Spooky Storytelling With Strong Family Ties: Meet Finch House Author Ciera Burch

Are you looking for shivers this spooky season? Today. Encanto meets Coraline in Finch House, a delightfully thrilling middle grade novel by  Ciera Burch. I read Finch House in a day, and I thought it was incredibly spooky, as well as warm and wonderful, and I highly recommend you run out and grab it. Finch House is a gloriously creepy read (but not TOO creepy) with strong characters and an ending that will haunt you -- a perfect read aloud as we head into October. Ciera Burch is a lifelong writer and ice cream aficionado, who holds a BA from my alma mater, American University, (Go Eagles!) and an MFA from Emerson College. And she would be an excellent choice for the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.  [00:47] Welcoming Ciera Burch[00:50] Finch House Ciera shares some details about her book and the inspiration behind it.[01:11] Finch House  A young girl named Micah, an old Victorian house, and family secrets.Inspiration from her grandfather's spooky basement. Origins of the book's characters, particularly how Micah and Ciera connect.[03:43] Balancing SpookinessFinding the right balance of spookiness in a middle-grade book to appeal to young readers without being too scary. [04:19] Open-Ended EndingHints about the open-ended nature of Finch House  and the possibility of more adventures for Micah.[05:26] Reading an ExcerptCiera reads a passage from "Finch House" (Chapter 6) that highlights the characters' curiosity and sense of adventure. [07:58] Book Birthday Debut at Politics and Prose Ciera shares her experience working with Kwame Alexander and his imprint, highlighting his personable nature and insightful questions.[08:54] Adventures in Learning (reading, writing, and mom) [11:32] Impact of Education [14:13] Working in Publishing[15:27] Upcoming Book: Something Kindred (2024) [16:07] RecurringTheme of Ghosts in Ciera's Books[16:35] Influential Childhood BooksBooks that influenced her as a child, including Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, the Percy Jackson series, and Bridge to Terabithia[18:10]  Diverse Voices in LiteratureThe importance of diverse representation in children's literature and the concept of "windows and mirrors."[19:55] Writing with Diverse CharactersCiera shares her motivation for including black or brown main characters in her stories and emphasizes the importance of creating relatable, human characters. [20:42] Joys of Being a Writer[22:45] Hopes for the FutureSupport the showShare this episodeIf this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friendStay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.