We chat with horror powerhouse author Maren Stoffels about her latest release Stranger Danger, which follows three teens who find themselves in the middle of nowhere, with no internet and a killer hunting them down.
Hi, Maren! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi everyone, first of all: thanks for reading this interview! I’m Maren, 35 years old, born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. My wife Mandy and I have 2 sons. I published my first book at the age of 17, it was a dream come true… It was another dream came true for me when I found out my books would be published in America. It’s such an honor to have readers from the other side of the world!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
At the age of 9, I wrote my first book about a boy who looks for his father. I wrote it down on the menus from my father’s restaurant. That was when I fell in love with writing stories and since then I never stopped…
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
- First read: Pipi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
- The book that made me want to become an author: Spijt, by Carry Slee, a dutch author. This book is about bullying and it literally made me cry… 🙂
- Can’t stop thinking about: Wow, I have a lot! Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, One of Us is Lying, among others…
Your latest novel, Stranger Danger, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Forrest, stranger, danger, friends, secrets.
What can readers expect?
I always try to add more to my thrillers than just tension. Stranger Danger is, besides a very tense story, a story about bullying and its effects on people.
Where did the inspiration for Stranger Danger come from?
During the pandemic, when Covid-19 hit the Netherlands, like many other places in the world, we had to stay inside to quarantine. The danger was lurking outside, and the virus was invisible. That’s when I got inspiration to write a story about an invisible stranger, who is hunting down my main characters. No one sees the stranger, but the danger is real…
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really like it when everything in a story comes together. Can’t reveal too much of the plot here, but believe me: there are some plot twists in Stranger Danger…
What draws you to the thriller genre?
I’m easily scared and I see danger in things everywhere I go. I don’t know why, but my mind works that way. When I get into an elevator, it’s like: Okay, what could go wrong? What do I do when the elevator stops, when I’m in here with someone who wants to harm me?
I always think in storylines. Sometimes that’s exhausting, but as a thriller author, it’s very useful as well.
What’s next for you?
Escape Room 2.0 came out in the Netherlands this year, and it will be published in America soon. Can’t wait to hear what my readers think of that next book! And in the meanwhile I keep writing new books. I’ve got the best job there is!
Lastly, are there any 2023 releases our readers should look out for?
Escape Room 2.0, written by yours truly. And if you don’t know her (can’t believe that, but you’ll never know), check out the books from Karen McManus. She’s amazing. Her next book, One of Us is Back, will be out soon. Can’t wait to read that!
