Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Christyne Morrell (The Curse of the Dead Man‘s Diamond)!
Meet the Author: Christyne Morrell
Christyne Morrell is the author of Trex and Kingdom of Secrets. When she’s not writing for kids, Christyne is busy raising one. She is a corporate attorney, and in her spare time enjoys reading, baking, and watching House Hunters marathons.
About the Book: The Curse of the Dead Man‘s Diamond
In this middle-grade mystery, eleven year old Charlie moves from NYC to Florida only to find herself in the haunted Winklevoss Manor. To her surprise, she’s not alone—she’s joined by three mischievous ghosts cursed for snatching a dead man‘s diamond.
After twelve-year-old Charlie moves from New York City to sweaty, sticky Florida, she’ll do anything to get back home.
Even if it involves ghosts.
Winklevoss Manor, Charlie’s new house, is a towering Victorian mansion famous for one thing—it’s haunted. Three ghosts—Ada, Arthur, and Guff—live there, and not by choice. They’re trapped, cursed for stealing a dead man’s diamond. A diamond that, just like the ghosts, is still in the house. And this gets Charlie thinking. . .
Maybe if she can find the diamond and sell it, Charlie’s family could have enough money to move back to the city. But lifting the curse isn’t that simple, especially when she’s pitted against the school bully and three unruly spirits. It’s frightening to think about, but what if the only way to get rid of the ghosts and curses is by doing what Charlie fears the most—confronting the past that haunts her?
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~Author Chat~
YABC: What came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?
Believe it or not, the title came first. It’s unusual for me to start with a title, but this one gave me so much material to work with (A curse! A dead man! A diamond!) that the rest of the story unfolded naturally from there.
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
This book was heavily inspired by my childhood in Florida – which is an interesting place, to say the least! Not only is the landscape wild and untamed, but it’s full of interesting characters. In fact, there’s a town in Central Florida called Cassadega that is known as the Psychic Capital of the World, which was the inspiration for the fictional town of Casaluna. All I had to do was add the ghosts!
YABC: If you could only write one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I’d write mysteries. I typically write across genres (sci-fi, fantasy, ghost stories), but ultimately, I find that there’s a mystery at the heart of each book. I love planting clues for readers to find, adding a few sneaky red herrings, and wrapping it all up with a surprising and satisfying reveal.
YABC: What can readers expect to find in your books?
I’m a sucker for a good plot twist. My favorite moment as a reader is when a story makes me gasp out loud – the moment I never saw coming, but which makes the entire plot suddenly click into place. If I can recreate that for my own readers, I have succeeded.
YABC: Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?
Great question, and I’ll try to answer it without spoilers! There’s a scene toward the end of the book in which the main character, Charlie, reveals something she feels guilty about. Ada, the ghost who lives in her house, is dealing with guilt of her own, stemming from an incident that occurred during her life and is keeping her from “crossing over.” Even though the two characters can’t communicate in a traditional sense, they have a moment where they share their pain and console one another. It’s the most emotional scene in the book, and because of that, I wanted to make sure I got it just right.
YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?
Twizzlers all the way! They’re handheld, they don’t make a mess, and they’re very satisfying to gnaw on when I’m trying to work out a plot hole.
YABC: If you could time travel what would you want to see?
I’d travel to Liverpool, England in the early 1960s to see The Beatles play at The Cavern Club. It would be amazing to watch them perform before they became famous, knowing what was to come.
YABC: What other age group would you consider writing for?
I recently drafted a mystery novel for adults, which I had a blast writing it. I’d definitely be open to writing another story for adults if the inspiration strikes.
YABC: What daily thing do you see that brings you joy?
My daughter. She just turned 10 years old – exactly the same age as my readers. She reminds me every day how exhilarating, challenging, and often scary it is to be a kid, which is one of the reasons I love writing books for that age group.
YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?
I watch comfort movies (such as The Devil Wears Prada, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Knives Out, and the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice), do the New York Times crossword puzzle, and work on jigsaw puzzles. I am a grandma at heart!
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
I recently loved The Fairfleet Affair by K.H. Saxton, a twisty mystery about two friends searching for a missing billionaire. The book takes place on a university campus, so the clues lead the young sleuths into the worlds of art, history, and theater. It’s the perfect backdrop for a compelling mystery.
YABC: What is your favorite writing space or routine?
My favorite writing routine is doing writing sprints with my two closest writer friends. We start by sharing our goals and hyping each other up. Then we write without distractions for a set amount of time (usually 30-40 minutes). Then we reconvene to discuss the progress we made. Finally, we do it all over again! It provides the perfect mix of writing time and community.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I have a new middle-grade book releasing next year. I can’t share much information yet – publishing loves to keep its secrets – but I can say that it’s a cozy mystery with a fun, feisty main character. Think Knives Out, but for kids.
Title: The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond
Author: Christyne Morrell
Release Date: Sept 17, 2024
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery/Supernatural
Age Range: 10-12 years
