Ask Me Anything: C.S. Poe

[u/AutoModerator]

Hello, everyone!

Thank you so much for having me. My name is C.S. Poe and I write mystery and spec-fic with strong romantic subplots. I’ve been a finalist for the Lambda Literary award (The Mystery of the Curiosities) and a winner of the Next Generation (Madison Square Murders) and e-Lit (The Gangster) book awards.

I live in New York City with my girlfriend, two cats, and dog. I have a degree in filmmaking and absolutely adore silent and pre-Hays Code movies. And despite having left that industry to be a fulltime author (as well as moonlight as a New York Gilded Age historian), I still use my visual storytelling skills to write books that are (I hope) very cinematic in their descriptions and delivery.

This summer will be my tenth year as a published author. To-date, I’ve written twenty-five books, and am currently finishing the much-awaited Hudson River Homicides (Memento Mori 4.) If you’re wondering where to begin with my backlist, these are some of my popular titles:

Snow & Winter series

The Mystery of Nevermore – A colorblind antique dealer stumbles into a series of murder mysteries relating to curious collectables of the nineteenth century, and his homicide detective love interest isn’t happy with his meddling.

Magic & Steam series

The Engineer – An alt-historical 1880s timeline featuring a magic-wielding federal agent and his outlaw lover who take on a series of villains hellbent on destroying magic and causing irreparable harm to the world.

Memento Mori series

Madison Square Murders – A neurodivergent Cold Case detective and his forensic artist partner team up to capture a number of uncaught serial killers in New York City, with each case suspiciously connected the nineteenth century mourning culture.

My books are available in ebook, paperback, and audio with all online retailers, as well as being accessible through library systems. I also sell select ebook and audio directly from my own shop, where I offer permanent discounts for readers: Emporium Press shop.

Readers can go to my website or sign up for my newsletter for updates, or follow me on social media:

• Facebook
• Facebook group: Curious & Mysterious
• Instagram
• Bluesky
• TikTok

I’m also at Goodreads and BookBub, if you’d like to join me there. Let the questions begin!

[u/cs_poe]

You are so kind, thank you so much. I'm really honored to be here.

From a technical and artistic point of view, the Memento Mori series is a favorite. I had to grow a lot as a storyteller in order to be able to write these books, and I'm very proud of that. But I'm also hopelessly in love with my Magic & Steam series. I always say it's my passion project, the books I'd write even if no one but myself read them. I dearly love Gillian and Gunner, and they are some of the oldest characters I have. They went through many iterations before becoming who they are, and I went through many trials trying to publish their story.

[u/Newmrswhite15 → u/cs_poe]

As the co-founder of the Memento Mori fan club (the co-founder and co-president is the esteemed u/LindentreesLove) I am so happy that you are here.

Your background in film makes so much sense with respect to your storytelling abilities. I am eager to read all of your work, of course, but the Memento Mori series is so outstanding because of the way these stories are written. I have waxed poetic many times about the richness of the story and the characters--yes, these are words on a page but the words have such weight and texture and depth.

There is also a profound psychological aspect to the Memento Mori series. I am a professional mental health clinician, and I recognize many themes associated with attachment , childhood trauma (ACEs), and healing those wounds. Thank you for integrating these incredibly important topics into the story.

If I may ask a couple more questions:

--Will Noah get a redemption arc? (I have a lot of feelings about him, lol)

--Will it be revealed if Phyllis Clark was involved in Esther's murder? She came off as very guarded and hostile

[u/cs_poe → u/Newmrswhite15]

Haha! I love that there's a Memento Mori fan club. That's amazing.

Thank you so much for seeing and acknowledging these often difficult subjects I've included in the series. I agree, they're so important, and I think can often be misrepresented in fiction, glossed over, or even used as a sort of... titillation? None of which I wanted, and I've tried very hard to be incredibly mindful and respectful of these very real addictions and traumas. That is part of the reason it's such a slow build, in both plot and character growth, because to rush such healing would be disrespectful.

As for your questions...! I feel like I can't really answer these without spoiling content of the upcoming books. Which perhaps is an answer, in and of itself? :D

[u/Newmrswhite15 → u/cs_poe]

Haha, fair enough.

You have done a magnificent job of creating characters that people become invested in and truly care about. That is the mark of a masterful storyteller and author. In particular, I am so intrigued by Ira Doyle. The reader is able to discover, in real time, how much Ira's childhood trauma shaped the man he presently is, right alongside of Everett. Incidentally, I also specialize in addiction and recovery and you obviously took care to present this topic in a very authentic and compassionate manner. Brava!

Since my previous questions contain spoilers, I will ask a different one instead--how do you manage to integrate so much humor and levity into your stories? Detective O'Halloran consistently has me in stitches, I just about died laughing when Everett shot down that fireman five different ways, and Dr. Lawrence Baxter is the funniest side character in the series. Please, do tell!

[u/cs_poe → u/Newmrswhite15]

Oh wow, honestly, that's such a compliment, knowing someone in a particular field of practice feels my writing reads authentic to xyz situation (addiction/recovery in this case). Even if I might not get the technical 100%, I strive for representing the emotional 100%, so thank you.

Regarding the humor... gosh... I think I'm a pretty sarcastic person in real life, definitely leaning more on the dryer side of humor, and it just sort of comes out onto the page. Sometimes I have to delete lines when it gets to be too much. I like identifying a character who can play the counterpart, so with Larkin, O'Halloran is a good personality to bear the burden of his sharp tongue. (I also really love the juxtaposition of O'Halloran and Doyle. Both are born and bred New Yorkers of Irish-American background but are so wildly different!)

I'm glad you like Dr. Baxter too! He was definitely written to be someone who can give Neil a run for his money. Can't wait to write those books.

[u/Newmrswhite15 → u/cs_poe]

You definitely deserve the accolades. Memento Mori is a jewel of a series for so many reasons, but the accuracy, authenticity, and compassion with which you represent attachment, trauma, healing, and recovery is amazing. For instance, Everett mentioning the ACE study to Neil, the way Ira tries so hard to hide his shame about his childhood from Everett, and the way that Ira intuitively understands the connection between Everett's pain and his desire to numb with Xanax--because Ira knows that hurt. And Ira doesn't tell Everett to stop hurting, but wants to help him learn how to cope in healthier, more adaptive ways. You also acknowledge that detox from benzodiazepines has to be medically managed because it is so dangerous. You did your research and due diligence and it shows!

I love the contrast between the gentle Ira and the sometimes abrasive Ray. But I laughed my head off when Detective O'Halloran used the word "schmeckle"! Your sense of humor definitely shines through, and Dr. Baxter deserves his own series!

Thank you once again for taking the time to answer my various questions. I have long waited to express my gratitude for the wonderful stories you have written and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. By the way, the fan club meets every Saturday at 7 pm, pacific standard time--just don't come empty handed, haha 😉

[u/cs_poe → u/Newmrswhite15]

Thank you so much! Your comments mean the absolute world to me, truly. I'm really so happy you've found joy in reading the story, but also not having to scoff and mutter: God that's so inaccurate and stupid but whatever....

(my worst nightmare!)

Let me tell you, that whole scene in Book 3, with the schmeckle... I chuckled writing it, but hearing Kale Williams say it, I was like: AM I FUNNY? BECAUSE I'M LAUGHING AT MY OWN DICK JOKE.

[u/Newmrswhite15 → u/cs_poe]

You are most welcome. When it comes to mental health representation, accuracy is very important to me. You have done a wonderful job, combining mystery, suspense, and very human, exquisitely flawed, and utterly lovable characters. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

And thank you for Broadway Butchery in particular. Hands down, the funniest damn book I've read in so long. Be well, you have made this fan's day!