If you’re after a riveting spy thriller with the added bonuses of an intrepid female protagonist, a fascinating historical setting, and a nuanced depiction of challenging ethical decisions, M. L. Huie’s debut novel Spitfire (our review) is worthy of your consideration.
When you first meet anti-heroine Livy Nash, she certainly doesn’t appear to live up to her feisty moniker. But as she pulls herself out of her vodka-soaked sleep and embarks on a dangerous mission, she pulls the reader into the novel. It doesn’t take long to understand why she earned her reputation or to be thoroughly captivated by the intriguing storyline.
The author recently provided more insight into the story, his primary character and his writing process.
Q: Spitfire’s historical setting is perfect for a mystery novel. What led you to place the novel in post-WW II Europe?
A: I really wanted to tell an early Cold War story. I see the post-war period as very gray and “nourish” compared to the atmosphere of good vs. evil you get during the war itself, so that atmosphere appealed to me.
Q: The research process for your book must have been extensive, yet you managed to paint such an astonishingly vivid world for your characters. How did you go about making sure all the historical details were accurate and significant?
A: I actually really love research. Making the details as accurate as possible, however, was an ongoing process that went all the way through editing and proofs. But as much as you have to honor history and watch out for distracting anachronisms, you also have to remember this is a story. The great James Ellroy is fond of saying his books are in the library with a big “F” because they’re fiction.
Q: Livy is the kind of heroine who readers love to get behind, yet she’s still deeply flawed. What inspired her back story and character development?
A: I find flawed characters so much more interesting and believable. We’re all damaged to some extent, really. I’d say the chip Livy has on her shoulder came from some personal things I went through at the time I wrote the first draft. Her affinity for Polish vodka came from the biography of another former British spy in WW II and how she had difficulty coping after the war.
Q: This is only your first novel, but you have a background in writing almost every other style, from journalism to playwriting. How did you enjoy the different process? Do you plan to pen sequels to Spitfire?
A: The plays I wrote all required a great deal of historical research, and so my love for re-discovering the past pushed me in that direction in writing this novel. I’m also an actor, so I tried to bring that experience as well into the creation of— hopefully—realistic characters whose objectives are clear and believable. I am hard at work on the second Livy book, which is called Nightshade.
Spitfire is now available for purchase. Visit M.L. Huie’s Author Profile Page.
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About M. L. Huie:
M. L. Huie is a writer, teacher and actor. In addition to working as a features journalist, he has written several plays that have been performed throughout the US and in the UK. He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, and teaches theater and acting at the university-level. He is married to a brilliant woman and has two genius kids. Like Livy Nash, he loves the northwest of England and has a Yank’s appreciation for a good Lancashire Hot Pot. Spitfire is his first novel. His second, Nightshade, will be published in 2021.
