This is my first time participating in Susanna Leonard Hill’s Halloweensie Writing Contest. This year’s participants had to write a Halloween themed story of 100 words or less that included the words tip-toe, goblin, and chill. I enjoy writing contests, not only because I get to exercise my creative muscles but also because I get to read all of the other incredible stories written by the talented members of the kidlit community. I hope you enjoy reading my story.
The Goblin Princess
by Patricia Brown
100 words
The moon rose on Halloween night,
and chills ran down Gabi’s spine.
She was going trick-or-treating!
Her green ears pointed up from under her crown
as she gazed into the mirror.
She was a boo-tiful princess!
The other goblins would be green with envy.
Gabi loved playing pranks,
but turning humans’ knees to jelly wasn’t her jam.
Welcome Shachi and Happy Diwali! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey. I can’t wait to hear all about your book, and how it came about.
Me: How long have you been writing?
Shachi: My writing journey began in 2018, and I took my first writing class at the Writing Barn in Austin in January 2019. I’ve been a dedicated student there ever since, and I can confidently say that joining the Writing Barn was a game-changer for me. Investing in their classes and courses has not only sharpened my writing skills but also deepened my understanding of the craft.
Me: What or who inspired you to write this book?
Shachi: My inspiration for writing Diwali in My New Home came from my experiences at the Round Rock Public Library, where I hosted bilingual storytime for children. Each year, the library organized a Diwali celebration that quickly became a highlight of the community calendar. The joy and excitement on the children’s faces as they learned about the festival sparked a desire in me to write this book. I wanted to share the magic of Diwali, the festival of lights, with those who might not be familiar with it, creating a bridge of understanding and celebration.
Me: Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication, were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.
Shachi: This book has had its share of rejections. Each rejection felt like a door closing, and I took each one to heart. Eventually, I learned that rejection is a part of the process. After several setbacks, I realized I needed a fresh approach—almost like rebranding a business. So, I rebranded my book,and changed the title from Diwali Away from Home to Diwali in My New Home. This change transformed the entire tone, shifting it from feeling lonely to feeling more welcoming. It was my aha moment, and the title change marked a turning point for both me and my book.
Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?
Shachi: Stay persistent and keep writing. Surround yourself with supportive fellow writers, take feedback, and invest in your craft. And as Wayne Dyer said, ‘Don’t die with the music still in you.’
Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.
Shachi: Looking ahead, I plan to keep writing and exploring new story ideas—there’s always something new to bring to the page! I’d also love to travel more and experience different cultures, as they’re a huge source of inspiration for me.
Me: Traveling sounds wonderful, and writing is a great excuse to visit new, exciting places. I’d love for you to share a recipe with me. I have a collection of recipes from friends and family that goes back many years. I would love to include yours, as well as share it with my readers.
Shachi: No holiday is complete without a sweet treat, and for Diwali, it’s all about laddoos! Pronounced “la-doos,” these are small, flavorful delights that bring a taste of tradition to the celebration. My favorites are chickpea (besan) laddoos —they’re gluten-free!
Chickpea Laddoo Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups chickpea flour (besan)
1 cup clarified butter (ghee)
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
A handful of chopped nuts (like cashews or almonds)
Raisins for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
In a non-stick pan on low heat, add the clarified butter, letting it melt slowly.
Add the chickpea flour, stirring continuously to prevent it from burning. (Prepare for an arm workout here!)
Roast the chickpea flour for about 10-15 minutes, until it turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma. The mixture will also thicken and become crumbly.
Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
Add the powdered sugar and cardamom powder, mixing well. (Feel free to adjust the sugar to taste.)
Add nuts if desired or skip them if preferred.
Let it cool a bit more until you can handle it, then grease your hands with a little clarified butter to prevent sticking.
Shape the mixture into small, round laddoos, making them as big or small as you like.
Garnish each laddoo with a raisin or a piece of nut if desired and allow them to cool completely—they’ll firm up as they set.
(Note: Adjust the sugar and nuts as you like.)
Enjoy this sweet treat, and Happy Diwali!
Thanks so much for your time, it’s always fun getting to know writing friends, I hope you have a wonderful day, and Happy Diwali!
Shachi Kaushik is a writer and storyteller in the children’s media industry. She creates content that is both entertaining and educational for young audiences. With experience contributing to popular animated series on the production side, Shachi is also the author of Diwali In My New Home. Her work inspires young readers to embrace new cultures and experiences through stories.
I’m so excited that we will be celebrating Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos with Stephanie Wildman, one of the authors of Ghost Writer, along with Cecilia Populus-Eudave and illustrated by Estefania Razo from Lawley Publishing. (also available in Spanish as Escritor Fantasma)
Me: Welcome Stephanie and thank you for taking the time to chat with me about your writing journey. As we begin to enjoy the cooler fall weather, thoughts of Halloween, pumpkins, and goblins enter my mind. I always enjoy a good Halloween story, especially one that shares traditions with us. I can’t wait to hear more about this story and how it came about. Speaking of the Halloween season, do you have a favorite season? Is it Fall?
Stephanie: While fall would be a better answer for this post and for the sake of the book, I confess spring is my favorite season because that’s when my birthday occurs. But my half-birthday is in October, and I celebrate that too!
Stephanie Wildman
Cecilia Populus-Eudave
Estefania Razo
Me: How long have you been writing?
Stephanie: I did create a pen name for myself in fourth grade, so it’s fair to say I’ve always wanted to be a writer. And I wrote a lot in my day job as a law professor – books, articles, op-eds. But I didn’t start writing for children until 2018, when I took a class from Maxine Rose Schur.
Me: What or who inspired you to write this book?
Stephanie: Several inspirations came together to create Ghost Writer. The initial idea came from my grandson asking me repeatedly over months, “Grandma, did you know Julio died?” Julio was their beloved Boston Terrier, and I knew he was trying to process his sadness and the death itself. At the same time, I was working with illustrator Estefania Razo on the second Flor, Roberto, and Luis story – Breath by Breath. I love Estefania’s artwork, and I thought what fun it would be for her to illustrate a story about Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. I interviewed her about her own family customs. I also interviewed Cecilia Populus-Eudave, who has been the Spanish translator for the series about how her family celebrated Dia de los Muertos, and that’s how we became co-authors in telling the story.
Me: Tell me a little bit about this book’s journey to publication, were there any bumps and bruises along the way, obstacles you had to overcome, aha-moments? You can share the good, bad, ugly lol, or not.
Stephanie: The publication journey was smooth, because Ghost Writer is the third book in a series – so we had all worked with the team at Lawley Publishing before. But a wonderful aha moment came when Kid Lit author and blogger/podcaster Gina Soldano interviewed me. One of the headings on her website said Ghost Writer and that’s how this book found its title!
Me: What is one piece of advice you can give to writers who are just starting out, or who are still in the query trenches?
Stephanie: I always beat the drum about rejections. I think many writers get devastated by bad news, but honestly, there are so many opportunities for rejection in this business – not just from agents and publishers, but from bloggers who don’t want to interview you or bookstores who won’t carry the book. So I urge writers to embrace the rejection – it means you are out there doing what you love – being a writer.
Me: What are your plans for the future? Writing or otherwise, traveling, hobbies, etc.
Stephanie: I’m happy to share that another Flor, Roberto, and Luis book is in the works. It’s coming on October 14, 2025, and is titled Story Power! and the co-author is my grandson Simon Wildman-Chung (because the book was his idea). And I have another book coming out in November – Miri’s Moving Day, coauthored with Adam Ryan Chang and illustrated by Dream Chen from Kar-Ben Publishing. Maybe next time you interview me, we will talk about co-authoring.
Me: Yes, that sounds like a plan! I love that your grandson is a co-author of a book with you; I’m looking forward to hearing all about that. I’d love for you to share a recipe with me. I have a collection of recipes from friends and family that goes back many years. I would love to include yours, as well as share it with my readers.
Stephanie: I’m happy to share my chicken soup recipe, which combines my grandmother’s recipe with a NY times recipe.
Not My Grandmother’s Chicken Soup
(Although my grandmother Lena Sokol did tell me she put beef short ribs in her chicken soup.)
Place in a large pot & barely cover with water (I have a little of the chicken not covered in water):
1 3 ½ to 4 ½ lb. chicken (whole) – (take any chunks of fat out of body cavity opening &include all inner parts, if available)
1.5 lbs. beef short ribs (optional if prefer no beef)
1/2 tsp. sea salt
bunch of cilantro (washed and tied with string)
1tbsp. dried oregano
1 large yellow onion, chopped
Before adding water, season with pepper, paprika, and turmeric – a few healthy shakes of each
Cook for 1 to 1 ½ hours until chicken is done. Remove chicken and parts, ribs, and cilantro with string.
Add to the pot and bring back to a boil before lowering heat to simmer:
handful of diced ginger
1 large yam (peeled and cut)
8-10 small red potatoes (cut in half)
2 – 3 ears of corn — broken into halves or thirds
cubed Butternut squash (I use about 3-4 cups, often sold pre-cut)
1-2 jalapeno chili(s) – seeds removed and diced
After another ½ hour to 1 hour stir and add to the pot:
2-3 large tomatoes – chopped
2-3 zucchini, cubed
Return diced chicken (I don’t use the innards, except the liver) and beef to the pot and let simmer for at least ½ hour, but the soup is very forgiving as to how long.
About 15 minutes before serving stir and add 1 bag of washed spinach to the pot. Stir again before serving.
Me: Thanks for taking time to chat with me during this spooky Halloween season. It’s always fun getting to know writing friends! I look forward to interviewing you again, and, I plan on making your chicken soup recipe, I like that it has a little ginger in it to spice it up.
Pat Brown Books 