From debut author Megan Paasch comes Dream to Me, a YA contemporary fantasy about generational magic, grief, and what it takes to forgive ourselves. Read on to learn more about Dream To Me, writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Megan! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! Thanks for having me! I’m the author of Dream to Me and an artist from the Pacific Northwest. I’m also a mom to two boys, and all three of us have ADHD, so I try to advocate for neurodiversity as much as I can online. I have a history degree from the University of Washington where I focused mainly on the Middle Ages up through the Tudor period and I love to travel. Oh, and I love, love, love cats. (Every witch needs cats, right?)
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
It had to be around second or third grade. My second grade teacher actually left in the middle of the year to become a traveling writing teacher for the entire school district. (Fortunately, she went back to teaching in a single classroom when I was in fifth grade, and I got to have her again!) My third grade teacher was also passionate about creative writing, and we had a project where we pre-wrote, drafted, edited, and illustrated our own stories. We then spiral bound them into our own little books. I still have mine, which, I’m sorry to say, was very much a rip-off of a Baby Sitter’s Club: Little Sisters book I had recently read.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I ever remember reading was, I think, Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary. The book that made me want to become an author was most definitely Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. And the one I can’t stop thinking about is…..hmm…..there are so many! I have to pick just one? I think most recently, it’s been A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura T. Namey. Thinking I’ll probably read it again before the follow up, A British Girl’s Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak comes out this September.
Your debut novel, Dream To Me, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Spooky, atmospheric, dark, swoony, hopeful.
What can readers expect?
Lots of creepy dreams, new friendships, family secrets, small town mysteries, quirky characters, creeky floorboards, teen angst, vintage music, X-Files jokes, and Twin Peaks-esque vibes.
Where did the inspiration for Dream To Me come from?
Several things ended up coming together as the inspiration for Dream to Me. I knew I wanted to write something that took place in a small town in Washington State that is similar to the one I live in (though the people in my town are much more friendly and welcoming than those in the book’s made-up town of Madrona). I’d also recently learned about a condition called aphantasia, which is the inability to form visual pictures in your mind, which fascinated me. I decided to explore it further and write a character who has the condition. I’ve also been interested in dreams for most of my life, and I’d always wanted to write a book where they were a crucial part of the plot. As for the book’s theme of grief and guilt, however—that came to be as a result of me processing my own grief after my dad passed away, which didn’t happen until after I’d written the first draft.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing Jolee, the owner of the antique shop. She’s so quirky and matter-of-fact with an eccentric, but fun sense of style and décor. She ends up being a huge help and source of support for Eva, but Eva finds her confusing and unpredictable. I also loved writing Eva’s new best friend Bethany, who is a massive X-Files fan and loves pretty much anything spooky or scary. She’s also incredibly protective of her friends, always standing her ground against bullies to the point where the bullies are the ones who end up backing off.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey of getting Dream To Me published?
It all happened unexpectedly fast. Especially when compared to the book I’d unsuccessfully queried before this one. I’d queried that previous book for about three years before I finally shelved it. I can’t remember how many rejections I got, but I know it was a lot. So this time, I was pickier and much more methodical about my approach. I only sent out 57 queries, and after about five months, I got three offers, which completely blew me away after having had so little success with my previous book. While all three agents were great, I found that my current agent, Natascha Morris, best understood what I was trying to do with Dream to Me, plus I felt like our personalities clicked the best. I signed with her in November of 2019. After completing a round of revisions, I was on sub by March 2020 (which was extra anxiety-inducing, being only one month into the pandemic), and I had an offer from Imprint, Macmillan by that September. Unfortunately, Macmillan dissolved Imprint before I had a signed contract, but another one of their imprints, Feiwel and Friends picked up where Imprint had left off, and I will be forever grateful for that! Rachel Diebel and the rest of my publishing team have been a dream to work with. Um . . . pun not intended.
Do you have any advice for those who may have set some writing resolutions for the new year?
Protect. Your. Writing. Time. As a busy mom with ADHD who is assisting one of her kids with online school, I know how difficult this can be, believe me. I still struggle with it. But do your best. Don’t book appointments during that time if you can help it, make sure your family understands how important it is to you, and keep that date with your manuscript even if you don’t end up writing anything each time. I don’t subscribe to the belief that to be a “true” writer, you must write everyday. I have trouble writing more than two days in a row before I need a break. But you can also use that time to brainstorm, revise, edit, read other books to refill your creative well, and even stare out the window thinking. Or not thinking. Maybe you’re just giving your brain some quiet time that day, and that’s okay, too. It’s all important and necessary.
What’s next for you?
I’m still working on the proposal for my next project, so I don’t want to go into too much detail, but I can say that it’s a YA contemporary fantasy that takes place on an Icelandic ship.
Lastly, are there any 2023 book releases our readers should look out for?
So many! Just off the top of my head: A British Girl’s Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak by Laura Taylor Namey, The Other Side of Infinity by Joan F. Smith, The Unstoppable Bridget Bloom by Allison Bitz, The Davenports by Krystal Marquis, An Improbably Season by Rosalyn Eves, Sarah Henning’s middle grade Monster Camp, and Lisa Wyzlic’s picture book Harold the Iceberg Melts Down, illustrated by Rebecca Syracus. This is going to be a great year for new books! I know I’m still forgetting a bunch that are on my personal list of books that I’m excited for.
