Articles

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

Headshot of Tiffany D. JacksonLast 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.

 

 

Ghost in the Night Cover with a girl holding a lamp on a haunted street

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). 

August New Releases

August is a good month for reading, and  we’ve got you covered with some fun New Releases.

 

 

Ghost in the Night by Tiffany D. Jackson 

From mega-bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson comes this highly anticipated follow-up to her Edgar Award-winning, instant middle-grade bestseller Blood in the Water.

Ghost in the Night is another spine-tingling, can’t-put-it-down murder mystery, this time set in America’s Most Haunted City.

Savannah, Georgia, with its mossy trees and ornate old homes, is a place rich in history…and ghosts. Ghosts are what pique Harmony Roundtree’s interest. Still reeling from her losses back home, Harmony wants to believe in ghost stories…but isn’t sure what’s real. When she goes on one of the many ghost tours around town, she takes a photo of what might be a ghost. Or is it a hoax?

With two new friends, Harmony sets out to investigate… and stumbles upon clues leading to an unsolved murder. The deeper she digs, the more Harmony realizes that what she saw on the ghost tour might be connected to a shocking crime. But making connections can be dangerous–even more dangerous than ghosts.

New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another action-packed mystery full of surprises and secrets that will give readers goosebumps.

 

 

 

Level Up by Daka Hermon

From the author of Hide and Seeker comes a new thriller where an iconic childhood game turns creepy.

Keenan is used to running. He loves it. He is good at it. He is a track star, after all. Now he and his mother are escaping his father, trying to start a new life in Tennessee.

But he has never been on the run like this before. This new town has monsters of its own. The students in his school seem to be under some sort of trance, and Keenan is the only one who isn’t affected. Which means he is the only one who can do anything about it.

It’s time for Keenan to stop running and face his fears.

He cannot let the monsters win.

 

 

 

 

 

The Third Period Comeback by E.K. Johnston

New York Times bestseller E. K. Johnston’s middle-grade debut is an utterly charming, witty, and gloriously inclusive magic-tinged caper in the Canadian wilderness.

Hayley Rilko was born to play hockey—and cursed to ruin whatever team she plays for. As long as she’s still a kid, the curse’s magic doesn’t stick, but everyone knows her time is running out. The two things Hayley has on her side are her family–four generations of it, all carrying the same curse she does–and one last summer vacation in the Ontario Northwoods, where her great grandfather disappeared and the curse began.

As the clock runs down and the magical mysteries pile up, Hayley realizes that just following the evidence isn’t going to be enough. She’s going to have to talk to someone who has the information she needs—even if it means raising the dead. With her cousins on her team, Hayley sets out to do what no one else has been able to: find her great grandfather’s body and break the curse, no matter what it takes.

 

 

 

 

Who Circled the Globe in Seventy-Two Days? Nellie Bly:  A Who HQ Graphic Novel By Melanie Gillman (Author), Rebecca Mock (Illustrated by)

Follow trailblazing journalist Nellie Bly on a record-breaking trip around the world in this exciting graphic novel about one of America’s first female investigative reporters.

Presenting Who HQ Graphic Novels: an exciting addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling Who Was? series!

Discover how Nellie Bly made headlines in 1889 with one of her most iconic and sensational stunts—a world record–setting race around the globe. A story of daring, adventure, and pushing boundaries, this graphic novel highlights how Nellie Bly challenged traditional gender norms and helped pave the way for women in journalism. Atmospheric full-color illustrations bring this sharp narrative to life, immersing readers in Nellie’s globe-trotting exploits.

 

 

 

 

The Invisibles by Holly Kowitt

For fans of The Breakfast Club who wished every member was a nerd, this new middle grade novel stars a totally uncool boy who gets adopted by a group of other uncool kids in a bid to take over their school.

Jimmy Stern can’t catch a break.

As the new kid at school, he just wants to keep his head down and read his favorite Weird Walt comics. But when he accidentally drops Kyle Scott’s phone in the toilet, his social status goes down the drain. Being targeted by the most popular guy in school sucks.

Or, at least, it did suck, until Jimmy receives a note from a mysterious group of students called The Invisibles. Social outcasts like himself, The Invisibles have a plan: elect Jimmy as Art Week Secretary and stop Kyle’s favorite actor, Bayleigh White, from visiting their school. Jimmy quickly agrees, realizing that he can ask Weird Walt to do the Art Week visit instead.

But as campaign tactics spiral out of control, Jimmy will have to decide what he’s willing to do to get even. Smart, fast-paced, and laugh out loud funny, this is a must read for any kid (or adult) who has felt uncool.

 

 

Little Monsters by Máire Roche

In this modern supernatural middle grade retelling of the beloved classic Little Women, the March sisters have a monstrous secret Meg will do anything to protect—especially with another beast lurking in the woods threatening to expose them.

Meg March and her three sisters are monsters. No, really. Meg has teeth that are a little too sharp. Jo gets furry under the full moon. Beth goes night flying on wings that are impossible to hide under her sweaters. And Amy? Well, don’t let her near a body of water or she’ll start sprouting her mermaid’s tail.

Meg is sure their foster mom, Marmee, wouldn’t like any of this if she knew. And Jo’s best friend Laurie, the nice boy next door, would run screaming. To make matters worse, Meg’s small town outside of Salem is on edge. A vicious beast has been spotted in the forest, and Farmer Bhaer believes it’s responsible for his missing chickens. Meg is sure to be blamed if anyone realizes she’s a monster in disguise. And the closer it gets to Halloween, the surer the town is that something evil is hiding in the forest.

Meg doesn’t always remember what she gets up to at night, and sometimes, she wakes alone in a mossy part of the forest and has to find her way back. With John Brooke determined to find out just what Meg is hiding and locals working to uncover the monsters in their midst, Meg must find the culprit herself—or risk losing the little home she’s found with her sisters.

 

 

No Place on Earth by Andrea Beatriz Arango 

From the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All, comes a moving novel with a touch of magic, where two boys find themselves in each other’s dreams and slowly help one another face the real world.

Since moving to Yellowstone National Park for his mom’s job, Gustavo Santos Costa has had a lot on his mind.

  • For instance: bison stampedes. Did you know that bison can run three times faster than the average person?
  • Also: Why do people always stand so close to boiling hot springs?!
  • Finally: the bad dreams. Why have they only gotten worse since the move?

And that’s all before Gus somehow meets his classmate Kordell inside his dreams. While Gus avoids sleeping (and nightmares) at all costs, Kordell finds that dreams seem to be a welcome escape from his real life . . . until one day, they’re no longer enough. Gus may be the only person who can help Kordell. But when most things already feel too big to take on, how can Gus find the courage to be there for his friends?

In this powerful novel from the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All, two boys confront their fears—and their dreams—to save themselves and each other.

 

 

Secrets at Sparhawk Point by Anna Rose Johnson

To draw tourists to their declining coastal town, a group of children claim to have seen a mythic creature from Ojibwe legend, the storm-monster Mishipeshu. But when their plan backfires, they’ll need to convince everyone the beast is only make-believe. But. . . what if it isn’t?

1943. Sparhawk Point, Michigan may be a small town, but it’s home. For the Swedish Ahlstrom girls, it’s the only place they’ve ever known—a place they may have to leave if their father’s church can’t find more parishioners. The Ojibwe Robicheaux boys are struggling, too: their father is off at war, and a lack of tourists means no income from their two rental cottages. These kids can’t bear the thought of leaving. . . so they’ll have to make new residents come to them, and fast.

After spotting an unknown object in the water, they find their solution. Drawing on inspiration from Ojibwe stories of the mysterious Mishipeshu—the riser of storms on Lake Superior—the children spread stories of their very own “American Loch Ness monster” to bring curious visitors to their shores. But their plan works too well! People become afraid to visit. To save their families, they’ll need to convince everyone that the creature isn’t real. . . even if that may prove to be their biggest lie yet.

Secrets at Sparhawk Point is a timeless summer adventure from acclaimed Ojibwe voice Anna Rose Johnson, whose first two books—The Star that Always Stays and The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry—have received an avalanche of awards, nominations, and media spots. This is another flawless, insightful, and glowing novel that marries a Native American perspective with myth, history, and a classic storytelling voice.

 

See anything you like? Let us know in the comments.

 

Author Spotlight: John Claude Bemis

John Claude Bemis

In today’s author spotlight, Landra Jennings chats with John Claude Bemis about the newest book in his novel series with illustrator Nicole Miles, Rodeo Hawkins and the Sons of Disaster: A Graphic Novel, published by Holiday House and available August 11, 2026.

Book Cover: Rodeo Hawkins and the Sons of Disaster: A Graphic NovelRodeo Hawkins and her ragtag gang of interdimensional outlaws may have saved the multiverse. . . but when a vengeful enemy’s plans spell disaster for this group of unlikely heroes, who’s going to save them?

Get ready for more mayhem!

In his old life, Sidney was pursued by interdimensional assassins, had “DORK” written on his forehead (twice!), and was magically erased from the memories of his only friend, Walt. But that was before he joined legendary outlaw Rodeo Hawkins as a member of her ragtag gang, The Daughters of Mayhem. Things were starting to look up!

Unfortunately, legendary outlaws have a way of making enemies. And Rodeo Hawkins has tons scattered across the multiverse. When an old nemesis locates Walt and uses him as bait, Sidney faces a terrible choice: saving his old best friend who’s forgotten him or helping his new best friends who’ve become his only family.

This isn’t Sidney Poblocki’s first rodeo, but it might be his last in this sequel to Rodeo Hawkins and the Daughters of Mayhem!

Interview with John Claude Bemis

LJ: Congratulations on book 2! We loved speaking with you about book 1. This installment promises more dangerous and wacky exploits for Sidney Poblocki and Rodeo Hawkins and I know young readers will love it. And thank you so much for being with us today.

JCB: Thank you, I’m happy to be here.

LJ: I’m curious – how did you approach expanding the world you created in book 1 without overwhelming new readers who might be jumping in at book 2?

JCB: It’s tricky striking that balance in a sequel. You want to make sure brand new readers aren’t confused. But you don’t want fans of the first book to feel impatient with the recap. I wrote the opening of Sons of Disaster as if the reader knows (or remembers) nothing about the first book. I get the action started right away and simply weave in essential introductions into the scenes with as much excitement as possible.

Character Growth and Challenges

LJ: Without giving too much away, how are you challenging Sidney Poblocki and Rodeo Hawkins differently in this installment compared to the first?

JCB: In the first book, Sidney and Rodeo go from being strangers to buds. In the latest book, their friendship gets challenged, as friendships often do. But it makes it especially hard when Sidney’s friend is an interdimensional mischief maker. Rodeo can be A LOT sometimes—in a fun and hilarious way!

To make matters worse, Sidney’s best bud from his old life, Walt, has joined the Sons of Disaster, an army of tween boys bent on destroying Rodeo and the Daughters of Mayhem. So Sidney is torn between his loyalty to his old best friend and his new friends who are like family to him now.

LJ: Are there any characters who took unexpected turns in their journey that surprised even you during the writing process?

JCB: Rodeo continues to surprise me. She can be such a bad friend at times—and such a caring friend at other times. I’m always shocked at how complicated she can be. But that’s what’s fun working with a trickster figure like her.

The Power of Illustration

LJ: Seeing your story come to live through Nicole Miles’ illustration must have been very satisfying. Which were your favorite panels?

Sample Page from Rodeo Hawkins and the Sons of Disaster: A Graphic NovelJCB: Yes, enormously satisfying! I particularly love the panels where Nicole captures the intense emotions with the expressions of the characters. She makes their reactions to all the mayhem they’re experiencing both hilarious and heartfelt.

LJ: This series marks your first graphic novels. How do you balance leaving room for the illustrator’s interpretation while maintaining the essential parts of the narrative?

JCB: It’s a fun process. I have to write much more “cinematically”—visualizing in my head how the story might be shown, and writing a script to help Nicole visualize her own possibilities for delivering the flow of the story.

I wanted to give Nicole as much room as I could to be a co-storyteller, so that she got to make as many of her own creative choices as possible and not just conform to the vision I had in my head. And it’s been amazing to see what she creates! She’s so talented.

The Joy of Creating

LJ: You’ve published many books for kids at this point. What makes this book and this series special to you?

JCB: This series is much more comedic than the fantasy novels I’ve written in the past. I’ve always enjoyed inserting humor into exciting stories, but this is the first series where the laughs are forefront. I’ve leaned how to craft jokes and visual gags and punchlines—all while keeping the story full of magical wonder and thrilling action. There’s definitely room for more adventures ahead with this cast of wacky characters and this weird world of the Daughters of Mayhem. In fact, I’m working on the third book at the moment.

LJ: Beyond this series, what other projects excite you right now?

JCB: Teaching is such a creative outlet for me—whether leading writing workshops with kids in schools or leading writing retreats for adults in France and the Blue Ridge Mountains. I get excited helping other writers grow their skills and chase their dreams.

LJ: Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us today, John! And since no MUF interview is complete without a lightning round…

Lightning Round

cup of teaCoffee or tea?

JCB: Tea first, then coffee. I have to ease into caffeination.

Sunrise or sunset?

JCB: Sunrise—since it’s rare I see one.

Book Cover: The Hobbit, 75th anniverary editionFavorite book from childhood:

JCB: The Hobbit

If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?

JCB: Flying

If you could invite any fictional character from any universe to dinner, who would it be?

JCB: I’d have over Merry and Pippin from Lord of the Rings. It would be a raucous dinner!

About the Author and Illustrator

Book Cover: Rodeo Hawkins and the Daughters of Mayhem, A Graphic Novel

John Claude Bemis is the award-winning author of six middle-grade novels, a picture book, and the forthcoming Rodeo Hawkins graphic novel series. A former elementary school teacher, John earned his Master’s of Education in Literacy from UNC Chapel Hill and taught fourth and fifth grades for thirteen years. He received the Excellence in Teaching Award from UNC-Chapel Hill for his work as an author-presenter in schools and served as North Carolina’s Piedmont Laureate for Children’s Literature, promoting literacy and the literary arts. A popular instructor and inspiring guide to writers of all ages—kids, teens, and adults— he teaches creative writing workshops and leads retreats around the world. Beyond the creative expression of writing, John is also a sculptural mask-maker, a songwriter, and musician. He lives with his wife and daughter in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

Nicole Miles is from The Bahamas, but now lives in West Yorkshire (UK) with her pet snake and human husband. After five and a half years working at Hallmark Cards UK, she jumped into full-time freelance illustration in January of 2020, and has since worked with a variety of clients in editorial, publishing, and even animation. Her first published short comic Barbara (ShortBox) was nominated for an Eisner award. She is represented for books by Chad at The CAT Agency. For all other inquiries, she can be contacted by email at hello@nicolemillo.com