Author Interview – Tiffany D. Jackson – Ghosts in the Night

Last summer, Tiffany D. Jackson published her middle-grade debut Blood in the Water, which became an instant New York Times bestseller, debuting at #4 and has spent a total of 10 weeks on the list. The novel’s success continued this spring when Tiffany received the 2026 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Book. Now, the “Queen of Thrillers” returns with her sophomore middle-grade mystery—this time set beneath the moss-draped trees of Savannah, Georgia.

In GHOST IN THE NIGHT, Jackson transports readers to Savannah, famously known as America’s Most Haunted City, where twelve-year-old Harmony’s fascination with ghosts turns chilling as she’s pulled into a missing-persons case that will expose deadly secrets.

Harmony arrives in Savannah, GA for the summer with her musician father while still dealing with the unresolved emotions around her grandmother’s passing. As they travel from city to city, Harmony insists on one non- negotiable activity everywhere they go: a ghost tour. Desperate to prove that ghosts are real, she hopes evidence of the supernatural will mean her loved ones are never truly gone.

But when the ghost tour in Savannah leads Harmony and her new friends into a dangerous mystery, what begins as a search for spirits quickly becomes something more sinister. The suspicious death of a beloved pillar of Savannah’s Black community, coupled with the disappearance of a young Black boy has everyone on edge. As Harmony digs deeper, she uncovers a tangled web of lies and dark secrets that someone is willing to kill over to keep hidden.

Packed with Jackson’s signature suspenseful storytelling and fast-paced prose, GHOST IN THE NIGHT thoughtfully
explores Savannah’s rich Black history, underscoring everything that unfolds and propels Harmony directly to the center
of the mystery…and the danger.

I’ve been on a few ghost tours in the south, and I never grow tired of them. There’s something about the atmosphere and the history! What drew you to include these ghost tours as an inspiration for Ghost in the Night?

TJ: It’s one of my favorite things to do when I visit new cities. Ghost tours give a gritty realistic background. As I always like to say, you can learn a lot from the dead.  

The ghost-hunting tools you mention are top notch!  What kind of research did you do for Ghost in the Night and ghosthunting?

TJ: I went down to Savannah for a week to meet with some experts and do additional ghost tours. I had some pretty spooky/creepy moments. The things I do to write a good book!

I always appreciate it when middle graders are active in solving problems! Tell us a little about Harmony, the main character, and her desires to solve multiple problems in Ghost in the Night?

TJ: Isn’t it fun watching kids solve the world’s problems? They have such a raw unfiltered view, that gives them a clear picture on what they should be looking  for. They’re always eager for information and facts, which makes them a wealth of knowledge.

In your author’s note you mention that you experienced a haunting! Maybe you want to save that story for another time, but I think our readers would love just a couple of details…

TJ: I was in a haunted bar, learning about ghost hunting equipment and while I was chatting, my EMF reader went missing right in front of me. We later found it downstairs. We have no idea how it got there. 

What would you say is the easiest part and the hardest part of writing a mystery?

TJ: The easiest part is coming up with the pitch! The hardest part is landing the pitch, making it believable and satisfying for readers of all ages. 

What are some of your favorite middle grade novels and why do you like them so much? 

TJ: Wait Till Helen Comes was one of my all time favorite books! Of course anything RL Stine wrote. More recently, I really loved the Track Series by Jason Reynolds and The Last Resort Erin Entrada Kelly. 

Now that this book is out in the world, what are some next steps for you? 

TJ: Coming up with the next book, taking time to interact with readers, maybe read a book just for fun.  

Is there anything else you want to share about Ghost in the Night for our audience of teachers, librarians, and middle grade authors? 

TJ: Even though it says “Ghost” in the title, don’t be fooled. This is definitely a mystery (with a little spooky on the side). 

Ben Boche

Ben Boche has tried to get himself locked in a museum overnight several times but keeps getting caught. Therefore he has to spend his time doing other things, primarily teaching children's literature at the university-level and writing middle grade adventures. He's at his happiest when reading, so please be quiet and leave him alone. :-)