Author Interview with Louise Mangos
Welcome Readers toanother installment of our author interview series. Today we have the pleasureof chatting with Louise Mangos, author of multiple Crime Thrillers and herrecent Historical Fiction novel.
JMR-Welcome to theBooks Delight, Louise. Tell our readers where you live, what you do for fun andwhat does the perfect day look like?
LM-I live in thefoothills of the Swiss Alps and when I’m not writing I love to cross-countryski in the winter and wild swim in the lake in our valley in the summer. Inspring and autumn I also enjoy cycling and hiking in the mountains. My perfectday involves getting up early to write, then doing some form of sport to getthe creative juices flowing, and back to writing again in the afternoon.Settling down to read a good book at the end of the day would round it offperfectly.
JMR-What’s yourfavorite historical time period? Why?
LM-I’ve recentlypublished a historical novel set during the birth of my adopted nation, Switzerland.Back in the fourteenth century the country was a tiny confederation consistingof three cantons or counties, fighting for independence. Researching andembellishing the life of the people who struggled through this period hasbrought the era close to my heart.
JMR-Who is your favoritehistorical figure? Why? If you could ask them one question, what would it be?
LM-Many people believeWilliam Tell was a mythical character. But his stories have been so preciselypassed down through generations in Switzerland, I believe he was a real part ofthe nation’s history. I would love to have asked his son Walter how he felt whenhis father shot the apple off his head with a crossbow, and whether his viewsin any way match those of his character in my novel, as nothing is known abouthim beyond the apple-shooting tale.
JMR- When did you knowyou wanted to be a writer?
LM-As soon as I openedmy first exercise book at primary school and learned to write, I knew I wantedto create stories.
JMR- Your earlier booksare thrillers; why the jump to historical fiction and how different is it towrite than a contemporary thriller?
LM- Although I’vepublished three suspense thrillers, for several years I’ve been researching andwriting this historical novel in between. The narrative is based around asignificant historical European event – The Battle of Morgarten – a battle in1315 that stopped Switzerland falling into the ruling hands of the Habsburgs. Thisgenre involves much more work, especially research and editing, taking particularcare to recount events accurately and avoid anachronisms. But I’ve enjoyed theprocess, and hope to continue a series with these medieval characters.
JMR- Did you visitanyone of the places in your book? Where did you feel closest to yourcharacters?
LM-I’m very lucky tolive in the valley where the novel is set, and have been able to visit thehamlet where Magda grew up. I’ve have touched the walls of the toll tower nextto where she lived, and walked by the lake where she harvested flax to makelinen. I’ve hiked into the forest behind her house where the villagers felledwood for fuel, hunted for boar and deer and were able to strategically defendtheir village from marauders. There are a few scenes that take place in Luzern,my favourite Swiss city. Living in the setting of the book has certainly helpedme to feel close to all the characters.
JMR- Louise, tell usabout your new book, The Secrets of Morgarten.
LM- Magda is abeautiful weaver living in a hamlet next to the village of Morgarten. Shebefriends Walter, the discerning son of the notorious Wilhem Tell. But theirbudding romance is threatened by the arrival of handsome Sébastien, a fugitiveTemplar knight from France. The fledgling nation of Switzerland where Magda andWalter live is under threat from the Habsburgs. But deception and lies are rifeand Sébastien has brought a secret with him. Walter must try to solve themystery of a murder and a stolen relic before a mighty battle with the Habsburgsensues. While the villagers are determined to save the nation, Walter andSébastien are competing for the affections of Magda. It is a medieval mysterywith a little romance and perhaps a little magic – that’s for readers todecide.
JMR-What projects doyou have in the pipeline?
LM-My nextpsychological suspense “Six Fatal Flaws” is currently with beta readers; it willsoon be sent for copy edits and proofreading. It should be published in spring thisyear. I’ve recently finished a humorous crime satire set in the world ofliterary festivals, which is currently being edited. I have several thousandwords written of a fifth suspense thriller and ideas are brewing for the secondin the medieval series.
JMR- Tell our readershow to find you on social media and the web.
LM-Here is a list ofwhere you can find me:
https://www.facebook.com/LouiseMangosBooks
https://twitter.com/LouiseMangos
https://www.instagram.com/louisemangos/
https://www.tiktok.com/@louisemangos
JMR- What question wereyou hoping I’d ask but didn’t?
LM-What fuels mywriting during the day? Tea and chocolate Hob Nobs of course, and I mightsometimes reward my work with a glass of Prosecco at the end of the day ;o)
JMR- Thank you, Louise,for stopping by. Your books look really great! Readers, I’ve included a link toLouise’s books below. Please be sure to check them out.
