Author Interview of Alyssa Maxwell and Blog Tour for Murder at the Elms: A Gilded Newport Mystery

Murder at the Elms (A Gilded Newport Mystery)
by Alyssa Maxwell

About Murder at the Elms

Murder at the Elms (A Gilded Newport Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
11th in Series
Setting – Rhode Island
Kensington (August 22, 2023)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496736192
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496736192
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BNCLTC7P

As the nineteenth century comes to a close, the illustrious Vanderbilt family dominates Newport, Rhode Island, high society. But when murder arrives, reporter Emma Cross learns that sometimes the actions of the cream of society can curdle one’s blood in the latest installment of this bestselling cozy historical mystery series . . .

1901: Back from their honeymoon in Italy, Emma and Derrick are adapting to married life as they return to their duties at their jointly owned newspaper, the Newport Messenger. The Elms, coal baron Edward Berwind’s newly completed Bellevue Avenue estate, is newsworthy for two reasons: A modern mansion for the new century, it is one of the first homes in America to be wired for electricity with no backup power system, generated by coal from Berwind’s own mines. And their servants—with a single exception—have all gone on strike to protest their working conditions. Summarily dismissing and replacing his staff with cool and callous efficiency, Berwind throws a grand party to showcase the marvels of his new “cottage.”

Emma and Derrick are invited to the fete, which culminates not only in a fabulous musicale but an unforeseen tragedy—a chambermaid is found dead in the coal tunnel. In short order, it is also discovered that a guest’s diamond necklace is missing and a laborer has disappeared.

Detective Jesse Whyte entreats Emma and Derrick to help with the investigation and determine whether the murdered maid and stolen necklace are connected. As the dark deeds cast a shadow over the blazing mansion, it’s up to Emma to shine a light on the culprit . . .

About Alyssa Maxwell

Alyssa Maxwell is the author of The Gilded Newport Mysteries and A Lady and Lady’s Maid Mysteries. She has worked in publishing as a reference book editor, ghost writer, and fiction editor, but knew from an early age that she wanted to be a fiction author. Growing up in New England and traveling to Great Britain and Ireland fueled a passion for history, while a love of puzzles drew her to the mystery genre. She and her husband have make their home in South Florida. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the South Florida Fiction Writers.

INTERVIEW

Name: (If you have a pen name under which you write, please list both names)

Lisa Manuel; I write as Alyssa Maxwell

State and City or Country and City where you live:

Coral Springs, FL

How long have you been published? What titles and/or series have you published and with which publisher? Have you self-published any titles? Please give details.

I’ve been published in mystery, as Alyssa Maxwell, for nine years. All of my mysteries have been with Kensington Publishing. There are currently 11 books out in my Gilded Newport Mysteries and 8 in my Lady & Lady’s Maid Mysteries. I haven’t self-published any titles as yet.

Tell us a little bit about your books — if you write a series, any upcoming releases or your current work-in-progress. If you have an upcoming release, please specify the release date.

The most recent book in my Gilded Newport series is Murder at The Elms, which came out August 22^nd. This series features the Gilded Age mansions in Newport, RI, along with the historical figures who owned them, and a female journalist sleuth who is a relatively poor relation of the Vanderbilts.

My Lady & Lady’s Maid series features duel sleuths who work together, Lady Phoebe and her maid, Eva, who solve crimes above and below stairs at Phoebe’s family estate and surrounding areas in the Cotswolds.

Describe your goals as a writer. What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?

I plan to continue my mysteries series with the goal of continuing to expand my readership, while possibly branching out into historical fiction in hopes attracting a new audience as well. So as I continue to plot new mysteries, I’m doing some preliminary research and hunting down books and other materials that will provide me with insight into the lives and time period I want to write about enable me to present as accurate a picture as possible. The prospect of branching out is a little daunting! But exciting at the same time.

What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?

Mystery readers, who enjoy experiencing life in the past, with its many challenges as well as its charms, will enjoy my two series.

What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?

First, envision the kind of career you want. What genre most interests you? It’s important to define where your books will fit into the market, and who your target audience will be. Secondly, do you want a publisher? Would you rather be self-published? Or a combination of both? Think about what suits you and your personality, goals, and work ethic best. Then stick to it. Be persistent. Don’t let rejections discourage you.

What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?

I had lots of rejections in the beginning, often with lots of positive comments, which actually makes it harder because how do you know what to tweak and improve upon? Sometimes rejections are a result of a publisher’s existing schedule of releases; sometimes it’s the story itself, which might be good, but doesn’t quite capture the editor’s enthusiasm. It’s important to keep writing and not dwell on any one submission. Always move forward, because it only takes one editor to kickstart your career.

Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?

I belong to the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and the South Florida Fiction Writers. They’ve both been invaluable in my career. I was a member of a critique group for over twenty years, which helped me enormously, but between the pandemic and some of the members moving away, we’ve disbanded. Sadly.

What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?

My husband and I love to go antiquing. We also enjoy museums and touring stately houses. On weekend mornings we ride our bikes, usually to go vegetable shopping for the crockpot stew we’ll make later on. We’re both into miniatures. With him it’s train sets, and for me, dollhouses and miniature room boxes. And, of course, I’m an avid reader.

What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?

I love making my own hours and having flexibility in my schedule, and going to work in whatever clothes I want. I love turning to the past, and “walking” the streets and lanes, visiting the homes, and exploring what the lives of my characters would have been like in their respective time periods. I also enjoy the puzzle of building a mystery plot.

The hardest thing about being an author is finding the self-discipline to turn off the real world and silence thoughts about the mundane things I need to do, what I’ll cook for dinner, etc., and focus completely on the writing. Some days, it can feel exhausting!

What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?

I especially like the challenge of solving crimes without forensics or police procedures, relying solely on my sleuths’ skills of deduction, powers of persuasion, and sheer luck, to solve a crime. I also enjoy writing books that most anyone can read, even teens, because there is no foul language, graphic violence, or overtly sexual situations.

Can you share a short excerpt from your latest title or upcoming release?

Excerpt: I turned in at the service driveway. Approaching the delivery entrance was like venturing into another world entirely from the one the owners, Edward and Herminie Berwind, inhabited. Gone were the statues, the exotic trees, and the carefully designed flowerbeds that graced the rest of the property. Here, it seemed the sun ducked behind thick clouds. That was only an illusion. Dense and tangled vines of wisteria grew like a roof above the circular drive, shielding the delivery carts and wagons from view of anyone gazing down from the first or second-story windows. Likewise, coal deliveries were made at the mouth of a tunnel that opened onto Dixon Street beyond the stone wall on the south side of the house. As far as the family or any of their guests were concerned, The Elms ran as if by magic.

Yet it wasn’t magic that had brought me there that morning. As soon as I passed through the delivery hall and into the cold-preparation kitchen, the tension wrapped like tentacles around me. The house had been open a mere few weeks, but even so, by now the staff should have fallen into a seamless rhythm as they went about their tasks. I felt no such rhythm, no harmony of a well-tuned orchestra.

Footmen, maids, kitchen staff—even the butler and housekeeper, judging by their clothing—stood gathered two and three deep around the long, zinc-covered table used for the preparation of cold dishes. A quick glance through the wide windows looking into the main kitchen—normally the heart of any great house—revealed a stillness I found astonishing, especially at that time of day. Only one man hovered over the cast iron range with its many burners and oven doors. His white tunic and tall hat identified him at the Berwinds’ chef. No assistants chopped food or mixed ingredients at the worktable, no scullery maids collected used pots and pans to scrub at the long sink.

If I hadn’t known better, I’d have ventured to guess that nearly all the servants, over forty of them, were planning to . . .

“That’s it, then,” the butler said with a sigh and a yank at his necktie, “we are going to strike.”

I swallowed a gasp.

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you or your books?

I began The Gilded Newport Mysteries because of my own connection to and love for the city. My husband is a Newporter born and raised, as were his parents and several generations before them. Through him and my in-laws, I gained an insider’s insight into what life is like for the people who live there year round, as opposed to what tourists experience. Writing these books has been an absolute joy and I hope that comes across in the stories.

Please list your social media links, website, blog, etc. and include some book cover graphics and author photos if possible.

Author Links

Website www.alyssamaxwell.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaMaxwellauthor/
Facebook Sleuths In Crime https://www.facebook.com/SleuthsInTime
Twitter https://twitter.com/Alyssa__Maxwell
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alyssamaxwellauthor/
GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7163135.Alyssa_Maxwell