General Questions

Did you always know that you wanted to be a writer?

Yes! Ever since I was a child, I’ve been writing. It started out with short stories and then, in high school, I tried to write my first book. I made it about 20,000 words with huge enthusiasm before realizing that the idea I had been working on was running out of steam. I continued to tinker with book ideas, but nothing really stuck until I was in graduate school. That was when I decided to write a book, and I actually kept at it for a few years until I finished the manuscript. Although that book has never been published, it was the book that got me my agent.

How did you start writing?

As I mentioned above, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing. As a child, I was always scribbling something. Although those early attempts didn’t lead to anything publishable, I do think that they encouraged me to be creative and taught me some of the discipline that you need to be a working author. 

What were your favorite books growing up?

There are so many, but three I read in high school really stick out in my mind. They are:

  • I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

  • The Greengage Summer by Rummer Godden

  • Persuasion by Jane Austen

What are some of the books that influenced you as a writer?

Again, there are too many to list all of them, however the book that changed my career was The Shellseekers by Rosamunde Pilcher. It was so important to me that I wrote an entire article about it on my Substack With Love from London, which you can read here.

What is the story behind selling your first book?

It was not a straight path, so I’ve written about it here and here. 

Where do you find your inspiration?

Everywhere! I’m always reading fiction and nonfiction of various genres and subjects, and I’m also a big fan of TV and movies. Living in the UK and writing about World War 2 for a great deal of my career, I’ve loved hearing the family stories of friends and strangers alike. I find people are often very willing to share stories if you show a bit of curiosity and interest.

I’d like to get my book signed. When are you coming to my city?

Because I live in the UK and I am predominantly published in the US and Canada, I don’t really have the chance to go on formal book tours and do signings. However, I have started to work with independent bookstores to provide signed bookplates for each release if those bookstores are interested in stocking them. Check back under the For Readers tab on my website from time to time to find out locations while supplies last!

Historical Fiction

Why do you write stories about women in history?

I have always been fascinated by the areas of history that often go overlooked, including the stories of women. Although there are many scholars and novelists who are working to shout about the incredible things women have done throughout some of the most pivotal moments in history, I find that there is still a need to shine a light on women’s extraordinary achievements.

Do you always write about World War 2?

I tend to become very interested in a topic and research it deeply, so I can understand why you might think that. However, I have written books outside of World War 2, and I definitely have plans to do it again because there are so many fascinating stories to tell across time.

Do you ever write about real people?

I haven’t written what is sometimes called biographical historical fiction yet. (That is taking the life of a recognizable public figure and using their life and achievements to create a fictional narrative about them.) I have friends who are doing this and do an incredible job at it, but so far I haven’t hit on a real-life figure who I feel drawn enough to or whose story I feel I can do justice. However, my philosophy for my writing career before has been “Never say never” so I can’t rule it out.

Are you writing a sequel to The Light Over London, The Last Garden in England, etc.?

At this point in time, I have no plans to write a sequel to any of my standalone novels. (Those are my historical novels that are not my Evelyne Redfern mystery series, which already has three books published or in the works at the time of writing this.) This isn’t because I don’t love those books—I really do!—but I feel that at the end of a novel I have told the story that needed to be told about those characters. But, you know, never say never…

I have a story idea. If I send it to you, will you write about it?

I really appreciate you thinking that I might be a good fit for your idea, but it’s yours! Every author is a little different on this one, but I really feel that I need to write the books that are truly my own from idea all the way to publication.

One of your books has inspired me to start researching my own family’s history. How do I start?

There are lots of great resources for researching family history, but it can be a bit overwhelming to start. I would think about what you know about the person or people you are looking at. 

  • Were any of your family members prominent members of their communities? 

  • Did they work in a particular industry? 

  • Did they serve in the armed forces? 

  • Have my family members lived in the same community or gone to the same church, synagogue, or mosque for generations and might there be records of that?

  • Has anyone in your family done any previous genealogy work on something like Ancestry.com? (It is more common than you might think that someone becomes interested in family history and becomes the de facto family historian!) 

My next stop would be to start reading advice on genealogy websites that focus on certain communities, ethnic backgrounds, or religious affiliations as they are often excellent resources for finding census information; birth, marriage, and death certificates; and other publicly available records. Local libraries often also have guidance for family members starting to research their backgrounds. Good luck!

Mystery Novels

Why did you decide to write mystery novels after writing historical novels?

First of all, I am still writing historical novels as well as the Evelyne Redfern mysteries because I love doing both! Secondly, I think that writing in a different genre like mystery really helps keep me fresh and excited for my historical novels and vice versa. Evelyne Redfern’s books are a real joy and challenge to write because she has such a distinctive voice and the books are puzzles that tickle my brain.

Where did your inspiration for the character of Evelyne Redfern come from?

I like to think Evelyne sprang fully formed from somewhere in my brain, a bit like Athena springing forth from Zeus’s forehead but without the splitting headache. However, she probably is an amalgamation of many, many years of loving reading about smart, independent women who forge their own paths in life. If you’re looking for a direct inspiration, I suppose you could say there’s a dash of Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday and Katharine Hepburn in A Philadelphia Story about her.

Where did you get the name Evelyne Redfern?

I knew from the start that I wanted to write a heroine who grew up with two identities—French and British—because I wanted to play with the idea that she has a notorious childhood that was heavily reported on in the international press. The name Evelyne felt perfect because it works in both French and English. In terms of her last name of Redfern, that is a direct reference to a character’s name in my favorite movie Laura (1944), which I strongly encourage you to watch if you haven’t!

Will there be more Evelyne Redfern books?

Yes! As of writing this, there will be at least three Evelyne Redfern books. They are:

I have many more ideas for Evelyne and David, and I promise I will share any updates on my Substack newsletter first. If you want to sign up for that, you can click here.

Will Evelyne and David ever get together?

I like to think Evelyne would want me to answer this by saying a lady (author) never kisses and tells. However, I am a self-professed lover of will-they-won’t-they relationships in books and TV shows, so I guess you’ll just have to read to find out!

Evelyne’s read a lot! Do you have a list of the titles mentioned in her books?

I do indeed! You can find the running list of every book mentioned in the series and which book the titles appear in here.

I thought that the series was called the Parisian Orphan series, but now I’m seeing it as the Evelyne Redfern series? Did something change?

You are very eagle-eyed! When A Traitor in Whitehall came out, my publisher named the series The Parisian Orphan series. However, as the books have developed, we realized that Evelyne deserves to be in the spotlight so we changed the name to The Evelyne Redfern series. I love the change and am really happy about it!

Writing Advice

I want to write a book. How should I start?

There are all sorts of craft books and classes out there that will teach you things like narrative structure and character development. Those can be really helpful. However, the strongest advice I can give to anyone who wants to write is that at the end of the day you need to sit down and write the book. Focus on getting a really sloppy first draft down and then step back and figure out how to take that and begin editing it to get closer to the story you want to tell.

How do I find an agent?

A lot has changed in publishing since I got my agent. When I started out, some agents had websites but it wasn’t a given, and almost every agent I queried wanted me to send a physical copy of my manuscript if they requested a partial or a full. I say that because, when it comes to the mechanics of finding an agent you are better off looking at some of the more reputable writing advice websites or publications, including whatever writer’s association represents the genre you want to write. (I don’t know if Query Tracker had even been invented when I got my agent.) 

I will say that when it comes to actually picking who you want to query, take the time to do your research. A lot of a successful author-agent relationship comes down to finding someone who fits your personality and your working style. Think about what you want your own career to look like so that, if an agent is interested in your work, you know what you want and can figure out whether or not this is the right person to help you get there.

I’ve written a book, but I haven’t found a publisher yet. Will you read my manuscript?

I’m very sorry, but for a lot of reasons I can’t read manuscripts or offer feedback on unpublished work. I would recommend that you look at local writing groups or online writing communities for a critique group that might be able to help you.


Last updated July 2024