Why do you write the genre that you write?
You know, I was inspired to write Mr. Churchill’s Secretary during a trip to the Cabinet War Rooms in London (where the British ran their response to World War II), so I really just saw it as a mystery/thriller. I didn’t think a lot about it—it just had to be that, although I think what’s different about my books is that I have what could be considered more cozy mystery characters in a thriller setting. In the new stand-alone novel, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy, we also find two “ordinary” women who find the courage to go undercover after stumbling upon a Nazi cell in Los Angels during the early days of World War II.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?
One of my favorite characters is David Greene, one of Churchill’s private secretaries, and he likes to swear in the name of Greek and Roman deities, with alliteration: “Merciful Minerva!” “Hopping Hermes!” “Prancing Poseidon!”

How did you come up with your pseudonym?
My legal name is actually Susan Elia (still) but I attached my husband’s name because he was so supportive of my writing (and really did want me to take his name when we got married).

Tell us how you got into writing?
Started reading at age three and my most happy place was the local library. I was an English major at college and then worked in publishing. So, I was always “writing adjacent.” It took some time before I could actually admit to myself I wanted to actually be a writer.

What jobs have you held before, during and/or after you became a writer?
My favorite job was working at an old-fashioned ice cream soda shop. It was easy work (making sundaes and milkshakes) and everyone was happy!

Where do you write?
I don’t have an office, so I either write on the living room sofa, in bed, or at a shared writing workspace I’m a member of.

What is your favorite deadline snack?
Anything crunchy (I try for carrots, not chips). Crunching helps relieve stress!

What is next for you?
My new stand-alone novel, Mother Daughter Traitor Spy, comes out September 20, which is exciting! It’s inspired by a real-life mother-daughter team who went undercover to fight Nazis in 1940 Los Angeles.

In terms of Maggie Hope, The Hollywood Spy comes out in paperback in August, and I’m now working on yet-untitled Maggie Hope #11, where Maggie goes to Madrid on a mission with fashion designer Coco Chanel. I’m hoping it will be published next year.

What are you reading now?
I’m reading (and loving) Megan Abbott’s The Turnout, a noir-sh thriller about two dysfunctional sisters and their ballet school.

Where can we find you?
I’m @susanmacneal on Twitter and @susaneliamacneal on IG, and Susan Elia MacNeal on FB. Please come say hi! I love to talk about books and what everyone’s reading, as well as research and writing.

Now to have some fun . . .

Vanilla or chocolate
Chocolate. Always. Preferably British.

Ice cream or cake
Ice cream on top of cake?

Broccoli or squash
Oooh, both! (Seriously. . .)

Pizza, burger, or pasta
Veggie burger, on summer, grilled outside, please and thank you.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
Dinner! With lots of friends and maybe some wine. . .

Mountain or beach
Beach. Love to be near the water.

City or country
I love cities but also love to get away. . .

Introvert or Extrovert
Introvert with extrovert tendencies. Love the mystery conventions,
but it takes me about a week of solitude to recover!

And even more fun . . .

You are stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?
My husband, my son, and lots of books. (Which sounds a lot like the
pandemic, but let’s not talk about that. . .)

My bio:
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. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son.