Jim Cockin on Ghost Tide and ghost stories for early teens

This month our Macaw subscribers are heading to the wilds of the East Anglian coast with Ghost Tide, a spooky intriguing adventure packed with atmosphere and empathy. London schoolboy Charlie and his cousin Ariel must solve a chilling mystery when a ghostly presence wreaks havoc on Ariel's hometown. It's a brilliant book with young teen characters that readers will find hugely relatable, an atmospheric setting and an action-packed plot. We loved it! Here author Jim Cockin tells us about being inspired by a childhood holiday in Wales and which other ghost stories for early teens he recommends you read next.

What inspired you to write Ghost Tide?

When I was about 10 and on holiday in Wales, I saw a real life shipwreck on the beach near to where my family were staying. For several summers afterwards, you could still find bits of wreckage washed up on the shore and I think the idea of things going into the sea and re-emerging years later lodged in my brain. It inspired the idea of the 'ghost tides' in the story, the storms that unearth things that are best left buried.

Do you think Charlie's experiences will change him?

At the start of the story Charlie is a city kid who is very wary of the countryside. He doesn't like the isolation, animals or the lack of decent wi-fi. By the end he's a very different character who is much closer to his cousin Ariel - and they have both found reserves of courage, resilience and forgiveness that they never knew they possessed.

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

I hope they enjoy the feeling of going on a real adventure with the characters and unravelling a mystery - all with plenty of surprises, shocks and scares and along the way.

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Charlie and Ariel?

By the end of the story it's clear the cousins have stirred up something that goes far beyond the adventure and experiences they have just been through in Dunstrand. The past has a way of reaching out to cast a shadow over the present, so expect to see Charlie and Ariel together again soon. 

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

I'm not sure I ever loved reading more than when I was 7-15ish. There's just so much fantastic stuff out there to get your hands on and devour. I loved the sort of stories you could really get really stuck into, and that then stuck with you, sometimes for years afterwards. With Ghost Tide I wanted to try to write something that felt a bit like that - and that grown ups would enjoy reading too.

Do you have a favourite place to write?

I'm a big fan of public libraries and I'm lucky that there are some brilliant ones near to where I live in London. They have some great work spaces in the libraries at Hammersmith, Chiswick and Richmond - and the quiet atmosphere stops me getting distracted.

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

I absolutely loved Penelope Lively's books when I was growing up (try The Ghost of Thomas Kempe if you want more poltergeists) and she sent me a lovely note after Ghost Tide was published. Dark Matter by Michelle Paver  is a stone-cold classic ghost story, but it's not for the faint hearted.

Do you believe in ghosts?

I think as a fiction writer it pays to be open-minded! But I was astonished by the number of people who have subsequently shared their own real-life spooky experiences with me having read the book. The world is definitely full of surprises. 

Copies of our Ghost Tide 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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