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Girl of Lore Interview with Author Melanie Dale

By on April 13, 2026   /   Articles, Author Interviews  

When I learned about a new book coming out that had a character with OCD (which I also write about) but was in the paranormal genre, I just had to read it! I’m excited to share my interview with Melanie Dale, the author of Girl of Lore, due out on April 21, 2026.

About the Book

Hi Melanie! Really fun read. Please give us a short summary of Girl of Lore.

Hi! I’m excited to chat with you! Okay summary. Fifteen-year-old loner and cemetery-lurker Mina Murray starts Lore Club to investigate local legends, but along the way she discovers a mysterious book and a body drained of blood. When a classmate goes missing, she worries that the town’s stories might be real. Is the monster lurking in the dark or in her own brain? Bahm bahm bahhmmm…

I felt a Stranger Things vibe. Any inspiration from it?

Oh my gosh I love Stranger Things and that is high praise. My inspiration came from Dracula and classic horror, but Mina and her friends do run all over town like the kids in Stranger Things. And the book is set in Georgia, where Stranger Things was filmed!

I enjoyed how you explained how people often think OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) means “being uber-organized and power cleaning all the time,” but how that isn’t always true. (There are many other types of OCD.) As someone with OCD, I appreciated this being addressed in the book. Can you explain what your goal was with helping the readers know more about OCD?

Yes! I have OCD as well, and when I was Mina’s age, I didn’t understand what was happening inside my head. It was scary and exhausting. I want readers like me to see themselves in Mina’s story and know that they aren’t alone and there’s help, and I want to give readers who don’t struggle with OCD a glimpse inside Mina’s head so they can understand that it isn’t like the stereotypes. My husband learned a lot about how my brain works from reading Girl of Lore! That’s what I love about reading fiction. It helps us develop empathy.

 

About the Author

Why did you want to write this book?

GIRL OF LORE is a love letter to my favorite genre and the stories that have shaped me, and it’s filled with gothic Easter eggs, obvious ones as well as tiny winks. My favorite novel of all time is Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Mina Murray is my favorite gothic character because she’s so smart and underestimated by the men. I remember when my son was in middle school I gave him a boxed set of some of my favorite horror classics, books like Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Call of Cthulhu, etc., and he gamely tried to plow through Dracula but petered off when Jonathan Harker was still trapped in that castle and I thought, “What if I could make this story more accessible for him? What if these characters were teens living in Georgia?” 

How are you like Mina? And how are you different?

Ooh, fun question. Nobody’s asked me this. Hmm, Mina and I both have OCD, but some of my intrusive thoughts and compulsions are different than hers. I gave her my cherry red Doc Martens and love of graveyards. But I am an extrovert and more comfortable around people. Mina is much better at drawing than I am. She’s vegan and I’m not. We both love dogs. My Maltipoo Khaleesi is asleep in my lap while we’re having this interview.  

Did you grow up reading horror/ghost stories? If so, what is your favorite?

Yes! In second grade I found In a Dark, Dark Room in the school library and read about Jenny, who wore a green ribbon around her neck. She wore the ribbon her whole life and when she was very old, she finally removed the ribbon. I’ll never forget the last line of that story: “and Jenny’s head fell off.” Oh my gosh AWESOME. I felt this delicious, visceral reaction. So ghoulish. I was hooked. I had a friend named Jenny and told her the story. She did not appreciate those nightmares. As I got older I discovered classic gothic literature and fell in love.  

 

Scripts vs Manuscripts & Adults vs Kids

I read that you also wrote episodes for the horror television show Creepshow (and one Molly Ringwald starred in). Very cool! For those of us writers who also have an interest in switching gears, please explain one difference in writing a teleplay vs a novel. 

With a novel, I’m writing all of it. Story, dialogue, setting, character descriptions. Film is very collaborative, so I learned to cut out a lot of the detailed descriptions and focus on the story and dialogue. For instance, in my first script I spent pages describing every detail on Molly Ringwald’s character’s desk and the script was twice as long as it needed to be. Cut cut cut. The set designer would make those details. I didn’t need to. And then writing a novel, the banter between characters came easily to me, but Mina’s inner thought life and fleshing out descriptions of locations was challenging. Many scenes in the book started out as straight dialogue, then I went back in and layered in actions and details.

In addition to writing for the upper middle grade market, you write for adults. Was it a difficult shift to write for a younger audience?

My books for adults are all nonfiction, so the biggest shift was switching to fiction, not the age of the reader. At the time I was writing Girl of Lore, I was raising three teenagers, which helped. That being said, I am a GenXer, so I’m thankful for early readers who noted several moments where a teen would not say that or think that.

This is me at the age Mina is in the book. I’m journaling!

And what drew you to the younger audience?

As a parent, I noticed a reading gap for my kids between middle grade and YA that I wanted to help fill. When they hit the tween and young teen years, they weren’t quite ready for some of the YA content but they wanted stories of teens like them. 

  

Writing & Research

I loved how you had a character with OCD in a horror novel (quite unusual and why I wanted to read this book!). Which part came first: the character having OCD or the supernatural element? (And you do a great job of having her conquer both.)

Thank you! The OCD and supernatural grew together, although I skirted around the OCD in the first few drafts. I had a meeting with my agent to process some helpful feedback and mentioned that I’d like to explore Mina’s OCD more but I was worried it would be too scary for middle grade. She encouraged me to go for it, and I’m so glad she did.  

With writing horror, I’m curious whether you start with knowing the ending and work your way backwards. Can you walk us through when you began (without any spoilers!)?

Dude, this was my first novel and I knew nothing. Ha, I had an idea for the concept, but I had never plotted out a story so large, so it took many drafts and invaluable feedback to point it in the right direction. I spent a long, long time creating the characters and getting them talking to each other. I wrote so many scenes that I ended up cutting. Maybe some of them will appear in future stories. I axed whole characters, gave Mina a more traumatic backstory, upped the stakes and then upped them again. My editor, Jessi Smith, helped pry my fingers off the original story of Dracula and encouraged me that Mina and her Lore Club friends were strong enough to live their own story.   

I always find it interesting the research involved in fiction. What research did you do for this book?

I worried that I’d end up on a watchlist somewhere with the kinds of things I was googling. Burying bodies, mausoleums, obelisks, crypts. A friend of mine used to work in a morgue and I called her up and asked her what to do with a dead body, then threw in “FICTIONALLY” when there was a pause at the other end of the line. I had the best time researching graveyards. I really wanted to picture Mina’s graveyard where she spends a lot of her time in the book, so I visited a ton of cemeteries. Whenever I travel, I love visiting cemeteries and try to take as many ghost tours as I can. When I was in New Orleans I visited St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. In Edinburgh I visited Greyfriars. We have a bunch of really beautiful graveyards near where I live. The older and wilder the better. 

 

For Teachers

Are you doing school visits related to this book? 

I am so excited to talk with fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-graders about writing! You can find out more about my author visits at School Visits – Melanie Dale 

How can we learn more about you? 

You can find me on my website at melaniedale.com or on Instagram and Substack @melanierdale. 

This was super fascinating. Thanks for your time, Melanie!

Thanks for having me! 

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WNDMG Author Interview: Seema Yasmin on her series Muslim Mavericks

By on April 8, 2026   /   Author Interviews, WNDMG  

Wndmg logo

Author Interview – Seema Yasmin

I’m so excited to be able to introduce you to author Seema Yasmin today. We are going to be talking about the start of her new series, Muslim Mavericks, spotlighting actress and comedian Maysoon Zayid, and launching from Salaam Reads / Simon and Schuster Kids on February 10, 2026.

I am excited to discuss this series with Seema and encourage everyone to buy a copy for themselves and their classrooms and libraries.

 

About MAYSOON ZAYID, THE GIRL WHO CAN CAN:

Description taken from online:

From the prolific Pulitzer Prize–nominated Muslim reporter Dr. Seema Yasmin comes an exciting nonfiction chapter book about one of America’s first female Muslim comedians—Maysoon Zayid—the first in the riveting and inspirational Muslim Mavericks.

This is the story of the girl who could!

Maysoon Zayid was just a girl from New Jersey. She might have sometimes felt like she was in the shadow of her three older sisters, but in her dreams, she was Mimi—an amazing actress, comedian, and dancer! The only problem? People kept telling Maysoon her dreams were impossible!

Achieving her goals certainly wasn’t easy; as a Palestinian Muslim girl born with cerebral palsy, Maysoon faced all sorts of challenges—both physical and societal. But Maysoon didn’t dare give up. Instead, she followed her heart all the way to the screen and stage to become one of America’s first ever women Muslim comedians and an actress on her favorite TV show.

 

 

Interview with Seema:

I loved getting to talk to Seema about her new book and I know you will enjoy meeting her as well.

 

SSS: What a wonderful start to a series. Can you tell us why you picked Maysoon Zayid to be the first person to spotlight?

 

SY: I’ve been a big fan of Maysoon’s standup comedy and writing for a long time and once my agent, Lilly Ghahremani, and I had conceived of the Muslim Mavericks series and pitched it to Simon and Schuster, it was a no brainer to have Maysoon’s story launch the entire series. The way Maysoon uses her voice, her humor and humanity to connect with and move an audience is phenomenal. I’m excited for readers to get to know her.

SSS: How did you conduct your research for this book? Did you interview Maysoon and how was that? (I am assuming hilarious, just like her!)

SY: I had the privilege of interviewing Maysoon, watching her do standup comedy live in New York City, and spending hours researching her life story and calling it “work.” Being a writer is the best because you get to read and interview fascinating people for a living! Interviewing Maysoon was of course hilarious but it was also sobering and humbling; I was made aware of my ableism and how it shows up in my writing.

SSS: What surprised you most about Maysoon’s life?

SY: I loved learning about her mum and dad’s personalities and differing life philosophies. Maysoon’s dad said “Yes, you can can!” and her mum was perhaps ore pragmatic about life and the challenges her daughter would face. But both of them treated all of their kids equally.

 

SSS: How do you choose who to write about when you are planning this series out?

 

SY: I am spoiled for choice selecting iconic Muslims who are changing the world. The second volume in the series is about a legendary record-breaker who held a secret for most of his life. There are so many people to write about! As a doctor and artist myself, I want to include the breadth of Muslim changemakers, from vaccine scientists to dancers.

SSS: What is next for this series? Or rather, WHO?

 

SY: I can’t say just yet but watch this space!

Link to order here.

Thank you Seema for joining us- and I hope everyone gets a copy of this book!

 

About Seema Yasmin:

Seema Yasmin is an Emmy Award–winning journalist who was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, medical doctor, professor, and poet. She attended medical school at Cambridge University and worked as a disease detective for the US federal government’s Epidemic Intelligence Service. She currently teaches storytelling at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a regular contributor to CNN, Self, and Scientific American, among others.

 

 

 

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STEM Tuesday– Amphibians– Book List

By on April 7, 2026   /   Amphibians, STEM Tuesday  

Amphibians are animals that tend to live part of their life underwater and part of their life on land. Frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts have soft, moist skin, and most can breathe through their skin – as long as it stays damp. Adult amphibians also use lungs to breathe.

Amphibian Acrobats by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Robert Meganck

This book is filled with froggy poetry about Olympic jumpers, deep-freeze artists, salamander wrestlers, and marathon walkers that migrate to their puddle home to lay eggs every spring. From caecilians to salamanders, each poem introduces amazing amphibian behavior.

Amphibian Groups by Sue Bradford Edwards

A fascinating, photo-illustrated exploration of various frogs, salamanders, and caecilians and how they band together and cooperate to ensure their survival. It includes eye-catching graphics, multiple writing prompts, and discussion questions, as well as an awesome list of facts and a call to action.

Tree Frogs: Life in the Leaves by Moira Rose Donohue

Five chapters discuss where and how frogs live, their food, how they survive winter (some freeze!), and their life cycle from tadpole to adult. One chapter introduces frog relatives, including some that live in trees but aren’t tree frogs. The book concludes with conservation efforts.

A Day in the Life of Frogs: What do Frogs, Toads, and Tadpoles Get Up to All Day? by Itzue W. Caviedes Solis, illustrated by Henry Rancourt

After comparing frogs and toads, the conversational text follows a day from noon to 3 am, highlighting the unique and fascinating lives of frogs and toads around the world and their environments. Fun cameos from the Southeast Asian rock frog, Australian turtle frog and cane toad, Central African wolverine frog, Columbian sun glass frog, and South American Bell’s horned frog connect the narrative across the pages.   

Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs by Annette Whipple, illustrated by Juanbjuan

For younger readers, this is a great introduction to frogs, filled with close-up photos of legs and eyes and tongues – it will make you want to head to the nearest pond for some frog-watching. Sections address the difference between frogs and toads, how frogs eat, where they live, how they make sounds, and their development from eggs to adults. “Leaping Legs” sidebars explain facts from a frog’s point of view.

See-Thru Frogs (see-thru books series) by Sherry Gerstein 

Get to know frogs from the inside-out! See-thru pages help illustrate the stuff on the inside of frogs – their skeleton and internal organs. Kids can compare bones we have in common, and note some differences, such as their longer foot bones. 

Field Guides & Activity Books:

Amazing Amphibians: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, and More (Young Naturalists series) by Lisa J. Amstutz 

Taking readers on a field trip to ponds and fields in search of amphibians of all types, this book introduces us to the major frog families, newts, and caecilians. It discusses amphibian anatomy, shares their housing and meal plans, and lets us in on their secrets of defense. And best of all includes hands-on activities, like an underwater pond viewer, mixing up frog slime, and crafting an origami frog.

Everything You Need To Know About Frogs And Other Slippery Creatures DK Publishing

This browsable book has everything from frog brains and secrets of a smooth skin to how tadpoles survive to adulthood. You’ll meet flapping frogs, flying frogs, glass frogs … and a few reptiles along the way. Plus, how frogs’ legs led to the invention of the first battery.

Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians by Catherine Herbert Howell

Amphibians may share this book with reptiles, but there are plenty of pages to explore salamanders, frogs, and toads. Text boxes highlight fun facts, and a longer sidebar dives into metamorphosis. Five hands-on activities include making a simple pond viewer and a toad home.

Amphibians (Field Guides) by Rachel Seigel

Engaging text, featuring 110 frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (some common and some endangered), teams up with “how to spot” statistic and “fun fact” sidebars to make amphibian hunting lots of fun.

This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:

Sue Heavenrich is an award-winning author, blogger, and bug-watcher. A long line of ants marching across the kitchen counter inspired her first article for kids. When not writing, she’s either in the garden or tromping through the woods. Her books for middle-grade readers include Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and More and Diet for a Changing Climate. Visit her at www.sueheavenrich.com

Maria is a children’s author, blogger, and poet who is passionate about making nature and reading fun for children. She was a round 2 judge for the 2018 & 2017 Cybils Awards, and a judge for the #50PreciousWords competition since its inception. Two of her poems are published in The Best of Today’s Little Ditty 2016 and 2014-2015 anthologies. When not writing, critiquing, or reading, she bird watches, travels the world, bakes, and hikes. Visit her at www.mariacmarshall.com.

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