Megan’s Comments (group member since Mar 08, 2011)

Megan’s comments from the Q&A With Megan McCafferty group.

Sheela wrote: "Hi Megan,
I know you must get the "What was your inspiration behind writing this series?" question all the time. When I read the Jessica Darling books, I couldn't help but be reminded of a perfect..."

You just name-checked two of my all-time favorite shows! I own MSCL and F&G on DVD and rewatch them every other year or so. I was also influenced by John Hughes, especially SIXTEEN CANDLES, for having the right amounts of humor and heart, realism and outrageousness.

Aaron wrote: "I have no questions off the top of my head, but I wanted to say how much I adore the Jessica Darling series and will probably have a question or two once I have time to mull it over!"

Thank you! I'll be here all week!

Sheela wrote: "One more! Any thoughts on revisting Jessica Darling as a cynical, slightly neurotic middle-aged woman?? Please!"

Right now I have no plans to write any more about Jessica, Marcus or anyone else in that world. Do we REALLY want to see a menopausal Jessica? But who knows? Maybe I'll feel differently 25 years from now...

Krystal wrote: "I think Bumped will be a fast-paced novel! I put a hold on it at the library (but I was the ninth person too) :("

Hooray for libraries! Maybe yours should order more than one copy...

Juwi wrote: "Where did you get the concept of the novel? have u read any other YA dystopian novels which influenced your choice on writing a novel set in a futuristic society (e.g Matched by Ally Condie, Deliri..."

Yes, I've read UGLIES, DELIRIUM and MATCHED. UGLIES did inspire me to have fun with the slang and technology, but the other two I didn't read until long after I had finished BUMPED.

Dystopian novels are hot right now, so I can understand why some might think, "Oh, ho! Look at McCafferty jumping on the dystopian bandwagon." The truth is, I didn't set out to write a dystopian novel. I was thinking satire...that just happens to be set 25 years in the future. I wanted to write a book that sends up what happens when extreme thinking crowds out more moderate approaches to social problems. The intentionally over-the-top humor is what sets BUMPED apart from these other series and why I think so many readers are surprised by it. BUMPED should make you laugh and make you uncomfortable. That's the whole point.

Heather (Nightly Reading) wrote: "Loved Bumped...Can't wait for a sequel!"

Thanks for keeping an open mind to something different!

Vickie wrote: "Megan wrote: "Vickie wrote: "Harmony is a strict Christian and found that strange to read about because I usually avoid novels with Christianity in them. Did you have to do any research for her ch..."

Thank you, Vickie! Since you mentioned it, I'm giving away autographed bookmarks to thank readers for buying BUMPED. Here are the details:

http://www.meganmccafferty.com/2011/0...

Chloe wrote: "I read Sloppy Firsts a couple weeks ago and absolutely adored it! Can't wait for Bumped!"

Thank you! How do you think Jessica Darling might react to this world?

Jenna wrote: "I'm so excited to Bumped! Was it difficult to write a book set in the future? Did you do any research or did you just use your imagination?"

Oh my. I did more research for BUMPED than anything I've ever written in my entire life! I researched for more than a year before I even began writing. You can look at my Research for Bumped Shelf just to get an idea:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

Why so much reading? I wanted to make sure that even the craziest aspects of the story were rooted in reality. I want readers to read this book and consider the parallels between futuristic fiction and right now, especially in the ways language influences culture (and vice versa) and how sex and virginity are marketed to teens.

Yesenia wrote: "At my school we a book club (its high school) I want to ask our sponsor if we can read bumped for book club next year. But this year we read a book (Matched) that was also set in the future but som..."

Yesenia wrote: "At my school we a book club (its high school) I want to ask our sponsor if we can read bumped for book club next year. But this year we read a book (Matched) that was also set in the future but som..."

Yesenia wrote: "At my school we a book club (its high school) I want to ask our sponsor if we can read bumped for book club next year. But this year we read a book (Matched) that was also set in the future but som..."

I think you should read BUMPED first and then decide whether it's appropriate for your book club. If you do, there's an awesome reader's group guide which will be sure to inspire interesting discussions!

Vickie wrote: "Harmony is a strict Christian and found that strange to read about because I usually avoid novels with Christianity in them. Did you have to do any research for her character or did you know what t..."

First, thank you for giving BUMPED a chance! Everything Harmony says and does in BUMPED was informed by research and observation. The Church is a fictional combination of several faiths, most notably FDLS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) and the Amish, so I read a lot about both. "Forbidden Fruit: Sex & Religion in the Lives of Teenagers" by Mark Regenerus was also extremely insightful for the way it outlined the contradictions between what is preached (abstinence until marriage) and what is actually done (sex before marriage). I lurked on Christian blogs and watched many teens' testimonials on YouTube to borrow the language they use to talk about sin and salvation. Most significant, I thought of one of my best friends growing up, a minister's daughter who chafed against her superstrict religious upbringing. She reminded me how hard it is to break free from everything you've been brought up to be and believe and helped me bring out the strength and courage in Harmony's character.

Well, if you haven't read the Jessica Darling series by now...what are you waiting for? Here's where you can ask questions about it in a spoiler-free zone.

Here's where you can ask me anything about any book in the Jessica Darling series without worrying about spoiling the suspense for the uninitiated.

If you haven't read BUMPED but want to know more about it, this is the SPOILER FREE ZONE.

If you've already read BUMPED and you want to ask specific questions about it, this is the place. If you haven't read it yet and don't want to know what happens, STOP READING NOW. Okay. You're still reading. So ASK ME ANYTHING. If you didn't like some of my choices, ask me about them. If you're confused, ask me. This book is provoking very different reactions and I love discussion and debate. Just remember to be respectful.

Curious about how I work? Here's the thread for all questions about how I develop an idea into a finished book.

Thank you for joining my group! I'll be back to celebrate the publication of Bumped by answering questions from April 26th through May 3rd. Until then, feel free to introduce yourselves. Why are you here? (I didn't mean that in the existential way...but if you want to get all philosophical, GO FOR IT.)