Author Chat with Megan Shull, Plus Excerpt & Giveaway

1. What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

Bounce really started with one single image. Here’s the story: I came across a stunning collection of photos by James Mollison, a documentary photographer. The exhibit, now a book, called Where Children Sleep features portraits of children around the world, and their bedrooms. The project was conceived as a way to highlight childhood poverty and the side-by-side single snapshot comparison—that juxtaposition of poverty and privilege, is incredibly striking. So much of who we are and how we turn out to be is grounded in our story of origin and the family that we land in. It’s so intangible in some ways, because the care we receive as children is not as easy to identify in a photo. For health and well-being one of the greatest advantages a child can have, is a parent or caregiver who nurtures a loving and secure connection with their child. Building resiliency and trust is shaped by that relationship—yet that sense of security is kind of luck of the draw, not everyone has it. So while at times it may appear a kid has “everything” something very significant may be missing, and vice versa, a child may be living in poverty, but have the most present, loving and available caregiver. I started thinking: what if my protagonist isn’t getting what she needs at home but could somehow travel through space and time . . . and “bounce” into lives and bodies and get exactly what she needs to take back to her own life. I immediately had the image of a kid dropping out of thin air onto a bed and into a whole new life and . . . voilà! Bounce was born.

2. Which came first, the title or the novel?

It was more of a package deal . . . they both arrived serendipitously in the same instant. The cool thing was, initially I was picturing my protagonist (Frannie), literally falling down and bouncing into the beds and lives—but I soon realized I had written a whole story about resiliency and learning how to bounce back, even when things are hard. I love that the title works on a couple different levels, and I think learning how to bounce back when times are tough is truly half the battle of . . . everything.

3. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

Hmm, not sure if it would be the most important but it’s for sure right up there and it’s this: “You can be the ripest juiciest peach in the world but there will always be someone who hates peaches.” I just love that because really peaches are awesome, there’s no debating that right? But there are still people who feel deeply that apples are their thing. Well, it’s all good. If you’re a peach, you don’t have to try and morph into an apple. Be a peach! There’s enough fruit to go around so to speak and so, you really just have to be you and bring your best. That’s a lesson to learn a billion times, and then a billion more.

4. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The cover of Bounce is a beauty! Jackets are such a big deal; you really want it to be love at first site, right? I was really hoping for the cover to bring all “the good feels” of the book to life—so for me, I was hoping for a warmth and joy that would say, “pick me up, you will feel better reading this book!” I think the team at HarperChildrens did that beautifully.

5. Your novel, The Swap is now a DISNEY CHANNEL ORIGINAL MOVIE, how did it feel to have your work adapted to screen?
I love it! Having Disney make a movie based on one of your books is, for sure, a dream-come- true. The movie is so fun and tender and kids seem to truly love it, too—which to me is the best

YABC interview | Megan Shull

feeling. In the first week it aired The Swap reached over 7.2 million total viewers. So that’s pretty rad too.

6. What’s up next for you?

More books. Stay tuned!

7. Is there anything that you would like to add?

Yes! My goal always as I write is for my readers to want to keep the book close, or tuck it under their pillow because the protagonist’s journey somehow helps them (the reader) feel seen, safe, soothed, and—as with my new novel, Bounce—more resilient, and more capable of bouncing back after falling. Here’s what I know: Growing up is hard. For everyone. My readers have only been on this planet for a little more than ten years, sometimes less. Even for kids who have the most solid circle of love and safety around them, the world can sometimes feel a little bit scary. I’m guessing you may feel it too: school shootings, a pernicious political climate . . . it’s a lot to wrap your brain around for an adult let alone a child. As caring adults, we can’t make everything better, but we can be a calming and steady presence. What is really amazing is books can be that too. Now that is magic.

Megan Shull is the award-winning author of five books for kids, including The Swap, now a Disney Channel Original Movie and, Bounce. Megan holds a doctorate in educational psychology from Cornell University, where she also earned her undergraduate degree. Born and raised in Ithaca, New York, Megan lives and writes in her hometown—a small college town surrounded by waterfalls, quiet, rolling hills, and secret swimming holes.