The following is an interview with writer Lindsay Lovise on the upcoming release of Never Blow a Kiss with Forever Publishing. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Lovise about her creative process in bringing the story and characters to life on the page, what she hopes that readers may take away from the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Never Blow a Kiss! For those who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the book’s premise, and what inspired you to tell this story?
Lindsay Lovise: Thank you! In Never Blow a Kiss, Emily is a thief passing herself off as a governess in the English countryside when she’s approached by a mysterious woman known only as the Dove. The Dove runs a network of governesses who spy on the ton in order to hold the wealthy accountable for their crimes, and she thinks Emily will be the perfect asset.
The Dove places Emily with a prestigious family in London, where Emily runs into Zachariah Denholm, an independently wealthy detective hunting for a killer that targets prostitutes. When Emily impulsively blows Zach a kiss across a ballroom, she knows she’s in trouble. Zach thrives on solving mysteries, and Emily is the biggest mystery of all. She’s not only a former thief and a current spy—she’s also hiding an explosive secret that could devastate them both.
I was inspired to tell this story because one day I was thinking about how many incredible women’s stories have been lost to time. I wondered, what if there was a secret society of women who were actively doing dangerous jobs, like spying and changing the world for the better, but we never heard of them simply because of their sex? Voilà! The Secret Society of Governess Spies was born.
BD: You have deftly intertwined historical romance, murder mystery, and thrilling action into your narrative. How would you describe your creative process in weaving these elements together while bringing the story and characters to life on the page?
LL: Thank you for saying that! My creative process is pretty linear and boring, to be honest. I open a Word document and I start writing. I don’t even skip around. Because I’m not much of a plotter, I have to go back in and layer the story in revisions. This is time consuming and probably something that could be avoided with better plotting, but that’s not how I personally enjoy writing. And I don’t want to forget to mention that my agent and editor helped shaped the story with a number of insightful questions and comments.
As for bringing the story and characters to life, I think I’ve learned how to do this through osmosis. I am an avid reader across genres and I always have been. I was the kid whose mom had to kick her outside to play (and I’d usually bring my book with me). When you are a strong reader, I think the elements of storytelling become ingrained in you.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Emily and Zach’s stories may connect with and impact readers?
LL: I love your mission statement about #StoriesMatter. I think there is a lot of value in simple entertainment so I would never dismiss that, but so often romance in particular is considered only entertainment, when romance can and does have a massive impact on society as a whole. One example is that romance helps readers define healthy relationships and behaviors, and sometimes even what isn’t healthy. The discourse around romance novels contributes to this, too! I think I could sit here and write a whole novel about why romances in particular are some of the most critical stories to be told, but there are plenty of other authors who’ve written extensively about defending romance. If you’re interested, I definitely recommend Googling it.
As for Emily and Zach, their relationship shows how two strong people can develop an equal partnership where they work through mistakes and past traumas together to build trust. I hope readers are entertained by them, and I hope they see a hero and heroine who complement one another in the best possible ways.
BD: Do you foresee expanding the novel into subsequent books or even into other entertainment mediums, if given the opportunity?
LL: Never Gamble Your Heart is the second book in the Secret Society of Governess Spies series and is releasing April 1, 2025. Never Tease a Viscount, the third book, is coming in 2026. And I hope to write the Dove’s story, as well. I would absolutely love to see the brave and intelligent governesses of the Secret Society of Governess Spies in other entertainment mediums. We will see if it happens!
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
LL: My first paranormal romance, Perfectly Wicked, will be hitting bookshelves in September 2024. It’s about three wicked sisters living on an apple farm in Maine and the ghosthunter who’s determined to expose them, only to end up falling in love with the eldest sister. I feel so incredibly lucky to have two very different books releasing in 2024.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Never Blow a Kiss and your other work?
LL: I would love to connect with readers! You can find more information at www.lindsaylovise.com, and if you sign up for Lovise Letters you’ll get the latest news. I sent out the cover reveal and first chapter excerpt for Never Blow a Kiss to my newsletter subscribers first, and I will likely do something similar with Perfectly Wicked. You can also follow me on Instagram (@LindsayLovise).
Thank you so much for interviewing me!
