This week on Jen’s Jewels, I’m thrilled to welcome Nekesa Afia, the talented author behind AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE, a gripping dual-timeline mystery that sweeps readers from the shimmering heart of 1930s Hollywood to a young dancer’s emotional journey in the present day. With its intoxicating blend of glamour, danger, and deeply personal stakes, this stunning novel explores the fierce pursuit of dreams—no matter the cost. Join us as Nekesa shares the inspiration behind her unforgettable characters, the challenges of crafting a story across eras, and what’s next on her creative horizon.
Jen: What first inspired you to write AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE? The story beautifully blends mystery, emotion, and the glamour of Old Hollywood.
Nekesa: I have always loved classic films. I love a good classic musical, and I knew that it was a world I wanted to explore. I started this novel years ago, in the liminal space of trying to get an agent. For a really long time, it focused on a film star dead in a bed, and a private investigator hired to look into her death. It spiraled from there: a year after the death, five years, ten years, and the investigator became a daughter, and it built from there.
Jen: The novel spans two timelines, one following Thea in the present and one tracing Lorelei’s life in 1930s Hollywood. How did you approach weaving these two narratives together so seamlessly?
Nekesa: With a lot of work! It’s hard to write a dual timeline novel. It’s a lot of things to remember and consider. I’m used to writing single timelines following one person and it was a big change. I tried to write them evenly, flipping back and forth. I had to make lists of characters to remember and their arcs. It was fun and a lot of hard work.
Jen: Thea’s journey from grief to self-discovery is so powerful. What inspired her character, and how did her background as a ballerina shape her path?
Nekesa: Thea is only a ballet dancer because I’m a ballet dancer. The difference is Thea’s been doing it her whole life, and I have been doing it for four years. I wanted something performance based for her, and I love ballet so much. She’s young, like Lorelei, and she wants to figure out her place in the world. She’s rehabbing an injury and that means she’s doing less than she normally would be. I wouldn’t say she was inspired by anyone in particular, but she’s someone who is determined and persistent and relentless. Those are all traits she needs as a ballerina, and to figure out her father’s death.
Jen: Lorelei is such a fascinating character—a woman chasing her dreams in a world full of danger and deceit. Was she inspired by any real actresses or stories from the Golden Age of Hollywood?
Nekesa: I love Lorelei! She’s not inspired by any one actress. The closest, of course, is Marilyn Monroe (who I love). Lorelei is actually named after Monroe’s character in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. There is also shades of Veronica Lake and Rita Hayworth in Lorelei as well.
Jen: If AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE were adapted into a film or limited series, who would you love to see cast as Thea and Lorelei?
Nekesa: I am terrible at these questions. Jasmine Amy Rogers for Lorelei Davies. (Go listen to Something to Shout About from Boop! The Musical and TELL ME it’s not deeply Lorelei-coded.) For Thea, maybe Bailey Bass?
Jen: Which character was your favorite to write, and did any of them surprise you along the way?
Nekesa: I love all my children equally. I am a Julian John Weston stan. I would love to write a whole thing with all his JJ siblings. He’s just a cool guy and I love him a lot. Again, I love all my children equally.
Jen: The story explores themes of identity, sacrifice, and the cost of truth. What message do you hope readers take away after turning the final page?
Nekesa: I hope people liked the book and that they are kind to each other.
Jen: What’s next for you? Are you currently working on another project?
Nekesa: I am working on a few things. I have the fourth book in the Harlem Renaissance series coming out so I have been concentrating on that.
Jen: What’s on your TBR stack right now? Any upcoming releases or favorite authors you can’t wait to read?
Nekesa: RIGHT BEFORE I started this interview, I finished I’ll Follow You by Charlene Wang, and it was so good. So dark and delicious and thrilling. She’s for sure one to watch. What a book. Fantastic work.
Jen: Tell us one interesting fact about yourself that readers might not know.
Nekesa: I am literally the least interesting girl in the world.
Jen: And finally, how can fans connect with you online?
Nekesa: I’m @nekesawritesbooks everywhere online!
Jen: Thank you for stopping by to chat about AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE. This haunting, beautifully written story of secrets, survival, and self-discovery is sure to keep readers turning the pages late into the night!
Nekesa: Thank you so much!
AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE by Nekesa Afia
Beneath the glitter of 1930s Hollywood, dangerous secrets connect two generations of women in this atmospheric dual-timeline mystery about identity, sacrifice, and survival.
Professional ballerina Thea Ross’s world shatters when her screen-legend father commits suicide, leaving behind a shocking confession to a decades-old murder. Determined to uncover the truth, Thea teams up with a relentless journalist, following a trail of clues that leads her back to the glittering yet treacherous world of 1930s Hollywood.
There, she discovers the story of Lorelei Davies, a struggling actress willing to endure anything for her family’s sake. As Thea peels back the layers of Lorelei’s life—her dreams, fears, and dangerous secrets—the connection between Lorelei’s past and Thea’s present challenges everything she believes about her family history. But as she untangles all the lies, she comes to know herself more truly than ever before.
As Thea navigates the glamorous facade of Old Hollywood, she must decide whether uncovering the truth about her father is worth sacrificing the life she planned—and whether some secrets are better left buried in Hollywood’s golden age.
Women’s Fiction Historical | Suspense Historical [ Lake Union Publishing, On Sale: October 1, 2025, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781662524080 / ]
Buy AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE: Amazon.com |Kindle Unlimited| BN.com | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Ripped Bodice | Walmart.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Nekesa Afia
Nekesa Afia is lives in Canada. When she’s not writing, she’s sewing, swing dancing, or trying to pet every dog she sees.
Harlem
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About Jennifer Vido
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut novel, “Serendipity by the Sea,” secured the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. In 2024, Vido’s talent garnered further accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author category. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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