Q&A with Christine Virnig

 

 

Photo by Ember & Birch Photography

 

Christine Virnig is the author of the new middle grade novel Phantom Academy. Her other books include A Bite Above the Rest. A former physician, she lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Phantom Academy, and how did you create your character Finn?

 

A: Most of my best book ideas seem to pop into my head as I’m trying to fall asleep at night, and Phantom Academy was no different.

 

The whole first scene of the book—where Finn DIES and has to choose between two paths—came to me one night in absolutely amazing detail. It was so detailed, in fact, it was almost as though I were reading a book that had already been written. When I woke up the next morning, I couldn’t wait to write it down… and discover what happened next!

 

Q: How would you compare Finn to Caleb, your protagonist in your first middle grade novel, A Bite Above the Rest?

 

A: Oh gosh, Finn and Caleb are very different… and also very similar. Caleb is anxious, unsure of himself, and a total scaredy pants (in other words, he’s just like me). Finn, on the other hand, jumps right into situations without thinking first. He is 100 percent the braver, cooler one.

 

But both Caleb and Finn are kind, and thoughtful, and they share the same ridiculous sense of humor (aka MY sense of humor). Oh, and they were both super fun to write. :)

 

Q: In our previous Q&A, you said of your first novel “I had no idea how A Bite Above the Rest would end when I started writing!” Was that the case with this book as well?

 

A: At first, yes! When I started writing I knew how the first scene would go, but that was it. I had absolutely no idea what would happen once Finn got to his new ghost school.

 

That said, as soon as I got far enough into the book to realize that Phantom Academy would have a large mystery component, I stopped writing and began loosely plotting out the rest of the novel. I wanted to make sure all the clues were in place and that everything would fit together in the end.

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the story?

 

A: My answer to this question will probably be much like my answer was for A Bite Above the Rest: I just want kids to have fun reading it! I never have a theme or message or lesson in mind when I write; I simply want to write the funnest book I can… and hope it will inspire kids to keep reading.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Oh gosh, so many things! I have several pictures book manuscripts I’ve been playing around with, I’m revising a middle grade novel centered around a haunted prison, and I’ve just started co-writing a dual-POV novel with another writer.

 

I’ve also recently gotten the itch to write more nonfiction, so I’m knee-deep in pirate research that may (or may not) ever turn into anything.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Yes! This feels forever away, but my debut picture book—Haunted House Wants to Scare (Beware!)—is due to come out in 2027. It will be illustrated by the amazing Carrie Shryock, and I CANNOT WAIT to see what she comes up with.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Christine Virnig.