The Second Black Beacon Book of Mystery will be released on the 8th of July (but the Kindle version is available for pre-order at just $1.99 instead of $3.99, and you can add it to your Goodreads list today) and to celebrate this new volume of short mysteries bound to get armchair detectives the world over donning their deerstalkers, we’re interviewing the contributing authors. Are you ready to glimpse the inner workings of these criminally clever minds? Sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy the following interview—on second thoughts, don’t drink that!
Hi Paulene,
It’s always tricky interviewing a mystery writer about a particular story because we don’t want to give anything away, but can you tell us (carefully) where the idea for your story came from?
There are several sub-genres of mystery fiction, but the stories in this anthology are traditional fair-play mysteries in which the reader can try to solve the puzzle before all is revealed. What makes this kind of mystery so timeless?
We all love mysteries, digging deep to find the truth behind the mask we wear in our lives. It's fun to have all the elements laid out and to try to interpret them through the eyes of your detective.
Give us one classic mystery writer you admire and one new talent (not from this anthology) readers ought to discover.
I love Agatha Christie, of course. And recently I read a mysterious book which I found fascinating by JP Delaney called A Perfect Wife. It combines my favourite things, a mystery, interesting structure and POV and A.I. I love stories about AI. I think we need to explore them, and think things through thoroughly in fiction before we launch them to the world.
Is this the first mystery your protagonist has solved?
No, this my second Sherlock Holmes pastiche. I particularly enjoyed this one as it features one of my favourite characters in the Baker Street pantheon...Irene Adler.
If you were a detective, private investigator, investigative journalist, or amateur sleuth, what would be your trademark quirk?
Needing lots of cappuccino stops to sit and jot down my notes!
Have you ever solved a real-life mystery?
Constantly. People around us are always hiding something. We pretend everything's okay, we hold that mask up. As a writer, and a curious person, I constantly speculate as to what's behind the words.
How important is setting to you in your writing? Have you lived or visited where your story is set?
I was in Baker Street, in the Sherlock Holmes museum and gift shop, quite recently. So, yes! And I watch all Sherlock Holmes on film and TV!
What do you aim to give your readers?
A lot of fun, intrigue, and sights and sounds and suggestion of smells emanating from Victorian London.
What are you working on now?
I'm just about to launch my first novel, Secrets of the Nile, a YA time travel adventure set in Ancient Egypt. With five more books (already written!) to follow. I'm one busy indie writer/publisher!
Where can we find you online?
Thanks for playing along. Enjoy the tea!
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