Veronica G. Henry: On Combining Fantasy With Mystery

Veronica G. Henry is the author of Bacchanal and, in the Mambo Reina series, The Quarter Storm and The Foreign Exchange. Her work has debuted at #1 on multiple Amazon bestseller charts and was chosen as an editors’ pick for Best African American Fantasy.

She is a Viable Paradise alum and a member of SFWA and the MWA. Her stories have appeared, or are forthcoming, in the Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and FIYAH literary magazine. For more information visit veronicahenry.net, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Veronica G. Henry

In this post, Veronica discusses the process of writing her new mystery fantasy novel, The Foreign Exchange, her hope for readers, and more!

Name: Veronica G. Henry
Literary agent: Mary C. Moore
Book title: The Foreign Exchange
Publisher: 47North
Release date: February 28, 2023
Genre/category: Mystery/Fantasy
Previous titles: Bacchanal, The Quarter Storm
Elevator pitch for the book: A Vodou priestess turned amateur sleuth investigating a ritual murder is embroiled in an insidious case of corruption that reaches beyond the shadows of New Orleans.

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What prompted you to write this book?

The Foreign Exchange is actually the second book in the Mambo Reina series (The Quarter Storm is the first) and I was beyond thrilled to return to this world. What prompted this particular mystery was a “60 Minutes” story done by Jon Wertheim that focused on a particular segment of African athletes’ road to the NBA.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

Luckily, the idea for the novel had been germinating in my head for some time. So, I outlined it and wrote a first draft in maybe four months. After that, there was probably another year to publication.

The fundamental plot didn’t change, but some of the characters did. The villain became kind of an amalgamation of character traits I read about during my research. His backstory, personality, even abilities evolved during editing.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

In a word, marketing. Writing, as I learned is only one (extremely fun) part of the publication process. Promoting your work is another, no less important, full-time gig. And it can be overwhelming.

Here’s what it looks like: I was working a day job, writing articles and blog posts, podcasts and book club meetings, then literary conventions and festival appearances, and I was drafting the next novel. It was … a lot.

With The Foreign Exchange, I got much better at managing (not mastering) that whole process. Time management is the key. An organized calendar and my Passion Planner saved my life.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

I love mysteries and I love fantasies. Truth? I love all kinds of books. But having written The Quarter Storm first, I (naively) assumed that I’d have a better handle on it the second time around. Wrong!

I began my writing career in speculative fiction (sci-fi & fantasy) and had never written a mystery. Luckily, I’d read a ton of them, but still wholly underestimated how difficult they are to write and how very different from what I was used to.

And let me tell you, combining the genres was no easy task. I love a good challenge though, and I am very glad for the opportunity to revisit.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

My book is a work of fiction, no doubt, but I hope that readers will come away with an understanding that the Vodou/Voodoo tradition is not something to be feared but deserving of respect like any other religion.

And aside from that, this is a story about family, the ones we’re born into and the ones we create.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

You’re going to need a community. Start now, search online, maybe your local library or community center. Find other writers and start building.

These are the people with whom you’ll exchange critiques, craft talk, cheer and celebrate. They’ll provide the support you’ll need as you embark on your writing journey. I wouldn’t be here without mine.

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