I’m thrilled to welcome Pauline Hosking back to the blog as she launches the second book in her Cinnamon Stevens series, ‘Cinnamon Stevens – Ghost Light.’ Here’s a little about the story and how it came to life. Enjoy!

About the Book

Cinnamon Stevens – Ghost Light* is the second in the series about a twelve-year-old sleuth who lives near Melbourne. When her Year 7 class has an excursion to Walhalla, the old gold-mining town in Gippsland, Cinnamon is dared to visit the out-of-bounds graveyard at night. What happens next is truly scary. There are more eerie happenings in a haunted theatre. A sub-plot deals with bullying. Although the outcome is sometimes in doubt, Cinnamon and her friends manage to defeat the bullies and solve the crime.

Once again the book is illustrated by talented and witty Kat Chadwick. The paperback is available from Dennis Jones, The Book Depository and Booktopia. An ebook can be downloaded from Amazon, Apple and Port Campbell Press.

On Writing the Series

Before starting these books I decided that the main character (Cinnamon) would be a girl with normal tween anxieties – like growing up, keeping friends, becoming aware of boys, being embarrassed by parents – and that her investigations would happen in real locations. Some publishers believe that middle grade readers (9-12 years) prefer books set in imaginary places. I’ve always liked reading about somewhere I’ve visited or lived in. The first book, Crime Buster,  featured Phillip Island and the famous penguin parade. Almost every school kid in Victoria has been there!  I wanted the second book to be full of spooky happenings. The spookiest place I knew was the graveyard at Walhalla, ‘the valley of the ghosts.’ When I was teaching I took several school camps to Walhalla. Then you could visit the cemetery in the dark – which made it even more scary. Nowadays the cemetery is closed at night because it’s so dangerous. Unfortunately this doesn’t stop Cinnamon…

One of Cinnamon’s besties is Cosette, a fledging actor. She hadn’t appeared much in the first book and I wanted to give her more exposure. Linking with the ghost-graveyard theme, the perfect play for Cosette was Macbeth. So the book opens with Cosette auditioning for two small parts in The Scottish Play… and seeing the theatre ghost.

* A “ghost-light” is the light left on in an empty theatre so the theatre ghost won’t feel forgotten. It’s one of many theatrical superstitions mentioned in the book.

For more about Pauline and her books you can visit her website.

Hi June, and thanks for joining us on the Young Authors Academy blog!

What is the most recent book you’ve had published and can you please tell us a bit about it?

I published Magic Fish Dreaming, a collection of poems for children and families, at the end of 2016.  It is a poetry quest set in Far North Queensland Environment and an invitation to understand and care for nature.

What was the first story you remember writing when you were at school and can you tell us what happened in the story ?

The first poem I remember being proud of which I recited to my class with great enthusiasm was about a helicopter seed spinning in the air and making its journey to the ground. The first story I wrote was about the life of Joan of Arc and told in the first person.

What got you interested in writing in the first place?

I was an avid reader from a young age. I enjoyed stories about other places, times and adventures as well as inspiring non-fiction stories, like that of Joan of Arc. Grey Friars Bobby, and the story of Tahirih from Baha’i history.

What’s your favourite writing tip and how do you use it in your writing?

Keep a creative journal and write in it regularly. A journal like this can have anything in it you want.  You can paste photographs and memory trigger objects into it. Make it a safe place to experiment, observe, record, reflect, meditate and record things like your favourite jokes, the first time you tasted kiwi fruit, as well as to store an unusual word or incident that evoked great emotions for you..

What’s your favourite fun activity to do besides writing?

I love walking in and photographing nature. When walking I pay attention to what the creatures are around and like to photograph plants I can later learn the Latin and common names of.

Thanks for joining us June!

You can find out more about June and her creative work at:  http://juneperk.wixsite.com/gumbootspearlz

Hi Debra, and thanks for joining us on the Young Authors Academy blog.

1.  What is the most recent book you’ve had published and can you please tell us a bit about it?

The Scared Book asks readers to help it not be scared and to chase away monsters that appear on its pages.

2. What was the first story you remember writing when you were at school and can you tell us what happened in the story?

It was about a convict escaping from Fort Denison by out-swimming ten sharks in Sydney Harbour! It was called The Old Grass Hut. I still have it!

3. What got you interested in writing in the first place?

I’ve always loved picture books – I had a collection even as a teenager and I was particularly drawn to animal stories. Then when I started reading picture books to my children, it sparked a desire to write.

4. What’s your favourite writing tip and how do you use it in your writing?

I love this quote from Robert Cormier: ‘The beautiful part of writing is that you don’t have to get it right the first time – unlike, say, a brain surgeon.’ It frees me up to think of re-writing and editing as a joy because I can keep playing around with words and ideas until they fit together in the best possible way.

5. What’s your favourite fun activity to do besides writing?

Walking my donkey (I don’t ride him anymore – we are both too old!) and rock climbing.

You can find out everything you need to know about Debra and her books here: www.debratidball.com

Thanks for joining us today on the blog Debra.

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Hi Chrissy, and thanks for joining us on the Young Authors Academy blog.

1. What is the most recent book you’ve had published and can you please tell us a bit about it?

The Green-Eyed Monster. Book six in the Penelope Perfect series.

Penelope is challenged by her mum dating post-divorce and her best friend branching out into a new friendship.

2. What was the first story you remember writing when you were at school and can you tell us what happened in the story? 

I made up stories for my niece and nephew. One was about a village entirely coloured orange, and featured a catchy song we still remember!

3. What got you interested in writing in the first place?

My parents were (and are still) avid readers and lovers of language. Mum read us stories every night and dad made them up. My early memories have the poems of A.A.Milne as a constant backdrop.

4. What’s your favourite writing tip and how do you use it in your writing?

Say what you mean to say. Don’t sacrifice meaning for eloquence.

When editing my writing for kids, I comb through each sentence to check that the efficacy of the language. Plus, it’s way better to underwrite than overwrite. Require your readers to work – that’s the fun of the story.

5. What’s your favourite fun activity to do besides writing?

Reading!

You can find out everything you need to know about Chrissie and her books here: http://chrissieperry.com/

Thanks for joining us today on the blog Chrissie.

Want to keep up-to-date on all the news from Young Authors Academy? Sign up for the newsletter and get the FREE writing tips and tricks.