Interview with Daphne Benedis-Seize, Creator of MG Thriller, I WILL FIND YOU (Scholastic Press)

Written by Daphne Benedis-Seize
Writer: Scholastic
Publication date:

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Nicky has disappeared!

Oliva, Leo, and Gracie–three seventh graders who’ve little or no in frequent besides for the way a lot they dislike Nicky, the college bully–had been the final ones to see him. They’re positive that there are clues the police are overlooking. They usually every have their very own secret motive for needing to search out him as quickly as doable.

As they examine, they uncover that issues are extra sophisticated than they’d appeared. Nicky’s victims made a plan to get revenge on him–a plan that’s gone terribly mistaken. Can they discover out the place Nicky is earlier than it’s too late?

Thriller, thrilling twists, and spot-on friendship dynamics mix to make this a page-turning learn and a considerate take a look at bullying, revenge, and the true which means of punishment and forgiveness.

Preorder from wherever you purchase books. Signed copies shall be accessible at Daphne’s native impartial bookstore, Second Star to the Proper.


I write thrillers as a result of I’ve all the time cherished studying them, so my place to begin is all the time a (hopefully) juicy what-if. It must be one thing I do know I’d prefer to learn, just like the type of what-ifs created by my favourite thriller writers Lois Duncan and Karen McManus (I all the time learn books for writing inspiration!). I Will Discover You takes place in the identical faculty as my earlier center grade thrillers, I KNOW YOUR SECRET and I KNOW YOU’RE LYING and that dictated a few of the parameters of FIND YOU.

All of the books takes place in the middle of a single day, in order that wanted to remain the identical, however each of the earlier books occurred at school, so I needed to range it up in FIND YOU. I began desirous about subject journeys after which remembered the tenting journey I took with my freshman class in highschool and all of the potential for thriller that was there. The what-if I then got here up with was, “what if 4 seventh graders are assigned to the identical cabin however within the morning solely three of them stay?” (Fast spoiler- this isn’t a homicide thriller.) And that arrange the query that drives the remainder of the story: the place precisely did that fourth child go and why? To seek out out you must learn the e-book  

Each e-book I write displays the problems I’m considering in my life on the time I’m writing. Sure issues come up often in my tales: id, race, neurodiversity, how folks deal with feelings and challenges of their lives, the way in which we select to deal with one another and the impression that has. I believe each e-book I write touches on my core perception that everybody has a narrative and to know different people we have to take heed to these tales.I would like readers to fall into the tales I write, keen to show pages to search out out what occurs after which shocked and happy by the ending. And I hope that in that there’s additionally new empathy and surprise for the folks of their world. 

My most sensible recommendation is that this: write daily. Write whenever you really feel prefer it, write whenever you don’t. Even on days whenever you assume each phrase is terrible, it’s one thing to come back again to and edit the next day. And likelihood is it’s not as unhealthy as you thought! My most important recommendation: your story is exclusive and particular and has by no means been informed earlier than. The world shall be higher if you happen to share it!   

I simply bought a job as a junior/senior excessive librarian! 4 years in the past, when my children had been on the brink of apply to varsity, I went again to high school and bought my SMLS, aka my librarian diploma. I spent three superb years working because the librarian at an elementary faculty in Brooklyn- Debbie, you understand how superior that neighborhood is since you did a implausible go to with my college students there! Now I’m attending to work with older college students nonetheless doing what I like: serving to college students discover books they love! 


Additionally see different Interviews with Guide Creators and Recommendation For Younger Writers And Illustrators.