If you love a good ghost story, then today’s picture book won’t disappoint!

Heather Pierce Stigall uses her experience with children and her degrees in child development, psychology-based human relations, and social work to create stories that speak to kids. Heather is the Critique Group/Meet & Greet Coordinator for the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter of SCBWI and the author of Paisley’s Big Birthday (Clavis Publishing) and Gilbert and the Ghost (Beaming Books). Born and raised as a beach-loving, corn-and-tomato-snob Jersey girl, Heather now lives in southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband, pup, and five children. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, relaxing (hopefully at the beach), working out, eating chocolate, baking, or creating all sorts of treasures. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on BlueSky, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

GILBERT AND THE GHOST is a picture book about a young boy who feels invisible. He is also convinced that there is a ghost in the haunted house on his street. Yet no one in his family believes him. He leaves the ghost presents (which keep disappearing) and decides to wait and see. The story ends on an intriguing open-ended note that will leave readers guessing. Ordinarily I might not be a fan of such an ending (as I hate cliffhangers), but this is done in such a clever way that it will certainly start up conversations!

Welcome Heather!

Me: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing journey? When did you start writing picture books? How has that brought you to writing this picture book?

Heather: Thank you for having me on your blog, Jena! My path to publication has not been linear, but I have always loved children and picture books. I spent years jotting down ideas for stories before I decided to get serious about a writing career. That was twelve years ago when my children were young, and I could only write in those tiny spaces of time between carpools and naps. My kids provided a lot of distraction, but also a lot of inspiration! I started out slowly by learning about writing picture books and children’s publishing; joining SCBWI (The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), a critique group, and Julie Hedlund’s 12×12 Picture Book Challenge; and doing a lot of writing and revising. It took years of learning, querying, and enduring all the ups and downs of publishing. But I believed I could do it, just like the main character of my newest book believes, and it paid off!

Me: I love this story of a young boy who feels invisible believing in a ghost friend. What gave you the idea?

Heather: Gilbert and the Ghost began with two things – a title idea and a childhood memory. The title came about during Tara Lazar’s 2020 StoryStorm challenge. Because I like wordplay, I thought “ghost writer” had potential for a picture book title. The childhood memory came from my happy place – the beach. When I was a child, my parents and aunt and uncle rented the same beach house for a few weeks each summer. One year, before we left our rental for the season, my cousins and I hid a note somewhere in the house, hoping to find a reply when we returned the following year. Surely someone would want to be our pen pal!

The next summer, we checked our secret hiding spot. Did anyone reply? No. But our note was missing! Someone must have read it, right? Maybe they did reply, but another renter received the note before us. So, we tried again, for several years, believing that eventually we would become friends with another beach lover, even if we never met. With that memory in mind, I wondered if I could write a story about a child who wrote notes to a ghost he believed lived in his neighborhood, even though no one else believed. A friendship story between a child, who understood what it felt like to be invisible, just like a ghost, and a ghost, who might want a friend too. So, I did!

Me: I can’t believe how the book ends! It’s so open-ended. I have questions (and desperately don’t want to spoil anything)! Was your story always this brilliant? Or did it change over many revisions to be this well written? 

Heather: Ooh! I’m so glad you had this reaction and thank you for your kind words! The short answer is that, although this story went through several revisions, the ending has never changed. The longer answer mirrors a little of Gilbert’s story.

Before I started querying this manuscript, I received critiques with two different agents. Each had different suggestions for how to improve it and very different opinions about the ending. One thought the resolution was “sweet and satisfying,” while the other thought editors might shy away from the story because the ending wasn’t “decisive” enough. I incorporated many of the first agent’s suggestions and a few of the second agent’s notes, but I left the ending as it was. My intention was to offer a satisfying resolution while leaving room for reader interpretation, so I didn’t change one word. I believed in my ending and hoped someone in the publishing world would too. Luckily, I found an agent who also loved the ending. Then, an editor at Beaming Books brought the manuscript to acquisitions! But she came back with questions from the rest of her team…about the ending! I was nervous because, of course, I wanted an offer. I explained my vision for the story and crossed my fingers while waiting for a response. I was thrilled to receive a book deal, and the ending remains just how I wrote it in the very first draft.

I believe that the author, illustrator, and reader contribute equal parts to making a picture book, so the reaction you had after finishing reading Gilbert and the Ghost was my hope. If a reader asked me the “questions” I am guessing you have, I would ask them, “What do you think?” and “Why?” I’ve already done this with one group of children, and some of their answers amazed me!

Me: I love that! There is also nothing to indicate a time of year or holiday in your text (although there are hints of fall in the illustrations). It could be any time of year really, and the story itself could be read at any time of year. Did you anticipate this book being marketed in the fall or around Halloween as it’s a ghost story? Do you dread those associations or welcome them?

Heather: You’re right. There is no mention of the time of year or reference to a holiday in my text, but because the title includes the word “ghost” in it, I suspected the book would be slated for a fall release (Fun Fact: The book was originally supposed to be published in fall 2024, then moved to fall 2026, and, finally, fall 2025, but it was always fall). Jess’s art and choice of color palette hint at fall, but she didn’t include any strong ties to Halloween (no jack-o-lanterns, for example). I don’t mind if the book is marketed for Halloween, as I have heard that librarians are actively seeking picture books for “spooky season” that are not too scary and that Halloween is a big holiday for picture book sales. Plus, the book could appeal to those who don’t celebrate Halloween, and, as you mentioned, the story themes are appropriate year-round.

Me:  The illustrations by Jess Mason are incredible! What an incredible color palette for a story like this! Any illustration surprises for you? Any favorites?

Heather: I agree! Jess’s illustrations are amazing! I love the way she gives the book a mysterious tone that’s not too scary. I love the fog! Two spreads that stood out to me were the opening spread, where Gilbert is lying on the floor drawing pictures, and then almost at the end, where Gilbert and a girl are similarly posed drawing pictures together. Those two spreads show an important shift in the story that aren’t mentioned outright in the text.

One fun surprise: I have been able to view the digital version of the story for a while now, but I only recently saw a hard copy of the book. The digital version did not show any end papers, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jess included illustrated end papers in the book. They’re so fun!

Me: What is one thing that surprised you in writing this story?

Heather: When I first wrote Gilbert and the Ghost, I didn’t realize that many of its themes are a lot like what authors/illustrators experience when they are trying to succeed in the publishing industry. Gilbert, who sometimes feels invisible, believes in something most others around him don’t; but he perseveres and patiently keeps trying to achieve his goal (even though sometimes that’s difficult). I think we in the kidlit community can relate to feeling invisible when we submit into the “void” and often hear nothing back. Yet, like Gilbert, we persevere and try to be patient (even though that’s often difficult!). I am fortunate to have a very supportive family, and I’ve found the kidlit community to be extremely encouraging, but I know some creators encounter a lot of unsupportive (even if well-meaning) “doubters” just like Gilbert does with his family. So, I dedicate this book to all of you out there who are taking the steps to pursue your dream. I believe in you!

Me: What an incredible analogy Heather. I love that too. Any advice for new picture book writers?

Heather: I think it’s important to understand that children’s book writing and illustrating is a business. We can pour so much of ourselves into our stories, so it’s understandable why rejections feel personal and can downright hurt. But there are so many reasons why an agent or editor passes on a manuscript, even a well-written, marketable one. Keep writing,  submitting, and believing – your “yes” is out there!

That is great advice Heather. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.

But wait, dear readers, there’s more! Heather has generously agreed to giveaway a 30-minute “ask me anything” Zoom call and it’s open to anyone anywhere in the world! Yay! You can enter the rafflecopter here. Good luck!