This week’s Authors & Inspirations interview is with historical fiction author Hester Fox! Hester’s debut novel, The Witch of Willow Hall, came out on October 2nd of last year – the same day as The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel. I loved Hester’s moody, gothic, witchy book (it makes a perfect fall AND winter read, when you’re cozy inside under some blankets) and it’s been fun that our books were release day sisters! Welcome, Hester!
What artist (of any medium) has had the biggest influence on you as a writer?
Can’t think of one in particular…I think it would have to be a combination of influences that came at the right time for me in my writing journey.
Do you listen to music while you write? Why or why not?
Oh yes. I love creating playlists for different projects, sometimes down to the scene level. I find listening to the same music throughout a manuscript helps me stay in the same mood/headspace and achieve a level of cohesion throughout the months-long writing process.
If you do listen to music while writing, share a few songs on your current writing playlist:
My current work in progress is set in the 1850s, so it’s loaded up with Chopin, Beethoven, Schubert, as well as some period movie soundtracks.
Are there any musicians who have had a big impact on your work?
I love the Decemberists because they are master story-tellers. Each song has such a strong sense of place and mood.
What was the last live concert you attended?
I think it was Arcade Fire last year.
What’s the farthest you’ve ever traveled for a concert?
I saw the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra perform Mozart and Dvorak in Amsterdam, though I was there to visit family- the concert was just a bonus!
Share some of your favorite song lyrics:
Too many to choose from!
Your favorite band is going to write a song based on one of your books. What band is it, and what should the song be about?
It would have to be The Decemberists. I think they would be the perfect choice to write a song about a clairvoyant orphan that lives in a cemetery in 1850’s Boston 😊
What band is on your bucket list to see live?
I’m a huge Lana del Rey fan and I would love to see her perform live one day.
You are magically going to be granted the ability to be a virtuoso on one instrument. Which do you pick?
I played violin for most of my life but never even got close to virtuoso level. I always wanted to play piano, though.
What are your all-time favorite TV shows?
Downton Abbey, The Office, Parks and Rec, Drunk History, Bob’s Burgers
What TV shows are you loving lately?
I can’t get enough of The Good Place, and I’m really looking forward to Season 3 of Harlots
Is there a TV show that’s had an impact on you as a writer?
Not one in particular that comes to mind, but often I will watch a period drama to help me get in the right head space for writing, and to mimic character idiosyncrasies.
If you got the opportunity to write an episode for one show (past or present) what would it be?
Downton Abbey. Two words: Zombie Sybil.
If Netflix were to option one of your books for a TV series, which book would you choose, and who would play your main characters?
Hm, I think Book 2 which I’m just finishing up now. It’s set in 1840’s rural Maine during the height of Edgar Allan Poe-mania. There’s a big cast of characters and lots of mystery. I’m rubbish when it comes to casting though!
What are your all-time favorite movies?
I don’t watch a ton of movies, but the ones I do watch over and over are usually adaptations of 19th century books and period dramas. I love Pride & Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Bleak House, and Quills. The Others is probably my all-time favorite.
Who are your favorite actors/actresses?
I’m really bad at names and faces, but I will watch anything with Matthew McFayden, Tom Hardy, Kate Winslet, or Holiday Grainger.
Is there a movie that’s had a big impact on you as a writer?
Nothing immediately springs to mind.
Which of your books do you think would make a great movie? Is there a book of yours you WOULDN’T want to see as a movie, and why?
I think The Witch of Willow Hall would make a better movie than tv series. I definitely wouldn’t turn down either, though!
Are you a theatregoer? If so, what was the last play/musical you saw?
Not usually, but I was lucky enough to see Hamilton in Boston last month.
What are your top five favorite musicals (if applicable)?
Sorry, I don’t think I could name even five!
Are there any visual artists you’re a big fan of?
Kelly Louise Judd. Her art hits that sweet spot of folksy, dark, nostalgic, and melancholy.
Do you ever draw on visual art in your work?
I will keep tabs open on my laptop with different art from the period in which I’m writing so I can reference them as I write. I’ve also found museum catalogs and websites to be helpful, especially when it comes to describing furniture or interior design.
Has a place you’ve traveled ever inspired you in your writing?
Traveling in general always gets the story juices flowing, but I don’t usually get story ideas about the specific locations where I travel. I started Willow Hall on a plane to Iceland, for example.
You can go on a two-week, all-expenses paid writing retreat to the location of your choice. Where would you go, and why?
Somewhere in the UK, probably either Yorkshire or Scotland as those are my favorite places. Maybe the Hebrides?
Are you a podcast listener? If so, what are some of your favorite podcasts?
Yes! My Favorite Murder, Lore, Someone Knows Something (and pretty much anything the CBC puts out) are some of my favorites.
What authors have most inspired you in your own work?
I am a big fan of Susanna Kearsely’s work. I love the ease with which she crosses and combines genres, and the beautiful romances in her stories. I grew up on authors like Hardy, Dickens, Trollope, Gaskell, and Austen, so I feel like I have a lot of 19th century literary devices and tropes imprinted onto my subconscious.
What was the last book you read?
I’m usually reading multiple books at once so I’m not sure which was technically the last! I recently read Midnight Blue by Simone van der Vlugt which I enjoyed a lot.
What’s your favorite book you’ve read recently?
I also just finished the last book in Sandra Gulland’s Josephine B. series and have a serious book hangover.
What’s a book you’ve loved that you feel more people should be talking about?
One of my favorite books of all time is Sherri Holman’s The Dress Lodger. I didn’t read it until years after it came out, so I might have missed some of the hype.
What are your very favorite kinds of scenes to write?
Any kind of scene where a character lays it all on the line and bares their soul to someone else. Sometimes this is a fight scene, other times a declaration of love.
When you need to recharge your batteries/refill the well as a writer, what forms of media do you most often turn to?
I like to put on an audiobook and take a walk.
What artistic/creative talents do you have outside of writing?
I like drawing and water coloring small scale illustrations, learning new languages, and photography. I also bake with mixed success.
What artistic/creative talent do you wish you had?
I’ve tried sewing many times throughout my life and never been able to get the hang of patterns.
If you could have a drink/cup of coffee/beverage of choice with any three people alive in the world right now, who would you pick?
I’m so introverted I’m not even sure I could come up with three people!
Let us know what’s coming up next for you: new books, new projects; what are you working on?
I’m finishing up revisions for my second book, The Widow of Pale Harbor which will be out fall 2019. I’m also working my third book The Orphan of Cemetery Hill.
When not writing and painting, Hester Fox works in the museum field as a collections maintenance technician. This job has taken her from historic houses to fine art museums, where she has the privilege of cleaning and caring for collections that range from paintings by old masters, to ancient artifacts, to early American furniture. She has a master’s degree in historical archaeology, as well as a background in Medieval studies and art history.
Alyssa Palombo 
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