and the plot thickens

"This moment, it's a plot point we've never dared dream. The first-act climax that would make our lives worth cash money. Mr. Whittier's busting open, the event we could witness to become someone famous, a famous authority. Like Lady Baglady's ear, Mr. Whittier's belly splitting open was our ticket. A blank check. A free pass.
We were all soaking it up. Absorbing the event. Digesting the experience into a story. A screenplay. Something we could sell (Palahniuk 106)."

This passage is an example of how the theme has taken a different turn in the story. At first, the theme seemed to center on the stories being told, and how they illustrated the person telling them. Now, the main occurences in the play have started happening between stories, in the telling of the events at the writer's retreat. The theme has developed into "The trapped people try to make the most of their situation," in a way. They've started realizing their situation could be the foundation of a thrilling movie or book, and are constantly taking mental notes on the important points of their stay in the old house that could be exaggerated to create a movie/book worth watching/reading. This passage specifically talks about how Mr. Whittier eats too much, and how his possible death would make a great plot thickener for each person's fantasy work. The trapped writers have stopped trying to escape, and are now creating a new theme for themselves by focusing on what is going on in the present, and not what happened in the past.

Questions:
1. Is mr. whittier going to die?
2. Is anyone else going to die?
3. Are all 23 of the trapped writers going to write a script/book based on this retreat?
4. What did they do with the body of the woman who has already died?
5. Is mr. whittier actually only 13?

A lot of these questions probably don't make that much sense unless you've read the book..