Author Interview: The Island by Natasha Preston

The Island is waiting for you…

YA thriller favorite & bestselling author, Natasha Preston, once again gives readers a chilling page-turner that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, with the recently released The Island! We are thrilled to bring you an interview with the author.

The Island

by Natasha Preston
Published by: Delacorte Press
on February 28, 2023
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Young Adult
Bookshop
Goodreads

Hot on the heels of the New York Times bestsellers The Twin and The Lake, another pulse-pounding read from the undisputed queen of YA thrillers!

They said goodbye to their friends and family for the weekend. They weren’t counting on forever.

Jagged Island: a private amusement park for the very rich—or the very influential. Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley—social media influencers with millions of followers—have been invited for an exclusive weekend before the park opens. They’ll make posts and videos for their channels and report every second of their VIP treatment.

When the teens arrive, they're stunned: the resort is even better than they’d imagined. Their hotel rooms are unreal, the park’s themed rides are incredible, and the island is hauntingly beautiful. They’re given a jam-packed itinerary for the weekend.

But soon they'll discover that something's missing from their schedule: getting off the island alive.

1. Is there one character you identify more with? Tell us about them.

Harper mostly. I mean, she loves books and takes paperbacks wherever she goes. She even reads while on the boat to the island. I’d definitely get motion sickness, though. I think she might be my favorite character yet! 

2. How was your writing process different for The Island versus writing The Twin and The Lake?

I planned in a little more depth with The Island because I knew I wanted more characters involved and for the teens to split up. I also needed different events to take place closer together. If I didn’t have lots of notes I would have lost people all over the place. I also printed out a copy of The Island rather than reading on my iPad because I find it easier to keep track that way for some reason. I’ll be doing that for all books in the future.

3. If an amusement park was built just for you, what kinds of rides would you want in it?

I would want calm rides as roller coasters make me feel sick. Gentle boats that float around a river with cozy seats and a library would be awesome, right? Or a ghost train!