Scream of the Silent Sun by Dianna Sinovic
Author Interview + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!
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Scream of the Silent Sun
Quinn Thomas’ brother, Parker, has been missing for more than a decade when, as an empath, she’s mysteriously drawn to a cache of his letters, hidden away in her parents’ attic. His letters speak of her special power and his pride in who she is and what she can do.
It’s confirmation that he’s never forgotten her. But where is he? And why, given the empathic abilities that used to connect them, has she felt no spark from him after all these years?
Tucked inside one of Parker’s letters is a vibrant drawing of the sun. Parker is a skilled artist and the sun is his adopted symbol. Quinn is shocked when the emblem inks itself onto her arm, creating a guide that seems to be trying to tell her where her brother may be.
That’s validated when Quinn visits a local tattoo artist who tells her she is a conduit to her brother. The tattoo comes alive when Parker’s presence is near, but his appearances are the stuff of mirage and hologram: He’s real and not real.
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Scream of the Silent Sun Author Dianna Sinovic
Scream of the Silent Sun centers on Quinn Thomas and her search for her brother, Parker. What would you like readers to know about Quinn?
That while many of us long to be different or unique—to stand out in a crowd, for instance—when you really are different, life can be an endless challenge to navigate. Yet, that difference is also a strength to be embraced.
Scream of the Silent Sun incorporates supernatural/paranormal elements, including empaths and living tattoos. What do you do to create elements like these? Pure imagination? Personal experience with the paranormal?
I wish, personal experience! ☺ My mother, grandmother, and great-aunt all had empathic abilities, but it seems to have skipped a generation in my case. Maybe that’s why I’m fascinated by all things paranormal; I have three Tarot decks, for instance. I have a kind of split personality with writing topics. On the one hand, I spent a number of years working as a science writer/editor for my day job, so I’m deeply appreciative of science and scientific research. On the other, I have a strong sense of there being a spirit world alongside ours, even if I am unable to tap into it.
That approach also helps me in imagining those extrasensory elements that become part of a story.
Scream of the Silent Sun tells a story about family. What drew you to that as a central topic for your debut thriller?
Personal relationships are at the core of story, I think. While the external thriller plot can be driven by the threat of a bomb or a contagion or whatever, what makes the story matter for me is the deeper connection—why it matters to the protagonist on a personal level.
In Scream, the family dysfunction sets up the motivation for Quinn to find her brother and ultimately provides the fuel for her to want to make things right—whether she can or not.
In addition to Scream of the Silent Sun, you also write short stories. How has your process differed between those two mediums?
I enjoy the change-up between the two forms.
The long-form allows me to explore themes at length and grow a complex world, but of course that takes time—at least for me; I’m a methodical writer. Short stories allow me to try out different approaches to storytelling; I can come at an idea from different points of view or techniques.
For instance, I don’t think I could sustain a novel-length piece told in second person, but in a short story, that’s doable because of the more limited word count.
That change-up helps recharge my creative “batteries.” I’ve just finished revisions on a new novel, for instance, and I’m using the break to write several short stories for anthology calls. In the background, though, the plot wheels are turning for my next novel.
You play a number of different musical instruments. Which one do you find yourself playing the most often, and what style of music do you like to play the best, and why?
Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” I might amend that to say ‘without writing and music…’
I have played a number of instruments, usually fairly badly, which has given me an appreciation for true musicians! At this point, I’d rather be listening to music while I write instead of practicing. I’m old school when it comes to listening—I stream a local college radio station, vs. queuing up a Spotify list. Punk, grunge, indie, are all genres I love.
What are you working on now?
I just finished revisions on a sci-fi thriller set off-world, and am currently doing research for a noir thriller.
Words of Wisdom for aspiring writers:
Write every day if you can. I know that’s advice you hear from many writers, but it’s absolutely true. Butt in the chair, fingers on the keyboard or pencil on the paper, day in and day out, will get it done. I’ll share a favorite quote, from poet Mary Oliver: “So it comes first: the world. Then, literature. And then, what one pencil moving over a thousand miles of paper can do.”
Author Pet Corner!
Scream of the Silent Sun Author Dianna Sinovic
Dianna Sinovic is an author of mystery, thriller, and horror, as well as a certified book coach and editor.
Her short stories have appeared in a number of anthologies, and her flash fiction runs monthly on the blog A Slice of Orange.
When she’s not in front of her keyboard, you’ll find her out on a hiking trail or paddling a canoe somewhere in Pennsylvania.
She’s a member of the International Thriller Writers, Horror Writers Association, and Sisters in Crime.
Find out more about Dianna by following her on her Website.
Elena Hartwell/Elena Taylor
