Interview with Melissa Foster - Author of Megan's Way and a Giveaway

About the Author: Melissa Foster has an on-going column in Women Business Owners Magazine, she has painted and donated several murals to a local hospital for children, and is the Founder of The Women's Nest, an on-line community for women. Melissa lives with her husband and their children in Maryland along with their three dogs, and two cats.

Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping women see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

1. What was the inspiration behind Megan's Way? Megan's Way festered for a long time. My mother had surgery about 15 years ago to have her ovaries removed. When she had the surgery, she had told me that she was having it because of fibroids. What she told me years later was that there was an oncologist in the operating room because they thought she had cancer, and that if it had been cancer, she had decided not to get treatment. I shrank back a little girl instantly in my mind - What? How could you leave me?! That thought festered for years, and thus, Megan's Way was born.

2. How long did it take you to write Megan's Way? I actually went back to my notes to look this up for you :-) I started my notes on the story in mid 2006, but didn't really start to put the story together until about a year later. It took me about 9 months to write the story, as I was also writing another book at the same time. Then I reworked the storyline and characters a bit for another 6-8 months. When I worked with my editor, I decided to rework the presentation of some of the backstory - so all in all, it took me about 2 years start to finish.

3. Are experiences in Megan's Way based on someone you know, or events in your own life? No, they are not, except for the idea I described in your first question. Attitudes and personalities are somewhat taken from people around me, but not events - except shopping in Provincetown - That IS my favorite place to shop! LOL!
4. Is there a message in Megan's Way that you want readers to grasp? There are so many. I would love for people to never give up hope of being in touch with those you love, even beyond the grave. I don't mean that in a paranormal way, I mean it in a spiritual sense. I also would love for readers to come away with the feeling that life is beautiful, and that everyone makes mistakes in life. Mistakes don't make people "bad" or "unlovable," mistakes are what help you create your own personal path, they are what help you grow and learn and evolve.
5. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in Megan's Way?Not a thing. I'm happy with the characters and the outcome of their lives.
6. What have you just finished reading, and what is your all time favorite book? You can't say your own.I have just finished Sarah's Key, which was a very lovely story. I have a few all-time favorite books - The Lovely Bones, Confessions of Max Tivoli, and Snowflower and the Secret Fan are just a few. But I think tastes change as we change, so those favs could change in another year! LOL!
7. Do you have a schedule for writing or do you write whenever you have time? I waited for about 15 years to write, so I treasure every second I have! We have six children and I had to wait until our youngest went to school full-time to make it work. I'm not one of those lucky people who can write for an hour here or there - I live each scene I write, I feel it, therefore, I become entrenched in the "mood" of the scenes. In other words, I need oodles of time! I write from the second I arrive home from dropping the kids at school until the minute I have to leave to pick them up. If I'm in the middle of a scene that I can't shake, I'll do it when they go to bed and write until two in the morning if I have to. My schedule is basically my children's school schedule.

8. Do you use an outline? Never. I wish I could, it would make things easier for my editor! LOL! I have tried, but I don't think that way. My characters and their stories evolve as I am writing. For example, I had no idea that Jack would be an animal activist until I found he and Holly drawn together. I didn't know Jason existed at all until he showed up at the funeral.
9. If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? That is such a hard question, because I don't know enough writers personally to choose from. I love Jennie Shortridge and her writing style. She's artsy and sort of no-holes-barred, and I think she'd make an excellent mentor. I also think Stephen King has a wonderful obsessiveness about his writing, and that alone might make him a great mentor.
10. At what age did your begin writing? I wrote some poetry as a teen, but nothing wonderful. I really began writing when Zach, my second son, was about nine months old, and he's almost nineteen.
11. What does your family think of your writing, and have they read your book? I have an enormous and very supportive family. I have six brothers and wonderful sister-in-laws, I'm married to the man of my dreams, and I was given a real gift when I was born into my mother's arms. They are all very proud of me and excited to see what comes next with my writing. I think most of my family has read Megan's Way, except for my sons.
12. Megan's Way is your first novel. Are you working on a second? Megan's Way was really the second novel that I wrote, but the first one published. The Knowing, a mystery about the abduction of a seven-year-old girl, was the first. Megan came around with her bold personality and took the foreground, and now I am working on rewriting The Knowing.

Now for the giveaway: I am giving away my very gently read copy of Megan's Way. It will be very easy. All you have to do is leave a comment and tell me, you want to read this book. Be sure to leave an email address or your comment will not be included in the drawing. This giveaway is open to US and Canada only. This giveaway will end on September 19th.