We chat with debut author Megan Davidhizar about Silent Sister, which is the must-read suspense novel of the summer about a mysterious sister’s disappearance, her biggest betrayal and a deadly truth screaming to come out.
Hi, Megan! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a wife and mom of three, as well as a high school English teacher. Those roles keep me pretty busy, but I always make time to squeeze in some reading. And ice cream.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
My love for stories came long ago in junior high when I discovered a magical series that motivated me to read for the first time in my life. However, through college and even the beginning of my teaching career, I slipped into seeing books as texts to be studied rather than stories to be enjoyed. I slowly reignited my spark for reading by picking up young adult literature my students recommended, and when I challenged myself to complete the creative writing prompts I assigned, I fell in love with the challenge of writing as well.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Best Nest by PD Eastman
- The one that made you want to become an author: Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell
Your debut novel, Silent Sister, is out August 6th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Twisty, emotional, addictive, deep, and shocking!
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a realistic portrayal of complicated sister relationships, deep emotions and dark secrets, and an ending that will make them rethink everything they thought they knew.
Where did the inspiration for Silent Sister come from?
I’ve always loved stories that take me so deep inside a character’s head that I can’t see reality until the end. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is one of my favorite texts to teach in my classroom for this reason. Once I had my ending in mind, it was a matter of creating the backdrop for my story and characters, and the setting of Silent Sister is inspired by a transformational field trip I took my senior year of high school. Thankfully no one went missing on that trip, though.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed writing Maddy. I grew up introverted and struggling with friendships in a lot of the same ways she does. It took me a lot longer to see my worth than it takes Maddy, and I hope if readers see themselves reflected in her thoughts, they also see acceptance in who they are.
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
This has been an incredible adventure! Silent Sister was the third book I’d ever written, and I’m so glad it’s the first one readers will have access to. I’ve had an incredible amount of help along the way from critique partners, a Pitch Wars mentorship, and encouragement from friends. I am incredibly blessed to have a fierce agent in Molly Ker Hawn, and working with my editor Kelsey Horton has been delightful. I couldn’t be where I am today without all these lovely people.
What’s next for you?
Many people ask if I’m planning to leave the classroom, especially since teaching requires so many hours, but I can’t say goodbye to my students yet. They’re the ones I’m writing for. I do hope to continue balancing responsibilities at home and school with publishing, so keep an eye out for another young adult thriller coming from Delacorte Press in the future!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
I love reading thrillers, and I’ve really enjoyed Looking for Smoke by KA Cobell and Original Twin by Paula Gleeson. I also can’t wait to get my hands on Needy Little Things by Chanelle Desamours.
