When the story about a curly-haired girl finding ghostly activity in the Deep South made its way to my bookshelf, I was all too happy to read it. But when I had the chance to talk to the author and pick her brain, I knew I struck gold. After reading Tiffany D. Jackson’s middle-grade tale Ghost in the Night, I knew she had something special on her hands; blending current-day Black culture with stories of ancestry, family dynamics, good ol’ southern hospitality, and of course ghosts, Ghost in the Night makes for an intriguing — and heartfelt — story about personal growth and what it’s like to tackle challenges in your own reality (and beyond).
Jackson fills me in on some of the burning questions I had about her story, as well as her own life experiences.
Ghost in the Night
Savannah is pretty much a character in its own right in Ghost in the Night. What drew you to Savannah as opposed to the many other southern cities with deep historical roots and prime locations for ghost activity, and what about Savannah in particular’s history and reputation for hauntings made it the right place for this mystery?
Outside of Savannah being the most haunted city in the US… I remember reading about Savannah when I was much too young in a book called Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. When I finally visited as an adult, I could see why so many people loved setting stories there. Savannah just has a majestic aura to it. You can sense it in the air when you walk the streets.
[Main character] Harmony is fascinated by photography and the supernatural, particularly because of her experience with her late grandmother. What inspired those two aspects of her character, and how did you approach balancing her curiosity with the grief she’s carrying? (I ask this because it almost feels unusual for her to be so into the paranormal after losing someone that close.)
Contrary to popular belief, many people are drawn to the paranormal after recent deaths. It is connected to the five stages of grief; people try to make sense of what is unknown, which is what happens to people after they die. When I spoke to a psychologist about the different ways kids at this age grieve, she spoke about kids’ tendencies to fall down a rabbit hole and become obsessed with a subject matter. It just so happened that Harmony’s subject was ghosts.
One thing I really appreciated about Harmony is that she never seems particularly embarrassed about her interest in ghosts, even when she recognizes that it doesn’t necessarily fit the expectations people have of a twelve-year-old Black girl. How important was it to you to give Harmony that unapologetic curiosity? (Also, thank you for this attribute, because I am definitely that person in my friend group!)
Glad we have that in common because I’m also that person in my friend group! I wanted to create a character like this as a realistic example of us, to show kids that’s it’s okay to step into the weird. To be upologietically you.
You do a wonderful job of incorporating AAVE and the rhythms of Black speech into the dialogue. How did you approach making Harmony and her friends’ voices feel authentic and distinct while writing for a middle-grade audience? (Also a point to note that none of their dialogue sounds like it will age poorly; the speech is modern but it’s not trendy in a sense that we won’t be saying these phrases anymore in 6 months. It’s almost like a “formal/standard” version of AAVE).
My greatest fear is sounding like an old woman writing for kids so I make sure to spend a lot of time with kids, like during school visits. It helps me keep a thumb on the pulse of most slang.
Harmony goes through some pretty significant changes over the course of the story; I felt like I was seeing her grow up in real time. What did you most want young readers to take away from her journey from the beginning of the book to the end?
Major life events do tend to make you grow up faster than you imagined. So I like giving my readers life lessons that are rooted in age appropriate growth. When it comes to the end of this book, I really wanted readers to see themselves on the page as kids who have passions and are not afraid to go after what they want.
There’s definitely a contrast between the supernatural elements and the very real dangers Harmony encounters. Where do you draw the line between “spooky” and genuinely frightening for your middle-grade audience?
Middle-grade audiences LOVE to be scared! Scary books are super popular in that age bracket. But I don’t think I have the chops yet to go full scary, so dancing the line is the next best thing.
Without giving away any spoilers, Ghost in the Night plays with the question of whether something paranormal is actually happening or whether there’s a more scientific explanation. What do you personally find more frightening: ghosts or the things people are capable of doing to one another?
Things people are capable of doing to one another. Because like ghosts, it’s unexplainable at times, but also very physical and of this world, which is frightening.
This is a story about ghosts, but it’s also about family, friendship, grief, identity, and growing up. Was there a particular theme that became more important to you as you moved deeper into the writing process?
Grief really is at the core of this story. We all grieve so differently I think it’s important, especially for kids, to know there is no right way to grieve.
Authors often put a little of themselves into their stories. What part(s) of “Harmony” are actually “Tiffany?”
A few things but the most important is a line out of the book: “I’m always the only black girl on the ghost tour.” That’s completely me. I love going on ghost tours all over the country but I’m usually alone. LOL!
Quickfire Questions
Where do you stand on the Book vs. Movie debate when it comes to which is scarier?
Movie! But I’m a horror movie nerd.
Favorite author and/or book?
Jesmyn Ward
Have you ever seen a ghost yourself?
Yes! During a ghost tour in Savannah at the very square this book takes place in.
Your friend asks you to help them investigate a haunted house. Apprehensive “Yes,” or “Naw?”
Depends on the house, time of day, and what they can bribe me with. I’m a sucker for cookies.
I can’t argue with that sentiment — though cake is more my bribe of choice!
Though Ghost in the Night is aimed at a younger audience, don’t let that deter you from taking a look inside this book. In between sentences of pre-teen chit-chat and a little-more-tame scares, there lies a story ripe for speaking directly to the inner child in all of us. Jackson’s Ghost in the Night, in a way, allows that release of so many emotions we thought we “grew up” from. And through Harmony’s eyes (and her camera lens), we see beyond those fears and make a push toward brighter days — ones spent strolling brick streets under magnolias and moss.
To learn more about Tiffany D. Jackson, visit her on Instagram and web. Ghost in the Night is available now on Amazon. Read my book review here!
