Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work.
Today: Edale Lane â is an award-winning author (Rainbow Awards, Imaginarium Awards, Lesfic Bard Awards) who is realizing her dream of being a full-time writer. She is the alter-ego of author Melodie Romeo, (Tribute in Blood, Terror in Time, and others) who founded Past and Prologue Press. Both identities are qualified to write historical fiction by virtue of an MA in History and 24 years spent as a teacher, along with skill and dedication regarding research. A native of Vicksburg, MS, Edale (or Melodie) is also a musician who loves animals, gardening, and nature. After driving an 18-wheeler cross-country for eight years, she now lives with her partner in beautiful Chilliwack, B.C. Canada.
Thanks so much, Edale, for joining me!
J. Scott Coatsworth: How would you describe your writing style/genre?
Edale Lane: I get involved in backstories, side quests, and lots of characters building a historically accurate (or historical-fantasy accurate) world for my cast to play in. I try to balance description, exposition, conversation, and action in my books. Typically, I write in third person with two or more POVâs expressed (without going overboard on the multiples). While the primary impetus may not be romance, romance always plays a role in the stories.Â
JSC: Do you ever base your characters on real people? If so, what are the pitfalls youâve run into doing so?
EL: Writing historical fiction I do sometimes include real people, such as Queen Eleanor or Leonardo da Vinci. In those cases, I really do my research as well as try to connect with the spirit of the historic individual in order to portray him or her as accurately as possible. Many times, I base characters on certain aspects of myself, which is extremely helpful when it comes to getting inside her head.
JSC: Are you a plotter or a pantster?
EL: Iâm a plantser! Or a plotster, however you want to look at it. I begin with a detailed outline of the story, character sketches, all the workup, but it invariably veers away from the initial plan as the story and characters take on a life of their own. I usually end up with a much more dynamic story than its original conception.
JSC: How did you choose the topic for Daring Duplicity?
EL: Back in 2016, I answered a call for entries for a LGBTQ anthology called, âPrivate Dicks Packing Heatâ and wrote the first novella included in Daring Duplicity, The Blackmailed Female, which became my first published lesbian story under the pen name Edale Lane. I knew I wanted historical, and I love Sherlock Holmes, so I decided upon Victorian London with a protagonist who uses Holmesian methods for my detective. Because women werenât allowed to engage is such careers, she invented a fictional boss, Xavier Wellington. I always wanted to come back and do more with Stetsonâs character and create additional stories in the series, but it wasnât until the fall of 2021, after completing my Night Flyer Series, that I got around to doing it. I am SOOO glad I did, as this book hit Amazonâs #1 Lesbian Romance and #3 Historical Mystery in March of this year!
JSC: Whatâs your core motivation in this book?
EL: That would be to entertain the reader! Sure, I throw in some interesting historical stuff, but this series is not heavy on symbolism or emotional angst. Itâs just meant to be fun and maybe challenge you to think a bit as you see if you can solve the mystery before Stetson does.
JSC: What are some day jobs that you have held? If any of them impacted your writing, share an example.
EL: I have been: a mother, a caretaker, a schoolteacher, a music director, a private tutor, a farmer, a Home Depot associate, an over the road truck driver, and nowâpraise the Lordâa full-time writer!!! (Blow all the bells and whistles!) I primarily taught history and earned a masterâs degree in it, so that helped pave the way. A wide range of experiences provided a plethora of knowledge and viewpoints to draw from. Driving the truck allowed me to see every clime and terrain, meet people of various persuasions, and paid the money I needed to get my dream career up and running. Hey, if you donât mind never going home and working 7 days a week, you can make a ton of money driving a truck!
JSC: What qualities do you and your characters share? How much are you like them, or how different are they from you?
EL: Sticking to the characters in Daring Duplicity, I have much in common with both Stetson and Evelyn. Like Stetson, I have spent most of my life playing a role, hiding behind a mask of normalcy, because where and when I grew up, being gay was not an option. Like her, I observe, think, make deductions, and generally come to the correct conclusions. When I was her age, I could run around doing athletic stuff, though I doubt youâd ever catch me racing over the top of a speeding locomotive while some thief shot at me! I was a musician, long before I was anything else, and music is a huge part of my life. I always wanted to write a musical character, and when things with Jewel didnât work out, I created a passionate pianist in Evelyn.
JSC: Whatâs your favorite line from any movie?
EL: Lord of the Rings, the Return of the King. Samwise to Frodo, regarding the ring: âI canât carry it for you, but I can carry you.â
JSC: Do you believe in love at first sight?
EL: I believe in attraction at first sight, but true, deep, abiding love takes a little longer than a glance across a crowded room. Sometimes that attraction grows into love, and it seems you fell in love at first sight; other times you find out that hot gal is straight, married, and a real b****.
JSC: What are you working on now, and when can we expect it?
EL: With Perilous Passages: The Wellington Mysteries, Vol. 2 finished and slated for release on June 20, I have turned my attention to an action-packed pre-Viking enemies-to-lovers novel which I am excited to embark upon. At the moment, Iâm over 20,000 words in, expecting to arrive between 80k-100k, but weâll see. Itâs one âHelâ of a ride!
And now for Edale’s latest book: Daring Duplicity:
Solving mysteries is her business. Finding love is her dream. Will combining the two get her killed?
Victorian Era England. Stetson revels in being unconventional. So when society shies away from her independent nature, the bold woman creates an imaginary boss and opens her own detective agency. And her keen observational skills, convincing disguises, and Holmesian methods quickly bring in a string of tough-to-crack cases.
Struggling to squeeze a personal life in around a series of hazardous investigations, Stetson worries sheâll never find a woman of like-passions. But with her heart set on true love despite the risk, she carries on hunting for the perfect relationship.
Will her clever escapades lead to death⌠or delight?
Daring Duplicity: The Wellington Mysteries, Vol. 1, Adventures of a Lesbian Victorian Detective is a collection of five sequential novellas, each encompassing its own exciting mystery while furthering the story of Stetsonâs life in London. If you enjoy crime dramas, Victorian era fiction, or a sweet lesbian romance, then youâll love award-winning author Edale Laneâs Daring Duplicity. Order yours today!
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Excerpt
Jewel gripped her own gloved hands and scanned the room anxiously. âIt is a matter of the utmost discretion,â she began in a tone much more demanding than she had intended. âIt is of a personal nature, you see,â she continued more gently and forced a polite smile. âMay I speak with Mr. Wellington in private?â
Miss Goody responded with a pleasant smile of her own. âIâm afraid that will not be possible. Mr. X is extremely successful in foiling criminals because of his anonymity. In fact, no one has ever seen him but me. All correspondence between the investigator and the clients goes through his assistantâme. So how this works is, you tell me the specifics, I talk to him, and he gives me a list of questions to ask, and so forth. I assure you, anything you say to me will be kept in the strictest of confidence, just as if you were conversing with the detective himself.â
âI see.â The assistant paused for a moment before continuing and her attention fell on Miss Goody for the first time, being specifically drawn to ample breasts squeezed into her buttoned waist coat. It required conscious effort for Jewel to raise her gaze, but doing so she became captivated by two warm, caring cognac eyes. âVery well, then. I am being blackmailed, and the nature of the information being held over me makes it impossible to go to Scotland Yard, or a constable, or even my father, for the money. I receive an allowance, not enough to meet the foul villainâs demands, but sufficient to cover your agencyâs fees and expenses Iâm sure.â
âI see,â she replied with a soft expression of compassion. âWas the man you were seen with married, or simply from the wrong side of the tracks?â
âWell,â Jewel stammered, cleared her throat, and fixed her gaze on a painting on the wall. âNot exactly. And he has a photograph.â
Miss Goody sighed and leaned forward, her palms on the desk top. âNow, Lady Jewel Ashton, if we are to find this blackmailer and save your reputation, you cannot hold anything back. How can Mr. Wellington help you if you wonât tell us the whole story?â
âIt is not my reputation I am concerned with,â she admitted, a hint of real fear trembling in her voice. âMy whole family could be ruined, utterly ruined, and destroy my fatherâs political career. We would be forced to retreat to our estate in the countryside. I cannot allow shame to come upon my family for one momentâs indiscretion.â
Miss Goody met her eyes. âI assure you if you provide Mr. X all the information he needs, he can find this scoundrel, take back the photo and the plates, and give him every reason to keep his deceitful mouth closed on the matter.â
Jewel held her gaze for a long moment, and believing her sincerity, made a decisionâthe only one she could really make. She opened her reticule and withdrew a tan envelope. âSomeone left this in my carriage while I was shopping. My driver said he didnât see or hear a thing.â She placed the parcel on the desk within Miss Goodyâs reach and held her breath.
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Stetson opened the envelope and spilled its contents out onto the desk. Inside was a note and a photograph, not of Jewel kissing a married man, but another young woman! For an instant, time stood still. A flush rose in Jewelâs cheeks while Stetsonâs mouth absently fell agape as she stared dumbfounded at the image. Stetsonâs mind raced almost as fast as her heart. Could it be that this beautiful gem who walked in this morning has the same inclination as myself? Could there actually be other women who love women, that I am not a singular oddity? She not only had these thoughts, but acted on them! She had never met another like-minded womanânot to mention one whose looks could stop a locomotive in its tracks like Jewel Ashton.
She was roused from her musings when she heard a desperate voice from across the desk. âSo now you see the urgency and delicacy of the matter.â
She quickly shoved the note and the photograph back into the envelope and replied with sincerity. âDo not be distressed, Lady Jewel Ashton. We will take care of this with great expediency. I shall show these to the detective and he will know just what to do. Wait here. Iâll return anon.â
Stetson stepped into the room behind her, leaned against the closed door, and let out a deep sigh. With eyes shut and hugging herself, she took a moment to process the warm thrill that rose from her loins. Reveling in the euphoric rush, she wanted to believe the impossibleâthat maybe her dreams could come true. Mayhap there was a chance, ever so slight, that she, too, could act on her passions. Her breathing became ragged as she imagined kissing Jewel, and being kissed in return. Her heart pounded in excitement. Until reality stuck its ugly head into her dream reminding her there was a case to solve. Stetson moaned softly in aggravation and opened her eyes to glance around her inner sanctum.
Within the confines of Mr. Wellingtonâs lair were all the implements one would need to be a successful private investigator. On the wall to the left was an array of weapons, including both an umbrella and walking cane hiding swords in their handles, an umbrella with a singleshot rifle barrel and a trigger in the handle, several knives, guns, and gadgets. A glass-doored cabinet contained other curiosities such as a wristwatch that concealed a tiny explosive, a unique copper and brass miniature camera with flash attachment, a mirror attached to a long folding pole for seeing around corners or over walls, telescopic opera glasses, and a voice recording device. There was a table holding an array of wigs in vast colors and styles for both men and women, false beards and moustaches, along with an exhaustive selection of hats. Hanging from hooks on another wall were various costumes for the well-to-do business people, and the poor, male and female alike. There was a large vanity with a mirror and cases of cosmetics and face powder as one might see backstage of a theatre. Yes, the windowless room had all the trappings to outfit a man of mystery save oneâthere was no Xavier Wellington⌠only Stetson.