I want to write books that I would love to read – books with strong, complicated characters, twisty plots, and a nice tinge of romance. I want to guide my readers to my imagined world, where they don’t have to think about picking kids up from school or getting the laundry done. I want them to immerse themselves, laugh out loud, gasp out loud, smile, frown, and finally to remember the book with a sigh of pure pleasure. 

Jane Elizabeth Hughes – 3 August 2021

The Back Flap

She thinks he’s either a stalker, a nutcase, or a harmlessly eccentric Oxford professor. He thinks she’s the long-lost descendant of Henry VIII’s last Queen, Katherine Parr. Amy is living a cautious life as a London private banker to wealthy oil sheikhs, but her quiet solitude is upended by the sudden appearance of two people: a half-sister who is virtually a stranger to her, and Oxford don Leo. Both need something from Amy, who has been emotionally frozen for years and isn’t sure she has anything left to give. She also harbors deep secrets—as does Leo. Even so, the two join forces to investigate the mystery of Queen Katherine’s lost baby, and soon long-suppressed emotions start to surface—and enemies start to close in. As they crisscross Europe in a quest for answers, Amy and Leo find themselves in danger of losing control of their secrets, their hearts—and maybe even their lives.

About the book

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing about three years ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

It takes about a year for me to write a book, edit, re-edit, and re-edit again.

Where did you get the idea from?

Everything that I do informs my writing and my characters. Sometimes it might be a stranger on a train; sometimes it might be a chance remark by a friend or colleague – but everything eventually inspires my books. I’m a secret-keeper, which helped to find its way into both Amy and Leo; just like them, it’s been a long and challenging journey for me to let loose some of my secrets. I’ve worked in international banking, so I channeled some of that fiercely competitive and high-stakes atmosphere into Amy’s office. My international travels also helped me create the lush background for Amy and Leo’s travels; I’ve been everywhere that they visited, from Prague to Carcassonne to Berlin. When I travel, I let my imagination fly loose and I keep a journal with jottings about what might have happened in some of those spots – I saw Leo transfixed in front of a museum exhibit, for example, and Amy and Leo taking shelter in an ancient, crumbling castle niche.

Like Leo, I’ve always been fascinated by the Tudor Queens; I was finishing a biography of Katherine Parr a few years ago and realized that they never mentioned what happened to Baby Mary after Katherine died. I did a little digging and discovered that she was assumed to have died – but no one knew for sure – and inspiration struck.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

I always struggle with the beginning and the ending. Sitting down and staring at a blank document on my computer is both thrilling and anxiety-provoking: What if my characters don’t do what I want them to do? How on earth will I get Amy out of the predicament in Chapter 27? And then the ending is challenging too, since I just want to go on and on and see what happens to the characters.

What came easily?

In my “day job” as a banker and then academic, I’ve always struggled to believe in myself as an international finance expert. I’m a shining example of the Imposter Syndrome, which is loosely defined as thinking you’re a phony and are in constant danger of being exposed as a fraud (and is widespread among high-achieving women). I wish I could say that I overcame that belief, but it’s always hiding in some dark little recess of my brain. I just push past it, every time I teach a class or give a lecture.

But here’s the funny thing: As a novelist, I’ve never struggled with believing in myself. Never. No matter how many rejection letters I got or how many discouraging setbacks I encountered, I’ve always believed that my books are good. I’ve always believed that women will enjoy my books – the historical and current-day mysteries, the romance, the suspense – and will want to read more. I have no idea where I got this confidence; I just know I believe in my books. It’s amazing, because I doubt myself in virtually every other area of my life!

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

People insist on believing that my books are semi-autographical and trying to figure out who is who in real life. “Were your co-workers at the bank really so mean?” (no, this is fiction). “I’m nothing like the sister in your book!” (well, duh). “Did you really get chased by gangsters in Europe?” (what do you think?!) And worst of all, “Wow, you and your husband really have a hot sex life! I’m so jealous!” (no comment).

In fact, some of my characters draw on people I’ve known and observed – but it’s a tiny piece of one person combined with a tiny piece of another person, and so on. For example, Leo’s accent came from an Israeli actor whom I adore, and Kali’s piercings came from a girl I noticed on the subway. But my characters are entirely fictitious, as are Amy’s adventures.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I wrote my thesis on 19th century novelists, and George Eliot is my hero – she raised writing about everyday life to a true art form. I love authors who often use historical mysteries as a backdrop to their plots, like Elizabeth Peters and Mary Stewart. And I love authors whose work is humorous rather than brooding; witty rather than dark. My favorite authors these days are Jennifer Weiner, Susan Isaacs, Karen Swan, Michelle Gable, and Chanel Cleeton.

I never wanted to read (or write) War and Peace; I want to write books that I would love to read – books with strong, complicated characters, twisty plots, and a nice tinge of romance. I want to guide my readers to my imagined world, where they don’t have to think about picking kids up from school or getting the laundry done. I want them to immerse themselves, laugh out loud, gasp out loud, smile, frown, and finally to remember the book with a sigh of pure pleasure.

Do you have a target reader?

My ideal reader is a female adult, someone who likes to read books with more substance than a light romance – but still delights in love and happy endings. She may be interested in books with a historical theme, especially books set in the Tudor period; and may like some twistiness and suspense in the plot.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I’m super-disciplined about writing. I’ve figured out that I have to treat writing like any other job; I can’t wait for the Muse to be with me or for inspiration to strike. So I write for three-four hours per day (more than that seems to fry my brain), whether or not I’m “in the mood.” When I hit a rough patch — when my characters just won’t behave and the plot seems hopelessly tangled – I make myself keep writing; I’ll go back later and fix the bad parts.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Yes, I outline maniacally! I start with character sketches, which help me really get to know my characters – where they grew up and went to school, what books and movies they like, how they got along with their parents and siblings, and much much more. A lot of this info will never make it into the book; it’s just the foundation for my character-building.

And then I start to outline. I put together a broad outline first, then move on to a more detailed “Plot Plan,” which provides a chapter-by-chapter framework. Of course, I often have to go back and edit the Plot Plan once I’m into the book, since things never happen quite as I expected them to.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Mostly I wait until I’m finished. Editing as I go can be depressing, so I like to get a full draft done before I go back and start editing.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

The Boss! Nothing gets the juices flowing like Born To Run! Then there’s the Beatles, of course, the Cranberries, Chicago, the Moody Blues – and Ariana Grande to prove I’m not hopelessly old-fashioned.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, I have a marvelously talented agent, Marcy Posner of Folio Literary Management.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

My first novel was published by Simon & Schuster Pocket Star Books, a major player in the industry. For my second novel, I decided to go indie as I felt I would get more attention from the publisher. I did a lot of research and finally decided on Spark Press because of its focus on by-women, for-women. I’m delighted to have found a happy home at Spark Press!

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

The cover was professionally done by the experts at Spark Press; they were a pleasure to work with.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I’ve hired a publicist for this book. Winging it didn’t work for me on my first book, so this time I decided to hire a professional.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

1. KEEP WRITING! You get better at it as you go along. My first and second novels never got published and, with the benefit of hindsight, didn’t deserve to get published. I didn’t have that clarity of hindsight at the time though, and it was just pure slog to keep going.
2. DON’T BE ALONE! Have cheerleaders in your corner (my husband and sister were phenomenal), and don’t quit your day job. Sometimes my finance gig actually propped up my writing; it inspired Amy’s banking career in The Long-Lost Jules, and informed the money laundering subplot.
3. REMEMBER: This can take a long time, and a lot of rejections along the way. My favorite rejection story isn’t mine, but Jennifer Weiner’s. When she was trying to find an agent for her first novel, she got plenty of rejection letters and terrible advice, including a letter from one agent who told her that nobody wanted to read a book about a fat lonely girl. Good in Bed, of course, went on to be a huge bestseller and Ms Weiner is one of the most popular women’s fiction writers today. Lots of people, it turns out, wanted to read about a fat lonely girl.
4. INVEST? Think about putting away a little money to invest in your writing career – writers conferences and publicists are your best friend. The latter is especially a biggie for me, since I’m super-uncomfortable promoting and marketing my books.
5. ACCEPT THAT WRITING IS A JOB, NOT A HOBBY! Hobbies are fun and relaxing; writing a book is work. It can be fun along the way, but much of the time it’s just hard work. When I was writing The Long-Lost Jules, I suddenly realized there was no climax – no moment when everything comes together and the reader gives a sigh of pure pleasure – and I spent a few weeks feeling sorry for myself and writing very forgettable prose. Then a former banking colleague got invited to spend a week on her client’s yacht in Marseilles – and bang! There it was. I erased the very forgettable prose and banged out the scene in a warm flush of sheer pleasure.

About You

Where did you grow up?

New York City and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Where do you live now?

We divide our time between our homeplace of Cape Cod, and our new winter wonderland of Longboat Key, Florida. No more ice dams for us!

What would you like readers to know about you?

I was that little short kid who read all the time. And I mean, all the time. At the dentist, during math class, at the dinner table, even at eye doctor appointments (which was problematic). I was always the last kid picked for teams at recess, but I didn’t care because I could curl up in a corner of the courtyard and read. I wrote my first “book” when I was seven; Lorena Lorenson, Student Nurse owed quite a bit to Cherry Ames and Nancy Drew – but it started me down this long and winding road towards realizing my dream of becoming a novelist.

What are you working on now?

My next novel, The Spy’s Wife, will be published by Spark Press in June 2022!

End of Interview:

For more from Ms Hughes, visit her website.

Get your copy of The Long-Lost Jules from Amazon US or Amazon UK.