Hattie James

Meet the Heroine: Introduce Hattie James from her glittering singer life to her mission undercover in Rio de Janeiro.

• Hattie James, our songbird, is a rising American singer in 1940 New York City. She has a dream recording contract and is headlining at the new Copacabana Club when she receives a terrifying call. Her father, a respected German-born American diplomat, has been arrested for giving state secrets to the Nazis. When he escapes custody, the FBI blackmails Hattie to lure him out of hiding. She is whisked to exotic Rio de Janeiro, where her father has been spotted. Hattie reunites with her mother, Brazil’s most treasured singing star, whom Hattie despises and blames for her parents’ divorce. On day one, dangerous spy games wedge Hattie between protecting those she loves and uncovering dark secrets about her father’s past.

Behind the Book: What inspired The Songbird? How did the idea of espionage in WWII Brazil and a singer-turned-spy came to life?

• When starting this series, I decided on a setting in an exotic location outside the European theater to set it apart from most WWII books available today. My research uncovered Operation Bolivar, the code name for German espionage in Latin America during the war. The Nazis sent many agents there to gather intelligence and conduct sabotage to control the shipping lanes during the Battle of the Atlantic. The aspect of the FBI operating in South America is based on the history of the Special Intelligence Service, a covert counterintelligence branch of the FBI during the war assigned to monitor those Nazi activities. Once I narrowed down the region, I wanted the story to unfold in a large, modern, English-speaking city. One stood out: Rio de Janeiro. For my main character, inspiration for Hattie came from Josephine Baker, the famous American entertainer who became a WWII spy for the French Resistance by using her celebrity status to attend high-society parties and gather crucial intelligence on Nazi operations. Josephine risked her life to pass on information that helped the Allies while continuing her performances to maintain her cover. While Josephine became a willing spy for all the right reasons, blackmail forces Hattie into a dangerous web of espionage to protect the people she loves.

For the History Buffs: What historical elements of The Songbird will fascinate history lovers?

• The opening act introduces readers to Hattie’s glittering world, headlining at New York’s newest trendy nightspot, the Copacabana. Smoke-filled rooms, cigarette girls, club photographers, timeless cars with stick shifts, and elevator attendants are a few subtle reminders of the era. When the story transitions to Rio, I weave in a Nazi spy ring assigned to gather intelligence to aid in Germany’s effort to control the Atlantic shipping lanes, a strategy the Nazis used from the onset of the war. Throughout the journey, readers see how Nazi Germany’s sphere of influence extends around the globe, foreshadowing that war is on the horizon for the United States.

For Today’s Readers: How did you ensure that Hattie and Maya’s story felt true to the time period while still being relatable to modern readers?

• Hattie James is no stranger to keeping secrets and telling lies when the FBI throws her into the world of espionage. For years, she has hidden from the public that she’s gay by posing in a lavender relationship with her male pianist. He’s like her, so the arrangement benefits both parties. Not even her family knows her secret because, in 1940, same-sex relationships were against the law. When Hattie and Maya first meet, attraction is there, but Hattie holds back because she’s unfamiliar with the subtle cues of Rio’s lesbian subculture. Back home, she would have instantly recognized Maya’s interest by a look, standing in close proximity, or turn of a phrase commonly used in 1940 New York. But she is in Brazil and must exercise caution by using extremely subtle cues to avoid detection. Today, while there is greater acceptance and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community, there are still cultural pockets where they must remain guarded and use less direct cues. I doubt this will change in my lifetime.

Espionage and Love: How does The Songbird balance romance and danger. What’s the emotional heart of this story?”

• The theme of betrayal vs. loyalty is the heart of the story and Hattie’s journey. It’s infused in the main espionage storyline with accusations of her father’s treason and Hattie’s love for him that is strong enough to keep her believing in his innocence and for her to go to extraordinary lengths to prove it, all while protecting her loved ones. I use the same theme in the B-story, which revolves around Hattie and Maya’s budding romance. Infidelity has scarred Hattie’s heart, making her gun-shy with relationships. However, once she learns that not every betrayal is born out of cruelty but sometimes out of weakness, she is able to forgive, particularly herself.

It’s been two months since The Songbird hit the shelves, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how much readers love Hattie James. Now that you’ve glimpsed her character, I thought you might like a little taste of what makes her and the person who created her tick.

A dear friend recently asked me two probing questions, so I thought I’d share my answers along with Hattie’s. Here we go.

Q: What makes you really come alive?

Hattie: The moment I walk onto the stage. Singing is in my blood. How could it not, having Eva Machado as a mother? When I started in this business, I thought I’d always be in Mother’s shadow, but then, one night, the audience cheered my name. They appreciated my talent and hard work to give them a show to remember. That was when I knew I was where I was supposed to be. So, when the spotlight hits me and the crowd roars, I truly feel alive.

Stacy: That first tee shot of the day. I spend so much time alone at the computer that golfing has become my escape. Without fail, I slice that first ball, but at that moment, I know I’ll be outside with good friends, soaking in the sun and laughing for the next four hours.

Q: What do you love most about your career?

Hattie: While I thrive on the energy I feel with an audience, I love hearing each new record on the radio for the first time. Very few performers ever get their music heard beyond the confines of packed bars at weekend gigs. The radio, however, is the culmination of years of hard work to get my music out in the world. It’s mindboggling to think that, at that moment, my music is reaching more people than most singers ever do in a lifetime.

Stacy: I get to play the fixer. Every main character I create is deeply flawed, typically the result of trauma. Over the course of a series, I put them through the wringer and ultimately give them the one thing they need to fix themselves…to love again. If only life were that easy.

While I’d like to claim that a bit of me is in Hattie James, now that I’ve completed drafting the fourth book in the series, I think it’s the other way around. Some of Hattie is now in me. She taught me imposter syndrome is a waste of energy and only holds me back. So, when I write, I stay focused on the characters to create the story I want to tell.

I hope you’ll join Hattie on her next adventure in The Rio Affair this August. That’s only five short months away. Thank you for reading, and remember, you are stronger than you realize.

– Stacy