Adi Rule

Ghost Chickens

Omelet from the Other Side

Illustrated by Joelle Dreidemy

Coming September 1, 2026 from Tundra Books!

Eleven-year-old aspiring journalist Florence Fortescue did NOT want to move to the country, leaving her best friend and city life behind.

To make matters worse, Florence is shocked to discover a Minions-esque flock of ghost chickens running amok all over her new house — and her parents are oblivious! Clearly, Mom and Dad need to take their precious daughter back to the city RIGHT NOW. If only she could convince them . . .

Using her journalistic skills, Florence cooks up a sizzling exposé in her homemade newspaper: TERROR IN THE HAUNTED COOP! But when that plan fails, Florence has to enlist the help of her weird new neighbor, two bizarre dogs and maybe even the ghost chickens themselves!

Behind the Bawk Bawk

This is a story about chickens. We have chickens. I love chickens. Also, we don’t eat them. They are pets. I don’t eat my cats, either, although I’m sure my cats would eat me given half a chance.

I read a lot as a kid. Two authors/series that were absolutely formative to me as a writer are the Bunnicula books by James Howe (the first by James and Deborah Howe) and everything Roald Dahl ever wrote. While these influences will always be part of my work, I consider Nell and the Netherbeast my homage to Bunnicula and the Ghost Chickens books my homage to Roald Dahl. (Italics! All caps! Exclamation points! Made-up words!)

You can imagine my absolute joy when Joelle Dreidemy signed on to illustrate Ghost Chickens! Her style is delightful and hilarious, and it feels like Dahl’s longtime illustrator Quentin Blake must have been one of her influences. (I should ask her. She’s really cool. She’s in a band and stuff. I’m kind of intimidated.) Anyway. I couldn’t be prouder of this weird little book, and it’s been such a treat working with Joelle and my editor Peter and all the lovely folks over at Tundra Books.

Here are some pictures of my chickens!