INTERVIEW: Austenesque Author Vanessa Kelly on Murder, Mystery, & the Magic of Jane Austen

Welcome to the Tuesday Author Interview with Christina Boyd for the Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

CHRISTINA: You know me. I am wild about anything Jane Austen, especially Austenesque fiction, so when USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Kelly's books started showing up in my social media feed, I had to follow for more. Don't you love it when the algorithm gets it right?) And how delighted was I when she agreed to this interview!

How did writing your first book change your writing process?

Image courtesy of the author, Vanessa Kelly. (EMMA movie, 2020, actor Bill Nye as Mr. Woodhouse)

VANESSA: When I saw my first book in the final proofs, I realized that I possessed an unfortunate predilection for adjectives (and occasionally adverbs). I was utterly and completely appalled (see what I did there?) to see how many colorful descriptors I used in that book. Since then, I’ve been engaged in a (probably hopeless) battle to streamline my prose and give my poor copy editor a break. In all seriousness, though, I think the powers that be will have to pry the adjectives (and occasional adverb) out of my cold, dead hands.

CHRISTINA: Ha! There’s something wonderfully candid about an author who knows their weakness and refuses to surrender it entirely. Thanks for making this editor laugh.

When writing a series, how do you keep it fresh for yourself and the readers?

VANESSA: This is such a great question! One way is to beef up the role of secondary characters. In my current series, "The Emma Knightley Mysteries," I put a fair degree of emphasis on characters like Mr. Woodhouse (Emma’s father), Miss Bates, and several minor characters mentioned in Jane Austen’s novels. I enjoyed leaning into personality traits that are only hinted at in the original books, teasing them out and then giving those characters fuller backstories. Of course, the great Jane was the master of delineating character in a few sentences, so I had lots to work with. In Murder at Enscombe Park, my next book in the series, I transported Caroline Bingley and her sister and brother-in-law (Mr. and Mrs. Hurst) from the world of Pride and Prejudice into Emma’s world. Mr. Hurst is mostly a non-entity in P & P, but for some reason my writer’s brain latched onto him, and he morphed into a pretty hilarious character (at least to me!)

In looking back, I did much the same in my historical romances. While keeping the primary focus on the hero and heroine, I always enjoyed developing secondary characters—particularly humorous ones. Good secondary characters can be effective foils for the protagonist, as well as useful “platforms” for teasing out both themes and plot points in a book. A handy tool in a writer’s toolbox!

CHRISTINA: I love, love, love giving overlooked characters a chance to step into the spotlight, especially when the original author leaves just enough mystery to spark the imagination.

Which of your own novels is your favorite and why?

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VANESSA: Can I go with two books, pretty please! J The first would be my next book, Murder at Enscombe Park. In this story, Emma and her family travel to Yorkshire to visit Jane and Frank Churchill at their family estate. At first, the idea of Emma taking Mr. Woodhouse—her notoriously hypochondriacal father—on a road trip struck me as impossible. Mr. W hates change, hates travel, and has a morbid fear of damp sheets and rich foods. How could I possibly subject him to the horrors of travel and impertinent strangers? Then I thought…this would actually be pretty funny (as well as complicating Emma’s life, and complication is always good in a mystery), so the entire family takes to the road. Then I also decided to toss the dreadful Caroline Bingley and her family into the murder mix, and voila! I had the story I wanted to write. Honestly, I just love this book. Sometimes writing it felt like I was trying to herd a flock of deranged sheep, but I think (I hope) it all worked out in the end. I can’t wait to get Enscombe Park into the hands of my readers.

My other favorite book is The Highlander's Kilted Bride, the last book in my Regency-set "Clan Kendrick Series" of historical romances. It’s a bittersweet love for me because it was my final historical romance before I switched to historical mystery, but I think it’s a funny and charming book—and a great love story. It features a tomboy heroine who lives in the wilds of Scotland, who’s been in love with the hero for as long as she can remember. The hero, though, is a sophisticated and massively successful concert pianist—kind of a rock star of his day. There are madly eccentric relatives who can’t get out of anyone’s way, a missing (and cursed) family heirloom, and a long-suffering father who’s trying to marry our heroine off to someone not our hero. It’s a comedic romp, and I spent too much time laughing at my own jokes.

CHRISTINA: I adore how much fun you've had writing these.

What are you reading now?

VANESSA: I’m deep into the fantasy genre at the moment, which is quite surprising to me. I was never much for fantasy (except for Lord of the Rings), but an amazingly wonderful book called The Goblin Emperor (recommended with annoying persistence by a friend) got me hooked. I’m currently working my way through Victoria Goddard’s "Lays of the Hearth-fire Series" and loving it.

CHRISTINA: Is there a time period you would like to set a future story or genre you’d like to write next?

VANESSA: Yes, the late Victorian period—and I just happen to be starting a new mystery series in that era! "The Sister Sleuth Mysteries" is set in the 1890s and features twin sisters—one a bookworm/scholar, the other an intrepid archeologist—who embark on a search for an ancient treasure (that may or may not be cursed). Think Indiana Jones meets Dark Academia, and you’ve pretty much got it. I’m very excited to be working on something a bit different. It’s a change for sure, but also a good challenge as a writer.

CHRISTINA: I can see why you are excited about a new challenge.

Many thanks, Vanessa, for taking the time to share your thoughts and wonderful candor throughout this interview. It was a pleasure getting to know more about your writing and the stories that inspire you. Best wishes on your upcoming release this fall. I'm thrilled to have received an advance copy via NetGalley and Kensington Publishing.

USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Kelly

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vanessa Kelly is a bestselling author of historical mystery and historical romance. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for best historical romance. She is a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, BookScan, and Amazon bestseller several times over. To date, her books have been published in eleven languages. Vanessa also wrote USA Today bestselling contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels with her husband, under the pen name of VK Sykes.

You can connect with Vanessa via her website, Instagram @vanessakellyauthor, 

Facebook.