An interview with Mel Pennant
Author of A Murder for Miss Hortense
Following my interview with Lisa Smith last week, today I bring you a conversation with Mel Pennant, debut author of A Murder for Miss Hortense which is out now.
Tell us about A Murder for Miss Hortense in your own words.
It’s about Miss Hortense and the Pardner Network of Bigglesweigh. Miss Hortense is a feisty, no-nonsense retired nurse of a certain age who doesn’t have any time for “stupidness”, who must go back and investigate a tragic event that happened in her past in order to solve a current day mystery of a dead man found at the bottom of some stairs in a locked house. It’s a book about the need to understand the past in order to understand the present. It’s about how communities are built and come together, and explores this through the Pardner - a mutual financial savings scheme that was used by the Windrush generation.
Miss Hortense is one of those characters who leaps off the page. Where did the inspiration for her come from?
Many of the women who have been in my life. My grandmothers, one of whom was a Pardner Lady (the person responsible for collecting and distributing the Pardner). The men and women from the Windrush generation, their bravery and the courage in coming to the UK in search of a better life, who provided solutions to many of the problems they faced often the solutions coming from within their own communities.
As a northerner, growing up it annoyed me that so many Black stories were focused on London (even though now I’m guilty of doing the same!). Why did you choose to set your novel in Birmingham?
Thank you! I’ve never lived in Birmingham before but it felt so important to base A Murder for Miss Hortense there. One of my grandmothers best friends lived in Erdington, Birmingham. When we went to visit there was always this holiday vibe, it always felt a bit magical because they were connecting again. I wanted to evoke a more intimate community focussed setting which is what I got whenever I visited there. Birmingham historically had a high Afro- Caribbean population, so the setting felt perfect. But it’s also the importance of acknowledging that Black stories don’t just arise in London. Black people have been settling all over the UK for centuries. Lanre Bakare’s brilliant new book, We Were There, gives a sense of why it’s so important to acknowledge that fact.
It’s said that crime fiction has a lasting popularity because it explores both the best and worst of human nature. Did this play into your decision to write a crime novel or did that choice just evolve naturally?
It evolved naturally. The community came first for me but I knew that exploring them through a criminal mystery would give me the versatility I needed to do them justice and as you say to be able to explore the spectrum of human nature. I really enjoy the crime genre –the drive to resolution, the beats that are required to solve the case. It creates such a broad landscape to explore what’s’ hidden below the surface of the community of Miss Hortense and the Pardner Network of Bigglesweigh.
This is your debut novel. How have you found your journey to publication? What has been the biggest surprise?
So far I’m loving it. I often feel like I don’t know what’s happening next but that is often thrilling if a little disorientating. You should ask me in a few months though. I’m aware that this journey is like a roller coaster and being a debut is shiny now but I suppose the biggest looming question is what’s next? Let’s see. In terms of the biggest surprise - It has been the length of time it took from going from getting a book deal (May 2023) to publication (June 2025) and the amount of people involved in traditional publishing – editors, copy editor, line editor, marketing, publicity – It’s huge. I really enjoy the collaboration.
On that note, if you could give any aspiring author one piece of advice, what would it be?
Everything you do in your spaces now, no matter how small, no matter how indirect, matters even if you don’t know it now. I’m at this point because I answered a call on BBC writers’ room years ago about being involved with the Tamasha Theatre company. They invested in me, I got a break. I’m here because I had a conversation with a random person in my day job about my interest in writing, and he so happened to have a cousin who was interested in new writing, and I got a break. I’m here because I entered a competition with my local theatre company, Jack Studio Theatre and I got a break, it goes on. You get the gist.
You’re writing a new novel featuring Miss Hortense. Obviously, no spoilers, but is there anything you can tell us about it?
It’s such fun to be back in the world. I’ve just received my editors notes back on the first draft I submitted. They’ll be more of Miss Hortense and the Pardner Network. You’ll get to see more of Miss Hortense investigating, more of Miss Hortense’s loyal and melodramatic best friend Blossom, more of Miss Hortense’s protector, Fitz. I can’t wait for audiences to see what’s next.
And finally, a quick-fire round for fun! Which would you choose and why?
- Bulla cake or gizadas? Bulla cake – I’m a cake, spongey type of person.
- Secrets or the truth? Such a good question. Truth but in the knowledge that truth isn’t necessarily the same for everyone…..
- Bus or car? Bus! Wonderful for observing, listening into conversations and I’m always reminded of a great joke by comedian Slim about the importance of bus drivers!
If you’d like to see Mel in person she’ll be appearing at Eltham Library on Monday 30th June.
You can also find all of Mel’s news and any future events on her website, melpennant.com and you can follow her on Instagram @mel_pennant