Megan Crewe dropped in to answer a few questions the other day. Read on to find out more about her book, Give Up the Ghost.
Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
Creative, thoughtful, determined, practical, curious, Canadian.
How did you come up with the idea for Give up the Ghost?
It just popped into my head one night as I was trying to get to sleep: the image of a teenaged girl talking to her sister, who was a ghost, as if it was a totally normal thing. I had to figure out why she was so at ease with ghosts, and where that might lead.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing the book?
Cass’s voice. I had to stay true to her sarcastic, distrustful self, while still giving readers enough sense of her vulnerabilities that she’d stay sympathetic. It was a difficult balance.
Did you learn anything about yourself through your characters?
I think I learned to keep an eye on myself for being too critical of others. While Cass’s personality is pretty extreme, I definitely drew on my own when creating it, and seeing her mistakes made me think of where I might make some of my own.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of getting your book published?
Definitely getting to talk to people (especially teens!) who’ve read the book and enjoyed it. It’s so amazing knowing that my story is sticking with people.
Who are some of your favorite authors and what books inspired you to become a writer?
I’m not sure any specific books inspired me to become a writer–I’ve been making up stories for as long as I remember, so it just seems to come naturally to me. Some of my favorite authors in the kids and young adult world are Roald Dahl, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Megan Whalen Turner, E. Lockhart, and Shannon Hale.
What can we look forward to from you next?
I can’t say for sure, but it will definitely involve some sort of speculative element, and definitely be young adult. 
Thanks for the interview!
Thank you, Megan, for taking the time to chat with us!
Wow, Megan’s pretty cool, huh? I thought she did a great job of making a difficult character sympathetic, and if you haven’t read Give Up the Ghost yet, give it a try! It’s available in bookstores now.
