Q&A with Maggie Edkins Willis

  

Photo by Kimberly Powers

 

 

Maggie Edkins Willis is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book Little Ghost's Summerween. Her other books include Little Ghost Makes a Friend. She lives in the Hudson Valley. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write this second book about your character Little Ghost?

 

A: A few factors coalesced around a really lovely idea for this second Little Ghost adventure. The first book in this series, Little Ghost Makes a Friend, came out in July, as many books that feature Halloween do.

 

Going into a storytime at my local B+N around publication day, I wondered how kids would receive this story with Halloween still months away.

 

What I have found since then is that kids never leave Halloween mode! Readers delight in telling me year-round what costumes they are considering and what pumpkins they are carving.

 

Meanwhile, in my own home, we've toyed with the idea of a Halloween in July, as my husband's job is very busy in the fall and he usually isn't able to celebrate Halloween with me and our kids.

 

So when my editor, Catherine, sent me an article about the rise of Summerween and suggested this could be the topic of Little Ghost #2, it felt like a perfect fit.

 

Q: The School Library Journal review of the book calls it a “warm, funny exploration of identity and friendship that will resonate with children finding their place in the world.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I adore that description. The first Little Ghost story is about Little Ghost finding the courage to step out into the world and build his own community. Summerween is a story of him finding the courage to be himself within the community he has built, and he is thrilled to find that his friends celebrate him for it!

 

Q: How would you describe the relationship between Little Ghost and his friend Anya?

 

A: I consider it a very real friendship for that 4-7 age range. I have a 4-year-old son, and he has such pure devotion to his friends. There are no strings attached; they just want to play, support each other, share new hobbies and interests and help each other work out their problems.

 

I think of Anya and Little Ghost that way. Their friendship just IS, and their love is very real. It is such a gift to find friends with whom you can be totally yourself.

 

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

 

A: I hope this story gives kids permission to be themselves and celebrate it! And I really hope this story encourages kids to have their own Summerween parties, too. There are so many cute spooky-summery details that I had a lot of fun poring over, and I hope kids enjoy seeking all of them out.

 

And if anyone manages to make an actual jack-o-lantern out of a pineapple, I'd love to see it (kids, don't try that without an adult!).

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I am actually hard at work on Little Ghost’s Christmas at the moment! There are three more Little Ghost adventures on the way after Summerween, which I'm thrilled about, because I love living in this sweet, gentle, and spooky world.

 

Next year, I also have a book called Wondermoms coming out, which I'm unbelievably excited for. It is my first rhyming picture book about the tender, loving moments between moms and kids that make the biggest differences in children's lives.

 

Beyond that, I just finished a middle grade graphic novel adaptation of Barbara O'Connor's marvelous book, Wish, and I'm working on an author-illustrated graphic novel as well. I'm pretty busy!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Since the first Little Ghost book came out, I've met Little Ghost fans all over the country and it brings me so much joy to see my books reaching kids and families. My favorite thing ever is hearing that a kid wants to read my books over and over again. So I'll end this by saying: readers, I love to hear from you!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Maggie Edkins Willis.