Ask the Author: Mege Gardner
Answered Questions (2)
Mege Gardner
Hi Sally!! Thank you so much for asking!! The second book is in progress, but as you can imagine, it's a lengthy process. "Undertakers" was researched and written in one year, but the editing and rewriting took another year to complete. I expect the second book will go faster, and I hope to have it nearly complete next summer. I'm not sure if Goodreads still notifies readers of sequels, but hopefully they will let you know!!
Mege Gardner
The first germ of the idea came from reading a very touching remembrance written by a woman whose father had been a small town undertaker. He was a dreamer and a doting dad, but he developed a reputation for being very cold and awkward at delivering bad news. He bought an old mansion with the intention to spruce it up for the family, but it never became their main home. Instead, the house was vandalized regularly and it’s undeserved reputation grew, just as his had.
My image of that misunderstood undertaker sparked with my memories of funeral home rivalries that were kept alive in my family’s history and after that, the ideas would not leave me alone.
As soon as I had written several chapters about Samuel, I realized that I didn't want him to be my main character, after all. I started all over with Helen firmly in the lead, and I'm very happy with that decision. I think she's a distinctly lovable hero.
If you enjoy the book, please let me know. If you’d rather complain about it, definitely let me know!!
My image of that misunderstood undertaker sparked with my memories of funeral home rivalries that were kept alive in my family’s history and after that, the ideas would not leave me alone.
As soon as I had written several chapters about Samuel, I realized that I didn't want him to be my main character, after all. I started all over with Helen firmly in the lead, and I'm very happy with that decision. I think she's a distinctly lovable hero.
If you enjoy the book, please let me know. If you’d rather complain about it, definitely let me know!!
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