CRIMINALLY GOOD: interview with author Daniella Bernett

1) So, who are you & what have you written?

Hi, I’m Daniella Bernett. I am a member of the Mystery Writers of America New York Chapter. I graduated summa cum laude from St. John’s University with a B.S. in Journalism. I am the author of a mystery series featuring journalist Emmeline Kirby and jewel thief Gregory Longdon. They are former lovers. Both are British and my series takes place in the United Kingdom and Europe. The first three books are LEAD ME INTO DANGER, DEADLY LEGACY and FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE. LEAD ME INTO DANGER is set in Venice and London, my two most favorite cities in the world. In this book, Emmeline and Gregory haven’t seen each other in two years, but she literally runs into him in Venice after witnessing two men try to murder her colleague. Then, Emmeline and Gregory become ensnared in a hunt for a Russian spy in the British Foreign Office. DEADLY LEGACY, Book 2, is about $100 million in stolen diamonds, revenge and murder. It takes place in London.

FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE is set in the seaside resort of Torquay along the English Riviera in Devon. It’s about the deep, dark secrets of Gregory’s past, love, betrayal and, of course, murder. In A CHECKERED PAST, the latest installment which will be released on September 29, Emmeline and Gregory are back in London. She’s still reeling from the secrets she discovered about Gregory in Torquay. Meanwhile as Emmeline pursues an investigative series on looted Nazi art, she stumbles upon a disturbing connection between a stolen Constable painting and a sinister IRA collaborator named Doyle. Book 5 will be coming out in fall 2019. I’m currently working on Book 6.

You can LIKE my Facebook page, or follow me on Goodreads, HERE.

2) Why do you write crime fiction?

Mysteries and romantic suspense are terribly appealing, like a siren call to my soul. I like trying to unravel the puzzle and solve the crime before the sleuth. For me, it has always been about answering the question, “Why?” I love following the clues that the author has strategically dropped. Once the reader understands a criminal’s motivation, everything falls into place. Also, a dash of romance adds another layer to the story, sharpening it some ways and giving it piquancy.

3) What informs your crime writing?

Inspiration is derived from all sorts of places. It could be a newspaper article; a snippet of overheard conversation; a real-life crime; or a dream. I get a lot of ideas from the sights and sounds of a city or an area that has made a strong impression on me. You’re either going to laugh or you’re going to run very quickly in the opposite direction, but oftentimes I come across a place and think, “Wouldn’t this be the perfect setting to find a dead body?”

4) What’s your usual writing routine?

I like to plan out the whole story in my head before I sit down to write the book. I often get new ideas along the journey and make changes, but I like to have that basic skeleton of the plot to follow. I usually take a couple of months off between books to let the next one percolate in my mind. I also need absolute quiet when I’m writing.

5) Which crime book do you wish YOU’D written, and why?

MAGPIE MURDERS by Anthony Horowitz. The book is a brilliantly conceived. There are two mysteries laced together with such finesse to tease the reader’s intellect. It is a delicious pleasure to untangle the tales one delicate strand at a time.