BookView Review

Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.

Recently, we interviewed Jan Burns about her writing and her recently released book, Ghost Boy, a gripping middle grade novel, in which the young protagonists inadvertently gets caught up in a dangerous mystery after unearthing a child’s skull. (Read the review here.)

What’s one thing you’d want a reader to know before they pick up Ghost Boy?

I hope that they would be looking forward to having an adventure along with the characters as they read the book.

Do you have a favorite character in Ghost Boy, or at least a character that you hold particularly close to your heart? Which one(s)?

Tyler stands out to me as a really brave kid. He, along with Addy and David, are left alone a lot in this isolated town. That allows them to do things that other kids their age can’t do.

What was your favorite part of the process of writing Ghost Boy?

As a writer I’m home alone a lot. Plotting out and writing this book allowed me to feel like I was in the midst of all the exciting action.

Before Ghost Boy, you wrote quite a bit of nonfiction. What made you decide to make the switch to fiction and embark on the journey of writing a novel?

Years ago, when I started writing, I read that nonfiction is much easier to sell than fiction. I have found that to be true. But fiction is my first love.

Have you always written for children? What have you learned from writing children’s books that you believe every writer should know?

I started writing when my children were small, so I was familiar with what kids liked to read. As a child, too, I read a lot. When writing for kids you have to show authentic action and dialogue that kids would actually use. It has to be believable.

What’s your next writing project?

I am almost finished writing Cougar Pass. In this one Tyler, Addy, and David find a young spirit in the Cougar Pass cave, a place where treasure is rumored to be hidden. That has been a lot of fun!

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