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Sherry Thomas | 20 Questions: MISS MORIARTY, I PRESUME?

November 3, 2021

1–What is the title of your latest release?

MISS MORIARTY, I PRESUME?

2–What is it about?

This is book 6 in the Lady Sherlock series and Moriarty at last makes his grand appearance.

A most unexpected client shows up at Charlotte Holmes’s doorstep: Moriarty himself. Moriarty fears that tragedy has befallen his daughter and wants Charlotte to find out the truth. 

Charlotte and Mrs. Watson travel to a remote community of occult practitioners where Moriarty’s daughter was last seen, a place full of lies and liars. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s sister Livia tries to make sense of a mysterious message from her beau Mr. Marbleton. And Charlotte’s longtime friend and ally Lord Ingram at last turns his seductive prowess on Charlotte—or is it the other way around?

But the more secrets Charlotte unravels about Miss Moriarty’s disappearance, the more she wonders why Moriarty has entrusted this delicate matter to her of all people. Is it merely to test Charlotte’s skills as an investigator, or has the man of shadows trapped her in a nest of vipers?

3–What do you love about the setting of your book? 

One of the great loves of my life is the Southwest Coast Path in England, 630 miles of my favorite kind of scenery, where high cliffs meet the sea. This book is set on the Cornish coast, the entirety of which is covered by the Southwest Coast Path, so I was thrilled to write about it.

4–How did your main character(s) surprise you? 

Ha ha ha! Charlotte starts the book sending to Lord Ingram an erotic scene that she has written.

5–Why will readers relate to your characters? 

Hmm, I’m not sure I’ve ever really thought about that either as a reader or as a writer. As long as a story has my attention, it’s good enough.

6–What was one of your biggest challenges while writing this book (spoiler-free, of course!)?

Figuring out how to write Moriarty?

7–Do you look forward to or do you dread the revision process? 

I need the revision process because my books flesh out only in iterations, via the revision process. But I dread it too as it’s so much work!

8–What’s your favorite snack to have on hand while writing? 

Cake, but I don’t have it on hand as often as I’d like, since it’s cake.

9–Where would you go for an ideal writer’s retreat? 

My answer to the previous question decided it: I would want to write on a cruise ship, and basically just park myself near the buffet all day. That way I don’t have to think about what’s my favorite snack to have on hand while writing. I can eat ALL THE THINGS.

(Oh, when would it be actually relaxing and normal to be on a cruise ship again?)

10–What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received? 

My first editor at Random House, Caitlin Alexander, taught me that a story needs a spine.

11–Who is the fictional character you want to hang out with the most? (anyone in literature!)

Whoever can provide me the best food and the best gossip!

12–What’s one of your earliest book memories? 

The mention of a never-ending storybook as a gift received by a princess, when I was a small kid. The never-ending book has no role in the story, but I lusted after it since I could never find enough things to read back then.

13–If you had to write in a different genre, what would it be and why? 

I’ve already written in a lot of genres, lol, romance, mystery, fantasy, wuxia. I even did a SF romance novella a few years ago. I also have an erotic novella under my belt.

I guess I might want to try a more full-fledged science fiction someday? (In my spare time, I am working on and off on a web novel in Chinese. It’s a contemporary romance.)

14–What song will automatically put you in a good mood? 

Hmm, not sure. I don’t listen to a lot of music and when I do, it tends to be angsty songs to go with angsty books. But BTS songs will make me feel chirpy while I run.

15–What is your favorite way to practice self-care?

I can shut my brain off pretty well—that’s my superpower. The difficult part comes in trying to turn it back on again and make it do work!

16–What can you eat and never get sick of? 

Rice? I’m a variety person and never eat the same food for long but I think I’ll be okay with having rice all the time, provided the dishes vary. 😀

17–Will you share a favorite, recent-ish book you recommend? 

I still haven’t met anyone who’s read JANE, UNLIMITED by Kristin Cashore. It is one of the oddest experience I’ve ever had reading a book, in that I was entirely unsure about the story, even though it was interesting and easy to read, until the very last page, and then I said, Oh, I love this.

18–Do you have any hobbies? 

I started a bullet journal in 2016, less because I wanted to journal, more because I suddenly felt a burning desire for washi tape in my life. I still enjoy putting pretty things in my bullet journal, but my range has expanded to include wax seals, acrylic stamps, and wooden stamps. I will even occasionally hand-draw stuff for the sake of decorating the journal.

19–Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Neither. I work best in the middle parts of the day. Shortly after noon to early evening.

20–What can readers expect from you next? 

The seventh Lady Sherlock book? I’d better get on with it.

MISS MORIARTY, I PRESUME? by Sherry Thomas

Lady Sherlock Series #6

Miss Moriarty, I Presume?

Charlotte Holmes comes face to face with her enemy when Moriarty turns to her in his hour of need, in the USA Today bestselling series set in Victorian England.

A most unexpected client shows up at Charlotte Holmes’s doorstep: Moriarty himself. Moriarty fears that tragedy has befallen his daughter and wants Charlotte to find out the truth.

Charlotte and Mrs. Watson travel to a remote community of occult practitioners where Moriarty’s daughter was last seen, a place full of lies and liars. Meanwhile, Charlotte’s sister Livia tries to make sense of a mysterious message from her beau Mr. Marbleton. And Charlotte’s longtime friend and ally Lord Ingram at last turns his seductive prowess on Charlotte—or is it the other way around?

But the more secrets Charlotte unravels about Miss Moriarty’s disappearance, the more she wonders why Moriarty has entrusted this delicate matter to her of all people. Is it merely to test Charlotte’s skills as an investigator, or has the man of shadows trapped her in a nest of vipers?

Romance Historical [Berkley, On Sale: November 2, 2021, Trade Size / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593200582 / eISBN: 9780593200599]

About Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas writes both historical romance and young adult fantasy.

On the romance side, she is one of the most acclaimed authors working in the genre today, her books regularly receiving starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award.

On the young adult fantasy side, there isn’t much to report yet, her debut book, THE BURNING SKY, book 1 of the Elemental Trilogy, has received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and been named to the Autumn ’13 Kids’ Indie Next List.

Sherry writes in her second language. She learned English by reading romance and science fiction—every word Isaac Asimov ever wrote, in fact. She is proud to say that her son is her biggest fanboy—for the YA fantasy, not the romances. At least, not yet…

Lady Sherlock | The Elemental Trilogy | Fitzhughs

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