KATYA BALEN’S new book Ghostlines is a sea-soaked story of friendship, community and discovering what it means to carry home in your heart.
To celebrate the book’s release, we caught up with Katya to talk about the inspiration behind her novel, her characters, and the importance of community.
What inspired Ghostlines?
I went on a beautiful holiday to a little Scottish island called Islay. I fell in love with the landscape, the people, the way of life. I knew I had to set a book somewhere like there!
How did you come up with the Island of Ayrie?
I visited a few more tiny islands and pushed together their different landscapes. I wanted to give it a name that was made up but that also could be pulled from languages of the past. Ayrie feels like it could be a version of Eyrie, which means nest. That felt perfect for a story about what home means to different people.
What can you tell us about Albie and Tilda?
Tilda is a true nature girl. She loves the freedom the island gives her. She loves knowing everyone, she loves sea-kayaking, she loves roaming the wild land with her dog. She thinks Ayrie is the most perfect place on earth. Albie moves from the mainland and he HATES it! He can’t believe that there’s no McDonald’s, no cinema, no football team. The isolation makes him feel very alone, even in the middle of such a close community.
Why is it important to Tilda to take Albie to the old island?
Tilda is determined to show Albie that her home and her life is brilliant. She is carrying a lot of guilt because of her relationship with her brother Rowan, who is no longer on the island. She feels like she let him down, and that she let her home down. She has the chance to prove herself again when Albie arrives.
Do you have a favourite scene in this book?
My favourite scene to write was right at the end, on the forbidden island. No spoilers but it’s wild and spooky and exciting! I also loved the little traditions of the island life – Burning Bright Nights and the Puffin Night too.
Why is community so important?
I think being part of something bigger than ourselves is what makes us human and what makes us bolder and braver and kinder and happier. Getting along with different people, learning to respect other people’s opinions, building something together that will be there long after we’re gone? That’s what life is all about.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katya Balen is an award-winning author of books for children. Her debut novel, The Space We’re In, was highly commended for the Branford Boase Award, October, October won the Yoto Carnegie Medal and the UKLA Book Award, and The Light in Everything was shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal. When she’s not writing books, Katya likes to scroll through dog-rescue websites, bake and attempt to keep her house plants alive. She lives in London with her partner and their dog.
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