This is Ink & Intrigue—the blog where romance ignites, secrets simmer, and every love story hides a twist. I’m your blog host, Sheila Kell, romance author and lover of plot twists, slow burns, and morally questionable book boyfriends.
Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to an author whose stories grab the reader from the opening chapter and won’t let go until the very end, Henry James Kaye! If you love Whodunits, FBI agents and small Florida coastal towns, along with a splash of the protagonist and his girlfriend being opposites (him not believe in God, her a believer…him pragmatic and dot-connector, her emotional and spur of the moment) you’re in for a treat.
Henry is known for his opening chapters, which grab the reader and set the stage for a race against time to stop the murderer before the body count rises any further. His latest release, Victim’s Voice, follows Malcom Gee as he tries to help a friend, right a wrong, represent those without a voice, and deal with his girlfriend’s secret.
In this spotlight, Henry James Kaye shares the negative event that turned him into an author, and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Victim’s Voice.
Whether you write love stories, devour them, or dream of doing both—you’re in the right place. Let’s get into it and give a warm welcome to Henry James Kaye! 💖
What drew you to writing?
A friend of mine in elementary school always had a book with him. When he wasn’t engaged with someone, Bobby would have his nose stuck in the pages. I used to tease him about it until one day he dared me to read the book he had just finished. I don’t recall the title, but it was in the Doc Savage series written by Kenneth Robeson. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to write a story and see my name on a book in the bookstore.
What’s your typical writing routine like—do you write with emotion or outline first?
In the writing world, I’m considered a ‘Planster’. When I start, I know the plot, five or six main plot points, and how the ending, with an appropriate twist, will work. Once I sit in front of my computer and put fingers to keyboard (notice what I did there? I didn’t say pen to paper), I let the characters and natural course of events get me to the desired ending. While writing, a couple of red herrings seem to naturally occur.
Can you tell us about your latest novel and what inspired the story?
I believe there’s a multitude of people who have been wronged but don’t have anyone to represent them, to fight for them, to gain justice for them. This series is about those people finding someone who cares and is willing to go to extraordinary levels of self-sacrifice to stop those who will take advantage of those who can’t fight for themselves. Malcolm can’t stand the death, the brutality, the grieving families has to deal with by working as a serial killer specialist for the FBI, but he does it because the victims can no longer fight for themselves. Someone needs to stop the killers and he has a skill, an ability, to think like them. Valerie, his girlfriend, believes he has a God-given gift that he needs to use; otherwise, he’s insulting God. He doesn’t believe in God, but does believe in justice for those who can no longer fight for themselves..
How did you develop the chemistry between your main characters?
I patterned the protagonist, Malcolm, and his girlfriend, Valerie, after my wife and me. Malcolm and Valerie are opposites in many ways, yet they love one another and think the other is ‘The One’. They work through their differences; in a couple of places, they agree they disagree, but they’re willing to accept that the other believes differently.
Are your characters based on real people, or entirely fictional?
Malcolm and Valerie are loosely based on my wife and I. there are a couple of things we disagree about, but we’re in it for the long haul and accept that the other has a different view. I believe that accepting someone who has a different opinion from mine is okay. It doesn’t mean that I can’t associate with them, or in this case, be married for 50+ years. I don’t believe in today’s cancel culture. We’re all different, and that’s okay.
How has your writing evolved since your first book?
This question makes me laugh and simultaneously feel embarrassed. When I look at the first book I published, I shake my head in wonderment as to how it ever made it to printed form. Oh Lord, the writing is so bad. The plot is still good, but the writing is lacking. I can’t believe the amount of ‘was’, ‘he said’, and ‘she said’ that I used. I was definitely an expert at telling as opposed to showing. Now, part of my self-editing before I send a manuscript off is to search for twenty-seven words/phrases and examine them to see if I can make them more showing and less telling.
How did you find your agent and publisher
Several years ago I believed I needed an agent. Consequently, I attended every conference I could that had agent pitch sessions. Lo and behold, at my fourth conference I pitched an agent who took interest in my current WIP. Fast forward three months I received an offer of representation. I signed the contract and thought my writing career had finally taken off. Fast forward fifteen months, that’s right 15, the agent could only tell me of two possible publishers she submitted my manuscript to and both rejected it, but she didn’t remember why they rejected it. Fifteen months and two rejections. I couldn’t believe it. I terminated the contract and started querying publishers. The first batch of ten resulted in six ‘thanks but no thanks’. The second batch of ten queries included a statement that I had been represented by an agent, but severed the relationship. Of those ten, three publishers requested the full manuscript, two of them offered publishing contracts, and I signed with The Crimson Press, an imprint of The Wild Rose Press.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
For every new author I speak with, I always recommend they join at least one critique group with writers who are better than they are. Currently, I belong to two groups with better writers than me. I also coordinate two other critique groups for writers who are just starting out. Does it require time to read and comment on submissions from the beginning writers? Sure it does. However, others did it for me, and I want to reciprocate by helping newer writers. Just to add on to this thread, I also suggest finding critique groups specific to your genre. They get it. They get what you write and offer genre-specific advice. If you write mysteries, join Mystery Writers of America. If you write Romance, join Romance Writers of America. Etc.
What do you like to read in your free time?
I always have three books on my nightstand. One is a novel in my genre (The Policeman’s Daughter by Trudy Nan Boyce). The second is an anthology in my genre (The Best Mystery Stories of the Year – 2024 edited by Otto Penzler). The third is something outside of my genre. I just finished a western and have recently started Currently, I have an anthology from Writers of the Future #42 anthology of the best sci-fi stories of the year. (Full disclosure, one of my friends has a story in this edition)
Do you have any quirky writing habits or rituals?
I don’t know if they’re quirky or not, but there are three things I do to kick off my writing day. First, I go to a fast food restaurant for breakfast. I normally arrive by 6:30. Second, while eating breakfast I review what I wrote the previous day. I’ll correct typos, poorly worded sentences, do quick and easy things. But the reason I review yesterday’s work is to get my head wrapped around the story, the characters, the emotion of what’s happening at that particular point. The third thing, while driving home, I develop the details of what I’m going to write that day. I write approximately 6 hours a day, Monday thru Saturday. Sunday is a day of church, family, and relaxation.
What are you working on next?
I’ve finished the third novel in the Malcolm Gee series and expect to have it off to my publisher by the end of the month. It’s working title is Bonnie Isle. I have two more planned in the series. However, the next novel I’ve already started work on has a working title of Answers Will Come. It’s about a man who wakes up in an alley, doesn’t know who he is or how he got there. I know, sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Part of the twist is that he’s confined to a wheelchair. A second difference is that he’s befriended by an ornery private eye who’s working on a missing person’s case. Just to make things interesting the man and PI become involved with a young woman who doesn’t like her current life, but isn’t sure what she wants to about it. In a nutshell, there are three people, all looking for something. This may be a stand alone, or it could be the first book in a series.
Are there any genres you’d like to explore that you haven’t yet?
I’m becoming more and more interested in Sci-Fi/Fantasy. I have some half-baked plot ideas that I’m rolling around in my mind. I’m thinking about turning a couple of them into short stories and see how they come out. One of the writer’s groups that I coordinate has an excellent Sci-Fi author and a pretty good Fantasy author in it. I may write the short stories and run them through the group to get their feedback. But, that would be a side thing while I work on Answers Will Come.
What’s your full name, and do you like it?
My pen name is Henry James Kaye. I’ve selected that name because it’s my father’s first and middle name. My father is my hero. What’s not to like about being named after your hero?
Where are you from, and where do you live now?
I was born and raised in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA. Currently, I live in New Smyrna Beach, FL, just 8 minutes from the beach and Atlantic Ocean.
How old are you (or how old do you feel)?
Other than my knees, I feel like I’m in my mid-50s.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
I asked my wife and three kids this question. Independent of each other they responded with six words – Straightforward, Analytical, Dependable, Calming, Loyal and Yinzer. No other words were used. Straightforward and Dependable came from all four of them. I’m pleased that my family sees me this way. I hope the whole world does.
What’s your current relationship status? I’ve been married for 50+ years to probably the only woman in the world who would put up with my idiosyncrasies for that long. The Lord blessed me when she entered my life and continues to bless me.
What’s the biggest event that shaped who you are?
My mother was sick while I was growing up. I learned responsibility and loyalty to family. To take care of those whose can’t take care of themselves.
What does “home” mean to you?
I have a house that I often refer to as ‘home’, but the honest-to-God truth is that ‘home’ is where my family is. We can be on a cruise ship, or in Texas, or Pennsylvania, or Florida, or anyplace else. It doesn’t matter. When I’m with family, I’m home.
What’s something you’re really good at?
I know football. I can watch a game on TV or in person at a stadium and see things others don’t. I often say things before the TV broadcasters, the supposed experts, say them on TV. I predict what play the offense is going to run just by looking at how they line-up. Even my sons, who played through college, are impressed with my knowledge.
How do you react under pressure?
I’m normally calm, non-emotional and go into analysis mode looking for the best path forward.
Are you more of a leader or a follower?
If the situation requires a leader and no one steps up, then I’ll take the lead. However, I prefer to stay out of the limelight and function extremely well as a second-in-command.
Morning person or night owl?
Definitely a morning person. I typically wake up, without an alarm, between 5:00-5:15. When I wake, I’m awake, ready to go.
Coffee, tea, or something stronger?
I’m a Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi drinker (I can’t tell the difference between them, so whatever is cheaper is what I buy). In the evening, when I’m ready to wind down, I like a little bourdon in my diet cola.
Favorite way to spend a day off?
With family at the beach or on a cruise.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Potato chips, the saltier the better.
What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself?
I’m capable of doing almost anything I want. But I don’t have the time to do it all, so I have to look at the time it’ll take to become proficient and decide if it’s worthwhile.
What scares you? The political system in America. We swing too far left, then too far right. I believe we are at our best when we’re in the middle, where we compromise, where everyone gets something. Today’s ‘all or nothing’ approach by both sides is tearing the greatest democracy the If your If you could trade lives with another character in your book for a day, who would it be?
What’s your personal motto?
If it’s ‘it’s good enough’ I need to work on it some more to make it ‘good’.
Bio: Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Henry has produced six award-winning mysteries. Twelve Sinners, the first in the Malcolm Gee Mystery series, won Book Of The Year from the Florida Writers Association and Best Unpublished Mystery from Killer Nashville. The second in the series, Victim’s Voice, became available for purchase on May 13th. He’s also written multiple Collections, RPLA, and various anthology winners, including Most Dangerous Games. He speaks at conferences and offers classes. Henry lives in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, with his wife, Nancy, and menagerie of dogs and birds.
I hope you loved getting to know Henry James Kaye and hearing about his inspirations, journey, and latest release, Victim’s Voice. If you haven’t added this to your TBR yet, now’s the time—trust me, you won’t want to miss it. 💖
You can connect with Henry James Kaye here:
📱 Socials: www.HenryJamesKaye.com
🛒 Grab his books: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, Goodreads, etc. Go to my website – www.HenryJamesKaye.com for links to all book sellers.
Thank you for joining me in spotlighting a fellow author who’s giving us all the feels. Stay tuned for more author features, book talk, and behind-the-scenes romance goodness.
Until next time—keep reading, keep swooning! 💖