BRIGID MARTIN
With a nearly decade-long career spent working in the publishing world, Brigid Martin has brought a great many books into the world. Now, her middle grade novel, Totally Psychic (Inkyard Press, Aug.), which she wrote in collaboration with Cake Creative, marks her own debut as an author.
In the kickoff to a planned series, Paloma Ferrer, a Cuban American tween and medium, grapples with complicated friendships, family dynamics, and a few ghosts. Paloma isn’t the first psychic in her family—it’s a gift that has been passed down for generations. Paloma aspires to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps by becoming a psychic medium for celebrities and others seeking guidance from beyond.
When Paloma, her parents, and her tattletale little sister relocate from Miami to Los Angeles, she sees her golden opportunity to share her insights with the world. With her undeniable talents, a can-do attitude, and an entrepreneurial spirit in tow, she feels poised for success. And when she begins hosting weekly séances at her new school, her popularity soars. Everything starts out so well: what could possibly go wrong? Ultimately, Paloma learns that her talents as a medium can’t necessarily solve all of her problems—and those ghosts are starting to get out of hand.
In addition to its loveable, relatable protagonist who finds herself in a little over her head, Totally Psychic will appeal to readers with an interest in psychic phenomenon, mediumship, and the paranormal. Martin hopes that Totally Psychic is just as fun to read as it was to write. “I had a wonderful time being able to draw from my own experiences with ghosts as well as family ghost stories that used to keep me awake late into the night,” she says. “I also did a ton of research about famous psychic mediums across the decades and was inspired by a lot of those stories as well. Totally Psychic is basically my love letter to the afterlife.”
Martin will be in conversation with Alan Smagler, v-p of trade sales at Scholastic, on Wednesday, May 24, 3:50–4:10 p.m.