1--What is the title of your latest release?
A TRAITOR IN WHITEHALL
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
While working in a munitions factory in 1940, Evelyne Redfern is recruited by a mysterious family friend to be his eyes and ears in the typing pool of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s Cabinet War Rooms. She’s not entirely sure what to expect—but it certainly isn’t the dead body of a fellow typist. Determined to solve her colleague’s murder, Evelyne uses her keen observation skills and her extensive knowledge of golden age detective fiction in a desperate race against time to uncover the killer and root out a mole that could cost Britain the war.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
A few years ago, one of my good friends mentioned that she’d never been to the Churchill War Rooms, a fantastic museum created out of the secret bunker that Churchill and his ministers used as a vital hub during World War 2. I told her that I would be happy to go with her for a visit, and while we were walking through the displays I realized that it would be a perfect location for a murder mystery.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Absolutely! I gave Evelyne some of my favorite hobbies (reading and knitting) and also made sure that she loves a good night out on the town dancing up a storm. Plus, she has a great wingwoman in her best friend Moira Mangan, a model and actress with dreams of becoming a film star. I think that hanging out with those ladies would be a scream!
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Determined, wry, and compassionate
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Setting this book in the Cabinet War Rooms meant that I did a lot of research on day to day life in the bunker. The staff generally worked in shifts, and some women slept in an area called The Dock, which was essentially a dormitory. Based on what I’ve read in interviews and accounts from members of staff, conditions in The Dock sounded pretty grim from the smelly chemical toilets to the occasional rat for company!
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I usually try to tell the story from start to finish, not editing what I’ve written before unless I need to refer to something. This helps me get the entire story down on the page quickly. Then I can go back in during the editing stage and really bring the draft to life.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Being an American expat living in the UK, I miss really good chocolate chip cookies made with Toll House semi-sweet chocolate chips. There’s just something so nostalgic about them!
9--Describe your writing space/office!
My fiancé and I are lucky enough to have a second bedroom in our home that we’ve converted into a shared office. I have my desk in the bay window, and his desk is against a wall to the left of me. I have a tall bookcase with all of my research books close to hand, and a sofa for the occasional change of scenery when I’m writing.
10--Who is an author you admire?
There are so many wonderful authors writing in historical mystery and historical fiction these days, I couldn’t possibly choose one! In particular, I have a great deal of admiration for anyone who is bringing forgotten or little-known stories from history to light, no matter what time period they’re from.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
I read Jane Austen’s Persuasion when I was in high school and felt as though, for the first time, I had found a flawed but sympathetic heroine who I could really relate to. I still love that book, and whenever I reread it, I get something new out of it.
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.
When I signed with my wonderful agent Emily Sylvan Kim many years ago, I was certain we would sell my first book. However, despite a lot of interest and kind feedback from editors, we just couldn’t find a home for it.
Fast forward several years, and we went out on submission again. I was working as an editor for a now-shuttered digital publication in New York City at the time, and while I was working the breaking news desk, I got an email from Emily asking if I had time to talk. There was nothing pressing going on, so I said yes—and then a fire broke out near Union Square. I dispatched a reporter, begged my co-editor to cover for me for a few minutes, and hurried to a conference room to take Emily’s call. I was overjoyed that we had an offer and scribbled down many notes. Then I quickly called my parents to tell them what had happened and, shaking, went back to my desk to pick up the breaking news story. It was an early lesson in how important multitasking can be in the publishing world!
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
I read a lot of mystery, and specifically historical mystery. However, I also read historical, commercial, and literary fiction, as well as non-fiction history. Occasionally I’ll also dip into the bestseller list to read something completely out of my wheelhouse to try to see what readers are responding to.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
Laura (1944), which is a wonderful black-and-white noir about a detective investigating the murder of a beautiful career woman in New York City. Go into it as unspoiled as you can and enjoy!
15--What is your favorite season?
I love autumn and always have. There is something about the coziness of it that just feels perfect for reading and writing.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I’ve never been a big birthday party person as an adult, so usually I do something low-key with family. Often that means getting together for a meal with family to mark the day.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
A lot of my summer has been spent talking about the Barbie movie and Oppenheimer, both fascinating for different reasons. I also recently tore through Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Fantasy isn’t usually my genre, but there’s something about that book that is just so compelling that I couldn’t put it down!
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
One of the great things about being in London is that there is fantastic Indian food, a great favorite of mine. It makes up for the fact that, being from Los Angeles, I really miss good Mexican food!
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I always have a book on the go, which probably isn’t a big surprise to anyone! I’m also a keen knitter and home chef.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I’m currently working on the next book in the Parisian Orphan series, so readers can expect more mysteries from Evelyne Redfern!
Parisian Orphan
From Julia Kelly, internationally bestselling author of The Last Dance of the Debutante, comes the first in the mysterious and immersive Parisian Orphan series, A Traitor in Whitehall.
1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.
However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.
With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?
Women's Fiction Historical | Mystery Historical [Minotaur Books, On Sale: October 3, 2023, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9781250865489 / eISBN: 9781250865502]
Julia Kelly is the bestselling author of sexy historical romances about smart women and the men who love them. She also writes fast-paced contemporary sports romance as Julia Blake. She picked up her first romance novel and the bad habit of reading well past her bedtime when she was thirteen. Years later, she decided to try writing books of her own and never looked back.
An Emmy-nominated TV producer and recovering journalist, Julia has called Los Angeles, Iowa, New York, and England home. She never met a pair of stilettos she didn’t love and still stays up too late reading.
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