BookHuddle with Readgab

45: Why Write Spooky Middle Grade Books? Interview with J.A. White Middle Grade Author

Karen Reeder

J.A. White is a middle grade author of some fantastically spooky books including: Nightbooks (a Netflix film), Gravebooks, Shadow School, The Thickety, and his newest book, Wish Monster. In this episode we focus on his books Wish Monster and Nightbooks, but also talk overall about the need for dark stories for kids. Be sure to watch out for J.A. White's newest book coming next month, Dark and Darker Still Stories. For more interviews by authors of spooky books check out these videos next https://youtu.be/GUPa4xdCoH4?si=wE_RaTz9cFcu9emq and https://youtu.be/NzlIo2GhrJU?si=y-dyrVtlhPFMoFhj

Find middle grade author J.A. White
http://jawhitebooks.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5976337.J_A_White
Wish Monster by J.A. White https://www.amazon.com/Wish-Monster-J-White/dp/0063082063/
Nightbooks by J.A. White https://www.amazon.com/Nightbooks-J-White/dp/0062560085/

Chapters
00:00 Meet Middle Grade author J.A. White
03:05 What is Wish Monster by J.A. White about?
04:20 What is the problem with having wishes granted?
05:50 How did Wish Monster come into being?
06:49 What do you hope a kid would take away from reading Wish Monster?
08:39 What is Nightbooks about?
11:00 Why is there a need for spooky or dark middle grade books?
14:20 What was it like to have a book you wrote made into a film?
15:42 What did you love about watching the movie based on your book?
17:28 What was something that was a small part of the book, that took you a lot of time?
19:45 What would you wish for without worrying about consequences?
20:55 What is next for author J.A. White? Dark and Darker Still, short stories coming out in Sept
24:15 J.A. White’s book recommendation
26:18 What would your youthful self want your adult self to write?