Alexandra Dawe on The Stitchwort Curse and ghost stories for early teens

Do you believe in ghosts? You might once you’ve read The Stitchwort Curse! We sent this hugely atmospheric novel to our Macaw subscribers this month and we think it’s perfect for tweens and early teens. The Starling family are kind and likeable, but also have a troubling past, and the historical era in which its set adds a thought-provoking political dimension to the story. But it’s Stitchwort House itself, gently spooky and filled with magic and mystery, that sits at the heart of this book, plus characters that you can really root for. We loved it! Here author Alexandra Dawe tells us about being inspired by her own home and which other ghost stories for tweens and early teens she recommends you read next.

What inspired you to write The Stitchwort Curse?

We live in an old house in Devon, it’s maybe 140 years old, with bats in the roof and owls in the garden. The house leaks and creaks and has lots and lots of spiders. I’ve always liked spooky creatures, but unfortunately one of my children developed arachnophobia. It was quite problematic! I was trying to show spiders in a different light; I started drawing a girl who lived in a ruined house and the spiders were friends, helping with chores and keeping her company. She still seemed a bit lonely, so I added a family, and their story grew. After a few years I realised I’d written enough for it to be a book!

Why did you choose to set the story in this particular historical period?

The Victorian era is absolutely fascinating to me! The changes in society, technology, industry, engineering etc were just incredible, much like the times we live in now. As the Victorians scientific knowledge grew so did an interest in spiritualism, fairies, and the occult. I love the way science and the paranormal coexisted, it’s an area of history I love to research.

What do you hope young readers will take away from the story and how it unfolds?

I hope they’ll see the Starlings as a close family of kind people, who genuinely want to help others, whether that’s a ghost, a human, a magical creature, or an animal. Kindness and compassion are incredibly important, I feel that more and more every day as I see the latest headlines. As they encounter new and different people or creatures in the story Etta and her family help them, and in doing so their own lives improve in ways they didn’t imagine. Also, I’m hoping to encourage people to like spiders a little bit more!

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Etta and her family?

They’ve got quite a battle on their hands if they want to get free of the curse!

Why did you choose to write books for this age group?

My eldest child was 7 when I started writing, and the story grew with them. There came a point where some middle grade books were a bit too young for them, but they weren’t ready for some of the themes in YA. I was trying to write a complex story with interesting words and characters they wanted to spend time with, but without being too scary. I really liked my characters being in that little place between being a kid and being an adult. I found with my own children that there’s so much pressure constantly to achieve, to grow up, to be productive, and I wanted to make a little place where they can escape and just have fun.

Do you have a favourite place to write?

I’m lucky enough to have a home office/ art studio in a spare bedroom. I have a lovely view where I can see our chickens wandering around, usually scratching up whatever vegetables we’re trying to grow! I get a bit distracted by the view, we’re very rural so I see pheasants, squirrels, and sometimes deer in the garden. Once some sheep got in and were wandering around the children’s trampoline!

Which other ghost stories for early teens would you recommend our subscribers read next?

One of my absolute favourite book series featuring ghosts is Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud, I’ve reread it several times!

I’ve been lucky enough to meet some wonderful debut authors over the last few months, I’ve heard great things about Spooksmiths Investigate the Cinderman, by Alex Atkinson, it’s on my tbr! I’m also very excited about All The Hidden Monsters by Amie Jordan, it’s about werewolves and I haven’t read a werewolf book in a long time.

If you like a spooky, crumbling, boarded-up mansion then definitely read Gargoyles by Tamsin Mori!

And finally, do you believe in ghosts?

Having lived in a haunted house when I was growing up… yes!

Copies of our The Stitchwort Curse pack, including a copy of the book and loads of fun activities to go with it, are now available for individual purchase. Grab a copy while stocks last!

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