Q&A: Erin Bledsoe, Author of ‘Mob Queen’
We chat with author Erin Bledsoe about Mob Queen, which is set in the 1930s and follows one woman’s rapid rise through the Mafia as she searches for the truth about what happened to her friend and navigates a perilous relationship with the infamous Bugsy Siegel.
Hi, Erin! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m Erin! I was born in Texas but moved to the Midwest and never looked back. There’s something so magical about drinking coffee in the morning and seeing deer walk right past my front porch. I’m a writer and mother, and Spring is my favorite season. I love watching the world wake up again!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve been writing since middle school but started with weird supernatural fanfiction because historical fiction terrified me. Would I ever be as good as all the greats? I’m still humble enough to say no, but I had to at least try! Writing about historical bad girls was a whole new risk, but I’ve been very lucky with my readers, who enjoy learning about these women just as much as I do!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Matilda!
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Great Gatsby
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
Your latest novel, Mob Queen, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Sharp, femme fatale, vengeance, ambition, survival.
sentence form – beauty fooled them, power didn’t.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect backroom deals, blood-soaked glamour, and a plunge into the 1930s underworld. Mob Queen follows Virginia Hill as she escapes a violent past and defies the expectations of her time. While searching for a lost friend, she’s pulled into the world of organized crime. And though her relationship with Siegel is explored, the focus stays firmly on her story, and hers alone.
Where did the inspiration for Mob Queen come from?
I have a list of women I wanted to research when I committed to writing about historical bad girls, but Virginia had me hooked fast. Her rise intrigued me and I needed to explore how she got there considering where she came from.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed writing Joey Ep, Virginia’s mentor. He’s the one who brought her into the mob, and despite his motives, he’s a deeply layered character. Beyond the characters, diving into the mob’s reach and influence during that era genuinely shocked me. They set out to rule the world, and they came pretty damn close.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was writing the scenes involving domestic violence, especially because they echoed parts of my own mother’s past. But I didn’t want to soften it. It’s important to show what this woman truly went through, and to confront how often this so-called glamorous historical relationship was rooted in control. Writing it was difficult, but it felt honest and necessary.
Can you tell us a bit about your research process for Mob Queen?
My research process really involved a deep dive into the Mob, and picking up what books I could find that could tell me a little bit more about Virginia’s past.
What’s next for you?
My next two books will feature a female rum rummer and a female drag racer! I’m going to keep writing about these women until I run out of them or readers would like to see something new!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I loved the The Briar Club by Kate Quinn! I’ve read it three times!
