Interview & Giveaway: Megan Crewe, author of Give Up the Ghost

Megan Crewe
Taken from: Megan Crewe's Website

Author Interview with Megan Crewe

I want to start off by giving a big thank you to Megan for agreeing to this interview. I really enjoyed this novel (you can see my review here) and was something I wanted to share with everyone so at the bottom of this post will be information about the giveaway. So, now on to the good stuff!

1. How did you come up with the concept of Give Up The Ghost?

The idea just popped into my head-- the image of a girl hanging out with her ghostly sister like it was a totally normal thing. I wanted to figure out why she'd be so comfortable with ghosts, and what might have come out of her friendship with them, the story developed from there.

2. One of my favorite aspects about your novel were your wonderful characters. Did you have one or two that you were particularly fond of?

Well, obviously I love Cass, as prickly as she is, and that's why I wanted to tell her story. She's been through a lot and had to deal with some pretty bizarre situations, and it was fascination exploring how that had affected her.


Even though he doesn't play a huge role in the book, I'm also very fond of Norris, Cass's main  ghostly accomplice/confidant at her school. I think he's got quite a story in him.


I have to agree. Norris was one of my favorites too and I was interested to hear his back story about his father which was only hinted at.

3. If you could go back and re-write this novel in any other character's perspective, who would you choose and why?

You know, I really wouldn't, because it's very much Cass's story and about her re-evaluating everything she's assumed to be true about her life and the people in it. But if I was going to try it out just for fun, I'd probably see how Tim's point of view would come out. I have a pretty good idea what's going on in his head throughout the book, but it'd be interesting to see how that would play out if I let him take over for a bit. :)


4. In your novel, one of the hardest (and best) parts to read for me was when Cass admits to Time that she is wrong. What was the hardest scene for you to write?

Oh, I loved writing that scene! It was very emotional to write, because it's so hard for Cass, but at the same time I knew how much it needed to happen.


The hardest scene for *me* (SPOILER ALERT) was probably the scene where Tim's mother's ghost disappears. Cass is struggling with so many conflicting emotions at that point, I had to take a lot of time to think through what she would do and say to make sure it felt true to her.

5. Did anything get cut during the editing process that you wish had stayed in? And did anything get added that you're particularly fond of?

I think everything that was cut made the story stronger, but I was a little sad to lose one of the ghosts. There was a little girl ghost in old fashioned clothing who'd sit by the steps to the school and hum to herself all the time, despite Cass's attempts to reach out to her. But my editor and I agreed that it'd be better to focus on fewer ghosts (there was another school ghost who got cut as well).


At some point during the editing process (I can't remember any more whether it was with my agent or with my editor), I fleshed out the scene where Cass and her mom finally have a real talk toward the end of the book. Originally it was just a couple of lines of summary. I'm really glad I did because I think that needed to be shown.

6. In Give Up The Ghost, Cass had the ability to see and speak to ghosts. If you had the same ability, who would you want to speak to (granted they were still around)?

I'd probably want to talk to my maternal grandfather. He was always my "favorite" grandparent when I was a kid, great sense of humor and easy to talk to, but at that age I didn't take advantage of that and really get to know him. He passed away when I was in junior high, so I didn't end up getting the chance when I was old enough to want to.

7. Do you have a favorite place to write? Is there anything essential to your writing process that you have to have?

I love to write outside in a peaceful setting-- every year my critique group heads off to a cottage in the forest to write for a few days, and that's the best. In the city, I have a special "writing chair" in my office where I sit with my laptop, next to a whiteboard I've hung from one set of bookshelves for jotting down book notes on. Just sitting there gets me into the writing headspace.


My needs are pretty simple. I have to have a notebook (I love the 5-subject, 8"x5" Hilorys) to get down ideas, expand them, and outline. For some reason I brainstorm best with pen and paper, and the notebook makes sure it all stay in one place. And once I'm writing, I need a laptop. I find it really difficult to do anything more than line edits on the desktop computer. I'm not entirely sure why; maybe because I do so many other things on my desktop whereas the laptop is almost completely reserved for writing, so the association's gotten stuck in my head.

8. Do you write with music on? If so, is there one song or band that you feel represents Give Up The Ghost for you?

I prefer to write in silence, but I use a lot of music for brainstorming and inspiration. All of my books have an iTunes playlist. You can find the "soundtrack" for GHOST on my website (Give Up The Ghost soundtrack). The book's theme song, to me, is "Trouble" by Lisa Germano, which I think represents Cass's emotional conflict really well.

9.  Are you working on anything new currently?

Always! I'm about to start revisions with my editor for my second published book (which will be with Disney-Hyperion), a contemporary dystopian YA currently titled  THE WAY WE FALL. I've also been brainstorming for the sequel to that book, and I just finished the first draft of another YA novel that my critique partners are looking at right now.


Thanks for the interview!


I'm looking forward to reading more of Megan Crewe's books.



Give Up The Ghost Giveaway!

I will be giving away 1 copy of Give Up The Ghost. The winner will contact me via e-mail and I will order a brand new copy off Amazon.com to be sent directly to their house!

Rules:

• This giveaway is only open to US residents/addresses only. (I'm sorry international followers but 100 Follower Giveaway will be open to you I believe)
• Open to only 13 years or older
• All you have to do is a leave a comment with your email address at the bottom of the page
• I'll choose a winner out of a hat (with pictures to prove and a witness) 'cuz I'm old school like that!
• If you spread the word, please let me know in the comment (and link it) and I'll add another entry for each shout out!
• This contest will end September 17th!

Good luck to everyone and thanks for entering!

This giveaway is now CLOSED!