Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Megan E. Freeman (Away)!
Meet the Author: Megan E. Freeman
Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week, and she has been a writer ever since. She writes middle grade and young adult fiction. Megan is also a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan taught multiple subjects across the arts and humanities to students of all ages. She lives near Boulder, Colorado. Visit her online at MeganEFreeman.com.
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About the Book: Away
A group of children investigate the threat that prompted large-scale evacuations in this powerful and dramatic companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Alone told in multiple POVs.
After an imminent yet unnamed danger forces people across Colorado to leave their homes, a group of kids including an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist find themselves in the same evacuation camp. As they cope with the aftermath of having their world upended, they grow curious about the mysterious threat.
And as they begin to investigate, they start to discover that there’s less truth and more cover-up to what they’re being told. Can they get to the root of the conspiracy, expose the bad actors, and bring an end to the upheaval before it’s too late?
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~Author Chat~
YABC: What inspired you to write this book?
Since my first novel ALONE came out in 2021, I have visited many schools and talked with many young readers. The plot in that book is predicated on an “imminent threat” that leaves one twelve-year-old kid behind after her suburban town is evacuated and abandoned. At every school visit, readers wanted to know more about the evacuation and the threat that caused everyone to leave. After many of these conversations, I knew I needed to write a companion novel, and that’s the book that became AWAY.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now.
I never used to share my writing or seek feedback until I had exhausted all my own resources. I would revise and polish and marinate and revise again before ever sending anything to critique partners or beta readers. But I sold AWAY on proposal and had to complete the manuscript under deadline, so that forced me out of my comfort zone. I didn’t have time to be so precious with my drafts. I learned to seek feedback at all phases of the writing process, including drafting and revising. It made me much more efficient and helped me push past the feeling of vulnerability that comes with sharing early work.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
I adore Pascal Campion’s work, and I know many readers picked up ALONE based entirely on his cover art. Needless to say, I was ecstatic when I heard he was available to do the cover for AWAY. I love the way he uses point of view and the way his art invites readers into the story without telling them too much. I love his incredible use of light and color.
YABC: Do you have a playlist you listened to while writing?
I actually prefer writing in silence. I have an office in the walk-out basement of our house in Northern Colorado, and it overlooks open farmland with the Rocky Mountains in the distance. Bird feeders hang outside my window and I love hearing the different birdcalls that come and go seasonally. I often work with the door open if it’s warm enough, and in the winter, I like the white noise of my little space heater.
YABC: Do you have an unusual office supply that helps you in your writing routine?
Does a tea tray count? A few years ago I found a sweet little bamboo tray just big enough for my tea pot and mug and a creamer of oat milk. It all fits neatly on a tiny table behind my desk, and it makes me happy every time a pour a cup.
YABC: If you could collaborate with any other writer in history, who would it be?
Two authors I am devoted to are Fannie Flagg and Kate DiCamillo. They write for different audiences, but they both have deep affection for their characters. Even the “bad guys” are handled with tenderness and love, and there is so much compassion on every page. Because their fondness for their characters is ever-present, we can’t help but love them, too. And then we can’t help but feel a little more fondly toward our fellow humans, in turn. I would love to collaborate with either Fannie or Kate.
YABC: How do you cope with criticism from editors or the public?
I mostly ignore criticism from the public. The books have their own relationships with readers. They can’t please everyone and were never meant to, so there’s little point in fretting. But I love criticism from my critique partners and editors. They are my trusted collaborators and are invested in helping me excavate the most satisfying story I am capable of unearthing. I couldn’t possibly do it without them and I’m deeply grateful they’re willing to collaborate with me.
YABC: What new release book are you looking forward to in 2025?
Debut author Nicole M. Hewitt has a new fantasy verse novel forthcoming called The Song of Orphan’s Garden (Feiwel & Friends). It’s a kind of Frozen meets The BFG, and it’s so fresh and unique, I can’t wait for readers to discover it. I’m also excited for Leah Stecher’s new middle grade novel, A Field Guide to Broken Promises (Bloomsbury). I love Leah’s work, and this new one might just have the best cover of the entire season.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
We just sold my first YA novel and it has yet to be officially announced, but I’m really excited about it. It’s in verse, but completely different from the AWAY and ALONE books, and it’s set both in California and Norway, where I lived as a teen. It’s coming in 2026, and we’ll have more news about that soon!
Title: Away
Author: Megan E. Freeman
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Publisher: Aladdin
Genre: Middle Grade, Stories in Verse, Dystopian, Action & Adventure
Age Range: 10+
