I have read some articles on the novel and Sheri Reynolds said that, in some ways, the novel and its characters are autobiographical. Whether it be the fears that Ninah experiences throughout the novel (like fear of turning on the water) or Ninah's mother's love of rules and structure.
All I have personally found out is that she lived a very similar life in a church that enticed fear of God rather than love of God.
My discussion question is: is this where the search ends? What else drove her to write this novel loosely based on her own religious experiences and fears? Do the characters represent people in her own life? And what historical aspects are tied into the story?