Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Syrie James. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation. We’ve shared it below.
Syrie, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform, and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I knew from the time I was a little girl that I wanted to become an author and a playwright. I was fortunate to have parents who believed that reading was important, and a father who invented lively bedtime stories for me that always ended on a cliffhanger. When I was seven years old, I was living in France, where my father had been transferred to work for IBM Paris. He worried that I might lose touch with the English language, and on a business trip to London he bought me a box full of the best novels in English for girls at the time. It was so exciting to dive into those books. I was lost in the world of fiction and wanted to live there forever. My favorites books were “The Secret Garden,” “Little Women,” “Pippi Longstocking,” and “Anne of Green Gables,” which I read over and over—they inspired my dream to become an author.
In 6th grade my grandparents gave me an old typewriter and I immediately sat down to write my first book. I got part of the way through and couldn’t figure out what should happen next. That’s when I understood the importance of an outline and story structure, which guide every single thing I’ve written since. I’ve loved theater too from an early age. I saw “The Sound of Music” on a London stage and was captivated. All the way through school and college, I wrote and produced plays and performed in others as well. It was magical to hear the audience react to my words on the stage. Today, hearing from readers who write to say how much they’ve enjoyed my books is equally thrilling.
And it all started at age seven, when I found my purpose. I knew I wanted to write page-turning stories about characters that readers could fall in love with, stories that people couldn’t put down, that would make them smile and laugh and give them hope.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have thirteen novels that have been published in more than twenty languages, with three new books coming out in 2025. I’ve also had a successful career as a screenwriter, a playwright, and a speaker.
My novels include historical fiction, historical and contemporary romance, and young adult fiction which have been international, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers and won numerous awards.
I am a huge Jane Austen fan, and a lot of my work takes place in 19th century England. I was delighted when Los Angeles Magazine called me “The Queen of Nineteenth Century Re-Imaginings.” I guess you could call me a research and story structure maven. My goal is to make readers feel like they’ve time-traveled to another era, and to send my characters on challenging journeys of growth and discovery.
My breakout novel, “The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen,” sold at auction to HarperCollins in a bidding war between three major publishing houses, became a bestseller, and was a Library Journal Editor’s Pick of the Year (starred review). The book was inspired by my passion for Jane Austen’s work and my desire to give her a love story of her own. My novel “Jane Austen’s First Love” (Library Journal Editor’s Pick) reveals the little-known story of Jane Austen’s real-life romance as a teenager with a remarkable young man. “The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen” (starred review, Kirkus) is two books in one: the romantic adventures that befall a modern-day woman who discovers a long-lost Jane Austen novel, interwoven with the manuscript itself.
My novel “The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë” brings to life the true story of Charlotte’s journey to write her masterpiece, “Jane Eyre,” and her relationship with her brilliant sisters and the man who loved her for years. It won the Audiobook Audie Award for romance and was named a Women’s National Book Association Great Group Read.
My interest in paranormal suspense inspired my romantic thrillers “Dracula, My Love” and “Nocturne” (Barnes and Noble’s Romantic Read of the Week, Best Novel of the Year, Suspense Magazine and Romance Reviews, and Bookbub’s Best Snowbound Romance). I have a historical romance trilogy that includes the #1 Amazon bestsellers “Runaway Heiress” and “Duke Darcy’s Castle,” two contemporary romances (“Floating on Air” and “Two Week Deal”) and the young adult paranormal romance series “Forbidden” that I co-wrote with my son Ryan James.
Lately I’ve turned to writing mysteries. I’m happy to say I’ve signed a 3-book deal for a series of historical romance murder mysteries that will come out in 2025, beginning with “The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall” and “The Secrets of Thorndale Manor”—all set in 19th century England, of course!
I’m also a member of the Writer’s Guild of America, have sold many scripts to film and television and adapted bestselling books to screen, including Danielle Steele’s “Once in a Lifetime.” My work as a playwright has been produced across the U.S., in Canada and Australia, and off-Broadway in New York City. My new comedy “Jane Austen in 48 Minutes,” which distills all six of Austen’s novels into one comedic romp, has been performed to enthusiastic crowds and was nominated as a Best Special Event in the Broadway World L.A. 2023 Awards. The full-length version, “Jane Austen in 90 Minutes,” is now available. I hope to get it published and made available to theatre companies across the country.
I have performed as Jane Austen and her characters many times on stage and have addressed dozens of organizations, universities, and literary conferences in the U.S., Canada, England, and Australia.
I love to hear from readers! There are so many books out there today, it’s hard for anyone to choose what to read, and difficult for writers to find a new audience. I’d be thrilled if you’d try one of my novels, maybe even post a review, and tell me what you think! I encourage you to contact me through my website, syriejames.com. If you sign up for my blog and newsletter (I only send out occasional emails if there’s something important to share) I’ll keep you up to date on what I’m writing next. Many thanks to Bold Journey for having me, and happy reading!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the most important qualities that lead to success in any area of life are the three P’s: Patience, Persistence, and Perseverance. Patience is so important. Almost nothing in life that’s worth achieving happens overnight. Whatever you are hoping for or working towards, it will take time. And often, the journey is more interesting, life-affirming, and fulfilling than the achievement of the goal itself.
Persistence is equally crucial. There will be roadblocks and setbacks and failures along the way. That’s okay. It’s part of the process. Stick to your goal! Never give up!
Perseverance is the third part of the equation. There will be people who think your dream is impossible to attain. They may say you’re crazy to attempt it. You may feel odd if you’re doing something that doesn’t follow a “normal” or safer path. Ignore the naysayers. Dare to be different, to stand out, to take a risk, to finish what you set out to do. Prove what you believe in your heart you can attain.
My advice for aspiring writers is to read, read, read novels or scripts in the genre you want to write. No one is born knowing how to write a novel or script. It takes years of study and practice and is a lonely and difficult profession. But if you are passionately committed to writing, then follow your heart. Study and learn story structure and follow it to the letter. ( “Save the Cat” story structure is a fabulous resource for screenplays as well as novels.) Read books about writing. Attend writer’s conferences and workshops—they’re an invaluable resource. You’ll meet fellow writers and learn more than you can imagine. And then write, write, write. Get feedback from friends and re-write as many times as it takes. You can do it!
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to give me the courage to believe in myself. They told me that I could achieve anything I dreamed of if I worked hard and didn’t give up. I’ll always be grateful to them for their support and encouragement.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://syriejames.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syriejames/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/syriejames
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/syriejames
- Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/806500.Syrie_James
