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In this episode Amy Christine Parker and Lori discuss:

• Where she comes up with unsettling ideas and how she deals with fears on the page.
• The importance of the first line and why the opening chapters are the hardest to write.
• How she developed the characterization for the ensemble cast in Flight 171.

Plus, her #1 tip for writers.

About Amy Christine Parker

Amy Christine Parker is the author of the critically acclaimed young adult thriller novels: Gated, Astray, Smash & Grab, and most recently the horror novel, Flight 171.

When she is not busy dreaming up unsettling stories, Amy loves to read, go to the movies, and travel around the world in search of story inspiration.

She lives and works in Tampa, Florida along with her husband, their two daughters, and two very high-maintenance cats.

You can find her on her website or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Goodreads.

Flight 171

In this edge-of-your-seat horror novel, a four-hour flight takes a nightmarish turn when a supernatural creature gives a group of high school students a sinister ultimatum.

Devon Marsh is haunted by secrets. Like the identity of the person who killed her twin sister, Emily, in a hit-and-run accident last Halloween, which Devon has vowed to uncover. Like the things Devon said to Emily just before she died.

But she’s determined to start fresh when she boards a four-hour flight along with her classmates for their senior class ski trip. Devon never could have guessed those secrets would surface in the most terrifying way when a supernatural creature hijacks their flight and gives the students a deadly ultimatum:

Choose one among them to sacrifice before the end of the flight. Or the plane will crash.

As the clock ticks down, the creature slowly unearths the passengers’ deepest, darkest secrets—and reveals that one of the teens on the plane is responsible for Emily’s death. The students must agree on a sacrifice, or there won’t be any survivors. But can Devon find a way to stop the creature, or will she give in to her anger and let revenge take control?

Underlined is a line of totally addictive romance, thriller, and horror titles coming to you fast and furious each month. Enjoy everything you want to read the way you want to read it.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link where, if you choose to purchase via the link, DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 442

(Right-click to download.)

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The post Episode 442: Opening Lines and Characterization: Maximize Your Opening Chapters – Interview with Amy Christine Parker appeared first on DIY MFA.