We chat with debut author Nishita Parekh about The Night of the Storm, which is a fresh take on the classic locked-room thriller, about a multigenerational Indian American family marooned in a house with a murderer during Hurricane Harvey.
Hi, Nishita! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m a mom, an author and a programmer. I live in Houston with my toddler and husband and my hobbies are reading and watching an unhealthy amount of television.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
My journey as a writer began like many others as a reader with a love of stories nurtured by childhood visits to local libraries. Although I write computer code for a living, I’ve always loved writing essays on the side and from there I got into writing full length novels.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Famous Five novels by Enid Blyton
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Kite Runner
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Gone Girl
Your debut novel, The Night of the Storm, is out January 16th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Locked room mystery with drama.
What can readers expect?
Lots of family drama, atmospheric suspense and social commentary on Indian culture and immigrants.
Where did the inspiration for The Night of the Storm come from?
In August 2017 as Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, my second story apartment in Houston became a refuge for family members, some of whom were rescued in boats from their flooded homes. We hunkered down for over two days as the devastating storm dumped more than 60 inches of rain and left most of the city without power. Although I ended up having a good time with my niece and nephew running around my tiny 1 bedroom apartment, the experience planted a seed in my mind, an idea of a locked room novel centered on a hurricane trapping family members who are keeping deadly secrets.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved the character of Grandma, the oldest matriarch in the house. The filters between her mind and mouth have atrophied with age, so she says pretty much whatever she wants and I really enjoyed writing her dialogues.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I’ve been working on this novel for over 5 years so the road was definitely long! I had sent my full manuscript to several agents while I was pregnant and then once I had my baby, I naturally forgot about writing or publishing for a while. Then late one night I was up with my baby when I saw that an agent offer had landed in my inbox. I was fortunate to receive multiple offers and I ended up signing with Lori Galvin (best decision of my publishing career). We went on submission around a month after that and sold the book at auction.
With it being the new year, have you set any resolutions or goals for 2024?
Once you hit your mid thirties, you start becoming aware of your body’s limitations. My goals for 2024 are – drink more water, put the phone down and sleep more (I have a toddler so the last one is more a wish than a goal 😊)
What’s next for you?
Preparing for my launch event and book tour stops and hopefully getting to connect with readers of the Night Of The Storm.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Yes! I read Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody recently and it is a riveting mystery for true crime fans. I’m also very excited about Kellye Garrett’s Missing White Woman and Amina Akhtar’s Almost Surely Dead.
