Q&A with Jeannie Mobley

From my Q&A with Jeannie Mobley, author of The Jewel Thief:

How much work does your title do to take readers into the story?

The title The Jewel Thief takes the reader into the novel in much the same way that the first page does. We are introduced to the main character, Juliette, as she is being accused by Louis XIV of stealing his most precious diamond, the large blue stone known as The French Blue. Juliette did, in fact, steal the diamond, but the circumstances surrounding her theft—competition among the master gem-cutters of Paris to achieve an impossible cut and glorify the king—must be understood if she is to save herself. So the title helps launch the reader into the dangerous adventure that is Juliette’s tale. It is not the title the book had originally, but I am very grateful for editorial teams that know how to find just the right title to draw readers in to the book.

What's in a name?

Because some of the characters in the book are real historical figures, their names are not a matter of choice. For the main characters, who are fictional, I tried to pick...[read on]

My Book, The Movie: The Jewel Thief.

The Page 69 Test: The Jewel Thief.

Q&A with Jeannie Mobley.

--Marshal Zeringue