0 Amanda Panitch, author of NEVER MISSING, NEVER FOUND, on setting as inspiration

We're thrilled to have Amanda Panitch stop by to share more about her latest novel NEVER MISSING, NEVER FOUND.

Amanda, what scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

It's not a specific scene, but the part of the book that was hardest for me to write was the relationship between the protagonist, Scarlett, and her younger sister, Melody, because, in writing that relationship, I drew from the relationship between me and my own younger sister. While the relationship between me and my sister was (thankfully) never as drastically cold as Scarlett and Melody's, the bones were there: me, the awkward, shy, introverted older sister who stayed in or went to study groups on weekends, and my sister, the popular, bubbly one who had a ton of friends and went to parties on the weekends. We have a great relationship now, several years later, but it was hard dredging those feelings back to the surface.



What was your inspiration for writing NEVER MISSING, NEVER FOUND?

The setting actually came first for me on this book. I spent two summers working at Six Flags: Great Adventure, and I couldn't stop thinking that backstage at an amusement park would be an absolutely perfect setting for a YA thriller: most of the workers are teenagers, there are so many creepy backstage areas and dusty warehouses filled with old props and merchandise, and there's lots of drama and illicit things going on behind the scenes. I changed the plot and characters a fair amount in edits, but the setting never changed!

What book or books would most resonate with readers who love your book--or visa versa?

First of all, I think that readers who love this book would hopefully like my first book, DAMAGE DONE. In addition, this has been a great year for YA psychological thrillers. I couldn't put down THE DARKEST CORNERS by Kara Thomas, and I loved THE CREEPING by Alexandra Sirowy. Three that I'm really looking forward to this spring/summer are THE SAFEST LIES by Megan Miranda, PLEASE DON'T TELL by Laura Tims, and THE LEAVING by Tara Altebrando.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Never Missing, Never Found
by Amanda Panitch
Hardcover
Random House Books for Young R
Released 6/28/2016

Some choices change everything. Scarlett chose to run. And the consequences will be deadly.

Stolen from her family as a young girl, Scarlett was lucky enough to eventually escape her captor. Now a teen, she's starting a summer job at an amusement park. There are cute boys, new friends, and the chance to finally have a normal life.

Her first day on the job, Scarlett is shocked to discover that a girl from the park has gone missing. Old memories come rushing back. And now as she meets her new coworkers, one of the girls seems strangely familiar. When Scarlett chose to run all those years ago, what did she set into motion? And when push comes to shove, how far will she go to uncover the truth . . . before it's too late?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Panitch grew up next to an amusement park in New Jersey and went to college next to the White House in Washington, DC. Amanda now resides in New York City where she works in book publishing by day, writes by night, and lives under constant threat of being crushed beneath giant stacks of books. You can follow her on Twitter @AmandaPanitch, and visit her online at www.amandapanitch.com
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Have you had a chance to read NEVER MISSING, NEVER FOUND yet? Do you draw on personal relationships to write relationships between your characters? Has a certain setting inspired you to write a story? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Jocelyn, Shelly, Martina, Anisaa, Sam, Erin, Susan, Michelle, Laura, and Kristin