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INTERVIEW: Nev March Hopes Readers Enjoy More Stories About Other Cultures
- Christina Boyd
- Aug 25
- 7 min read
CHRISTINA: Guest reviewer Sophia Rose reviews terrific books for my blog. I am so grateful for her efforts, especially for bringing new-to-me authors to my attention. Recently, Sophia reviewed The Silversmith's Puzzle, and I was intrigued to know more about the author, Indian-born Nev March. I was thrilled when she agreed to my Tuesday Author Interview.
When did you first think you had a book to write, and how did you start?
NEV: I’ve written short stories since I was eleven. In about 2000, I wrote my first book longhand on notepads. It started as a scene, followed by another. I felt such a rush of excitement to write the next, and the next. However, since I worked without a plan, I ended up with a dozen incomplete pieces. So, I began to teach myself how to write well. By 2006, I had four unpublished historical novels done. Then I had to wait until I had time to devote to learning this publishing industry.
CHRISTINA: How has the publishing industry changed since you started?
NEV: When I first attended a writers’ conference, I was dismayed. There were no brown or black writers at all. Similarly, in 2018, I pitched 122 agents and got only two replies, likely because of a lack of interest in “foreign” stories. Finally, in 2019, I won a publishing contract with Macmillan through a contest where entries were anonymized. It was judged only on the quality of the writing. Over the last decade, I’ve seen more diversity in publishing, but it is still extremely difficult for minority writers to get representation or be traditionally published.
CHRISTINA: Your experience highlights an important and ongoing issue in the publishing world. It’s fascinating to learn that anonymized judging made the difference on your road to publishing, and your persistence is truly inspiring. While progress has been made, your story is a powerful reminder of how far the industry still has to go in creating equitable opportunities for underrepresented voices.
What comes first: plot or characters?
NEV: For me, it’s the same thing. I research the time period and record interesting things that happened. These are in the back of my mind as I write the outline—what’s going on, what does my character want, who desperately needs to prevent that, what are the other people doing? The plot and characters develop together, each influencing the other, until it’s indivisible as a process.
CHRISTINA: That's a great example of how historical context can organically shape both plot and character development. I appreciate how you let the research inform your outline while allowing room for the characters and story to evolve together. That balance between structure and discovery is something I aim for as well, and it’s always interesting to learn how others approach it.
Is there one of your characters you most identify with and why?
NEV: I deeply empathize with Captain Jim’s sense of alienation and need to feel a sense of belonging. As an immigrant, it took me decades to get there. Even in India, the strong morals of my Parsi Zoroastrian upbringing put me at odds with the common self-serving beliefs of my peers, where taking advantage of others was seen as smart, but helping those who could not return favors was seen as foolish. I also identify with Diana, who is gifted and perceptive and empathetic, but limited by the restrictions placed on women, and the common demeaning attitudes toward women.
CHRISTINA: Your connection to both Captain Jim and Diana adds a powerful dimension to the way you engage with the story. It's moving to hear how your own experiences as an immigrant and as someone shaped by a distinct cultural and moral framework inform your understanding of these characters. The contrast you describe between integrity and societal expectations, as well as the challenges of navigating gender limitations, resonates deeply and brings valuable insight into the text.
What is your current project or latest release?
NEV: My latest release is The Silversmith’s Puzzle, book number four of my historical mystery series which began with Murder in Old Bombay. It was published in May, so I’m excited to see how my book impacts people so differently. I guess art does that—different aspects resonate, based on where you are in your own life. I hope that when readers finish my books, they feel uplifted, and catch their breaths, smiling after the roller coaster ride.
CHRISTINA: As you know, we reviewed it here, and Sophia Rose loved it. Best wishes on your next!
Do you put people you know, or their characteristics, in your book?
NEV: I do. Starting with Murder in Old Bombay, my character Captain Jim creates disguises that are uncannily real because they are based on his dead comrades. He’s memorializing the friends he misses by bringing them to life in his disguises. I do something similar. I memorialize the family and friends of my childhood in my characters—the Framji family, their employees, witnesses, and those Captain Jim meets on his journeys. As for villains? When I worked in corporate America, I came across self-serving individuals with a falsely high opinion of themselves. It is my joy to burst those bubbles in my books! Some get their comeuppance, while I find creative ways to get rid of the others!
CHRISTINA: I love that! It sounds like your novels double as both tribute and therapy—which is honestly the perfect combination. Immortalizing loved ones through characters is such a beautiful gesture… and giving your villains a fictional reckoning? That’s just good storytelling and good fun. I’ll definitely be reading with extra curiosity now.
What makes you get up in the morning? What do you love?
NEV: I love the sense of discovery from crafting a wow scene or line of dialog. I enjoy meeting friends, traveling, and reading interesting books. But what gets me out of bed is the thought of the people that need me. That, above everything, helps me know my place in the world.
CHRISTINA: That’s beautifully said. I think there’s something grounding about knowing your words matter, but even more so when you know you matter to others.
Do you hide any secrets in your novels only a select few might know?
NEV: I hide Easter eggs about my Parsi Zoroastrian culture and traditions, some myths and curiosities, as well as quotes by Shakespeare and Conan Doyle! Some enjoy the cultural nuggets, while others delight in the nods to the famous Sherlock Holmes. My mum used to read to us kids from the tissue-thin pages of a book by Conan-Doyle. No wonder my character Captain Jim is an ardent fan of Holmes!
CHRISTINA: I love that your stories are layered with personal and cultural treasures. It’s like a literary scavenger hunt with heart, history, and a dash of Holmes!
If you could tell your 21-year-old self anything, what would you share?
NEV: I’d tell her that it’s going to be okay. How vast and terrifying the future seemed at 21. Questions abounded: Would I get a decent job, would I find a good ‘partner in life’, would I have enough money, would I be able to do all I wanted to? I’d tell her, keep focused on your path, and value the people you meet on the way. Guard your boundaries, and demand respect. It will be fine. (And I’d say, buy stock in Apple and Amazon!)
CHRISTINA: That’s solid wisdom and excellent financial advice! Your younger self would’ve been both reassured and very, very rich.
What do you want to achieve with your novels?
NEV: I hope to make stories of other cultures more accessible and to entertain readers with non-formulaic, exciting tales. Reading about other cultures can help us to become more empathetic and to see ourselves in them, so discover that "the world is one family."
CHRISTINA: Born into a mixed-race family—my father a Filipino immigrant, and my mother of Slovenian and Austrian descent—I grew up straddling cultures, balancing the nuances of each. But even as a teenager in the Eighties, I couldn't name a single writer of color. I am grateful to writers like you who are helping to bring your stories mainstream.
Thank you for your time with this interview. Best wishes on your next projects.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author Nev March is the first Indian-born writer to win Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America’s Award for Best First Crime Fiction. Her debut novel, Murder in Old Bombay, was an Edgar and Anthony finalist. Nev’s books deal with issues of identity, race, and moral boundaries. Her sequel, Peril at the Exposition, is set at the 1893 World’s Fair, during a time of conflict that planted the seeds of today’s red-blue political divide.
In Captain Jim and Lady Diana’s third adventure, The Spanish Diplomat’s Secret, they face a strange, otherworldly foe who causes Jim to question the nature of justice. In The Silversmith’s Puzzle (May 2025), Captain Jim and Diana race back to colonial India to rescue Diana’s beloved brother Adi, who is accused of murder.
After a long career in business analysis, in 2015, Nev returned to her passion, writing fiction. She now writes and teaches fun courses on creative writing and movie analysis at Rutgers University, Osher Institute. She has been interviewed on NPR, written for magazines and edited issues of the FEZANA Journal. She also writes screenplays for TV and film. A Parsi Zoroastrian herself, she lives in New Jersey with her family. She volunteers with local non-profit Shine and Inspire and the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY). She is president of the NY chapter board of the Mystery Writers of America.
Connect with Nev at https://nevmarch.com
Oh how neat that you hosted Nev March! Great questions and answers. :)