An Exclusive Interview with Hannah Linder, Author of Beneath His Silence

From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress:

Happy Monday Dear Readers,

The month of October is a favorite of mine with the arrival of fall leaves and pumpkin spice lates. It is also the month to celebrate All-Hallows-Eve with Gothic stories.

I am happy to introduce you to a new author to the historical suspense genre, Hannah Linder. Her debut novel Beneath His Silence has all the Gothic feels — a young heroine who goes undercover as a governess to discover her sister’s killer, a hero who is hiding secrets, an ancient English manor house, and a mystery to uncover.

Join me today in welcoming Hannan Linder. She has graciously agreed to chat with me about her new novel, Beneath His Silence, her thoughts on the historical suspense genre, and her writing career.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Beneath His Silence is your debut novel. Can you share your road to publication with us?

As soon as I realized writing was my passion, my dream was to become traditionally published. I wrote and self-published my first novel at twelve years old and continued to write stories with each year that passed. Fifteen books and ten years later, I finally signed on with the agent of my dreams, and a 3-book contract with Barbour was soon underway. I’m so thankful to the Lord for amazing opportunities, and for all the people He’s placed in my life to encourage me along the journey.

What is a Gothic-style Regency romance and how does it work into your story?

Gothic fiction, often characterized by haunting suspense set in a castle or manor, meets up with the genre of Regency Romance in my debut, Beneath His Silence. It fits snugly in this genre for the time period, the love story between Lord Sedgewick and Miss Pemberton, and the mysterious secret shrouding Wyckhorn Manor.

Your heroine, Ella Pemberton, has a mischievous side to her personality. What was your inspiration for the character?

This is a hard question! When asked where I get my inspiration for a character or story, it’s often difficult for me to pinpoint the specific moment or thought that inspired me. However, her personality just seemed to coincide with the quest she would decide to undertake. 

Lord Sedgewick is a complicated character. What was your biggest challenge in creating his story?

I truly fell in love with Lord Sedgewick! I slipped right into his character without any difficulty and wouldn’t really say I faced challenges in writing from his perspective. I did end up reworking one of his pivotal scenes at the end, though, to make it stronger.

What is your research process? Did you discover any interesting facts that you can share?

I do any major research during the plotting/outlining stage before I begin writing. Once I’ve started on the novel, though, I’ll usually have three or four internet tabs pulled up as I’m writing a scene. As far as fun facts, I discovered that doorknobs did not turn in the Regency Era. That really surprised me. Interesting.

What is your favorite book as a child? How did it inspire you to become a writer?

I loved No Flying in the House when I was young, though I’m not sure how it inspired me to become a writer. I just adored the book!

What is next up in your writing career?   

My next release, When Tomorrow Came, is a Regency Romance Suspense novel releasing with Barbour this coming April.  

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AUTHOR BIO

Hannah Linder resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels. She is a double 2021 Selah Award winner, a 2022 Selah Award finalist, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Hannah is a Graphic Design Associates Degree graduate who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and international bestsellers. She is also a local photographer and a self-portrait photographer. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments–piano, guitar, and ukulele–songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse.

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BOOK TRAILER

BOOK DISCRIPTION

Will Seeking Justice Lead to Her Own Demise?

A Gothic-Style Regency Romance from a Promising Young Author

Second daughter of a baron—and a little on the mischievous side—Ella Pemberton is no governess. But the pretense is a necessity if she ever wishes to get inside of Wyckhorn Manor and attain the truth. Exposing the man who killed her sister is all that matters.

Lord Sedgewick knows there’s blood on his hands. Lies have been conceived, then more lies, but the price of truth would be too great. All he has left now is his son—and his hatred. Yet as the charming governess invades his home, his safe cocoon of bitterness begins to tear away.

Could Ella, despite the lingering questions of his guilt, fall in love with such a man? Or is she falling prey to him—just as her dead sister?

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ADVANCE PRAISE

• “Fast-paced danger and suspense from an exciting newcomer to Regency fiction.”— Julie Klassen, award-winning author of A Castaway at Cornwall
• “This book has everything I love…a dark and broody hero, a spunky heroine on a mission, and a deeply delicious creepy manor home. Beneath His Silence is a rather gothic tale set in Regency England, filled with plenty of intrigue, danger, and romance to make for a very satisfying read.”— Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Lost in Darkness
• “Gothic overtones abound in this atmospheric tale of secrets, lies, and betrayal. Hannah Linder has penned a twisty tale peopled with sympathetic and relatable characters that will have Regency fans cheering.”— Erica Vetsch, author of the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries

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BOOK INFORMATION

• Beneath His Silence: A Novel, by Hannah Linder
• Barbour Fiction (November 1, 2022)
• Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook (320) pages
• ISBN: 978-1636094366
• Genre: Historical Suspense, Historical Romance, Inspirational Fiction

ADDITIONAL INFO | ADD TO GOODREADS

Cover image courtesy of Barbour Fiction © 2022; text Hannah Linder & Laurel Ann Nattress © 2022, austenprose.com. Austenprose is and Amazon affiliate.