Ask the Author: Ally Malinenko
Answered Questions (5)
Ally Malinenko
When I first wrote the book Principal Scratch was Preacher Scratch and my editor needed that to be changed. So I guess my best advice to you, is don't self-censor. Write the witch. Write the ghost. Write scary because kids love horror. And if it's too much, your editor will let you know.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Ally Malinenko
I write from 4:45 am - 7:00 am before I go to my day job. I try to write Monday - Friday but sometimes life gets in the way. And sometimes I just need to sleep in! Ghost Girl took me about six months to write. But the book before that, the one that got me an agent, but died on submission (meaning it was rejected by every publisher) I worked on that book for seven years. When it didn't get picked up I thought about quitting cause I was so heartbroken. Instead I wrote the book that became my debut.
Ally Malinenko
hey there! Sorry about the delay - just seeing this now. Zee lived in my head as a character for a long time but I could never find the right story for her. I was listening to a song by Nick Cave that started with a big crash of thunder and it hit me. A storm. A stranger comes to town. And then it all came into place. I knew I wanted to talk about bullying and sticking by your friends so that was easy. And I knew I wanted to write about ghosts.
Thank you for reading Ghost Girl and for your kind words about it! It means a lot to me
Thank you for reading Ghost Girl and for your kind words about it! It means a lot to me
Ally Malinenko
Easy. To make millions of dollars and buy my own island complete with a ray gun to keep people from trespassing on my island.
Just kidding. I just want to tell a good story in order to connect with someone else. I want to throw my hat into the great big human dance we've got going.
Just kidding. I just want to tell a good story in order to connect with someone else. I want to throw my hat into the great big human dance we've got going.
Ally Malinenko
Hi! Man, am I late in answering this. Okay so yes, my reading habits are all over the map. On the whole I'm usually reading more than one book at a time and I tend to have grabby hands whenever I see something that catches my eye.
I wanted to write a children's book to give back to the genre. I was a bookworm kid - typical under the covers up all night reader. The books I read as a child instilled not only a love of reading in me but a desire to give back and do that for someone else. I've had a few kids tell me how much they loved Lizzy Speare and the Cursed Tomb and it has really really been the highlight of my writing career.
I wanted to write a children's book to give back to the genre. I was a bookworm kid - typical under the covers up all night reader. The books I read as a child instilled not only a love of reading in me but a desire to give back and do that for someone else. I've had a few kids tell me how much they loved Lizzy Speare and the Cursed Tomb and it has really really been the highlight of my writing career.
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