YA KidLit ALERT!
Emily Young
Welcome Readers!
Today, we have a VCFA graduate and debut author whose YA, coming out in the summer of 2026, was acquired by Kade Dishmon at Holiday House. I'm so excited about this book because I am a paranormal fan of any genre, but YA is so much fun for this type of read! So, look out for the title A (Dead) Thing Like Me and the preorder sales. It's got everything you want, including ghosts, Ouija board, and art!!
Once I saw this on her Instagram, I reached out for an interview, and I'm so glad I did! Emily is full of fun and excellent guidance for aspiring writers and anxious fans.
This is a great question! I learned dictation because I had to: my hypermobility disorder means that typing or even writing with a pen can sometimes be too painful. But then something unexpected happened. I realized that dictating – writing using my voice – actually improved my style.
I recommend that every writer learn
dictation for a few reasons.
First, health is never guaranteed; whether you’re dealing with something chronic like me or an acute injury like a sprained wrist, it’s empowering to know that you have the tools to keep writing. Second, your dictated dialogue will sparkle. Trust me. Third, dictating makes it way easier for your dog or cat to sit on your lap while you write. This is life-changing. (At least for the pets.)
What inspired you to write about a teenage ghost in love with life? Any personal experiences or favorite ghost stories? Have you ever seen a ghost?
Ooh. I love a ghost story. Do y’all have ghost stories? Send them to me please.
I have had one possible ghost encounter in my life: when I lived in an old apartment, I woke up one morning to find strange, backwards, scrambled letters carved into my wood countertop. To this day, I can’t decipher how they got there or what they meant. But I’m pretty sure that if a ghost left them, she was just trying to communicate.
It’s not her fault that
the method got a little spooky!
She didn’t have an iPhone, OK??
To me, this is why ghost stories are fascinating. They’re really about connection — the desire to reach someone else, even if we are in another dimension.
How did the height of the pandemic shape the themes and emotions in A (Dead) Thing Like Me?
In my debut YA novel, A (Dead) Thing Like Me, the protagonist is a teenage ghost in love with life (especially junk food, which is why her nickname is Hot Dog). I started writing her story during the height of the pandemic, when, let’s be real, it was pretty easy to relate to a ghost. I haunted my own house. I mourned my old life. And ultimately, while I grieved...
...I also cultivated a deep appreciation
for the everyday things that make life good.
Hot Dog and I have a lot in common. (Except I only eat vegan hot dogs, which would disappoint her.)
How did using voice dictation impact the voice and dialogue of your characters? Are there any surprising benefits or challenges?
When I first started dictating, I listened to soundtracks so I wouldn’t hear my own voice. (I do everything with dictation, including free writes and first drafts, so at first, I couldn’t stand hearing my imperfect words!)
Now, I actually like being able to hear myself speak the words as I’m writing them. It’s easier to feel the rhythm, and it can create a kind of spoken-word flow. Writing advice tells us that we should read our work aloud after we’ve written it. Dictating just gets to this step a little sooner 😊 But don’t push yourself to try this until you feel super comfortable with dictating. There’s nothing wrong with blasting that Hans Zimmer soundtrack in your ears!
Now that I dictate, I find my characters talk way more. And they have so many interesting things to say! Sometimes, I can get too into the voice acting, and my dictation app has no idea what I’m saying, so I have to curb my theatrical aspirations.
I recently was accepted into VCFA and am excited to dive into classes. How did your MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from The Vermont College of Fine Arts shape your approach to storytelling? What are the benefits of an MFA that you have found in the writing and publishing worlds?
Congratulations, this is so exciting! My time at VCFA transformed me as a writer — I learned so much about diving deep into my characters’ authentic emotions and finding the true heart of my stories. Plus, it’s a great community of fellow writers. I met some of my very best friends there.
If you want to meet author kindred spirits, I definitely recommend attending a program like Vermont College of Fine Arts’ Writing for Children and Young Adults. (Not every MFA program cultivates the supportive sense of community that VCFA does, so do your research.) But you can also sign up for a day or week-long writing class – in person or online – led by one of your favorite authors or hosted by your local arts program. I’ve met some incredible friends this way too!
Do you have any specific rituals or routines that help you get into the writing zone, especially given your hand disability? What about keeping healthy for the creative process? Do you have any suggestions for other writers?
Writing is, weirdly, a physical activity. This is strange for me to admit because I am not an athlete, but basically, typing is like asking your fingers and hands to run a marathon for you.
So treat your body like an athlete’s: warm up, take breaks, listen to pain signals, rest when you need to.
I hope this is what athletes do. I know nothing. I should never have embarked on this sports metaphor!
Now that I dictate, I take good care of my voice, too: I hydrate, do vocal exercises, take breaks, and even use a “vocal mist” to moisten my vocal cords.
I’m also extra careful about COVID, stay up-to-date with boosters, and wear a mask when cases are high. I feel lucky that so many members of the young adult writing world are supportive of these efforts and keeping our community safe!
How did you navigate the emotional journey of writing a story deeply tied to grief and healing?
Yes! The biggest thing for me is therapy. Books and therapy have always gone hand-in-hand for me — I actually learned that I have OCD because of the writer Maggie Steiefvater’s open discussions about her experiences with it. As a writer for young people, I also want to be an advocate for mental health.
If you’re reading this and struggling yourself right now, you can call the national 988 hotline. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7 to anyone in the U.S. You can also text "home" to 741741 to engage in a chat conversation.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to aspiring YA writers who are balancing personal challenges while pursuing their craft?
Hey, I’ve been there! For a while, I thought I would never be able to write again because of my hand disability. And then, when I first started using dictation, I thought I’d never master it. But I did! You’ll get through this challenge, too.
And if right now is too challenging for you to actively finish your novel, keep in mind that thinking about your story also counts as writing. Or listening to an audiobook that inspires you. Or writing in a journal for 10 minutes every day. Or just living your life and noticing things. You ARE a writer: your subconscious is going to be working things out and storing tidbits for future stories as you’re going about your everyday life.
You showcase your love of animals on your Instagram account. Would you tell us a bit about your pets and what's special about them?
My favorite question!
Fury Rose is my dog and a constant companion when I write (you can find her on my lap 90% of the time). She’s a Basenji, an ancient hunting hound that can’t bark (but they can make a series of bizarre noises, including a howl like a fire siren). When she’s not helping me write, she enjoys visiting her dog friends, learning new words, eating the occasional cucumber, and listening to A Bear Called Paddington by Stephen Fry.
Luna is my cat. Her self-appointed role is to sit on printed-out manuscript papers, possibly to ensure they have the right crinkle. She also likes playing peekaboo, doing midnight jump scares, and watching Thor zoom around in his red cape in Marvel movies.
You can usually find a strange and endearing animal in my novels. In A (Dead) Thing Like Me, you’ll meet Horse, a supernatural snake that wishes he was a (you guessed it) horse.
How did you connect with your agent? Why did you choose your agent, and what are your suggestions for aspiring authors querying right now?
Linda Camacho has been on my dream agent list for years. I actually met her doing an online workshop through Tin House — the same week I started Hot Dog’s story! Years later, I queried her (my friend is represented by her and connected us).
Linda is an amazing advocate, and I am so grateful.
But yeah… the whole query process can be grueling, so be kind to yourself and try to connect with fellow querying authors for mutual support!
How can my readers best support your writing journey? Which social media is the best place to find you? When is your book debuting, and how can readers purchase it?
Thank you for listening to me ramble about ghosts and pets and writing!! If you want more content along these lines, you can follow me on Instagram at @egyoungbooks. My website is https://egyoungbooks.com
A (Dead) Thing Like Me, my young adult paranormal fantasy, is scheduled to debut in Summer 2026 with Holiday House. I have an incredible editor, and I’m actually diving into edits now!
I can’t wait to share the
finished project with you!
Oh, and I can't wait to read this book!!! Readers...if you are looking for a new YA author to follow, Emily Young is ready to welcome you into her writing journey. She is fierce and kind! Just the type of writer I love.
Thank you, Emily, for being on Teazurs Blog. I am grateful that you shared about dictation. I've been thinking about writing like that for a while now, but I didn't quite know how to do it. Your advice is going to help me so much! Thank you.
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This blog is averaging thousands of views a month now, which at first made me think something must be wrong. People were reading, but in the hundreds...thousands made me gulp. But I'm keeping it real. There are no advertisements. Maybe it'll keep growing. Hope so, with your support.
I am your cheerleader and an aspiring novelist myself, so I'm on your team! I've interviewed great writers of all genres, newbie writers, seasoned writers, and some fantastic publishing experts.
Simple, fun, and joyful!
Reach out and Write~on,
Your Cheerleader,
Angie
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