1--What is the title of your latest release?
My latest release is MRS. JEFFRIES AIMS TO WIN….and I had a blast writing it. I’ve always enjoyed writing my books, but this one was really special.
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
What happens when a man who is just this side of evil ends up dead in a place where everyone, and I mean everyone, has a good reason to want him gone from the face of the earth?
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
My books are already set in a very specific universe so it’s very easy for me. I simply decide how many days/weeks/months have passed since my last book. For this one, the time frame isn’t very long….not to give any secrets away, but there’s a reason the time frame is somewhat short.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
I have a ‘household’ full of protagonists – and I would hang out with any of them/all of them in a hot second! These are people who realize that a life worth living doesn’t just mean surviving, it means you do what’s right, regardless of the cost. I’ve had so much fun with my characters over the years that I feel they’re almost as close as my family.
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
“Justice for everyone.”
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned a lot about archery and other upper middle class leisure activities in late 19th century England. It was fascinating.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I generally do three drafts of my manuscripts – the first draft is just to bang out the plot so most of the editing is done in drafts two and three.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Lobster….and I have a problem with it if the restaurant has a ruddy tank filled with them - honestly, I ask the waiter if I can have one that is already dead and has been frozen. Regardless of how much I love lobster, I can’t stand the thought of killing something that I’ve seen swimming. I know it’s a bit hypocritical, the poor frozen lobster didn’t’ want to die either, but who among us isn’t a tad hypocritical when it comes to food.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I’ve got a cluttered U shaped desk, two bookcases filled with books, magazines and stacks of other stuff that I’m sure I’ll need one of these days. When I’m writing, I don’t do much housekeeping in my office so it’s generally a bit of a mess.
10--Who is an author you admire?
Seriously, there are so many wonderful authors that have filled me with joy over the years. My # 1 is the late, fabulous Erle Stanley Gardner, the creator of Perry Mason. Honestly, I’m an old lady who spent her formative years watching Perry Mason and then, as a teenager, reading every book that Erle Stanley Gardner wrote. In every one of his books, Perry Mason fought the good fight for those that were desperate and often poor.
Other authors I admire are Louise Penney, Michael Connelly, Stephen King, Martin Limon, the late Theodore Sturgeon and of course, the late, great Isaac Asimov.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
There are literally dozens of books that changed my life, but the one that springs to mind first is “A Tale of Two Cities”. I read it when I was fifteen and I’ve never forgotten how it made the think and more importantly, how it made me feel.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
Goodness, that was a wonderful moment. I kept wondering if I’d actually had the conversation with my agent or if I’d just imagined the whole thing.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
I love all genres, but my favorite is and will always be mystery.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
Red. It’s a French film that is part of a trilogy. I was fascinated by the story and the fact that the screenwriter dealt with the unknowable mystery of coincidence.
15--What is your favorite season?
Fall
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Dinner out at a great restaurant
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
For tv I’d recommend “Succession”. It was fascinating and brilliantly written. I just read THE REVERSAL by Michael Connelly and really enjoyed it…as for podcasts, actually, I don’t listen to them very often so I can’t recommend anything.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I’ve never met a nationality whose food I didn’t love…but I especially adore Thai, French and Mexican Food.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I love doing jigsaw puzzles, reading, crocheting, and making bread.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I’m currently working on another “Mrs. Jeffries” as well as a political thriller with a slight paranormal edge to it. I’m also collaborating with another author on a science fiction novel.
Mrs. Jeffries #41
A Victorian Mystery
Mrs. Jeffries must help Inspector Witherspoon crack a new case and catch a killer in this next installment of the beloved Victorian Mystery series.
Successful businessman Jeremy Marks wasn’t highly regarded by any of the members of the West London Archery Club. Most of them considered him a buffoon and a bore. But everyone was stunned when the fellow was murdered during a lull in the club’s annual archery competition. He’d been shot with arrows from a longbow during a raging thunderstorm.
But those who knew Marks well understood that the unkempt "court jester" persona adopted by the late, unlamented man was as fake as the smile he wore. As Inspector Witherspoon investigates the murder, he discovers the victim had real enemies among the assembled archery contestants. Marks was notorious for not paying his bills, cheating vendors, bad-mouthing business rivals, and worst of all, betraying his business partners. The dead man had built a whole career and amassed quite a substantial fortune by harming those who trusted him. It will take Mrs. Jeffries and the inspector’s household as well as their friends to sort out fact from fiction and target a killer.
Mystery Amateur Sleuth [Berkley, On Sale: August 29, 2023, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593101117 / eISBN: 9780593101124]
Emily Brightwell was born in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia. Her family moved to Southern California in 1959 and she grew up in Pasadena. After graduating from California State University, she decided to work her way around the world and took off for England. She didn’t get much further because she met the man who became her husband, got married, and had two children. While working in international shipping, she decided to pursue her dream and become a writer – which, of course, is the best job ever. She lives in California with her husband and a cranky old cat named Kiwi.
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