An Indies Today finalist for Best Book of the Year 2020 with Cleopatra’s Tomb, Nellie H. Steele made the leap from science to art with her first book, The Secret of Dunhaven Castle. A literary split personality, Nellie’s work ranges from cozy mystery to supernatural suspense to riveting adventure. Danger at Dunhaven Castle is the fourth Cate Kensie Mystery.
As a writer, Nellie likes to mix up genres. She said, “Danger at Dunhaven Castle is a series crossover with my supernatural suspense mystery series. I love allowing the characters from different worlds to mix with each other!”
Writing for entertainment
“I write my books to allow people to escape reality and enter a different world while reading. I love to put ‘average’ people in fantastical situations. It’s really fun to connect with a character and imagine what you would do the same or differently and how you’d react.”
Nellie added that when she started the Cate Kensie series and created the pocket watch used for time travel, she knew she’d eventually have to explain how it worked. “Cate’s spent three books using it but never knowing how or why it controlled the time rips. As I plotted my story arcs in the series, I envisioned pulling characters from my more magical series into Cate’s world. It created an intriguing and believable scenario for how the timepiece controller was constructed. It also allowed for some really unique interactions between two completely different groups of characters.”
On a personal note
Nellie said that she loves animals. “That may be obvious since the animals play such a large role in Cate’s stories. Her dogs always have a little mystery of their own to solve. Cate’s two dogs are based off of two of my own dogs, Kylo and Finn. I’ve got a bevy of other animals outside of the two featured in the Cate Kensie series. In fact, I have a rescue home with fourteen pets! It’s a lot, but somehow it works! I’d also like readers to know that I love to hear from them, especially if they’ve really enjoyed a book I’ve written. Don’t be shy, reach out! I’m available on most social media platforms.”
Like many writers, Nellie does most of her research online. She’s also one of the many who feel that a look at her browser history could result in the police visiting her with a warrant.
Learn more about Nellie H. Steele at nelliesbooknook.com. Did you like this interview? If so, click here to read more Behind the Story interviews from your favorite authors.
From: lori@escapewithdollycas.com To: lori@escapewithdollycas.com Subject: MURDER IN THE CHRISTMAS TREE LOT GREAT ESCAPES TOUR – FINAL PRESS KIT Sent: 11/21/2021