Did
a specific event, idea, or person inspire Midnight on the River
Grey?
Abigail: The
plot for Midnight on the River Grey trickled out of several
different ideas. First, I have always been fascinated by old English
bridges. Many BBC period dramas have highlighted the beautiful stone
architecture during the Regency era. So, when I started researching
for my next book, I knew I wanted the person who died to fall from
just such a bridge, thus leading my characters back to that location
to investigate.
Second,
I have suffered from night terrors my entire life. It is such a
strange and personal confusion I battle quite frequently. At many
times, I’ve wondered how much worse they will get as I already
talk, run, fight, and scream in my sleep. My husband is amazing in
dealing with them, but I have lashed out at him in confusion more
than I’d like to admit. Using my personal experiences, I wanted to
create a character who deals with her own incidents at night, ones
she doesn’t understand or know how far they will go, particularly
in Regency England when health care was abhorrent.
How
long did it take you to write this novel?
Abigail: The
rough draft took about six months to complete with an additional
three months for edits. I like to write a book in chronological
order, and I spend a great deal of time plotting and researching
before putting fingers to the keyboard.
What
was something surprising you learned while researching/writing this
novel?
Abigail: I
was fascinated by the research I found on the Secret Office, which
was a confidential section of the Post Office in Regency and
Victorian Britain. Personal correspondence as well as letters of
business continued to be exchanged between Britain and France during
the Napoleonic wars. Concerned that sensitive information might be
disseminated across the channel, Britain set up a classified branch.
Under complete secrecy, individuals or spies employed by this office
regularly opened and read the mail of people they thought suspicious.
Little is known about these spies or what they went through to
protect Britain; however, this special office became an essential
part of the war against France.
Do
you have a favorite character in Midnight on the River Grey?
Abigail: What
a difficult question! If I had to choose one, I would pick Lewis
Browning. He is just such a fascinating character to me. At the
opening of the story, he’s living with quite a bit of guilt over
his role in our heroine’s brother’s death, but soon enough,
against his better judgement, he finds himself attracted to her.
Driven by a strong sense of justice and loyalty, his deep feelings
are at war with the sensitive nature he’d rather keep hidden.
Sophie,
the little pup with a nose for mischief, comes in at a close second.
Can
you share with us something you love about this novel?
Abigail: The
twists and turns of the mystery are definitely front and center in
this book as well as the deliciously Gothic house, but for me, I
absolutely adore the love story that unfolds between the main
characters. The premise, as well as the characters’ strong
personalities, created sparks on the page, and I’m just in love
with the two of them.
What
do you hope readers take away from this novel?
Abigail: At
the heart of my story lies the promise of hope, that even in our
darkest moments, strength of character still matters, and in the end,
the truth will set you free.
If
Midnight on the River Grey was made into a movie, who would
you like to see play Rebecca and Lewis?
Abigail: What
fun that would be! While writing Lewis, Aidan Turner (think Poldark)
kept creeping into my mind. With his crazy hair and attractive smile,
Aidan would do nicely. For Rebecca, I would love to see Alexis
Bledel.
Can
you share a book you are currently reading or have read recently?
Abigail: I
am currently reading Never Let Go, by Elizabeth Goddard, who I
got to meet recently at Book Lovers Con. I am only a few chapters in,
and I am completely hooked. If you like suspense, you should
definitely check her out!
What
hobbies do you enjoy when you aren't writing?
Abigail: I
absolutely love canoeing, hiking, and camping. My husband and I hope
to visit all the National Parks at some point, and we’ve been to
quite a few already. I’m also a huge fan of gymnastics. My daughter
competes and we love traveling to her competitions and cheering her
on.
Anything
else you would like to share about Midnight on the River Grey?
Abigail: I’m
just so excited for everyone to read it and hear their thoughts!
Thank you for hosting me on the blog.
My July 2019 Reads:
Title: Midnight on the River Grey 
