On Tuesday, Carrboro resident Jill Amber Chafin celebrated the release of her debut thriller novel, “Shaken,” with an event at Flyleaf Books. The gathering featured a discussion with fellow author Barbara Claypole White and drew around 30 people, with attendees eager to hear about Chafin’s journey to publication.
The evening began with a book signing, followed by a reading from “Shaken.” After the reading, White interviewed Chafin and opened the floor for a Q&A period with the audience.
“Shaken,” released Tuesday, has already been awarded the Literary Titan Silver Book Award. The domestic thriller follows a young mother whose fateful decision leads to unforeseen consequences. It explores themes of guilt, motherhood and shaken baby syndrome. During the event, Chafin discussed the inspirations behind her book, her writing, her research process and the challenges of crafting a psychological thriller.
Chafin, who is originally from Wisconsin, said she has been passionate about writing since a young age.
“I was writing short stories when I was 5 and drawing little illustrations, and when I was 10 I typed up my first story — a little mini novel, and it was 40 pages,” Chafin said. “So, really, literally my whole life.”
Chafin and her family later moved to New Zealand, and there she received an advanced diploma in creative writing from the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (Te Pūkenga). Chafin went on to earn a degree in psychology from UNC. In addition to writing, she mentors aspiring authors and helps them achieve their writing and life goals.
The idea for the book came to Chafin 17 years ago while she was taking a writing course in New Zealand. After seeing a "Never Shake a Baby" poster at a doctor's office, she felt compelled to explore the mind of a mother who reaches her breaking point. She wrote the first chapter that same day, though it sat unfinished for years. In 2018, after sharing the chapter with her writer's group, the emotional responses inspired her to turn it into a thriller.
White, the other author featured at the event, is known for her emotionally complex family dramas. Her books include “Echos of Family” and “The Perfect Son,” which both also deal with mental health awareness. During the interview portion, she and Chafin engaged in a lively discussion about the writing process, the intricacies of psychological fiction and the powerful themes that drive their stories.
When asked about her thoughts on “Shaken,” White applauded Chafin for tackling themes with such depth and nuance. Not only has Chafin created a gripping psychological thriller that resonates emotionally with readers, but it is a page turner that can’t be put down, White said at the event.
