1--What is the title of your latest release?
MURDER ON BEDFORD STREET, a Gaslight Mystery
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
When midwife Sarah Malloy and her private investigator husband, Frank, try to help a woman whose husband has wrongly locked her away in an asylum, they discover nothing is what it seems in the Longly family, and they must stop a killer before more lives are lost.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Finding a location for the Gaslight Mysteries is so important because that is the title as well. I was looking for what was a nice residential neighborhood in 1901 and Bedford Street was and still is. Recently, a producer expressed interest in turning the Gaslight Mysteries into a TV series and she has been shopping it around. She dearly loves the series, and she happens to live on Bedford Street, so I gave her a little nod for all her hard work.
4--Would you hang out with your sleuth in real life?
I would love to hang out with Frank and Sarah in real life. I created them to be people I would like and gave them characteristics I admire. I may not have those characteristics myself (Sarah is much nicer than I am!), but I do appreciate them in others. And I love Frank’s jaded view of the world.
5--What are three words that describe your sleuth?
Smart, clever (not the same thing!), kind
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I always learn a lot about whatever topic I’m writing about. This book is unique because I was learning about human psychology instead of about something like the history of motorcars or how arsenic kills a person. I always like to believe that everyone is redeemable, but what I learned from this book is that some are simply wired to be evil and nothing will change them.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I hate admitting this because I know it discourages other writers, but I am a one draft writer. Each day when I sit down to write, I read what I wrote yesterday and edit as needed. Then I write new pages, rinse, and repeat. When I’m finished, I do one final read through and edit as needed.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Chocolate, although my doctor took me off of it because of acid reflux. I still sneak it now and then, though.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I have a wonderful enormous cabinet desk with lots of shelves that I bought years ago when I was moving into a new house. In that house, I used the formal living room as my office, so I thought I could just close the cabinet doors when I had company and hide my messy desk. In all the years, I think I’ve only closed the doors a couple times, though! I also have a lovely cherry 2-drawer file cabinet with papers I will probably never look at again in it. I also have 3 sets of cherry bookshelves full of reference books, most of which I never use, but I can’t get rid of any of them just in case. I also add to them with every book. It’s an addiction. Finally, I have a small chest of drawers made to look like three gigantic books stacked on each other. It’s a cozy nook that I love.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Please don’t make me choose! I admire so very many.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
Silver Wings for Vicki, which is a book my parents bought for me at the scholastic book fair back in the day. I loved it because she was a stewardess (every girl’s dream job back then!) and she spelled Vicki the same way I do. Also, it was a mystery, so that’s probably where it started.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)
This was many years ago. I had been trying to sell my first book which was a Romance set in the Old West. I had been sending it to publishers who publish westerns and I had logged 5 rejections before I realized it was a romance. I had sent it to an agent who didn’t want to represent me but who suggested I send it to a particular publisher (not my current publisher). I did and a week later I got a call from an editor. I didn’t know much about publishing, but I knew they didn’t call you on the phone to tell you that you were rejected. She explained she really liked the book, it was really funny (This was the first I knew it was funny!), and if I could add more sex scenes and make it 200 pages longer, she would like to buy it. I did and she did.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
I love mysteries and the occasional thriller if it’s not too scary. Every now and then I like to read a romance just for the happy.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
Too many great ones to choose!
15--What is your favorite season?
Summer. I know, most people hate the heat, but I love it.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
With my family around me.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. It’s a hoot.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Italian. It’s in my blood.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
Read! Although I do like to shop, too. I also volunteer, and I serve on the board of my local library.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
After Murder on Bedford Street, my next book will be a Counterfeit Lady Book, City of Betrayal, which is set in Nashville, Tennessee, during the final vote on the 19th Amendment giving women the vote. It is one of the most exciting stories I’ve ever read, and I hope I was able to capture that in this book.
Gaslight Mystery #26
Midwife Sarah Malloy and her private investigator husband, Frank, must stop a killer lurking among a young family in the newest installment of the USA Today bestselling Gaslight Mysteries.
Hugh Breedlove is far from the most agreeable client private investigator Frank Malloy has ever had, but his case is impossible to refuse: his young niece, Julia, has been wrongfully committed to an insane asylum by her cruel and unfaithful husband, Chet Longly. Though Breedlove and his wife seem more interested in protecting the family reputation than their niece’s safety, Frank and Sarah agree to help for the sake of Julia and the young son she left behind.
Frank and Sarah’s investigation reveals a dark secret—a maid at the Longly home died suspiciously under Chet’s watch, and now it seems Julia’s son might also be in danger. The Malloys fear they are dealing with a man more dangerous than they had anticipated, one who will do anything to defame his wife. But all is not as it seems in the Longly family, and perhaps another monster is hiding in plain sight....
Mystery Historical [Berkley, On Sale: April 25, 2023, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593337103 / eISBN: 9780593337110]
Victoria Thompson is the USA Today bestselling author of the Edgar® and Agatha Award nominated Gaslight Mystery Series and the Sue Grafton Memorial Award nominated Counterfeit Lady Series. She has published 20 historical romances and 33 mysteries, and she currently teaches in the Master’s program for writing popular fiction at Seton Hill University. She lives in Illinois with her husband and a very spoiled little dog.
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