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In this newsletter ...
Welcome to all new subscribers!
This month's newsletter features Susan Elia MacNeal, author of the award-winning Maggie Hope mystery series and MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY, a standalone mystery releasing in September. Learn more about Susan and about my own publishing journey in this edition.
NEVER LET GO, my first thriller, releases December 20. Reviewers can email me at lori@loriduffyfoster.com to get on the ARC list.
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Early words of praise for NEVER LET GO, a thriller releasing December 20! |
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“How far would you go, what would you be willing to do, to find your stolen baby? Never Let Go
is a compulsively readable tale of old feuds, secret jealousies, and a
long-ago murder. Author Lori Duffy Foster takes us on an exciting
journey of high stakes and high suspense. Unforgettable!”
— Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author of The Assassins
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Meet Susan Elia MacNeal
Susan Elia MacNeal is the New York Times bestselling author of the Maggie Hope mysteries. MacNeal won the Barry Award and has been nominated for the Edgar, Macavity, Agatha, Left Coast Crime, Dilys, and ITW Thriller awards. MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY, her first standalone novel, releases Sept. 20. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son.
About MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY
June 1940. France has fallen to the Nazis, Britain is next - but to many Americans, the war is still something happening “over there.” Veronica Grace has just graduated from college; she and her mother, Violet, the widow of a Navy commander, are looking for a fresh start in Los Angeles, where the sun always shines and the opportunities feel riper. Having taken a misstep that cost her a prestigious career opportunity back in New York.
Veronica is relieved to take a temporary typing job - only to realize that she’s working for one of LA's most vicious anti-Semitic propagandists. Overnight, Veronica is exposed to the dark underbelly of the place she now
calls home, where German Nazis are recruiting new American members and building
a bunker in the Pacific Palisades for Hitler’s anticipated visit to the West
Coast. After the FBI dismisses their concerns for “lack of
evidence,” Veronica and Violet decide to call on an old friend of Violet’s
late husband - who introduces them to Ari Lewis, LA's anti-Nazi spymaster.
At once, the two blonde-haired, blue-eyed German American women go
undercover and infiltrate the heart of Nazism in Los Angeles. Risking their
lives, Veronica and Violet aim to gather enough information about the
California Reich to take to the authorities. But as the news of the attack on
Pearl Harbor ripples through the Nazi population in Southern California, and
President Roosevelt declares war, the Grace women realize that the plots
they’re investigating are far more sinister than they feared - and even a
single misstep could cost them everything.
Inspired by real events, Mother Daughter Traitor
Spy is a powerful portrait of family, duty, and deception that raises
timeless questions about America - and what it means to have courage in the
face of terror.
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Q: You’re the author of the New York Times-bestselling Maggie Hope mystery series, which has been nominated for the Edgar Award, won the Barry Award, garnered critical acclaim from the media, and been optioned by Magnolia Hill Productions and Warner Brothers Television for series development. After spending so many years in Maggie’s head, what was it like writing MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY, your first stand-alone novel?
Susan: Thrilling! I was so honored to bring these new characters to life—to create, “meet,” and then befriend them.
Q: In your new novel you introduce readers to mother-daughter spy duo Veronica and Violet Grace, who were inspired by the real-life mother-daughter spy team of Grace and Silvia Comfort. The Comforts infiltrated the Nazi-supporting German American Bund inner sanctum and their work resulted in the conviction of nine Los Angeles Nazis for violating the wartime sedition statute. How did you first hear of them?
Susan: My husband was coming back from a gig (performing with the Muppets) in Los Angeles and picked up Steven J. Ross’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated non-fiction book, Hitler in Los Angeles: How Jews Foiled Nazi Plots Against Hollywood and America for me in the airport on the way home. (Was Rodeo Drive closed? No See’s chocolates?) So, I first read about Sylvia and Grace Comfort in Ross’s book—and I was struck with the story of those two ordinary women, a mother and daughter, who infiltrated Nazi groups in L.A.
Q: You’ve said you’re interested in telling stories about people who change history – and don’t make the history books. Why? What was so special about the Comforts? What was going on in the U.S. at the time that makes their contribution so important?
Susan: The Comforts were real people—real women in an era where females were only supposed to be wives and mothers—who risked their lives to bring down American Nazis. But I believe they made that work for them—no one suspected two women could be spies!
Q: In addition to the Comforts, MOTHER DAUGHTER TRAITOR SPY was also inspired by Steven J. Ross's Pulitzer-nominated non-fiction book, HITLER IN LOS ANGELES, which your husband picked up for you. Tell us about some of the research you did for the book, including the various American Nazi sites you visited such as the abandoned "Hitler Bunker" build in the Pacific Palisades (now concrete remnants of structures, covered in graffiti).
Susan: I was able to visit Los Angeles twice to do research, including hiking out to the remains of the Murphy Ranch, aka “Hitler’s American Bunker.” Not much is left, but what remains is a chilling reminder of some of our dismissed and forgotten American history.
Q: There are many books set during World War II, but this one is different in that it's about the American Homefront and was inspired by the true story of everyday U.S. citizens, who became spymasters and spies out of necessity, working against the German and American Nazis. Tell us more. Do you see any parallels with today's current events, including the rise of the far-Right Nationalism movement and rising anti-Semitism?
Susan: We’ve all been taught that after Pearl Harbor, Americans all stood shoulder to shoulder to fight the Axis—the truth is more complicated. The nationalist groups went underground and stayed out of sight, plotting to return to power someday. With the rise of Trump and the far-right National Movement that he encouraged, we’ve had more anti-Semitic, AAPI, and anti-people of color attacks. I believe it’s the same ideology—emerging from the shadows decades later.
Q: There is some fun cross-over between your last novel, The Hollywood Spy, and this new one—tell us about that!
Susan: Yes! In Mother Daughter Traitor Spy, I have a character who knows Maggie Hope’s German Nazi mother, Clara Hess. And Veronica Grace (based on real-life Sylvia Comfort) had a cameo in The Hollywood Spy. I hope that maybe in a future book, Maggie and Veronica might meet!
Q: You’ve said that writing the mother/daughter aspect of this new novel helped you heal your own grief after your mother’s death four years ago. How so?
Susan: I loved creating Veronica and Violet’s relationship, especially their gentle teasing, pride in their German-American heritage, as well as their genuine support and love. My mother was also German-American, as well as committed to women’s rights. She was someone who routinely participated in marches and protests—so I could envision her becoming a spy. It was a nice way to remember her.
Q: Can we expect any more stand-alone novels from you in the future?
Susan: I hope so! I definitely have an idea for another stand-alone novel—but right now I’m working on Maggie Hope #11—where Maggie meets up with Nazi agent Coco Chanel—yes, the Coco Chanel! The real-life history’s documented in Hal Vaughan’s fantastic Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War—and I hope readers will never look at the interlocking double-C logo the same way again.
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MY BOOKS
Click here for more about A DEAD MAN'S EYES, a SHAMUS AWARD finalist for Best First PI Novel, an AGATHA AWARD nominee for Best First Novel and book 1 in the Lisa Jamison Mystery Series.
Click here for more about NEVER BROKEN, book 2 in the series, which released in April.
Signed books make great gifts for book lovers! Contact me at lori@loriduffyfoster.com for signed copies of any of my novels.
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This is where you will find me virtually and in person!
(For the always-updated website version, click here.)
News and Events
August 6, Frosty Hollow Festival, Frosty Hollow Bed & Breakfast, 1077 Cherry Springs Road, Coudersport, PA., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. So
many people have talked about this annual event that I just had to join
in. You’ll find vendors spread across the property, great deals, fresh
garlic and delicious wood fired pizza. I am told it is a blast and is
well-attended by vendors and patrons. I will be selling and signing
books while slipping off to grab some of that wood-fired pizza!
August 27, Barnes & Noble, 3956 Route 31, Liverpool, NY, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
I am so excited to return to the Syracuse area, where I worked for 11
years as a journalist and where The Lisa Jamison Mystery Series is set!
Copies of both A DEAD MAN’S EYES and NEVER BROKEN will be available.
Come by and say “hello!”
August 28, Parthenon Books, 333 South Salina St., Syracuse, NY, Time TBA. I
discovered this awesome new bookstore in downtown Syracuse during a
recent visit with my husband. They have a great selection and a
friendly, knowledgeable staff. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to
do a book signing so close to the Public Safety Building, where I spent
so much time a reporter.
September 8 – 11, Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, Hilton Minneapolis, 1001 Marquette Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN.
Bouchercon is an annual convention of creators and devotees of mystery
and detective fiction. This will be the first in-person Bouchercon since
Covid and I cannot wait! I will be on a panel about journalists as
protagonists, and I will be meeting with readers at the New Authors
Breakfast. I hope to see you there!
November 19, Mid-State Literacy Council’s Barnes & Noble Book Fair, Barnes & Noble, 365 Benner Pike, State College, PA, time to be announced. I
am excited to participate in a panel about the writing process and
perspectives on writing as part of this fundraising event for the
council’s annual children’s book drive. More details to come!
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This adolescent deer stepped into my path yesterday while I was on my walk. We considered each other for a moment. Then mom snorted her displeasure and they both bolted. This bunny was pretty well hidden in the grass. It could easily have turned into the brush and hopped out of sight. Did it? No. Every time I moved, it hopped forward on the path a few more feet, seeming to believe that it was invisible to me. It finally took off when I held the camera directly over it. Bunnies would make terrible protagonists in mystery/suspense novels.
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What's up with my books?
It's done!
I received the developmental edits of NEVER LET GO early in July, made a few changes and gave the manuscript back to my editor at Level Best Books for the next round of edits. Soon, I will have cover art and advance reader copies (ARCs) in hand!
I am so excited!
No, I didn't finish NO TIME TO BREATHE, book 3 in the Lisa Jamison series, but I am super close to typing "the end" and sending it off to beta readers. Many authors quit using beta readers after publishing a few novels, but I can't imagine ever doing that. I value their perspectives too much.
I am really looking forward to attending Bouchercon in Minneapolis in early September. Bouchercon is an annual convention of creators and devotees of mysteries and detective fiction. I have always wanted to attend, but I promised myself I would hold off until I was published.
Last year, I was all set to go when it was cancelled over Covid concerns. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen again! I will be pitching my books to readers at the New Authors Reception and participating on a panel about journalists as protagonists. I can't wait to see old readers and writer friends and meet new ones.
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What's up at home?
Vacations have always been about the kids, at least since our first child was born more than 22 years ago. There were two reasons for that. First, we had no family close by who could stay with the kids until we moved to North Central Pennsylvania. Second, we didn't really want to go it alone. We had kids later in life and we know how quickly they grow. We wanted to spend quality time with them while they were still young.
But we broke that trend in July.
It was mid-month and the twins were in summer camp for a week. Our daughter had to work and our oldest son was living and working in State College for the summer. So we did it. We went on vacation alone for three whole days. We had no plans. We just got in the van and drove, visiting old haunts in Central New York, going to dinner on our own and sleeping as late as we wanted.
It was wonderful, but we really did miss the kids.
I will be making up for that precious couple time in August when the twins, a friend of theirs and I head to Super Smash Con in Virginia for a long weekend. Yup. You read that right. My middle-aged self will be immersed in a crowd of diehard Nintendo fans for four very long days. I will be the one hiding in a corner with a laptop, trying to get some work and some writing done while also keeping a cautious eye on my 15-year-old twins and their friend.
What doesn't kill me makes me a better writer, right?
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If you read and enjoyed my books, please
consider clicking on a rating or leaving a review on your favorite
website, such as Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Book Bub.
Reviews are important to newbies like me, who are also published by
small presses. We greatly appreciate them.
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The Lastest: Interviews, reviews, articles and podcasts |
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Here are the most recent interviews, reviews, articles and podcasts. For a complete list, click here.
Novels Alive, NEVER BROKEN review
Novels Alive, A DEAD MAN’S EYES review
The Thrilling Detective, review
Bolo Book Reviews, review
The Big Thrill, interview (2022)
Books to the Ceiling, review
Fictionophile, review
Dru’s Book Musings, interview with Lisa Jamison
Read with Me, Review
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BOOK, interview
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BOOK, review
Dru’s Book Musings, review, Never Broken
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Happy writing and reading! |
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