We chat with author Joanna Shupe about The Gilded Heiress, which is a spicy Anastasia story full of secrets and betrayal, set among the glittering streets of New York City’s Gilded Age.
Hi, Joanna! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I live about thirty minutes outside New York City in suburban New Jersey. This allows for many great research opportunities for my books, which are all set in Gilded Age New York. I also love sports and reading, and I will never turn down a novelty donut!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Very early. I was always interested in writing and history. In fourth grade, I recited the Gettysburg Address for my entire elementary school. Later, I went to college and received a journalism degree with the intent of going into sports journalism. Life had other plans, though, it wasn’t until much later that I pursued a career in genre fiction writing.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Definitely a Nancy Drew mystery.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Lead by Kylie Scott
Your latest novel, The Gilded Heiress, is out August 26th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Revenge. Spice. Gripping. Family. Redemption.
What can readers expect?
The Gilded Heiress has a lot of my favorite things: a bold, quick-witted FMC, a slightly morally gray MMC, revenge, and plenty of spice. Much of the book takes place outside of high society, with two working-class characters just trying to better their lives. The FMC is an aspiring Broadway singer, so I had fun digging into the early history of Broadway and Vaudeville.
Where did the inspiration for The Gilded Heiress come from?
My editor suggested using the movie Anastasia as inspiration, which is perfect for the anything-goes, totally bonkers Gilded Age. So, I took the idea of a con man and an orphan, sprinkled in the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, and put in a dash of Ethel Merman.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I love a con man. It was really fun to dive into Leo’s family, his backstory, and abilities as a professional cheat. Some of the cons that people pulled in the 19th century were astounding!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I normally write very wealthy characters. For this one, I had to research the lives of the working class, what their day-to-day experiences were like. Things like washing your own clothing, making your own meals. Waiting for streetcars or walking wherever you needed to go. Not to mention that as a middle- or lower-class woman, your safety concerns would have been much different from those of an upper-class woman. Unless you were born with money, it was a hard life. So, I read first-hand accounts from journals and newspapers to try and learn more about daily struggles.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on the next book in this series for Avon and it’s a Gilded Age spin on Beauty and the Beast. Except Belle is married to Gaston, who is a terrible husband. The Beast is Gaston’s enemy and may just have a crush on Belle.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I am currently reading—and loving!—Andie J. Christopher’s F1 romance, Faster. I’m also re-reading Liana De la Rosa’s wickedly fun historical romance, Gabriela and His Grace. And I just adored Sarah MacLean’s These Summer Storms. A rich family is forced to play a crazy inheritance game on their island located off the coast of Rhode Island. I couldn’t put it down!
