Author Spotlight: Syrie James

Syrie James is an award-winning, bestselling author with more than a dozen critically acclaimed novels in the historical fiction, historical mystery, and romance genres. Her mystery series, The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire, is about a circle of sister sleuths in Victorian England who are swept up in murder, mystery, Gothic suspense, and romance.

Cozy Crime Reads Interview with Syrie James

What attracted you to the cozy mystery genre?

I’m a huge fan of Agatha Christie, the master of the cozy mystery. Her books are filled with such clever surprises. I enjoy writing in a variety of genres, from historical fiction to mystery and romance, but mysteries are the most challenging and exciting to write. It’s such fun plotting out the twists and turns of a mystery, taking the heroine or hero on a thrilling and dangerous journey, dreaming up all the red herrings, and making sure the villain in hiding in plain sight. I especially love cozies because they feature amateur sleuths.

What are a few of the essential elements that make a cozy stand out to you as a reader?

For me, it all starts with the main characters. I need to identify with and admire them and enjoy taking this journey with them. I love the concept of an amateur investigator, desperate to uncover the truth against all odds. It’s fun when there are lots of suspects. And there must be danger! I want the protagonist to get themselves into dire trouble with danger around every corner, so I’m turning pages to see how they’ll survive, solve the riddle, and achieve justice.

Do you have a favorite amateur sleuth?

I love Eliza Scarlett from MISS SCARLET. It’s difficult for Miss Scarlet to be taken seriously as a detective because the story is set in the Victorian era, when women were second class citizens, relegated to lives as mothers, wives, and homemakers, considered to be weak and prone to hysteria, and not deemed to have a brain. My new historical mystery series, The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire, is also set in the Victorian era—and it was such fun to write about smart, capable, fearless women who rise above society’s expectations and achieve worthy goals

What inspired your first cozy mystery?

Well, that takes me back! I wrote my first cozy mystery when I was ten years old. I had read and loved every single Nancy Drew novel and wanted to write my own. My grandparents gave me an old typewriter and I got to work. But I got halfway through and couldn’t figure out what should happen next. That’s when I discovered the importance of an outline! Ever since, I carefully plot out all my books in advance.

If you mean what inspired book 1 in The Audacious Sisterhood of Some & Fire series, The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall—it was inspired by a character in Jane Eyre, one of my favorite novels of all time. Jane Eyre’s cousin, Diana Rivers, is a strong, compassionate, intelligent woman who, although born into a well-to-do family, was obliged to become a governess and, we are told, later married a captain in the Royal Navy. In an homage to Jane Eyre, I created a new character, Diana Taylor, with a similar backstory. I sent her to an ancient manor house in Cornwall on a mission to solve a murder and a mystery, where she falls for the estate’s heir, a brooding Royal Navy captain who’s home on leave with an injury, and whose investigations put her in terrible danger. A careful reader will find a few “Easter eggs” and loving tributes to Jane Eyre sprinkled throughout the book.

The third book in the series, Danger at Darkmoor Park, was inspired by Agatha Christie’s most famous play, “The Mousetrap”—you can read all about it at my blog.

How do you research and create the "cozy" elements in your books, like the settings and community?

The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire series is set in England from 1849-1852, and every book features a different ancient manor house or houses. I start off by doing an enormous amount of research about the era, customs, life and times, and location of every story. Most helpfully, I read lots of classic novels that were written at that same time, and give the most accurate picture of what life was like then (and there). And then I travel!

One of the best things about being an author is that I get to visit to England frequently, to research the settings of my novels, and to drink in the scenery and atmosphere. I spend a lot of time touring historic English houses and estates, take zillions of pictures, interview experts, and visit local museums. Everywhere you turn in England there’s something old and historic—a “new house” will often be 250 years old. I imagine away the cars and modern-day trappings and envision what it must have been like to live there in the Victorian era.

What is one key step in your writing process that helps you transform an idea into a finished book?

I always start with an extensive outline using the now famous “Save The Cat” story structure. It was developed for screenwriters but is applicable to any story. (I use it when I write scripts and plays as well.) It’s an invaluable tool that helps me plot out my stories from beginning to end, keeps the pace going, and incorporates all the necessary plot points along the way. It’s especially critical to have a good outline when writing a mystery, because there are so many elements to keep afloat.

What advice would you give aspiring cozy mystery authors who want to start writing their first novel?

Read, read, read, as many mysteries as you can. Find a story structure template that you like and follow it. (I recommend Save the Cat.) Join a writer’s group with other aspiring novelists, where you can share and critique each other’s work. No one is born knowing how to write a novel; it’s a craft that needs to be developed and honed over time. Attend writer’s conferences—you’ll learn so much. Be prepared to re-write and re-write as many times as it takes. Be patient and persistent. Don’t give up! You can do this!

How can readers connect with you online?

I love to hear from readers! Find me on my website: https://syriejames.com/

Please follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syriejames/

Please follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSyrieJames

I’d love it if you’d sign up for my newsletter! I send occasional updates with news about my books, and exclusive content just for subscribers: https://syriejames.com/newsletter/

Please follow my blog! I post occasional articles on a variety of subjects that I hope you’ll find of great interest! https://syriejames.com/blog/

Thank you for having me, Anna! Happy reading, everyone!