This book was absolutely AMAZING. A must-read, especially if you enjoy reading psychological thrillers. There’s a jaw-dropping twist that you will never see coming, and you’ll be hooked from beginning to end. It was such a thrilling read, and I highly recommend it for your next summer read.
In this interview, Katie shares about what first sparked her idea for The Night It Ended, what it was like living inside the main character’s head while writing the novel, and some of her favorite suspense writers.
Wow! First, let me say how much I enjoyed this book. It had me hooked from beginning to end. When did you first come up with the storyline for The Night It Ended?
Thank you so much! I first got the idea when I wanted to write a book in an eerie, somewhat dilapidated mansion. When I was researching real-life locations, I found one that instantly stole my heart, and I knew I had to visit it in person. I did a little urban exploration and totally fell in love with it. To me, it didn’t feel like a house, but a school. The idea grew from there.
What kind of research did you do into the field of psychiatry prior to the book?
This is a great question! I did research in the space of figuring out the dynamics and structure of how a professional would be brought into a school setting and how those meetings would be completed. I also researched smaller details like specializations and state licensure.
Is the boarding school based on a particular place or is it purely imaginary?
Yes, it’s based off of the real mansion in upstate New York that I mentioned above, but I did take many liberties with it. I created the campus, with the courtyard and guest homes, and in my head, the landscape and mountains are different, as well. Also, I visited in August, so I had to imagine what it would be like to live there during the winter. But the spiral staircase, carriage tunnel entrance, arched doorways, and long, endless corridors were all inspired by the location I visited.
What was it like being inside the main character’s head?
Honestly, it was very emotionally challenging. I wanted to capture realistically what it would be like to live inside Madeline’s head. I didn’t want a character who was bubbly or super cheerful because that wouldn’t be realistic. Madeline suffers from anxiety and depression and I needed to show how that doesn’t just disappear because you have a job to do or a mystery to solve. It’s with you every second. I feel like, in a way, I didn’t invent her. She’s alive somewhere and needed her story told, and I had to write her how she wanted it to be written.
Now, I know you can’t give away the jaw-dropping twist before everyone’s had a chance to read this book… but did you have the twist planned from the very beginning of the book, or did you decide how things were going to end up once you began writing?
For this book, I started brainstorming knowing I wanted two things: I wanted to write an eerie boarding school mystery and I wanted a big final twist. I had been brainstorming for a little bit before the ending came to me along with Madeline’s character. So I did know how it would end before I even began plotting.
What was the hardest scene to write?
The scene where Madeline ‘faces off’ with Alice in her dorm room. It’s such an emotional scene. They’re both at a crossroads and Madeline cares so much for Alice. She sees her daughter in her and has made the mistake of forgetting Matt Reyes’ advice of not getting too close to the case or to the students.
Prior to writing your debut novel, who were some of your favorite suspense writers?
Gillian Flynn, Karin Slaughter, and Agatha Christie. They’re probably the base of my book pyramid, but I try to read widely and in different genres. I’m always on the hunt for new books and authors—the darker and twister the better.
Are you working on your next novel and if so, can we get a sneak peek?
I’m actually brainstorming Number three now. Number two is with my editor and may possibly be out as soon as 2024. I’m really excited about it. It’s more of a domestic psychological thriller than The Night It Ended. There are actually more twists. I’ll give a hint and say it involves a widowed mom trying her best, a creepy family, and an even creepier house. Also, mysterious disappearances and a dog named Dougie.
Pick up your copy of The Night It Ended.
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