Vanessa's parents want to work through the tragedy by returning to their everyday lives back in Boston, but Vanessa can't help feeling that her sister's death was more than an accident. After discovering that Justine never applied to colleges, and that she was secretly in a relationship with longtime family friend Caleb Carmichael, Vanessa returns to Winter Harbor to seek some answers.
But when Vanessa learns that Caleb has been missing since Justine's death, she and Caleb's older brother, Simon, join forces to try to find him, and in the process, their childhood friendship blossoms into something more.
Soon it's not just Vanessa who is afraid. All of Winter Harbor is abuzz with anxiety when another body washes ashore, and panic sets in when the small town becomes home to a string of fatal, water-related accidents . . . in which all the victims are found grinning from ear to ear.
As Vanessa and Simon probe further into the connections between Justine's death and the sudden rash of creepy drownings, Vanessa uncovers a secret that threatens her new romance, and that will change her life forever.
Siren was inspired by my somewhat recent fear of creatures of the deep. Despite having grown up near the beach and spending many happy summer days swimming in the Long Island Sound, I now won’t venture past my knees in any natural body of water. I’m too afraid of jellyfish, crabs, sharks, you name it! This fear made me think about what else might be lurking beneath the surface, and the idea grew from there. And given the seductive yet spooky nature of sirens, the story HAD to be a mystery!
The setting was truly perfect for the story. We have to admit to loving a seaside town and it sets up the story so well with locals as well as seasonal visitors playing a part in the setting. What made you choose Winter Harbor, ME?
I love seaside towns too…I think that’s another reason why I was so drawn to this subject! And in many ways, Siren’s setting guides the plot. I knew I wanted the story to take place along Maine’s dramatic coast, and I chose Winter Harbor (which is a real town) upon learning that it earned its name because the harbor never freezes, not even in the middle of winter. This feature made it a perfect home base for water-loving ladies!
We loved the juxtaposition of the siblings. On one side, Simon and Caleb and on the other, the girls, Justine and Vanessa. What was the inspiration to use siblings as the main characters?
It seemed like an ideal arrangement. Justine was Vanessa’s sister AND her best friend, and Simon and Caleb were the cute boys next door. As a teenager, what better summer scenario could there be than hanging out on a lake with your best friend and two sweet, adorable guys? Also, I really wanted the characters to grow up together; just as it can in real life, this makes their eventual evolution from friends to more-than-friends particularly interesting.
Is there a real life inspiration for any of the characters? They were so vividly written that we felt like we had met them somewhere in my own life.
Vanessa’s many fears are based on some of my own, so in that way, she was inspired by me. And growing up, I tended to have crushes on cute, sensitive, smart boys—especially if they wore glasses! So Simon was inspired by some of my teenage infatuations.
What has been your favorite summer read?
The past two summers have been dominated by Hunger Games and Catching Fire, and I’m sure Mockingjay will take the prize this summer!
I need to get this one soon, I've been wanting to read it. Great interview!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! I didn't know a whole lot about Siren, but now I want to read it! :-)
ReplyDeleteA seaside town sounds like an excellent setting. That coupled with a very interesting plot means I'll definitely be picking this one up!
ReplyDeleteLove a good scary sea monster!! And one that's beautiful to boot!!! And oh, the pairing of the siblings was brilliant!
ReplyDeletei just read this book and it was amazing!
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