Mystery
Date Published: 04-01-2026
Interview
Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?
Definitely! First of all,
there are always second chances at life, that we can all learn new skills and
try new things, that it’s never too late to create a new life for yourself, and
to never close oneself off to a little magic and mystery in life.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Creating a nice, cohesive character arc is challenging, as is tying up
all the loose ends. Also, creating an ironclad plot is challenging because it
has to enable the audience to suspend belief so they can get carried away in a
story.
How many books have you written and which is your favorite?
I’ve written 6 novels and “Brooklyn Masala” is the sixth. Probably my favorite is my first novel, “Transfer Day,” which is semi-autobiographical and set during a historical time period of WWI.
If You had the chance to cast your main character from
Someone like Reese Witherspoon has the right qualities for Bella Bloom:
She’s a great underdog character actress (like from the Legally Blonde series)
who has the capacity to grow and change.
When did you begin writing?
I started in 2005 when I decided that I wanted to become a writer. I
started by reading the Wall Street Journal cover to cover and writing letters
to the editor, of which 3 got published. This was to hone my rhetorical skills
and increase my vocabulary. Then I took creative writing classes and got to
work on my first novel probably around 2007.
How long did it take to complete your first book?
It took me 5 years to research and write “Transfer Day,” which I am
proud to report got a wonderful review from Publishers Weekly, who called it “a
page-turner with emotional resonance."
Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?
No one in particular inspired me to become a writer, although I’ve
been heavily influenced by Ken Follett.
What is your favorite part of the writing process?
The redrafting stage, when
you’re in the home stretch of creating a final product.
Describe your latest book in 4 words.
Kooky, zany, hilarious, and meaningful.
Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?
I’m writing a sequel to “Brooklyn Masala” and also a new historical novel set during Prohibition in the Caribbean with a working title of “Leah Sasso’s Last Chance,” about a Caribbean Sephardic girl who finds after the death of her father than one of her few remaining assets is the ownership of a rum running sloop. It’s set during Prohibition in the newly-acquired U.S. Virgin Islands, where rum and smuggling have a long tradition!
Sophie Schiller is a writer of thrillers and historical adventure tales. Kirkus Reviews called her "an accomplished thriller and historical adventure writer." Her latest novel is BROOKLYN MASALA. She graduated from American University, Washington, DC and lives in New York.
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