We chat with author Mel Pennant about A Murder for Miss Hortense, which follows Miss Hortense who is a retired British-Jamaican nurse in 1960s England and your quintessential grandma but also loves to solve mysteries as the leader of the Pardner Network, a group of Black elders who invest into the community and solve local crimes.
Hi, Mel! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a playwright and novelist. My debut novel, A Murder for Miss Hortense, came out in June. I live in London with my family and dog Bleu.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always created stories, ever since I can remember. I was a big day dreamer as a child. Some saw me as reserved but I was just having lots of fun in my internal creative spaces. I love creating stories and characters.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Enid Blyton, Bedtime Stories
- The one that made you want to become an author: Beloved by Toni Morrison
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Beloved by Toni Morrison and Kindred by Octavia Butler.
Your debut novel, A Murder for Miss Hortense, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Community, Pardner, buried secrets & turmeric.
What can readers expect?
To be immersed in a vibrant world of older detectives who are determined to find out the truth. They are led by a no-nonsense and forthright protagonist in the form of Miss Hortense and the quest is told with a lightness and humour.
Where did the inspiration for A Murder for Miss Hortense come from?
Several places. Firstly, the Pardner. A Pardner also called Box Hand or Sousou in the Caribbean community, is a mutual saving scheme. A group of people come together and pool their resources and the accumulated wealth is distributed on a regular basis amongst the contributing members. In the UK, the Pardner was and is used by the Windrush generation, the women and men who came to the UK between 1948 and 1971 from the Caribbean to assist in rebuilding the UK after the second world war and who made the UK their home. At that time, one of the reasons the Pardner was used and was so prolific was because many Afro-Caribbean communities were excluded from traditional forms of credit and finance. My grandmother was a head of one of these groups and was called a Pardner Lady. The book is also inspired by by grandparents, who came the UK as part of the Windrush generation in the 1950s.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Blossom, Miss Hortense’s loyal best friend and sidekick was a joy to write. She consistently puts her foot in it and she is not afraid to just speak her mind. In the community, we have something called “Speaky Spokey” and that’s Blossom. Her speech is full of malaprops, colour and humor. There is an “unusual” car chase involving Blossom – which I loved writing.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
A Murder for Miss Hortense features a dual timeline. A challenge for me was ensuring that all of the threads married seamlessly whilst remaining compelling.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
So far it’s been very positive. I was taken on by my agent, Nelle Andrew, in 2022. At that time, I had no novel, just 30 pages. But my agent is very editorial and worked with me to produce the book in about a year. I had been writing for about 20 years prior though. So getting an agent was a game changer for me, but I feel like all the spaces I’ve been in, particularly playwriting spaces, have contributed to my journey.
What’s next for you?
Book 2! I received edits recently and I’m working through them as we speak. I really hope there will be more in the series. I love being in Miss Hortense and the Pardner Network of Bigglesweigh’s space. I’m also working on a new play which is giving me a lot of joy.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
No Small World by Oraline McDonald, Sweetness in the Skin by Ishi Robinson, James by Percival Everett, Jamaica Road by Lisa Smith. I’m currently reading The Chemist by AA Dhand and The Secret Memory of Men by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr. I’m looking forward to reading Paula Sutton’s new book out later this year.
