Today we have Anna Markland on the blog! She’s here to answer a few questions in celebration of the release of Music Hall Queen, book 2 in the Cotton Cops Mystery series!

Welcome! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what got you into writing?

I’m a USA Today bestselling author and I was inspired to start publishing by the success of my cousin who is a NY Times Bestselling author. I’ve always enjoyed writing. When I was ten, I won third prize in my school’s writing competition. (I don’t usually mention there were only three entries)!

Are there any books that have really influenced you as a writer?

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens introduced me to the power of the written word and the impact of a well-told story.

What do you enjoy most about writing historical mystery?

The Cotton Cops Mystery series is actually of a change of genre for me. I’ve written historical romance for years. The introduction of a crime-solving element has added an aspect that makes it more interesting for me as a writer. As well as the usual hero-heroine, I have to consider the point of view of the police inspector. In this series, Inspector Marcus Halliwell is as important a character as the hero and heroine. The reader learns more about him as the series progresses.

What inspired this book/series in particular?

I have lived most of my life in Canada, but I wanted to set a series in my native Lancashire. I’ve long had the idea percolating in the back of my mind to write a series entitled Cotton Cops Mysteries. Lancashire was, of course, the epicenter of the cotton industry in the nineteenth century and a “cop” is a spindle for winding cotton. Hence the play on words.

Can you tell us a little bit about the setting of this book, Lancashire in the 1800s?

Many of my ancestors worked in the huge cotton mills that sprang up in Lancashire during the Industrial Revolution. The influx of workers to run the machinery in these mills turned a rural county into an industrial powerhouse. Lancashire’s damp climate was perfect for spinning cotton.

Can you tell us about your writing space? Where do you do most of your writing?

I’ve bounced around from a large office to just a small desk in my dining room. The desk can be raised or lowered for sitting or standing. If I have a bigger desk, I just clutter it up. I use Scrivener on a Mac to write my manuscripts. I’m not a fan of Microsoft Word.

What helps you when you have writers block?

Doing 1000-piece jigsaws or cryptic crosswords. I’m addicted to both.

What are some things you are really enjoying right now? Books, TV, foods, etc.?

We watch a lot of programs on BritBox. I particularly enjoyed the Sharp’s Rifles series based on the books by Bernard Cornwell. I have a ton of books in my kindle library, and I am gradually working my way through a second and sometimes third reading. Two authors who can always be depended on for a good read are Miriam Minger and Kimberly Cates. I like wine and my criterion is simple. It has to be red! A good Malbec is my favorite.

Want to learn more about Music Hall Queen?

In 1862, Maggie Chadwick is a popular artiste who performs at the Hippodrome Music Hall, a once opulent venue in Lancashire that has seen better days and now caters mainly to the under classes. Maggie is married to Fred, her abusive manager.

When Fred is found garroted behind stage, Inspector Halliwell launches an investigation.

Edouard Deschanel is a Frenchman who has come to the north of England to open a department store that caters to the well-to-do. Customers flock to enjoy this novel shopping experience.

Edouard is outraged by the abuse Fred Chadwick inflicts on Maggie. A confrontation between the two men is witnessed by several people. Halliwell quickly establishes that Deschanel has a motive for murder. But then so does Maggie herself.

Motivated by self-preservation, Edouard and Maggie work together to discover the identity of the murderer.

Meet Anna Markland:

As an amateur genealogist (aka an addict of family tree research) I became obsessed with tracing my English roots back to the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

This turned out to be a pipe dream since I am not descended from the nobility and records were not kept for “common folks” until much later. Even then, early parish records are often indecipherable.

As a result, I began to write stories about a noble medieval family I conjured from my imagination. The Montbryces were born.

Like many people, I had an inner compulsion to write one good book. What was originally intended as that one book about my fictional family eventually became the 12-book series, The Montbryce Legacy.

In other words, writing superseded genealogy as my principal addiction, and I have since published more than 60 novels and novellas. Almost all are historical romances that feature Vikings, Highlanders, medieval knights, Elizabethan goldsmiths or Regency aristocrats. You can find more details on my website.

I’ve lived most of my life in Canada, though I was born in the UK. An English grammar school education instilled in me a love of European history which continues to this day. While I may boast of being a proud Canadian, I’m still a Lancashire lass at heart.

Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an elementary school teacher, a job I loved. I then worked as administrator for a world-wide disaster relief organization.

I love cats, although I haven’t been able to bring myself to adopt another one since unexpectedly losing Topaz a few years ago.

I have few domestic skills. You’ll notice most of my heroines hate sewing!

I try to follow three simple writing guidelines. I give my characters free rein to tell their story, which often turns out to be different from the original version in my head. I’m a firm believer in love at first sight. My protagonists may initially deny the attraction but, eventually, my heroes and heroines find their soul mates. It seems only natural then to include scenes of intimacy enjoyed by people who love each other deeply. I believe such intimacy is wholesome. Historical accuracy is important to me, although I have been known to tweak history when necessary. I write romance because I find happy endings very satisfying. You can find me on all the usual social media platforms.

You can find her on her website, as well as Instagram, Facebook, and Bookbub!