Whilst I was participating on The Spoils of Avalon blog tour on behalf of the Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, I was meant to post this lovely conversation I had with Ms. Burns on behalf of her series and the genre at large. It sparked a conversational thread as well, which I have included below our main conversation as I had not realised no one was addressing the parallels and the changes within the Mystery & Suspense genre as I have started to observe a Renaissance of a new style emerging out of the gate when there is such an overflow of lighter cosies being marketed in today’s fiction.
I personally applaud the authors, who like Ms. Burns are taking the extra step towards ensuing the legacy of Agatha Christie and others like her; who are not only upheld in voice or style but are carried forward — where they are seeking out new timescapes inside the historical past to carve out their own cosy niche and elevate the cosy to a new level of immersion. I love sophisticated comedies and dramas, but this also parlays into my appreciation for a sophisticate cosy!
Cosy to me, first and foremost references the direct correlation between the crime itself and the level of intensity of the nature of the crime; either through descriptive narrative or through visceral imagery. I may watch certain hard-boiled crime dramas on television (the ones most addictive by far have been NCIS and Castle) but when it comes to curating a list of next reads and favourite cosies in print — alas! This is where I become quite particular in my choices and my penchant for a well-conceived mystery and/or suspense within the pages is put centerpoint. If I can help bridge the gap between where the cosies of the past and the cosies of the modern world are merging and re-defining themselves, then I consider myself blessed to be a book blogger who can showcase the differences.
Secondary to the first declaration on behalf of cosies, for me, are the realism of character, setting, era, and the plausible circumstances stitched around the mystery itself. I even like a light suspension of reality if bits and bobbles of fantasy elements are explored (those based on mythology, lore, or fable); but truly what I am seeking is a well-conceived idea which sparks such a joy to devour the story itself, I lose myself in the pages and never notice fully the dissolvementof time off the clock!
The death of a humble clergyman in 1877 leads amateur sleuths Violet Paget and John Singer Sargent into a medieval world of saints and kings—including the legendary Arthur—as they follow a trail of relics and antiquities lost since the destruction of Glastonbury Abbey in 1539. Written in alternating chapters between the two time periods, The Spoils of Avalon creates a sparkling, magical mystery that bridges the gap between two worlds that could hardly be more different—the industrialized, Darwinian, materialistic Victorian Age and the agricultural, faith-infused life of a medieval abbey on the brink of violent change at the hands of Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell.
First in a new series of historical mysteries, <em>The Spoils of Avalon</em> introduces two unlikely detectives and life-long friends—beginning as young people on the verge of making their names famous for the next several decades throughout Europe and America: the brilliant and brittle Violet Paget, known as the writer Vernon Lee, and the talented, genial portrait painter John Singer Sargent.
Friends from the age of ten, Paget and Sargent frequently met in the popular European watering places and capitals, frequenting the same salons and drawing rooms in London, Rome, Paris, Florence, Venice, Vienna and Madrid. Both were possessed of keen minds and bohemian tendencies, unorthodox educations and outsized egos (especially Paget). Their instant, natural bonding led them to address each other as “Twin”, and they corresponded frequently when they were apart.
Henry James once described Violet Paget as having “the most formidable mind” of their times, and he was an active fan and patron of John Sargent, introducing him to London society and his own inner circles of literary and artistic genius.
I agree with what you revealed about taking an cosy historical mystery arc of narrative and fusing it directly into the heart of a well-respected historical figure by presenting the person and the era of the series setting in a believable series of circumstances that honour the person. What originally led you to realising you had a golden opportunity to bring forward John Singer Sargent & Violet Paget as crime solving partners?
Burns responds: I am a long-time fan of ‘historical’ amateur detectives (Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen) as well as purely fictional ones (Max Liebermann, Charles DuLuc), and have written some mysteries long ago. However, I had fallen so much in love with both Sargent and Paget while I was writing my “regular” historical Portraits of an Artist that I simply couldn’t let go of them, and I wanted readers to see how fun and interesting they are. I struggled with the challenge that Sargent isn’t all that well-known and that Violet Paget (aka Vernon Lee) is completely obscure these days, so who would want to read about them? But I decided it was worth the risk—I would write them so well that people would love them as I do! It seemed to me that the historical mystery genre was the perfect medium to bring out their mischievous and interesting characters, both serious and humorous at the same time.
I loved seeing how multi-layered the living counterparts of your characters were actively pursuing not only life, but art, language, and the pursuit of a life lived well. What do you think encouraged them to live such a dynamic life at a time where disillusionment might have overshadowed their contemporaries own joys?
Burns responds: Both Sargent and Paget grew up in families with seriously Bohemian tendencies – they were schooled at home with a variety of tutors, and their mothers in particular (the ruling force in both families) loved to gather about them the most interesting people of the day: writers, painters, sculptors, philosophers, musicians. So both my characters grew up in a highly charged intellectual and artistic atmosphere, where they learned to speak their opinions fearlessly and not have too much respect for mere conventional ways. Also, both families, while respectably well-off, were constantly on the move around Europe, looking out for “genteel lodgings” in the first and second capitals of the continent—not only Paris and Rome, but also Venice, Sienna, Nice and other “lesser” cities. This peripatetic life gave both Sargent and Paget a sense of “not belonging” anywhere in particular, and finding their greatest satisfaction in their work and in intelligent society. They both spoke French, German and Italian, and Violet in particular was a Greek and Latin scholar and translator. Sargent played the piano well enough to be a professional performer, and he often played and sang to amuse his sitters in between rushing at the canvas to paint their portraits.
I appreciated finding out that the characters of Sargent & Paget are going to be as bonafide three dimensional as their living souls were in life; did you find it difficult to select and choose which moments in their histories to highlight and or draw out with creative liberty?
Burns responds: In a way, yes! There is such a wealth of information about them from biographies, their correspondence, and Violet’s publications as well, that it’s the proverbial embarrassment of riches! However, I think it’s going to be a grand journey over the next several years to troll through their biographies, find the times when they met up in various cities, see what Sargent was painting and what Violet was writing—and build a story around all those circumstances—I’m really looking forward to it!
As you travelled to different sections of England for your live in person research on behalf of “The Spoils of Avalon” did you uncover anything a bit more unique than you were thinking of finding? Were the locals agreeable to your pursuit of understanding their locations to stitch inside the novel?
Burns responds: To answer the second question first, yes, the locals were very welcoming and interested in my book. At Lanercost Priory, which is an English Heritage site, I was allowed to go in and out of the ruins all day long for the week I stayed there, without paying the fee (after the first time), and as there is still an active parish in the part of the old Priory church that was reclaimed and maintained, I talked with several parishioners who had interesting stories about the ‘olden times’.
As for the first question, I think I found that being on the actual ground where my characters would have walked was a rather spiritual experience, especially at Glastonbury. I was fortunate in being able to enroll in a one-day Gregorian Chant workshop held at the Abbot’s Kitchen, the only building from the 1500’s that remained intact after Glastonbury Abbey was taken by the king. Singing the chant, just as the monks of that time would have done, made my spirit soar and gave me new insights, I think, into the feel and character of the times.
Part of reading about how Sargent & Paget lived reminded me equivocally of the two dolls of the Jazz Age: F. Scott & Zelda Fitzgerald who lived high and lived on the edge. Did you find any similarities to the high felicity lifestyles of the Twenties with the 19th Century pursuits of your characters?
Burns responds: Actually, both Sargent and Paget were rather prudent, practical people, and very ambitious in their respective careers. Sargent was naturally amiable and good-natured, tall, robust, athletic, and very handsome, which gave him a definite boost with the aristocratic and wealthy ladies whose portraits he painted. But he was also, by the age of twenty, almost the sole provider for his family—elderly parents and two younger sisters—and was extremely focused on becoming a renowned portrait painter and making money at it—which he certainly did, from a very young age. He was not caught up in the “fin de siècle” despair and recklessness that came upon so many other artists and writers at the turn of the century, like Aubrey Beardsley and Oscar Wilde, and although he could drink everyone else under the table, he was never dissipated or dissolute. Violet, too, was a rather proper lady most of the time, and had a kind of horror of too much physicality—she lived most richly in her mind and imagination, which translated into sometimes outrageous opinions in her political essays and books. She had a keen mind and a sharp tongue, and may actually have been on the far continuum of Asperger’s, causing her to say or write things that lacked a certain empathy or even awareness that people might be offended or insulted.
What do you think would be one observation the pair would have about being novelised into their own series of cosy historical mysteries?
Burns responds: Hmmm. Sargent was a rather private person (it was the Victorian Age, after all), although I like to think he would find it amusing that someone would cast him in the role of a detective. I am very respectful of his talent and his art, so I think he would approve. He was not the kind of person who took offense very easily, so if he didn’t like it, he would just shrug it off. Violet, on the other hand, was much more prickly and perhaps, a little vain, although as I use quite a few of her actual phrases (from letters and her writings), I think she would recognize herself—and be pleased that I put her in the “Sherlock” role!
What do you feel is the hardest part about writing convicting convicting historical fiction whose heart of story is rooted in a remembered part of our combined past?
Burns responds: Making sure that the little, everyday details are correct—like whether there was electricity or not in 1877 or gas lighting inside houses; whether cigarettes were mass-produced or not, and could be bought at a tobacconist’s or did you have to roll them yourself; what kinds of wine and liquor were available, and from where? How did it feel to ride in a carriage? What are all the names of all the different kinds of carriages, and what would be the kind most likely to be used for any given purpose? It’s these kinds of things that drive me crazy!
Which cosy historical authors and stories do you appreciate reading yourself?
Burns responds: The Max Liebermann Chronicles by Frank Tallis; The Jane Austen Mysteries by Stephanie Barron; The Charles DuLuc Mysteries by Judith Rock; the Shinobi Mysteries by Susan Spann; The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries by Gyles Brandreth
What was the impetus which gravitated catapulted (?) you into writing? And, when did this occur? Who was your best cheerleader?
Burns responds: I left the corporate world (assisted by layoffs) in 2000 and decided it was time to start writing seriously, or it was never going to happen. I attended a writers conference in Mendocino, California which was one of the best I’ve ever attended, and then a couple of years later was invited to the Squaw Valley Community of Writers conference, which also gave me a huge boost. I have a couple of best friends, and my husband, who are most supportive.
Which writers of historical fiction stood out to you the most as for carving out a new niche of where historical literature could take the reader?
Burns responds: My primary ‘mentor’ and trailblazer has got to be Mary Stewart, primarily in her four-book epic about Merlin and King Arthur. I have read those books each several times, and consider them a touchstone of style and deep, satisfying character delineation. Telling the Arthur story from Merlin’s point of view, starting from when Merlin was a young boy, was ground-breaking to me at the time (back in the early 70s). In my opinion, she started a whole genre of telling traditional stories from “another” perspective, like The Mists of Avalon told by the women of Arthur’s time, and all the biblical historicals that have burgeoned in the last twenty years, telling that history from the women’s point of view: Sarah, Eve, Rachel, Ruth. In my very first historical novel, J-The Woman Who Wrote the Bible, I was pleased as punch when the publisher told me that the opening scene reminded him very much of Mary Stewart’s writing! She died just this year (on my birthday!), at the age of 97.
What are your favourite tools to use whilst writing? And, where do you write to gain the most inspiration?
Burns responds: I use a desktop computer, but I always carry a little notebook with me in case of sudden inspiration, especially on airplanes, where it’s much easier to write than type. I usually pick a piece of instrumental music for each book I’m writing—for the Sargent book it was a Chopin Nocturne. For The Spoils of Avalon, it was a CD of Gregorian Chant and Renaissance liturgical music. Although I do most of my work at home, in my ‘office’ (aka guest room), I sometimes go away to a little rented cabin in the woods in Northern California, with 100 acres of forest around me, and no neighbors.
Outside the sphere of writing and research, where do you find your serenity? What lifts your spirit the most when you are not creating?
Burns responds: Reading, always reading, and cooking good meals for friends; making stained glass windows, and having long, philosophical discussions over a glass of wine with my husband and friends; I also am a (once again) practicing Roman Catholic, and serve as an acolyte at the High Mass at my parish church, St. Ignatius, which is part of the Jesuit University of San Francisco—a very spiritual and intellectual community with a focus on serving the poor and those in need.
Cosy Historical Mysteries vs the Traditional Cosy + the Modern Cosy
I have been wanting to express my thoughts on the differences I have observed within the Mystery & Suspense umbrella of literature for quite a long while now, however, it wasn’t until this interview occurred I was given the window to talk about my observations. I have noticed a wicked new trend in the world of mysteries, where what I would deem ‘the traditional cosy’ (a la Agatha Christie) has transcended a bit within the genre to include a new sophisticated layer of what I personally refer to as the ‘cosy historical mystery’ on my blog and inside my tweets. Here I am not referring to a new sophistication past where Christie left off with her writings, but rather as an augmented new branch of mysteries which step outside the new ‘modern cosy’ trend of curating stories on every whim and fancy any one publisher can devise as plausible if not marketable!
I have been a bit aghast at the floodgates hitting the Mystery & Suspense genre in the past decade, as though there are certain authors and book series I have a tendency to be drawn inside for a light read and a cunning mystery (partially seen during #OTBHorrorOctober when I created this Top Ten List) yet what I appreciate the most in a ‘cosy historical mystery’ are the fusion of the following elements: a historical era lit true to the timescape, compelling & well-rounded characters (either based on living persons or imaginary), a dimension of clarity for the genre itself – where the suspense of the mystery is not easily ascertained within the opening bits of the plot and where the suspicion of who or whom is responsible carries straight through til the end. I want to be following the path of solving the crime with the lead characters, I do not want to necessarily proceed after a plot I’ve already deduced the resolution of myself.
Having said that, to me the stories and authors I have pulled into this sub-category already include the following:
(the following is taken directly from my Story Vault)
Cosy | Historical Mysteries:
- The Study of Murder by Susan McDuffie
- Inscription by H.H. Miller
- Murder by Misrule by by Anna Castle
- Claws of the Cat by Susan Spann
- Blade of the Samurai by Susan Spann
- The Spoils of Avalon by Mary F. Burns
- The Anatomist’s Wife by Anna Lee Huber
- Mortal Arts by Anna Lee Huber
- A Grave Matter by Anna Lee Huber
- The Rose in the Wheel by S.K. Rizzolo
- Blood for Blood by S.K. Rizzolo
- Die I Will Not by S.K. Rizzolo
- The Iris Fan by Laura Joh Rowland
The reason I have put these novels and their authors under this heading because the breadth of what they are giving the discernible mystery reader who prefers their ‘murder and crimes’ to be within the curtain shade of a ‘cosy’ will find incredible complex story structures and a keen insightfulness on behalf of the research which fuses directly into the stories with such passion as to ignite the fever of excitement to consume the stories within their pages! I love writers across genres and literary realms who get such an intense wicked joy out of the research they conduct for their stories, to the level their research blurs and blends so eloquently into the background of where their characters take us. I love stepping into a portal of the historical past to travel through time and to curate experiences; but when I settle myself into a cosy historical mystery I am doing more than merely visiting. I am getting inside the head of society at large and observing sociological and psychological juxtapositions between the light, dark, and shadows of the human mind, heart, and condition.
Inscription stood out to me a bit this past year because it is a true genre-bender of a historical fiction suspense novel – it is cosy in the truest of senses, but it is so much more than that designation as well. And, I think that is partially why I have become such a bubbly book cheerleader for all the lovely cosy historicals I am discovering! I want to celebrate them, breathe an awareness about them to readers, book bloggers, and even my fellow librarians: to realise the stories which take the old school of framing together a sophisticated story arc around a strong and convicting character whilst giving us a measure of suspense is still possible to find!
Whereas I would classify other mysteries under this heading:
Cosy Mysteries | Suspense:
- The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah{BT}
- Aunty Lee’s Deadly Delights+ & Aunty Lee’s Deadly Specials by Ovidia Yu {BT}
A good example of what I would consider a ‘light read’ yet a well constructed ‘hard-boiled mystery this side of a cosy’ would be the Coffeehouse mysteries by Cleo Coyle. I have only read a handful of the mysteries by the husband and wife writing team, but to me, they are a lighter side of the genre and most definitely would be classified under the ‘modern cosy’ for me. However, I tend to put the modern cosies under the main heading for the genre and only separate out the ‘cosy historicals’; I might have to consider a third section as they are all different from each other as a whole.
The authors I would consider in direct relation to Ms. Burns and her series would be the following:
(these are outside of the ones I’ve read & showcased on my blog thus far) (not a complete list)
- the Miss Fisher mysteries | Phyrne Fisher by Kerry Greenwood (site) (book list | tv serial list) (recent tweet of mine)
- the Jane Austen mysteries | Jane Austen by Stephanie Barron (site) (book list)
- the Lady Emily series | Lady Emily Ashton by Tasha Alexander (site) (book list) Ashton is her first surname
- the Mary Russell mysteries | Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King (site) (book list)
- Her Royal Spyness mysteries | Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie by Rhys Bowen (site) (book list)
- Maise Dobbs mysteries | Maise Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (site) (book list)
- the Lady Julia series | by Deanna Raybourn (site) (book list)
- the novels of Simone St. James (site) (book list)
- and the series I am highlighting this month: the Lady Darby mysteries | Lady Darby by Anna Lee Huber (site) (book list)
*NOTE: I did include Simone St. James on this list because I am attracted to her stories for the same reasons I am attracted to the ones I’ve mentioned. To me she most likely fits under ‘cosy suspense’ which is as good as a fit for me for what I am attempting to convey today.
Of the series mentioned, I have begun reading Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor; whilst I have read and enjoyed the following: And Only to Deceive (Tasha Alexander); The Beekeeper’s Apprentice: or on the Segregation of the Queen (Laurie R. King); as I am constantly intrigued, motivated and curious on a regular basis for new writers & stories; oft-times I have to remind myself to go back and enjoy the ones I’ve already found! All of these I have listed in this grouping were discovered via my local library and I could not be more grateful!
The interesting bit is I had earmarked myself to start reading the Miss Fisher mysteries long before I discovered my local library was going to start to acquire the seasonal dvd sets. By the time the first series arrived, I decided it was the best timing for myself and my family to start watching them; ergo I put my curiosity to read them aside and discovered Phyrne & Jack on the screen! It is one time in my life where I have decided to go against the grain and not read a book before seeing it’s adaptation and I couldn’t be happier truly; the gift the film-makers, set designers, costume designers, and the actors who portray the characters themselves give to us in this (currently) three series of an adaptation is nothing short of extraordinary!
Being a Janeite, I am so thankful I unearthed something Ms. Austen herself once expressed along the lines of reading is meant to not only encourage our minds and our imaginations, but it is for both pleasure, study, and the acceptance of a diverse array of stories. She was very fond of stories which were told in a light fashion of ambiance but she was also a studious reader who appreciated the sanctity of stories which had bite and the full measure of a sophistication she writ into her own.
I personally agree with Jane Austen; we all have different layers of reading we can enjoy but at the same time, when we find a movement as finely crafted as this new Renaissance for the ‘cosy historical mystery’; the ‘big sister’ if you will to the genre at large, surely we can all start to rally and thank the writers who are gracing us with such a density of words and worlds? Lifting the style of the genre to a new height and wrapping our minds around characters who we cannot wait to solve their next mystery?
Did you notice we both share a love for the Shinobi mysteries by Susan Spann? I blogged my ruminations on behalf of the first two Shinobi mysteries this past Summer (Claws of the Cat & Blade of the Samurai) whilst eagerly on pins for “The Flask of the Drunken Master” of which I happily support on Twitter whilst tweeting about it! The cover reveal alone was a true highlight for me! We also fondly appreciate the Jane Austen mysteries, although I am still in dire need of finishing Scargrave Manor (of which I began during Austen in August 2013!).
This author interview is courtesy of:
Previously I posted my review on behalf of The Spoils of Avalon, and due to personal reasons I was unfortunately delayed a bit in posting my interview with the author which was my second contribution to the blog tour! I am beyond grateful for my path to have crossed with Ms. Burns! To have the chance to interact with someone who appreciates the same finite attention to both detail, historical facts, and the structure of what makes a cosy historical mystery such an eloquent read is truly a blessing! I look forward to continuing to seek out the stories Ms. Burns creates for us, and I will always attempt not to spoilt the joy for the reader! This particular time I was betwixt revealing a minute spoiler or not saying anything at all! Ooh! I hope readers will share their reactions of what they found most startling wicked as I had! What wicked sweet bliss!
Be sure to visit my Bookish Events for 2014 & 2015 to see which HFVBT tour I’m hosting next!
I happily host regularly on behalf of:
This interview is being cross-promoted via:
Similar to blog tours, when I feature a showcase for an author via a Guest Post, Q&A, Interview, etc., I do not receive compensation for featuring supplemental content on my blog.
{SOURCES: Cover art of “The Spoils of Avalon”, book synopsis, author photograph of Mary F. Burns, author biography, blog tour badge and HFVBT banner were all provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and used with permission. Photography by Mary F. Burns were provided by the author and used with permission. Book Review badge provided by Parajunkee to give book bloggers definition on their blogs. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. #IndieWriterMonth badge created by Jorie in Canva.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2014.
Terrific interview, Jorie and Mary :D I love hearing about anything medieval, to begin with, and names like “Avalon” and “Glastonbury” make me swoon :) The photos you (Mary) took are fantastic. Oh, how I wish I could visit!
Also, I’d never heard the term “cosy” historical or any of these “cosies”! (Cosy Historical Mysteries vs the Traditional Cosy + the Modern Cosy) Thanks, Jorie! :)
Hello! Mary Burns here. Jorie, you conducted such a super interview! The questions were great and gave me so many opportunities to talk about writing, the love of my life. And thank you, writersideup, for the compliment about the photos. My three week visit to Lanercost and Glastonbury will ever remain imprinted on my soul! If you want to see more photos, check out my blog at http://www.sargent-pagetmysteries.blogspot.com — where I relate my journey and posted only a few of the 900 pictures I took!
Mary, thanks for the link to your blog :) I can only imagine how wonderful that trip had to have been. It’s one of those fantasies I have that are likely not to be realized which is why I’m so grateful for photography, documentaries/movies and books so I (and others) can experience it vicariously. How wonderful! Thank you :D
Hallo Ms. Burns,
I had such a blast hosting you for HFVBTs! Honoured I had the wicked sweet chance to get to know more about you as an author, inasmuch as having the opportunity to get to know your series from it’s beginning! I honestly cannot wait to see where Sargent & Paget go from here! You must be enjoying seeing where the characters lead you next, as much as the readers like me who are eager to devour their next adventure! Thank you for visiting and responding to Ms. Donna Marie! I know she appreciated it and wow! I was surely impressed reading you had over 900+ photographs — although, technically, I push 1,200 each time I fill one of my memory cards if I’m out photographing wildlife & nature! Ha! Photographers always have trouble taking less when life inspires us to take quite a heap more! Rock on!
That’s what’s so great about digital cameras. No worry about wasting film!