We chat with author Zoe B. Wallbrook about History Lessons, which follows a college history professor who must solve her superstar colleague’s murder before she becomes the next target in this funny, romantic debut mystery, perfect for readers of Janet Evanovich, Kellye Garrett, and Ali Hazelwood.
Hi, Zoe! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi there, fellow nerds! I’m a tenured professor and academic who spends an inordinate amount of time in archives. When I’m not teaching, doing research, or trying to stave off the implosion of higher education, I’m ekeing out time to write fiction.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I am, in many regards, a late bloomer. I didn’t start writing fiction until I was in my mid-30s and I’d never once thought about it before then. That said: I’ve been telling myself elaborate multi-part stories in my head to go to sleep at night since at least high school, with plots and subplots and subterfuge and the whole shebang. I just thought everyone did it?
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: my parents say that by age four I had absolutely *crushed* Hop on Pop but the book that I distinctly remember first enthralling me is Roald Dahl’s The Witches.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Elly Griffiths’s Ruth Galloway series. It was the first time I saw a professor as a crime-solver in a contemporary setting that actually felt realistic.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I am obsessed with Lesley Nnekah Arimah’s short story collection, What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky
Your latest novel, History Lessons, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Witty. Charming. Intersectional Feminist (I’m making this one word). Sweet. Sweary.
What can readers expect?
You can expect to follow around a nerdy, kind, and very loving protagonist (Daphne Ouverture) who’s smarter than she gives herself credit for as she investigates the mysterious death of her colleague and learns how to wield her own power. You can expect a rigorous defense of the humanities and the importance of historical inquiry in a time when these values are under attack. You can expect lengthy pontifications about squirrels on campus lawns. You can expect overbearing West African mothers, references to Beyoncé, and academic deans up to no good. You can expect characters that you will want to root for living in a world you’d like to hang out in. At least I hope so, anyway.
Where did the inspiration for History Lessons come from?
A big inspiration for writing History Lessons stemmed from the recent wave of books in romance and crime fiction led by BIPOC authors. Authors such as Jasmine Guillroy, Taj McCoy, Tia Williams, Talia Hibbert, and Alyssa Cole in the romance world taught me that Black women could be romantic love interests and heroines who stand at the center of their own stories. In the crime fiction world, Kellye Garrett, Tracy Clark, Rachel Howzell Hall, Alexia Gordon, and others also showed me that the world of crime fiction was even bigger than I’d imagined and that there was place for me in it.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
A character who thus far seems to be universally beloved is one of Daphne’s besties named Sadie (or Sadhika Pandaram, only if you’re looking for a fight). She’s a mathematician specializing in algebraic number theory, which sounds fancy but really just means she’s a borderline feral cat. She was in an anarchist punk band, set her ex’s car on fire, and once wrestled a televangelist to the ground. She’s a chaos demon and I love her.
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Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
So many. Good heavens. I faced such crippling anxiety while revising this book and realizing that others would be reading it that I occasionally wondered if I should have signed a contract to publish a book at all. In these moments of existential crisis I was grateful for friends and family who could scoop me up and gently push me to keep going. Learning how to sit down and write through my fears was essential and healing, even if it was occasionally agonizing.
What’s next for you?
I’m writing the next installment of the Daphne Ouverture series! If I play my cards right, book 2 will involve some cold cases, French history from the 1940s, and, of course, more campus squirrels beefing it out over a slice of cold pizza that fell on the ground.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I’ve fallen in love with Renee Swindle’s prose in her book, Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn. I’m eager to read the next book in Elise Bryant’s mystery series. V.V. Ganeshananthan’s Brotherless Night is still working its way through my soul. A queer romance novel hates to see me coming (KJ Charles, Cat Sebastian, TJ Alexander, Anita Kelly, Freya Marske, etc.). And I’m still eyeing R.F. Kuang’s Poppy War trilogy on my shelf.
