We chat with author Chelsea Iversen about The Whisper, which is a sweeping, atmospheric thriller following a group of friends and the power given to them by the trees…
Hi, Chelsea! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Chelsea has been making up stories since she was wiggling baby teeth to try to get them loose. She is a mom of two amazing kids and a high-energy dog, and has a husband that somehow helps her make it all work. She lives in Colorado, which is where The Whisper, her most recent atmospheric thriller, is set.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I have distinct memories of creating a secret reading nook between my bed and the wall, and then spending hours there—well past my bedtime—reading. My parents bought me a tiny booklight I could clip on my books, and that was the beginning of it all. Also my dad read stories with all the voices. I particularly remember a terrifying Mrs. Trunchbull.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: I can’t recall the very first book I read on my own, but I do remember being read Charlotte’s Web in nightly episodes. Then there was Matilda, The Chronicles of Narnia, even Shell Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends. I must have asked for one more chapter a thousand times in those days.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Every book I’ve ever read, but specifically, I’d say Jane Austen was the most influential. When I read her work for the first time, I discovered that she could make a reader feel so many things. I was hooked and wanted to create that myself on the page.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Persuasion. It’s not Pride and Prejudice, but it’s like the little sister, which is probably why I love it so much. Wallflower Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth…how can you not love this defiant little love story? I picked apart Austen’s prose so hard my book fell completely apart.
Your latest novel, The Whisper, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Friendship, creepy, woods, magic, secrets
What can readers expect?
Three estranged friends return to their hometown in the mountains of Colorado to investigate an old mystery that has haunted them. Expect an atmospheric unearthing of secrets long buried, a creepy mountain town, a sweet old dog, a grove full of whispering trees, and a heart-racing conclusion.
Where did the inspiration for The Whisper come from?
Originally, I wanted to write about a girl gang out for vengeance, and then it evolved a million times over once I established where it had to be set. Once I knew it was going to take place in a secluded mountain town in Colorado, the story really took shape.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
All of them! I truly do feel like I’m part of their friend group! Joey—you just want to give her a hug and tell her it will be ok. Elena is so full of attitude and tries to hide her heart, Sophie is adorable and I’d probably most love to hang out with her in real life!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
So many! My biggest challenge was getting the friendship just right while still maintaining a quick pace. It can be hard to do something like develop relationships while also trying to keep things moving at a pace thriller readers expect. I hope I was able to achieve it, and I loved the process of trying. The only thing I did was continue to revise and revise again. I think distance from the manuscript helped me see the pacing lags especially.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on another thriller with a creepy Maine lighthouse, two sisters, and time travel magic.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I’ve been obsessed with Tana French this year. Like, how did I not discover her sooner? She truly is an amazing author. Chelsea Conradt’s The Farmhouse and The Secret Attic are fantastic, and I really loved Gillian McAllister’s latest, Caller Unknown. I share a pub day with one of my favorite thriller authors, Catherine Ryan Howard, so I’m excited to pick up her latest, Buyer Beware.
