Posts Tagged Author Interview

WNDMG Author Interview with Meg Eden Kuyatt

By on May 13, 2026   /   Articles  

WNDMG Author Interview with Meg Eden Kuyatt

We’ve got an author here today! And I had the esteemed pleasure of sitting down with MG Novel-in-Verse author Meg Eden Kuyatt. So, without further ado…

KATE: Our Mixed-Up-Files readers would love the inside scoop on your latest novel-in-verse, Perfect Enough. With the school year behind her, Selah is looking forward to a drama-free summer. (Spoiler alert – it won’t be as carefree as she’d like). Can you share with readers a bit about what Selah gets up to in summer?

MEG: Selah wants to prove to her mom–and herself–that she’ll be fine at summer camp, that she can do the same as any neurotypical kid if she has her tools. She wants to connect with her new dragon-loving friends. She wants to write, publish in the summer camp journal, and become a “real writer” (spoiler: she’s already a writer). Even though she has fun, that doesn’t mean she won’t have challenges–you’ll have to read more to find out!

KATE: I fell in love with Selah in Good Different and was naturally excited to see you were returning to her world in Perfect Enough. Did you always have plans to extend her story? And if so, in what ways did it shape how you’d end the first story?

MEG: No, actually! It’s funny. I was trying to write this summer camp story about learning to accept your limitations and ableism, but I kept getting stuck. I realized part of that might be that the main character was basically Selah with a different name. So I asked: what if it was Selah’s story? And the pieces began to click together!

KATE: Perfect Enough takes place the summer after book one. Here, we follow Selah at camp. How did you decide upon that timeline vs, say the start of a new school year?

MEG: Part of that is because I want to follow up on a well-meaning but troubling response I’ll get to Good Different that only focuses on Selah’s “superpowers” as an autistic person. I wanted to say, yes, there is great strength and joy in autism, but there are also challenges–let’s not forget both. Argument-wise, that really follows from Good Different. Plus, if I get to tell future stories with Selah, I think we’d need a whole separate book for that transition to public school. I know for me, the transition from private to public school was very hard. 

KATE: I love how you find ways to advocate for readers by giving them diverse characters to fall in love with and see themselves in. Followers of Selah know she is autistic, and we’ve witnessed how she navigates the world. In Perfect Enough we get to see her understanding of how others navigate the world – in particular through the lens of a character with ADHD. What inspired you to bring this storyline into your novel?

MEG: My husband is ADHD (or possibly AuDHD, we’re not sure) and that camp story I mentioned earlier, I knew a big part to me was about this autistic girl and ADHD boy learning to work together on a group project. My husband and I, we make a great team. In many ways we sync well. But in others, we are total opposites, and know how to get on each others’ nerves! We’ve only gotten to see Selah’s perspective so far, so I wanted to show that she’s only one neurodivergent person. In the story, we meet lots of neurodivergent folks, and see how we can have competing access needs–sometimes two people will need the complete opposite things! How do we navigate that? I don’t think there’s a simple answer, but I want all of us to think more about that question, and how we can all bend a little to make room so that everyone feels safe.

KATE: At Writer’s Camp, attendees are invited to team up for group projects. I’m not going to lie – I was reliving every anxiety and stress Selah was, thanks to past projects of my own childhood, lol. What a great universal idea for your school-aged characters to be put through. So, I’m super curious how easy it was for you to write the tension in these scenes? Were you tapping into your own experiences, or was this pure fiction for you?

MEG: Ha! Me too. Group projects can be quite unpleasant. I think that was part of why I wanted to write about it, because I’m so bad at plot, and that would create a great tension-generator! Writing Selah’s stories has been so easy. I know I mined lots of experiences with my husband, as well as roommates with college. 

KATE: Please tell us more about this writer’s camp. Is this something you had once attended, taught at, or always dreamed of being part of?

MEG: In high school, my friend attended Duke’s Young Writers Camp. I was so jealous! That was the starting inspiration. But I also sometimes teach at the Jimenez-Porter Writers House at the University of Maryland College Park, which offers a sort of summer program. Since I know the campus and the dormitories well, I sort of mixed the two in my imagination to make a writer’s camp where I could really feel the space like I was right there as Selah. 

KATE: Your dialogue exercise is one of my favorites. It starts off fun and silly, then Selah reveals how the other character makes her feel. The scene feels so effortless. I’m curious if this is something that got edited and edited, or if it simply wrote itself.

MEG: Nope, this was one of those things that wrote itself! I think that’s why it’s such a good exercise.

KATE: One of the camp teachers, Mr. Yi, discusses with Selah how poems are her voice. Selah responds by answering that poems give her courage to say things off the page too. I have witnessed you teach poetry to students, and love how you make it so easy to understand. What advice do you have for kids inspired by Selah who either currently write poetry or who wish to start writing it?

MEG: Thank you so much for your kind words, Kate! The biggest advice I give is to persist. Write, give yourself permission to take you and your writing seriously (you ARE a writer!), and if you want to, send out your work–but there’ll be rejection, so don’t lose heart! Just keep sending, writing, learning and growing!

KATE: Without revealing spoilers, can you describe your writing process and, can you give us an example of something you cut, changed, or reworked from draft to publication?

MEG: I’ll say generally, this idea was it’s own summer camp story at first, in dual POV, and more about combating ableism. But I kept getting stuck, until I realized–one of the main characters was basically Selah! So when I put Selah as the MC, everything came together perfectly. I know we did some changes between drafts, but I’m having trouble remembering anything too huge or radical. 

KATE: Thank you for taking the time to share the inside scoop on Perfect Enough. Is there something beyond Selah’s world you can hint at? Perhaps a new project in the works?

MEG: I have a YA with two autistic protagonists coming out from Scholastic in 2027–more soon! I’ve sent in some middle grade proposals to Scholastic, including an idea for a third Selah book. Fingers crossed to see what happens!

KATE: Where can readers best find you if they want to reach out?

MEG: I tend to not be on social media much anymore, to be honest. These companies have all proven to be exploitative and gross, and I’m wrestling with: is this edifying? Is it good for me or others? Do I want to be complicit in this system? I still haven’t fully let go, so you might see me occasionally on Instagram or updating my Facebook page, but the best ways to keep in touch with me are through my website and newsletter:

http://eepurl.com/buwBXX

www.megedenbooks.com

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Interview with Author/Illustrator J.C. Phillipps

By on May 8, 2026   /   Articles, Author Interviews  
Today, please join me in giving a hearty Mixed-Up welcome to author and illustrator J.C. Phillipps. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, J.C. took art lessons at the Toledo Museum of Art and went on to get degrees in art and theater from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and Emerson College in Boston.
More recently, J. C. has been working as an artist, author, and illustrator in West Hartford, Connecticut. She has written and illustrated four published picture books as well as the graphic novel series Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker. Her latest graphic MG novel, The Ghost in Cabin 13, has been praised by Kirkus as “A coming-of-age journey worth sharing around a campfire” and is out now from Penguin Workshop.

The Ghost in Cabin 13: A Summary

Twelve-year-old Leah is nervous to attend Camp Cottontail for the first time. She’s worried about meeting new friends, sleeping out in the woods, and being away from her family. But Leah didn’t expect to be freaked out about the ghost in Cabin 13. It’s a good thing she brought her beloved doll, Beverly, for comfort. But after getting picked on by the older girls in her cabin, participating in a séance gone wrong, and befriending—and then ditching—a possessed doll, Leah’s experience at camp goes from anxiety-ridden to straight-up spooky. Will she survive or hightail it home?

Interview with J.C. Phillips

MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, J.C! (May I call you Julie?)

JCP: Absolutely! Thank you so much for having me.

It Started with Inktober

MR: I read that the inspiration for this book came from your participation in a month-long drawing challenge called Inktober. Can you tell MUF readers more about this?

JCP: Sure. Inktober is a 31-day drawing challenge that takes place in the month of October. Each day there is a one-word prompt, like Salty or Bluff, and artists all over the world draw their interpretations and post them on their Instagram pages with the hashtag #inktober and details like the year and prompt. In 2022, one of the prompts was Uh-oh. I thought back to my childhood when my friends and I would play spooky games at slumber parties, and I drew a séance gone wrong. Four poor girls are startled by a Victorian ghost that they have accidentally summoned. I loved the memory of having fun being scared and developed that feeling into the story of The Ghost in Cabin 13.

What a Doll!

MR: Leah, the doll-toting, 12-year-old protagonist, is an extremely sympathetic character. Did you share traits with Leah at that age? Also, did you go to sleepaway camp? If so, what was your experience like? Did you encounter any ghosts? 🙂 

JCP: I absolutely shared (and still share) character traits with Leah. Leah is nervous with new people. My nightmare is a party where I only know one person. Leah wants to be part of the group but she’s afraid of being teased and rejected. I think most of us feel that way. At the end of the day, I think we all want to be around people who like us for who we are. But sometimes it’s hard to find those people, so we pretend we don’t really need them. I’m no different.

As for personal camp experience, I had a one-night sleepover camp during my Girl Scout years and I used to be a counselor for a day camp called Camp Seafaring in the Boston area. (That camp was a major influence on Book 2 in the Cabin 13 series.) I’ve never encountered a ghost, and I’m okay with that. I prefer them in fiction. 🙂

Portrait of an Artist

MR: In addition to writing the novel, you created the illustrations. What was the process like for you? Did you do both at the same time or add the illustrations later? Also, how does being an artist influence your writing and vice-versa?

JCP: I write the story first. Sometime in the first draft I might start to draw the main characters. Knowing what they look like helps me capture their voice. I probably go through two or three drafts of writing before I get serious about illustrating. And I will intentionally over-write scenes knowing that I will cut them down when I start sketching out the pages.

It’s easy to write a long conversation, but once you start to draw it, it becomes visually boring if the characters stay in the same place for too long. It’s great to be both the writer and illustrator because I can choose what I want to say visually. Maybe I want a character to respond with a scowl. Or maybe I want a panel where someone’s jaw drops open in disbelief. I can visualize those moments as I’m writing and just make myself a little illustration note in the text. I call them Notes to Future Julie because I might not draw that scene for months.

Pacey Packer, Unicorn Tracker 

MR: In addition to The Ghost in Cabin 13, you have written and illustrated the popular Pacey Packer, Unicorn Tracker series. How did your experience crafting The Ghost in Cabin 13 differ from your creation of Pacey Packer? What was similar?

JCP: The writing of both projects was similar, although I remember having more difficulty in finding the right tone for Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker. It took me a long time to figure out how evil or silly the unicorns were going to be. But for The Ghost in Cabin 13 I knew what vibe I was going for, so I had an easier time developing that plot.

I did have a hurdle at the beginning, because in the first draft there was no summer camp. Leah and her parents went to an AirBnB with their extended family. Instead of a cabin of teen girls, Leah was being teased by her teenage cousins who made TikTok videos. But the story focused too much on the relationship between Leah and her mom and it wasn’t as very fun. I had to figure out how to get rid of Mom. Once I landed on sending Leah to summer camp, things really came together.

The biggest difference between the creation of both books was in the illustrating. Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker has only one color, purple. The Ghost in Cabin 13 is in full-color. I’m so glad Pacey was only in purple. It was the first time I’d worked digitally and it was a lot for me to learn Photoshop, Procreate, and the fundamentals of paneled storytelling without having to deal with color theory. Now that I know how to use the digital tools, I can spend more time working on the color palette and how to use color to help with the mood and tone of the story, especially the spooky parts!

Picture Books vs. MG

MR: Besides being a middle-grade author and illustrator, you have written and illustrated several picture books. What was it like for you to take the leap to middle grade? Were there any specific challenges creating stories and illustrations for an older audience?

JCP: If anything, the jump from picture books to graphic novels was a little easier. Writing for a middle-grade audience suits my sense of humor a bit more. I can be a little more snarky. A little more myself. Picture books are shorter, but that doesn’t mean they are easier. The ideas and the execution of those ideas have to be clear and concise in picture books. In graphic novels, I have more time to explore character arcs, include a small side plot, or even develop some of the supporting characters.

In Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker I was able to develop a comic relationship between two unicorn guards. In The Ghost in Cabin 13, I had space to give more details to the counselors and Camp Leader. I think those small details are so much fun! In picture books, I might have been able to sneak some extra details into the art, but there was never space in the text. The biggest challenges for me in creating a middle-grade horror story was staying within the boundaries of what is acceptable spooky fun for the age group without overdoing it. I want the readers to have the thrill of being scared without any nightmares.

Path to Publication

MR: Can you tell us a bit about your path to publication? Was it smooth sailing or bumpy seas?

JCP: Arg! I think, relatively speaking, it was smooth sailing, but it was a roundabout path to get there. I never planned on being an author/illustrator. I got a Bachelors Degree in Art and Theater and a Masters Degree in Theater Education. I wanted to teach college-level theater. After I had graduated from Emerson College, I got a job teaching for a K-1 classroom at an afterschool program, and every day I would read picture books to the class. This was the first time I was looking at picture books as an adult. I looked at the art and knew I could create illustrations. And I looked at the stories, similar to plays, and I knew I could write them. So I shifted my focus to creating literature for children.

I read some books on the craft and joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. One day, they had an Illustrators Day in New York City. I attended workshops while agents and editors looked at my portfolio. On the Greyhound bus back to Boston, I looked at my responses (the agents and editors left cards in my portfolio) and saw that an agent was interested in me. About a year later, I had a contract for my first picture book, Wink the Ninja Who Wanted to Be Noticed.

Julie’s Writing Routine

MR: What is your writing and illustrating process like? Do you have a specific routine or word-count goals? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?

JCP: I wish I was a plotter! I’m such a type-A person that it would make sense if I was a plotter, but no, I love to sit down with an idea and just type away and see what happens. I’m a pantser through and through.

I always compare writing with pottery. The first draft is making clay. At the end of that draft you just have a big pile of clay in front of you. Then, in revisions, you shape it, remove excess, and it starts becoming a clear story with characters, plot, theme. I usually write in the mornings when my head is clear. I don’t have word-count goals when it comes to writing. For me, the writing process is most successful when I allow myself to be organic and free-flowing.

However, illustration is completely different. I absolutely set goals for myself. Usually it’s one spread (two pages) per day. That can take 4-6 hours depending on how detailed the drawing is. I ink (in Procreate) the entire book then submit it to the editors for notes. Once the ink drawings are approved, I move onto the coloring process. Again, I have a goal of one spread per day, but sometimes I can go faster and get 3-4 pages done per day. Making a graphic novel is a marathon-type project. I have to set a pace for myself that I can maintain for a year. Sometimes it can feel long, but, all in all, I like the routine of it.

Successful Author Visits

MR: Rumor has it you enjoy doing author visits at schools. What is your secret sauce for a successful visit?

JCP: This is where my theater degree gets put to use. I trained as an actor in my undergraduate program. I do not fear a stage. I can project my voice. And I enjoy interacting with young people. When I’m creating a school visit presentation, I build in games, quizzes, and different ways I can interact with the audience. I think of it as an audience-participation show. My goal is to give a 50-minute presentation that informs and entertains, that the students can be a part of.

The Ghost in Cabin 13: What’s Next

MR: The Ghost in Cabin 13 is the first in a series. Would you mind sharing a bit about what readers can expect in the books that follow?

JCP:  Cabin 13 is an anthology series, so every book is its own individual story. Different characters. Different camp. Different ghosts/monsters. But they are all spooky and there’s always a Cabin 13. I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say about Book 2, but here’s a clue: Arrr, mateys!

When my editor and I were discussing book 2 of the series, we debated continuing Leah’s story or expanding the world of the books beyond Camp Cottontail. I figured I could extend Leah and Beverly’s story for one more book, but it would be challenging after that. Then I started brainstorming all the fun ideas for new monsters in new camps, and that seemed a lot more exciting. Plus, after the series is built up a bit, readers can choose any book in any order, which also appealed to me. I also like the idea of having many main characters so readers can hopefully find themselves reflected in one of the books.

Merch!

MR: Last question. You have the most incredible selection of artistic merch on Redbubble, including T-shirts, mugs, notebooks, phone cases, and more. What inspired you to branch out in this way? Also, will you have merch available for The Ghost in Cabin 13?

JCP: Okay, business talk. As an artist, it’s good to have multiple revenue streams. I love making books, but sometimes I don’t have a book under contract. So, I also have art in several local galleries and gift shops. I do art fairs. I teach paint-n-sip watercolor classes for adults. I do author visits. And I upload my art to print-on-demand sites like TeePublic and Redbubble.

I started uploading work to Redbubble about ten years ago. I liked being able to print my work on bags, T-shirts, and stickers so I could sell them at my art shows. But it’s also a good way for people to find my art online. If, say, someone in Chicago who follows me on Instagram likes a painting, they could buy a print on Redbubble. Or, sometimes people tell me they like one of my Inktober drawings and ask if I’ll post it on Redbubble so they can buy a print. I’m happy to do that. Right now there are two Cabin 13 designs in my Redbubble shop, so if you wanted to check them out, you’d go to Redbubble.com and search JCPhillipps Cabin13.

Lightning Round!

MR: No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Pretzels.

Coffee or tea? Iced coffee.

Zombie apocalypse: Yea or nay? In fiction, Yea – all the way. I love zombies. In reality, I think the zombies would eat my brains pretty quickly. Surviving a zombie apocalypse isn’t in my skill set.

Favorite camp activity? I’d be a theater girlie: painting sets, sewing costumes, making puppets. The show must go on!

Favorite ghost story? This is a tough one. The first thing that comes to mind isn’t a ghost story, but rather a scary, creepy story and it’s Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado. It’s a story about cold, calculated revenge. My favorite ghost movie is The Sixth Sense, where a little boy can see ghosts, many of whom don’t know they are ghosts. He’s scared at first, but then he learns that he can help them. Neither of these stories are for kids, although I think I read The Cask of Amontillado in high school. I love Edgar Allan Poe.

Superpower? Teleportation. I love being places, but I hate getting there. I’d love to blink my way to Paris!

Favorite place on earth? Buck Island. It’s a small uninhabited island off the coast of St. Croix. If you go on a snorkeling trip, a boating company will take you out there, you can snorkel for an hour then spend about 20 minutes on the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen. The sand is soft and white. The water is warm. It’s so peaceful and lovely. If I need to calm down, I just take a deep breath.

MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Julie, and congratulations on the publication of The Ghost in Cabin 13! I thought it was a lot of fun, and I know readers will think so, too!

JCP: Thank you so much. What great questions! I really hope your readers enjoy The Ghost in Cabin 13.

Bio

Originally from Toledo, Ohio, J. C. Phillipps took art lessons at the Toledo Museum of Art. She went on to get degrees in art and theater from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, and Emerson College in Boston. More recently, J. C. has been working as an artist, author, and illustrator in West Hartford, Connecticut. She has written and illustrated four published picture books as well as the graphic novel series Pacey Packer Unicorn Tracker. Learn more about J.C. Phillipps on her website and follow her Instagram.

 

Melissa Roske is a writer of middle-grade fiction. Before spending her days with imaginary people, she interviewed real ones as a journalist in Europe. Upon returning to her native New York, Melissa contributed to several books and magazines, selected jokes for Reader’s Digest, and received certification as a life coach from NYU. In addition to her debut novel Kat Greene Comes Clean (Charlesbridge), Melissa’s short story “Grandma Merle’s Last Wish” appears in the Jewish middle-grade anthology, Coming of Age: 13 B’Nai Mitzvah Stories (Albert Whitman). Learn more about Melissa on her Website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

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Author Interview – Angela Cervantes – The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy

By on May 6, 2026   /   Author Interviews, books, New Releases  

From Pura Belpré Honor recipient Angela Cervantes and perfectly timed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy follows 12-year-old sleuth Diez Espada on a high-stakes case as he tracks down the tournament’s stolen trophy in time for the championship match. Also available in Spanish!

book cover of mystery of stolen world cup trophy - character all in black running down the stairs holding the world cup trophy

Photo of author angela cervantes sitting at a table

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diez Espada—named after the jersey number of his soccer-obsessed father’s favorite player, Lionel Messi—would rather be chasing clues than soccer balls. When the World Cup trophy disappears at a glitzy party in Miami, he’s suddenly at the center of the most thrilling match of his life—a race to find the trophy before it’s gone for good.

Teaming up with his crush, Rio, and the world-famous Detective Enzo, Diez dives headfirst into a one-night whirlwind of secret tunnels and a squad of suspicious suspects: a spoiled son of a Miami tycoon, a famous sportscaster, and even Rio’s two prankster younger brothers.

The clock is ticking, the suspects are slippery, and the stadium lights are ready to shine. Will Diez find the trophy in time for the World Cup championship match?

 

Let’s get the big question out of the way at the beginning: I’m guessing you’re a huge Messi fan? Or is there another player/team you admire?  

AC: That’s so funny you ask that. At all my school visits, the second I reveal that I love soccer. Students ask me who’s the GOAT? Messi or Ronaldo. It’s a dangerous question and I try to avoid answering it because it means I’ll lose half of the audience. But I’m happy to reveal the truth with you: For me, Messi is the GOAT. I’ve been a fan of Leo Messi since his days at Barcelona. And I’ve been lucky enough to see him play twice: once in Barcelona at the legendary Camp Nou. The second time his team Inter Miami came to Kansas City to play our home team Sporting KC. He even scored a goal during the game which was a dream to witness. There are many other fútbol players I admire like Marta from the Brazilian national women’s team, Vini Junior from Brazil, but Leo will always be my fave! On and off the pitch, he’s an inspiration.

I loved all the little details through your novel – the lobster costume, the squawking bird, Al Capone’s tunnel, etc. What was the research like for writing this book? 

AC: Thanks! I love the talking bird! The green parrot, Soledad, and the lavender poodle, Spice, were so much fun to write. Inspiration for both came from an article I read about an exclusive hotel in Miami and Las Vegas that had a popular mascot that everyone treated like celebrities. I thought that was an over the top and fun detail! Research for this book was one of my favorite parts of writing this book. Miami has such rich history and culture that I wanted the city to feel like a real character, not just a backdrop. I started digging into Al Capone’s connection to Miami. He really did live there, and at the time, Miami’s city officials were not happy about it. Also, my dive into the history of the Jules Rimet trophy, kept feeding the story. Every new discovery opened another secret tunnel. 

 I had no idea the original world cup trophy had been stolen so many times and a couple never recovered! Was this your inspiration for the book and/or what inspired you? 

AC: Yes, the real history of the original FIFA World Cup trophy, known as the Jules Rimet, is what sparked everything. This extremely valuable and coveted trophy was stolen twice! The first theft was in London in 1966. The robbers took it while it was on display and demanded a ransom. Of course, FIFA refused to pay a ransom. With no other choice, the robbers dumped the trophy. Luckily, a sweet dog named Pickles found it wrapped in newspaper on his morning walk. Pickles deserves a hundred books about him! The second (and final) theft was in Rio De Janiero, Brazil in 1983. The trophy had been given to the country of Brazil after their team won the world cup three times—thanks to the legendary Pele.  

Sadly, this time there was no ransom note. No Pickles the dog to recover it. The trophy was never found, and no one arrested. To this day no one knows what happened to it. That unsolved mystery was the spark: what if the FIFA trophy went missing during the 2026 World Cup in North America? Once that idea took hold, the book followed.

I loved your Detective Enzo and the International Criminal La Lechuza.  How fun was it to write these characters? 

AC: Thank you. Detective Enzo and La Lechuza were completely inspired by classic Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes type detectives and villians. And I love the idea that we haven’t seen the last of these two characters. I wanted my young sleuth Diez to feel like he was out of his league and to doubt whether he truly belonged in the game or should stay on the bench. Of course, Diez knows he can’t sit this one out. No chance. Like he says, solving mysteries runs in his blood.  

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

AC: For me, the toughest part is managing the clues. I wanted to be sure to plant them carefully enough that a sharp reader could follow the trail, but not so obviously that the ending feels predictable. Personally, I despise a forced or predictable whodunit ending. I really aimed to avoid that by allowing my main character, Diez, to use his smarts to put the pieces together. For me, the easiest part of writing this novel was the momentum. Once the trophy is stolen and Detective Enzo shows up on the scene, the mystery takes off. Enzo’s arrival propels Diez’ desire to help despite every adult, including Detective Enzo, trying to keep him out of it. All this tension moved the story forward naturally. It made the writing exciting and fun. 

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

AC: When I’m doing school visits, I always tell students about three books I absolutely loved! One is Charlotte’s Web by EB White, The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis, and Mary Downing Hahn’s Wait Till Helen Comes.  I also had a fair share of mystery books that I loved too. One in particular that I continue to pick up every once in a while, is From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. I think I love these books so much because the main characters face real stakes and have so much emotional depth.

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

AC: Now it’s time to shift into promotion mode, which is my least favorite part of this job. But I believe in this book, and I know there are readers out there who need it. It won’t find them if I don’t do my part to get the word out. So, I’ll show up, talk about it, and trust that it lands where it’s supposed to.

Beyond that, I’m finishing Anomalies 53: Dragon Dreams, Book 2 in my fantasy series, which comes out July 2026. I’m also considering a new mystery for Diez and I have ideas brewing for fans of The Cursed Moon. Plenty to keep me busy.

Is there anything else you want to share about The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy for our audience of teachers, librarians, and middle grade authors? 

AC: I’m happy to share that it will also be released simultaneously in Spanish on May 5th 

This is a huge deal to me as with most of my middle-grade novels, the Spanish version has come out about a year later, and only if the English book did well enough to justify it. The implicit message of this is that Spanish-speaking readers were secondary. Seeing this change feels meaningful. And especially with this World Cup-inspired novel. As everyone knows, the World Cup tournament is watched by billions of people around the world. And a large chunk of that includes Spanish-speaking countries and communities. So, it seems only fitting it should be released in both languages straight from the first whistle. 

It will also be available in an audiobook format too, which is awesome for those who prefer that format.

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