We chat to author Erin Lindsey about her new novel The Silver Shooter, which is her third historical mystery in the Rose Gallagher series and follows Rose as she tracks a monster and searches for treasure in the wilds of the Dakota Territory.
Hi, Erin! Tell us a bit about yourself!
Well, let’s see. 5’6”. Libra. INTJ. Wait – is that not what you’re looking for? I also write books? I seem to recall that in the Before Times, I had other passions, like going out to eat and seeing live music and travelling abroad, but it’s all so hazy, like it happened in another life. Now, it’s mostly books, and hanging out with my husband and my cats, and Netflix. Lots and lots of Netflix.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I’m not sure I “discovered” it per se. I remember sitting down with my mom’s typewriter (one of those ancient, clickety-clack ones) and starting a “book” when I was about thirteen. I informed my parents I was into writing now, and my mother’s response was something along the lines of “what do you mean, now?” And she pulled out this old box full of stories I’d written in first and second grade (complete with crayon drawings). It was like rediscovering this person I’d always been on some innate level. Like, “you’re a wizard, Harry.”
The Silver Shooter is the third instalment in the Rose Gallagher series, and it is out November 17th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Sherlock + Supernatural + the Wild West.
For those who haven’t read the Rose Gallagher series, what can they expect?
Adventure, mystery, romance, and a sprinkling of the supernatural, as narrated by our plucky heroine. If you’re into Gilded Age New York, this might just be your jams, as the setting is a big part of the story.
And for those that have, what’s to come in The Silver Shooter?
I’d say there’s a little bit more of everything in this one. More action, more romance, more humour. And the Western setting is a big change of pace. Rose and Thomas are totally out of their element in the Wild West, and it makes for some fun situations.
The first two books were previously set in Gilded Age Manhattan, but now Rose is heading to the wilds of the Dakota Territory. What kind of research did you have to do for this new setting?
I might have started out with a better baseline than some, having grown up in cowboy country. (My hometown literally brands itself “Cowtown”.) I did a lot of online research, and picked up a few books on specific subjects where I wanted to do a deeper dive. Theodore Roosevelt’s autobiography devotes a chapter to his life out west, and it provides a really vivid (and witty) description of life on the range as seen through the eyes of a New Yorker, which was invaluable in writing from Rose’s perspective. I also spent some time in the saddle, reacquainting myself with all things horsey.
Is there a scene, element, or character you really enjoyed creating and writing in The Silver Shooter?
I really enjoyed writing the character of John Ward, who is inspired by one of my hometown’s most famous cowboy heroes, John Ware. He was a former slave who came up to Canada on a cattle drive and never left, and he quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest horsemen in the country. There were a lot of Black cowboys out west, but that’s been largely overlooked by Hollywood and genre fiction. I wanted to do my best to portray the west as it really was, and it was nice to have that hometown connection in there.
While this series is historical fiction, you’ve previously written within the fantasy genre. Is there one genre you prefer over the other? Or do you love that they both bring different elements to the story?
What I really prefer is blending them. Both of my fantasy series feature heavy doses of mystery, and this mystery series has sprinkles of the supernatural. They play really well together, especially in a historical or quasi-historical setting. I think that’s why you see so many mysteries, even conventional ones, that dabble in ghosts and spiritualism. And of course the Victorians were fabulously excited about spiritualism, so it all ties in rather nicely.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on a new historical mystery set in Gilded Age New York.
Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
I’m catching up on my Caleb Carr, since The Angel of Darkness is about to be released on Netflix. I still can’t get enough of Victorian New York, and Carr draws it so very well.
