloween scenes, outside at night. Trying to make the atmosphere feel glow-y and magical was a challenge while also making sure the characters didn’t feel too grayed-out. I based the neighborhood off of one where my sister lived in Houston, which had all these cool houses of different ages and architectural styles all built next to each other, which made each of the houses feel like it had a personality. Little Ghost’s haunted old house in this book is very much a character in itself, with all it’s spooky details, so that was important to me! I also love the scene where Little Ghost flops on the floor in despair– I love the bird’s eye view angle and the relatable emotions that are captured there, and that rug took forever to draw!
YABC: How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?
I like to keep a specific reader in mind when I’m writing, and I try to get the voice to speak directly to them– for my middle grade books, that reader is usually me as a 10-14 year old. Books were very formative for me at that age, and I remember really well what I responded to and hoped to find in books then, so I try to tap into that. For picture books, I try to write more for my son. He’s only two and a half now, but I can already get a sense of what he responds to most in the books we read: the sound effects that get him excited, the types of facial expressions that make him giggle. That really helps shape my voice for that genre.
YABC: What can readers expect to find in your books?
Friendship is always a big component in my books, as are parent-child relationships– that goes for my older middle grade graphic novels as well as picture books. I think there is a little bit of sweetness in everything I do– even my prickly characters tend to have gooey centers.
YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?
I love munching on Cinnamon Chex. I often have a cup full of dry cereal that I work my way through over a couple hours, one piece at a time.
YABC: If you were able to meet them, would you be friends with your main character?
I would love to be friends with Little Ghost! My family and I have moved around a lot over the last few years, and I’m always on the lookout for ghosts in the houses where we live. I THINK there might have been one in our last house, but our current home is new, so it seems unlikely that I’ll find one here. Guess you never know, though!
YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?
I’m not a huge procrastinator, but when I get stuck somewhere on a project it’s usually important for me to get up from my desk and move around a bit. I’ll take my dog for a walk or go to a yoga class or something, and by the time I sit back down, I’ve usually got an idea of how to solve whatever problem it is that has me stalled.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I have a number of picture books coming out in the next few years! My next with Simon & Schuster is called DINKY THE TINYSAUR, and I think fans of Little Ghost will really love this new character. It’s kind of a Clifford-type story, but with a really fun dino twist. I’ve also got a book coming out next year with Penguin called THUNDERLAND that I’m really excited about, and I’m hard at work on my next middle grade graphic novel, BABY STEPS, as well. I’m keeping busy for sure!
YABC: What is your favorite holiday or tradition and why?
I do really like Halloween, which is very appropriate for this particular book! My husband is a college football coach, so Halloween falls right in his busy season at work, so a new tradition we’re starting this year is decorating his football offices and inviting kids in the department to trick-or-treat there, so their dads can be a part of the fun. I’m really looking forward to it.
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
I’m so thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with you all about LITTLE GHOST MAKES A FRIEND! I love love love hearing from readers, so please come find me @maggie.made.this on Insta and Threads and @maggiemadethis on Twitter and TikTok.
Title: LITTLE GHOST MAKES A FRIEND
Author: MAGGIE EDKINS WILLIS
Illustrator: Maggie Edkins Willis
Release Date: 7/16/24
Publisher: Paula Wiseman Books
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: 4 to 8
