What is the title of your latest release?
A SPELL TO WAKE THE DEAD
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
One moonlit night, two best friends find a body washed up on a beach, missing its hands and teeth. They decide to investigate, using witchcraft to contact the spirit of the dead woman … and end up in way over their heads.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I grew up on Cape Cod, and it’s an interesting place because for three months of the year, it transforms into a vacation paradise, but for the rest of the year, it’s just a normal place where regular people live. I wanted to show that side of the Cape, and especially the darker, windier, emptier vibe that you get in the fall and winter.
Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Absolutely! I’d love to go shopping with Mazzy and Nora at their local metaphysical store or go stargazing at the beach (but not do any spells there!).
What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Introspective, yearning, kind
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned that horseshoe crabs have ten legs! I’ve seen so many of them in my life, and for some reason I always thought they had eight and never bothered to count them.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit a little bit as I go, but I mostly try to get the words down (because I hate drafting) and then go back and worry about them later.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Very dark chocolate. It helps me write better.
Describe your writing space/office!
I usually work in my office, which is also the spare bedroom. When I write, I like to sit on the bed instead of at the desk to trick myself into thinking I’m not actually working.
Who is an author you admire?
I can’t name just one!! Here are some of my auto-buy authors, off the top of my head: V.E. Schwab, Tamsyn Muir, T. Kingfisher, Nova Ren Suma, Nghi Vo.
Is there a book that changed your life?
I’d venture to say that every book I’ve read has changed me in some way or another, and that’s the main reason why I love books so much.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
Because I’ve been working with my editor for three books now, the process was a little different from submitting a manuscript and then getting an official “call” and offer of publication. She and I talked about the concept and the overall structure of the book together, and she had some great ideas for how to improve it, so I reworked the outline and then she signed off on it and offered a book contract. So it’s maybe not as exciting and dramatic as it could be, but I really appreciate our working relationship.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Anything with magic or speculative elements, whether that’s straight fantasy or something more realistic with fantastical or sci-fi elements. But I read pretty much all genres, and often multiple books in multiple genres at the same time.
What’s your favorite movie?
Amelie remains my favorite movie of all time. I identify so hard with the main character, who wants to connect with and help people, despite being a giant introvert with social anxiety.
What is your favorite season?
I feel like this is such a basic answer, but fall is my favorite. I’m not a huge fan of summer heat, and fall is always such a relief when it cools off. Plus, it’s a gorgeous time of year where I live in New England.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I don’t love celebrating my birthdays in a big way, because the idea of a party where I am the center of attention is overwhelming. I’d rather do something low-key like a day trip or dinner with a small group of friends/family.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I recently finished the second season of Severance and adored it. It’s so weird and unique, and I love not having all the answers and having lots of questions to puzzle over.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I like all kinds of different foods, and I will try just about anything, especially when I’m traveling. On a research trip to Svalbard for my one of my earlier books, I tried whale (not my favorite) and reindeer.
What do you do when you have free time?
I love to knit because it gets me off the internet and gives me something to do with my hands when I’m feeling antsy. Plus, I end up with lots of cute, knitted things to wear afterwards or gift to people.
What can readers expect from you next?
I’m working on a couple of different projects, and I can’t share too many details about them yet, but they are strange and magical/speculative, in keeping with my usual themes.
A SPELL TO WAKE THE DEAD by Nicole Lesperance
Two teen girls must uncover the dark, occult secrets lurking in their Cape Cod town to solve a series of murders—and save themselves from the same fate—in this twisty, witchy thriller.
When Mazzy and her best friend Nora sneak down to the beach one moonlit night to cast a spell, they don’t expect to find a dead body. But as the tide rolls in, it carries the remains of a woman who is missing her hands and teeth.
The girls know they should leave the investigation to the police, but they can’t shake the weird, supernatural connection they feel with the dead woman. Using spellwork and divination, they set out to find answers of their own. But after they uncover a rash of local disappearances stretching back years—and both girls start having occult visions and hearing ghostly, whispering voices—Mazzy worries that she and Nora are in danger.
Then, Nora finds a second body. And the whispering voice is telling her where to find more. With everything spiraling, Mazzy needs to figure out who to trust and how to sever this supernatural connection—or she and Nora might be the next bodies to wash up on the beach.
Young Adult Fantasy | Young Adult Paranormal [G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, On Sale: August 26, 2025, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593856338 / eISBN: 9780593856345]
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About Nicole Lesperance
Nicole grew up on Cape Cod and graduated from Wesleyan University. She spent a few years in London and now lives near Boston with her husband, two kids, and two rambunctious black cats. She writes young adult and middle grade books. In her spare time, she likes to practice yoga, knit, and read tarot cards.
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