The Ghost Light Page 13
My love for both drama and abandoned buildings started young. My mother worked as an actress, and her theater troupe was one of the first to rent out practice space in an abandoned high school that was being converted to an arts center. I owe her, as well as the Maryland Hall Story Theater, a debt of gratitude for letting me tag along to rehearsals, where I learned so much about acting and directing and urban exploring.
Life as a working writer continues to challenge and excite, and I am ever appreciative of all of you who tenderly cheer us on. Brava to my peerless agent, Erin Murphy, who sets a standard of integrity and kindness that regularly leaves me in awe. She also does a masterful job of attracting an exceptional gaggle of writers that it is a blessing to know. I adore each and every one of you in my EMLA family, but I especially want to thank Elly Swartz, Jason Gallaher, Jennifer Ziegler and Chris Barton, Debbie Michiko Florence, Lori Snyder, Christina Uss, Anna Redding, Ann Braden, Hayley Barrett, and Maria Gianferrari for your incredible warmth and generosity as I muddled my way through my debut. And the longer I work with Imprint, the more I delight that this series has found a home here. A standing ovation for Erin Stein and Nicole Otto; it is a dream to collaborate with you, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your thoughtful shepherding of this series, and of me. Much applause also for Rayanne Vieira, Natalie C. Sousa, Kelsey Marrujo, and the whole Imprint and MacKids team.
Heartfelt thanks to Monstrously Good Middle Grade and all my fellow spooky authors for making horror so much fun. My continued gratitude to Jarrett Lerner, Corrina Allen, and all the folks at MG Book Village for continuing to champion the books our middle graders need. So many roses flung onstage to #bookexpedition, #bookvoyage, #collabookation, and all the other ARC-sharing groups for sharing, loving, and promoting books and literacy. Educators like Erin Varley, Susan Sullivan, Rosy Burke, Jason Lewis, Michele Knott, Kristen Picone, Andrea Childes, Rebecca Reynolds, Patrick Andrus, Miss Nikki, and all the folks at nErDCamp keep authors inspired and remind us why we write. Foot-stomping hoots and hollers for independent bookstores like Red Balloon and Tattered Cover, who make every author feel welcome and loved. I am also grateful to Barnes & Noble for all the support it has given to me and this series.
And finally, I’d like to thank my treasured friends and family for keeping the ghost light burning for me near and far, with cameo appearances by Jane Leo, Rebecca Anderson, Mary Jo Scott, the HYDIAS crew, Julie Maigret, Kathi Chandler-Payatt, Brenda Winter Hansen, Sarah Azibo, and Kevin Maher. And to my forever costar, Eddie Gamarra, and our ensemble cast of dogs, the spotlight of my heart shines always on your cherished faces. Beloved, beloved, beloved ones, I thank you.
About the Author
KAT SHEPHERD loves to create fast-paced adventure stories that are likely to engage reluctant readers because she wholeheartedly believes that reading should be a joyful experience for every child.
A former classroom teacher, Kat has also spent various points in her life working as a deli waitress, a Hollywood script reader, and a dog trainer for film and TV. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, two dogs, and a rotating series of foster dogs. Babysitting Nightmares is her first middle grade series.
Visit her online at katshepherd.com, or sign up for email updates here.
babysittingnightmares.com
About the Illustrator
Rayanne Vieira is a children's book illustrator who also works on visual development for short films and TV shows. She has illustrated such books as Babysitting Nightmares: The Phantom Hour, Babysitting Nightmares: The Shadow Hand, and The Nice Monster Under My Bed. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author and Illustrator
Copyright
Text copyright © 2019 by Katrina Knudson. Illustrations copyright © 2019 by Imprint.
A part of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC
120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271
mackids.com
All rights reserved.
Think you’ll steal this book, my friend?
Heed this warning: Think again!
Those who kidnap books, it seems,
Never live to reach their dreams,
But disappear, like Vivien Vane—
Never seen or heard again.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018955722
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
Imprint logo designed by Amanda Spielman
Illustrated by Rayanne Vieira
First hardcover edition, 2019
eBook edition, August 2019
eISBN 9781250157027