What is the title of your latest release?
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
When party girl Cinnamon Scott jets off to London to help her very pregnant sister, she expects tea and maybe escaping for a few late-night cocktails; not a mystery hidden within the glittering halls of The Savoy Hotel. But when she uncovers the legacy of Ada Coleman, the hotel’s first, and once legendary, female bartender, whose story history tried to erase, Cinnamon becomes determined to set the record straight. As she delves into the past, she sparks an unexpected romance, reconnects with her sister, and begins rewriting more than just history.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I stumbled upon the idea for my book in the very place it’s set, the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel. Much like my character, Cinnamon, when I learned the story of the Savoy’s first female mixologist I wanted to know more. And also like Cinnamon, I was frustrated to find there was very little written about this incredible woman. I knew right then I want to do something about it!
Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
100% yes! I mean, we do have a lot in common including a love of martinis, luxury travel, and writing! What a coincidence.
What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Sassy, adventurous, complicated.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Given that this is my debut novel, I learned A TON. I wrote it as part of The Novelry’s 90 Novel Program which felt like both a crash course in creative writing and also a fun escape into another place. They teach you to write an hour a day and that hour quickly became my favorite thing to do. I wrote in secret since I had no idea if anything would ever come of it. It felt like I was having a delicious affair with my imagination.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
As a rule, I like to write straight through but since I don’t outline in advance, I frequently have to go back to make adjustments along the way as new ideas and plot twists develop.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Do martinis count?
Describe your writing space/office!
I travel constantly. For the past five years I led philanthropy initiatives for the Prince of Monaco which had me globe-trotting in support of theater, dance and film artists so I learned to write from basically anywhere. While I prefer to write in a cozy café or beautiful hotel lobby, much of my writing takes place waiting at the gate for a delayed flight or in the back of taxis to and from meetings.
Who is an author you admire?
There are soooo many authors I’m obsessed with. But a few stand out not just for their incredible writing but… Jodi Picoult for her ability to write the most well-researched and nuanced books, each in less than a year. V.E. Schwab for her gorgeous prose and ability to fly in the face of genre rules. Fiona Davis for how effortlessly she seems to connect with readers and build a community around her books. Patti Callahan Henry for her innate generosity in mentoring and helping new generations of authors.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. When I read it as a teenager it blew my mind to read the previously very male dominated Arthurian legend from a strong, powerful, female point of view. There’s no doubt that my passion for telling women’s stories was born in part from that book.
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.
Ironically, I had just landed in London (where my book takes place) after what had been an overly long, much delayed flight and I was in a terrible mood until the message popped up from my agent letting me know Grand Central Publishing had made an offer. Needless to say, my mood drastically improved and I’m sure the other passengers were wondering why, after the disastrous flight, I was grinning from ear to ear as I exited the plane!
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Women’s fiction, historical fiction and mystery/thrillers tend to be my go-to genres but I’m always open to recommendations in other genres and enjoy discovering what else is out there even if it isn’t always my taste.
What’s your favorite movie?
I’m more of a Broadway girl than a movie buff. I’ve been singing showtunes basically since I learned to talk and have been working as a Broadway producer for the past decade. I’m definitely biased but I was lucky enough to be part of the producing team of both Hamilton and Moulin Rouge so those are without a doubt my favorites!
What is your favorite season?
Winter! I love the holiday season, I love coats and boot, and hot toddys and curling up by the fire to read or write. It’s also the time of year that lots of great shows are opening on Broadway so I don’t mind spending the short days in a dark theater.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I’m a Leo which means I like to celebrate my birth MONTH not just my birthday (though my husband has yet to come around to that. Haha). I host a lot of parties throughout the year so when it’s time for my birthday, I generally like to travel somewhere fun with my husband and chihuahua, Mister Big, and celebrate abroad.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I loved Etoile on Amazon Prime. It was such an underrated and brilliant show about the inner workings of the two major ballet companies in New York and Paris. If you missed it, like most people did, definitely go back and check it out.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Mexican food. If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would probably be text mex queso.
What do you do when you have free time?
Sing showtunes around the piano with my friends, have pre-show cocktails at Sardi’s.
What can readers expect from you next?
I’ve been hard at work on my next novel but for the next several months I’m excited to spend time with my readers. The hardest part of all of this has been waiting for my book launch and now that the book is out, I’m eager to meet my readers, pop into book clubs, and raise a glass! If your book club is reading LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY, let me know! I’d love visit or zoom in to meet you and chat about the book. CHEERS!
Narrator: Christine Lakin
The high society wartime whodunnit
Set amongst the glittering backdrop of London's iconic Savoy hotel, Cinnamon Scott is forced to confront her troubled past as she uncovers the story of the hotel’s first female bartender who has been erased from the history books. And like a well-made cocktail, their intertwined stories pack just the right punch.
Six years ago, Cinnamon Scott was a young writer on the rise in New York City. But since the sudden loss of her parents, she's been stuck in place, retreating to a life of endless partying—made possible by the massive fortune she's inherited. Despite their tragic loss, she and her older sister Rosemary have always had each other to lean on. But now, with Rosie living in London and about to give birth to twins, Cinnamon feels more lost than ever.
When Rosie is put on bedrest, Cinnamon flies to her sister's side, where she's temporarily living at The Savoy. Immediately swept away by the beauty and history of the legendary hotel and its famed American Bar, Cinnamon finds ample opportunity to distract herself. When the late shift bartender tells her the story of Ada Coleman, the woman who crafted the cocktail recipes The Savoy popularized in its famous handbook a century ago, Cinnamon is inspired by the bartender's vivid stories of Ada's fearlessness and can't understand why Ada's name is nowhere to be found.
After meeting a handsome historian researching the hotel and realizing that Ada is likely to be once again overlooked, Cinnamon must decide if she can overcome her demons and stand up for Ada's story. And, along the way, she might just save her own story too.
Women's Fiction Historical | Fiction Family Life [ Grand Central Publishing, On Sale: November 4, 2025, Hardcover / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9781538772881 / eISBN: 9781538772904 ]
Brisa grew up in the Pacific Northwest before moving to Midtown Manhattan to turn her passion for musicals and “flair for the dramatic” into an award-winning career as a Broadway producer. Three Tony Awards later, she continues to be active on Broadway, working on numerous productions including Hamilton, Beautiful and Moulin Rouge. In 2019 at the request of HSH Prince Albert of Monaco Brisa joined his foundation to lead philanthropy efforts in theater, dance and film on behalf of his mother, Princess Grace Kelly. Most recently she turned her entrepreneurial spirit to actual “spirits,” launching Literati Spirits, a premium vodka created by book lovers for book lovers. She enjoys traveling to literary destinations with a martini in one hand and a manuscript in the other, collecting stories with her husband Mark and her chihuahua, Mister Big.
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