Quintette asks writers five quick questions. This week’s interview is with:
Heloise West
1.What’s the name of your latest book – and how hard was it to pick a title?
Ardent is the title of the book. Morello named the colour he invented for his feelings for Benedetto, ardent red. Originally, the title was Ardent Fire, but I had three titles with fire or burning in them, so I dropped Fire.
2. If you could choose anyone from any time period, who would you cast as the leads in your latest book?
I have images in my head that don’t relate to actors—I don’t go looking unless someone, like you, asks. There are a few occasions when I’ve come across someone who reminds me of my characters without specifically looking. So I can’t really answer that.
3. What five words best describe your story?
Art, love, lust, murder, justice
4. Who is your favourite fictional couple or team?
I recently read all the books in Imogen Roberson’s Westerman and Crowther series, set in Georgian England. I do hope there’s more. They’re not a couple, but it seemed there were a few hints about that in the future in the last book—though I like them better as a team. I recommend this series highly if you like your historical mysteries with a lot of depth and complications.
5. What song always makes you cry?
Put me in a room with John Dowland while I’m creating a sad scene (like the last scenes in Ardent), and I’ll be typing with tears in my eyes, but other than that, music won’t do it for me—I’m just not a good crier.
About Ardent
In the village of Torrenta, master painter Morello has created a colour that mimics the most expensive pigment of all, the crimson red. Master Zeno, from strife-ridden Medici Florence, tells him the colour gives him a competitive advantage – but Morello must be careful. Fraud is ever-present in the dye and pigment markets.
As they work together in Torrenta, Morello falls hard for Zeno’s assistant, Benedetto Tagliaferro, a young man of uncommon beauty and intelligence. Benedetto is still fixed on his old lover, the master painter Leo Guisculo, and cannot return Morello’s affections.
But when Leo dies in a terrible accident, it’s to Morello that Zeno and Benedetto turn for help. And Morello soon finds that in Florence, every surface hides layers of intrigue.
About Heloise West
Heloise West, when not hunched over the keyboard plotting love and mayhem, dreams about moving to a villa in Tuscany. She loves history, mysteries, and romance of all flavors. She travels and gardens with her partner of thirteen years, and their home overflows with books, cats, art, and red wine.
Follow Heloise West:
- VelvetPanic blog
- Misadventures of the heart website
- Twitter @velvetpanic
- Tumblr
- GoodReads
Buy Ardent
(Amazon)
Thanks and thank you for the video–I dropped the ball on that one. Ohhhh, gets me every time….”poore sadde John Dowland…”
He is a sad panda. The music is beautiful! And thank you for quintetting with me.