October 15, 2020 8:00 am
It’s almost time to dress in costume and eat tons of candy! (No, not Tuesday!)
Halloween!
There are spooky stories about monsters, ghosts and goblins, even pale green pants with nobody inside them…but when have you ever seen a haunted Halloween tale about a HOUSE?
Sure, there’s plenty of movies and books that make you scream DON’T GO IN THERE! But there’s never been one where the house itself was the main character. This story by Marcus Ewert puts a unique twist on the haunting trope.
And the vibrant illustrations by Susie Ghahremani are like nothing you’ve ever seen. How did she make a mix of sweet and spooky work together? I asked her!
The main character Clarissa is an (unfortunately) cheerful pink house—and I wanted to be sure that her “world” felt colorful and friendly to contrast the muted, darker worlds of her scary parents, so there is some exaggerated color.
The color really pops! What’s your secret?
I painted the book on black boards so a little bit of black pokes through the paint, to hint at how inside she’s a little sinister—but it also allows the colors to really come forward and create contrast.
This book is *funny*, not scary, so I definitely wanted readers to be able to feel that from the moment they look at the images rather than to play up traditional Halloween motifs!
What other considerations did you have, besides color, in order to bring Clarissa to life?
Marcus (the author) gave me so many wonderful verbal details to work with, like her windows that “seemed to wink.”
I used to live in a pink house in New England that looked a lot like Clarissa, so I was able to draw from those memories— particularly the decorative trim and shingles!
I also use the tree on Clarissa’s side as an extension of her to assist her expressiveness.
I love that about the tree–it’s droopy and sad on one spread, all abloom on another.
Clarissa’s parents are a vampire’s castle and a witch’s hut–which is hilarious. Both are inherently creepy, but other creatures in the story, besides Clarissa, are adorable. How did you create such diverse characters but still keep the overall style of the book uniform?
There’s also a character that transitions for cute to truly monstrous! I tried to create characters that can express emotional range in general—animals that frolic sweetly but then become worried or monstrous; a mother who is tough and fearsome but also can be tender. Using the same materials and process visually unified them, but so does giving them a little emotional range, too. No character in the book stays one fixed way throughout! Even the vampire has a campy moment in a family photo!
This story’s charm comes not only from the illustrations, but the playful rhyme and a surprise character at the end.
When editors and agents say they want a story to truly stand out, SHE WANTED TO BE HAUNTED is what they mean.
Thanks, Susie, for introducing us to your new book.
Blog readers, we’re giving away a copy!
Leave one comment below to enter.
A random winner will be selected on Halloween.
Good luck!
Susie Ghahremani is an award-winning illustrator, an internationally exhibiting artist, a designer, and an educator. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design where she has also taught. She is the recipient of awards and honors from the SCBWI, American Illustration, the Society of Illustrators New York, and the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles, and has been profiled in several publications, including The New York Times. She served on the board of ICON the Illustration Conference. Ghahremani lives and creates art in San Diego, CA. Follow her on Instagram @boygirlparty.
Posted by Tara Lazar
Categories: Picture Books
Tags: Halloween, Halloween Books, Marcus Ewert, She Wanted to Be Haunted, Susie Ghahremani
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A new one for my list. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. The illustrations look awesome & it truly is a different twist.
By Valarie Giogas on October 15, 2020 at 8:06 am
Fabulous illustrations. Thanks for taking us on a fascinating tour ‘back stage’!
By Lucky Jo Boscarino on October 15, 2020 at 8:10 am
My brother’s birthday is Halloween… have deep deep memories
By marssha weiner on October 15, 2020 at 8:10 am
Such a cool way to do illustrations!
By authorlaurablog on October 15, 2020 at 8:12 am
It’s a gorgeous book. Just love it so much.
By Paulette on October 15, 2020 at 8:13 am
Oh my, how fun! I love the concept, and loved learning about your illustration choices to make the ideas pop!
By tanyakonerman on October 15, 2020 at 8:15 am
OH SO FUN and secrets revealed too, WOW. Way swell.
By topangamaria on October 15, 2020 at 8:19 am
This looks so cute. I love seeing the illustrator’s process even though I’m not an illustrator. Looking forward to reading. 👻
By kimberly marcus on October 15, 2020 at 8:19 am
This sounds so fun! I love this idea. Congratulations, Susie, on your new book!
By pathaap on October 15, 2020 at 8:25 am
Oh my gosh!! This is Adorable!!! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of it!!!
By Tracy Hora on October 15, 2020 at 8:27 am
Such vibrant illustrations! Halloween is my favorite holiday (I was even in the NYC Village Parade) so I must add a copy to my collection:-)
By Nancy Furstinger on October 15, 2020 at 8:37 am
I love that you made a scary, but not too scary book for little ones! I know it was a hard thing to do, but kids love to be scared, and parents love for them to sleep 🙂
By Joan Swanson on October 15, 2020 at 8:45 am
I love the illustrations and the surprise at the end. What a fun book.
By readmybook2002 on October 15, 2020 at 8:50 am
What a fun and exciting book. Right up my haunted alley! Best of luck to you with this!
By Lynne Marie on October 15, 2020 at 9:09 am
Clarissa is darling. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.
By Mary Worley on October 15, 2020 at 10:06 am
Love these illustrations. Especially your mc. Great idea to use the black paper for a Halloween book. Can’t wait to read this. Congrats!
Debbie Lodato
By deblod on October 15, 2020 at 10:10 am
This looks like such a fun book! Just put it on hold at the library and am looking forward to reading this.
By Cheryl Johnson on October 15, 2020 at 10:12 am
So creative! I love it!!
By Lisa Riddiough on October 15, 2020 at 10:21 am
The art is wonderful! I love the expressions of the houses. This will be perfect for my young grandkids who love Halloween, but don’t like scary!
By Carol Gwin Nelson on October 15, 2020 at 10:24 am
This is a clever concept. Looking forward to reading it.
By Ashley Congdon (@AshleyCCongdon) on October 15, 2020 at 10:47 am
Now I am doubly excited that I signed up for your Patreon, and nabbed your last Chum tier.
I love seeing other illustrators process pictures.
By Kassy on October 15, 2020 at 11:21 am
There’s a semi-famous abandoned pink house on the salt marshes in Newbury MA near me…I bet she would like to hear this story!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/plum-island-pink-house
By Cathy Ballou Mealey on October 15, 2020 at 11:23 am
This looks like a super cute book! I wasn’t scared a bit from the pics that were posted 🙂
By OutInACornField on October 15, 2020 at 11:43 am
What a clever concept! Can’t wait to read this one!
By Becky Scharnhorst on October 15, 2020 at 11:44 am
SO fun! Thanks for sharing! The illustrations are adorable!
By katiemillsgiorgio on October 15, 2020 at 12:00 pm
Like your style very much including the black background, the contrast with colors, emotions and range in both. Would love to read this book to my Grandson Oliver (4 years old) and to enjoy the story and illustrations myself.
By Harriet Stafford on October 15, 2020 at 12:45 pm
Tara, you’re the empress of kids’ books. I’ve gotten so much out of Storystorm (and PiBoIdMo before that!) for many many years now. I wasn’t doing an *official* Storystorm when the idea for SWTBH came to me (wring season!) but the *process* was EXACTLY the Tara Lazar Storystorm Way. No lie. Thank you for such lovely words about the book, and about the endlessly astounding Susie G.!!!
By marcusewert on October 15, 2020 at 12:48 pm
oooooooh….painting on black boards. What a great idea and I see the effect. What a beautiful book. And, my students are clamoring for funny. Thank you!
By Linda Mitchell on October 15, 2020 at 1:15 pm
How wonderful! Thank you for sharing these insights to your creative process.
By Paige on October 15, 2020 at 1:15 pm
I love this! How creative – both in the storyline and illustrations. Can’t wait to read and see all of your illustrations.
By jbbower on October 15, 2020 at 1:19 pm
Pick me! Pick me! My 9 four and five year olds would adore this. I would love to get this book as a freebie and not have to ‘haunt’ for it. Lol Great ideas for illustration…droopy tree when she’s sad…so inspiring. Great job.
By Jenny Harp on October 15, 2020 at 1:19 pm
Susie-your imagination and creativity are a delight! I can’t wait to read this book.
By chardixon47 on October 15, 2020 at 1:30 pm
This book looks so fun and adorable! My kids love slightly spooky books. Congratulations!
By Eileen Mayo on October 15, 2020 at 3:19 pm
Looks like such a fun, sweet and funny book. Love the family photos! LOL. Congrats to you!
By Sylvia Mary Grech on October 15, 2020 at 3:28 pm
How great, a Halloween story about a beautiful pink house!
By Elizabeth S Harris on October 15, 2020 at 4:26 pm
I have never heard of painting on blackboard! The colors and emotions really come through! I’m really looking forward to reading this! Congratulations, Susie!
By Judy Sobanski on October 15, 2020 at 5:43 pm
This looks like a super-fun book. I can’t wait to read it to my granddaughter.
By mywhateverblogsite on October 15, 2020 at 6:14 pm
Sweetly creepy and fun! Thank you for sharing your process and some hidden details! Can’t wait to see!
By Noelle McBride on October 15, 2020 at 6:19 pm
Love seeing your process Susie! The illustrations look great, so excited 🙂
By Michelle L on October 15, 2020 at 7:43 pm
Wow sooo impressive !
A pink house..my favorite color!
Can’t wait to read this tale!
Thanks again Tara! 🙂
By seschipper on October 15, 2020 at 8:03 pm
Love it! Happy Halloween. I’d love to win a copy!
By Elizabeth Janczyk on October 15, 2020 at 9:11 pm
SUPER, SUPER, CUTE!
By kathydoherty1 on October 15, 2020 at 11:02 pm
Ooohhh! Love this! What a fun twist on the traditional Halloween ghouls and ghosts! Love the creativity and the playful illustrations!
By Suzanne Lewis on October 16, 2020 at 4:34 am
How fun and original. And I always find it fascinating how illustrators add their own twists. So interesting about using a black background. Thanks for sharing!
By Natalie Rompella on October 16, 2020 at 10:45 am
What a unique and fun idea for a book. Susie, your illustrations are fantastic. Loved seeing your process using the black boards. Definitely want to add this book to my shelf!!
By marty on October 16, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Susie, your illustrations for this book are so unique and express the mood of the house and the story. I can hardly wait to read “She wanted to be Haunted,” by Marcus Ewert. Great post!
By betlw on October 16, 2020 at 8:32 pm
This looks like loads of spooky fun! Loved the use of painting on black boards.
By Deb Lund on October 16, 2020 at 10:03 pm
Interesting way to paint and can’t wait to read the story to go with it.
By Sheri Radovich on October 17, 2020 at 4:10 pm
She wanted to win this book!
By Laurel Santini on October 17, 2020 at 4:32 pm
Beautiful pictures!
By debbiearnn on October 17, 2020 at 4:39 pm
What fantastic illustrations! I love the pinks and blacks.
By Linda on October 17, 2020 at 6:49 pm
I adore personification! I can’t wait to get to know the happy little house.
By Jill Purtee on October 17, 2020 at 6:59 pm
Those illustrations!!!! Where has this book been all my life? Must. Have. A stand out indeed!
By mayihaveawordwithu on October 18, 2020 at 10:56 am
What a fabulous concept. This book sounds great!
By brittanypomales on October 18, 2020 at 4:57 pm
Congrats, Marcus and Susie! This looks adorable.
By Susan Johnston Taylor on October 18, 2020 at 8:28 pm
Can’t wait to share with my class. Fun book! Thank you.
By Elizabeth Saba on October 19, 2020 at 11:27 am
Beautiful colors in this book – The title really pulls you in
By Darlene Koppel on October 19, 2020 at 7:24 pm
Adorably clever and cute! Congrats! I love the saturated colors!
By Angie on October 21, 2020 at 10:24 am
This looks like sucha fun book and you look you had fun illustrating it.
By Barbara Senenman on October 21, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Such lovely colours in your illustrations, the story sound so much fun!
By JC on October 21, 2020 at 1:14 pm
Love the illustrations and such a cute story idea!
By moonlight&mist on October 21, 2020 at 3:30 pm
This looks like such a fun book! You did a great job on the illustrations!
By michele rietz on October 21, 2020 at 7:34 pm
What a beautiful book! My girls love Halloween books and these gorgeous colors and adorable illustrations just make it that much cuter.
By Trish Williams on October 23, 2020 at 1:43 pm
The house has so much character, you need to write a sequel with it as the MC! Can’t wait to read
By Meredith Fraser on October 24, 2020 at 5:05 pm
Finally a story about a pink house!
By srkckass on October 26, 2020 at 5:47 am
In the Pink. Love everything about this.
By Stephen S. Martin on November 2, 2020 at 7:16 pm