Aidan Sanfelippo
Recently I was lucky enough to interview author and editor Amy Renshaw about her new book Strong Suspicions: A Sophie Strong Mystery. Amy is the Senior Editor of Brilliant Star Magazine and has participated in events like last year’s Chippewa Valley Postcard Project. Strong Suspicions is her second book, her first being the nonfiction book Voyage of Love: Abdu'l-Baha in North America. Strong Suspicions is a historical mystery book set in 1912 Milwaukee. It’s told from the perspective of reporter Sophie Strong.
Aidan Sanfelippo: In September, you published Strong Suspicions: A Sophie Strong Mystery which follows reporter Sophie Strong as she investigates a murder to clear her friend's name. Without spoilers, what was your favorite part about writing this story?
Amy Renshaw: It was fun to learn about the process of developing a mystery plot. I love reading historical mysteries, but I never thought I could write one. Eventually I decided to give it a try. There are a lot of great books and articles about plotting a mystery. I kept writing myself into a corner, then looking for advice about how to move forward. Some things that seem obvious to a reader—like how all the suspects need a motive, and they all need to look guilty—only gradually became clearer as I wrote.
“The research was also really fun. The novel is set in 1912, so I had to find out a lot of things that you just naturally know when writing about the present. If someone turns on a light, is the power electricity or gas or oil? If they drive somewhere, how do they start the car? What do they wear, what do they eat?”
The research was also really fun. The novel is set in 1912, so I had to find out a lot of things that you just naturally know when writing about the present. If someone turns on a light, is the power electricity or gas or oil? If they drive somewhere, how do they start the car? What do they wear, what do they eat? At one point I thought a character might do a crossword puzzle, but crosswords weren’t invented until 1913. I’m thankful for libraries, librarians, and the internet. And podcasts were super helpful too.
AS: An interview with Spectrum West and your book's Amazon description suggest that this is only the first book in the Sophie Strong series! What are you most excited about when writing this series?
AR: For mystery lovers, it’s fun to get to know the characters over the course of a series. I’m excited to develop the characters and see how their relationships might change over time. In my favorite mystery series to read, the characters almost feel like old friends after a while. Their quirks and foibles are funny and endearing as you see them manifest in different ways.
I’m also excited about researching different locations in Milwaukee. The characters visit an amusement park in this book, and I was fascinated to learn that in the early 1900s, there were several amusement parks in Milwaukee, with roller coasters and water rides and other attractions, and they’ve completely disappeared. Going forward, I want to learn about theaters, libraries, museums—there are so many possibilities.
AS: Do you have any advice for writers who plan on writing a multiple-book story?
AR: I’m just starting to learn about writing a series, so I’m looking for advice myself! One thing I’ve learned so far is that the writer needs to consider whether the characters will progress through time and change, or if they’ll basically stay in about the same timeframe. I’m planning for these characters to progress, but slowly. In time, they might encounter World War I, national suffrage for women, Prohibition, and other historical events.
AS: According to Amazon, this book is a part of the historical mystery genre. What about this genre interests you?
AR: I love historical fiction because there’s so much you can learn about life in previous time periods. It’s also compelling to me that society was wrestling with issues that we still deal with today, though in different ways. So with challenges like racial justice, women’s rights, immigration, and poverty, you can explore how those things impacted people in the past.
Also, though every age has its problems, sometimes it’s enjoyable to escape mentally to a time when people weren’t dealing with constant media access, digital tools, and other pressures of modern life.
As far as the mystery part of the genre, I enjoy mysteries as a reader because there’s usually consistent action, and it’s fun to focus on solving a puzzle. Strong Suspicions could also be considered a “cozy” mystery, because it doesn’t include a lot of violence.
AS: When did you first know you were interested in this genre?
AR: I’ve been reading historical mysteries for about ten years. I love history in general, and I wrote a nonfiction historical book called Voyage of Love: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in North America. I’ve heard that you should write what you like to read, and that makes a lot of sense to me. I’m not sure exactly how long I worked on Strong Suspicions, but it was a big focus for at least two
years.
AS: In an interview with Spectrum West, you noted your love of research. Do you have any advice on how to research when writing historical fiction/non-fiction works?
“ I found that it’s easy to get carried away by curiosity. It’s a tough balance. ”
AR: I found that it’s easy to get carried away by curiosity. It’s a tough balance. To start, I had to do enough research to get a feel for the time and place. But sometimes I would dig into a topic and really get absorbed by it, and then realize I only needed to include a sentence or two about it. Some authors suggest drafting the novel and leaving notes to yourself about the historical stuff you don’t know. Then when it’s time to research, you can focus on things that will actually fit into the book. I’m trying to limit myself like that going forward, but I’m pretty sure I’ll go down a lot of rabbit holes too.
AS: In the same interview, you said that your book takes place in 1912 when there was a referendum about whether women should vote in the state of Wisconsin. Why did you choose this unique backdrop for your book?
AR: There are a few things about the struggle for suffrage that really piqued my interest. Sometimes we think of women in the early 1900s as being very prim, proper, and reserved. But I was impressed that a lot of the suffragists were really bold. Some of them gave speeches to big crowds at fairs. They marched in parades. In 1912, women did automobile tours around the state, at a time when a lot of people were still using horse-drawn vehicles. Women’s roles in society were changing quite a bit at that time. And another thing that amazed me is that some women were activists against suffrage. They actually tried to prevent themselves and other women from having the basic human right to vote.
I think it’s important to learn about things like this to get a more complete picture of what women’s lives have been like throughout history. And when we learn about the social justice struggles of the past, to establish laws that we might take for granted today, it can open our minds to consider what new changes might be possible. Other goals that are challenging us, like eliminating racial prejudice and systemic racism, are things I believe can happen with effort and perseverance.
AS: Earlier this year, you were also a part of the Chippewa Valley Postcard Project. According to a WEAU article interviewing Ruth Peterson and Janet Frase, this event is meant to start a discussion where people can examine their own perceptions, learn more about racial justice, and make Eau Claire a better and safer place for people of color. What is something that you have learned from this project (or projects like this) that has influenced your writing?
AR: One thing I learned from the Postcard Project is that people of all ages enjoy creating art, and art can bring people together. We had so much fun at the Juneteenth celebration, for example, where people came to our table to create postcards with art supplies. The project also showed that a lot of people in our community care about racial justice and want to bring about change. I think one thing that’s critical is talking more about race and racism. Hopefully we can build more friendships between people of different races and backgrounds. If we can make Eau Claire more welcoming for people of color, we can have a stronger community.
AS: You are also the senior editor of Brilliant Star Magazine, a magazine that, according to their website, “empowers kids to be world citizens, use their virtues to make the world a better place, and express their creativity, strengths, and beliefs.” (Brilliant Star). How has your work with Brilliant Star influenced or inspired your writing?
AR: I’ve had the blessing of working with Brilliant Star Magazine for over 20 years. In that time, I’ve learned a lot about creativity, writing, and teamwork. My colleagues at the magazine are wonderful examples of dedication and commitment to art. Also, Brilliant Star is inspired by the teachings of the Baha’i Faith, and one of those teachings is that all art is a form of worship. That idea really helped me devote time and energy to this novel. I think it’s important for writers of any faith (or no faith) to trust that practicing our craft, no matter what the outcome, is beneficial—not only to our writing skill, but also to our hearts and minds.
Strong Suspicions: A Sophie Strong Mystery is available on Amazon in paperback and through Kindle, and make sure to keep an eye out for the next books in the series!