Interview with S. Isabelle

Although for most of my lifetime, Regency and Victorian England have been viewed as just about as white as a place can get, it’s now known that a non-white population did exist in the nineteenth-century UK. Some immigrants came from South Asia, increasingly under British imperial control, but many arrived as the result of Britain’s long involvement in the African slave trade, including in the Caribbean. S. Isabelle, the author of two YA fantasy novels, uses this history as the backdrop to her delightful new historical romance—The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick, also YA—due out in early July 2025. Read on to find out more from this interview with the author.

The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick in your third published novel, but it’s a bit of a departure from the two previous ones. What made you decide to write a historical romance, and how did you come up with this particular story?

With my first two books being fantasy/horror novels, deciding to write a romantic fantasy was definitely a big leap. But in some ways, it actually makes a lot of sense. I’ve been a longtime lover of period adaptations like Pride & Prejudice and North & South, and authors Beverly Jenkins and Vanessa Riley. The idea for this book was born at a time where I needed to write something comforting, funny, romantic, and in a setting that didn’t feel like our world. The plot is a mix of some of my favorite tropes and themes: a surprise inheritance, a friends-to-lovers relationship, and a heroine who never saw herself falling in love. What started out as a fun project that I was happy writing just for me soon became a book that I wanted to share with readers, and particularly teen readers who don’t often see Black characters in such a popular genre/setting.

Introduce us, please, to Stella Sedgwick. I think it’s fair to say that she makes a powerful first impression.

Stella is witty, charming, and fiercely stubborn. When we first meet her, she’s being kicked out of etiquette lessons after standing up for herself, and scheming up a way to tell her Aunt Eleanor the news. Stella is the type of character that manages to be frustrating and (hopefully!) endearing at the same time. I can’t choose between my babies, but Stella is a really special character to me. Writing a young woman who refuses to dim her own light for the comfort of others was a reminder to do the same in my life.

Stella’s parents have passed on, so she lives with her aunt and her cousin Olivia. What should readers know about them?

Aunt Eleanor and Olivia love Stella dearly, but they are also the first to call her out when needed! Aunt Eleanor is stern, and gives Stella the tough love she needs sometimes. But she also cares deeply about Stella and Olivia’s well-being, and strives to protect them from the uglier parts of the world as best she can. One of my favorite scenes in the whole book is a heart-to-heart between Stella and her aunt near the end of the story. Despite Aunt Eleanor’s tough exterior, she comforts and reassures Stella with love and loyalty.

Stella’s relationship with her cousin Olivia was enjoyable to write because they are so different, but love each other fiercely. Olivia is sweeter, with a more idealistic (or perhaps naive) view of the world. Unlike Stella, she’s a hopeless romantic and is excited by the prospect of being courted. She and Stella disagree on so many things, but they always stand beside each other when it counts.

The story has barely started when Stella is summoned to the Fitzroys’ house. Who is Mr. Fitzroy, and what does he want from Stella?

Mr. Fitzroy is a wealthy man who once employed Stella’s mother. As a result, Stella grew up in Kendall Manor, Mr. Fitzroy’s London home, until she and her mother moved in with Aunt Eleanor and Olivia. Though she hasn’t heard from him in years, Mr. Fitzroy summons Stella to grant her a piece of the inheritance he’ll leave for his grandchildren. This unexpected news kicks off the whole story and reunites Stella with her old friend, Nathaniel Fitzroy.

You can’t have a romance without a romantic partner. What can you tell us about Nate Fitzroy?

Nathaniel Fitzroy is difficult for Stella to read despite their past closeness as children. In a few years, he’s become a refined, guarded young gentleman with a bit of a reputation. On the surface, he seems a bit broody and proud, but Stella has a way of melting his icy demeanor. There’s a lot of push and pull between them. Nathaniel is biracial, but has the privilege of the Fitzroy name and a wealthy family, and spent his adolescence fitting into high society. But he also sees and understands Stella in a way that she doesn’t expect. She thinks he’s moved on from the connection they once shared, but Nathaniel has never forgotten it.

It’s fair, though, to say that Stella is not that interested in romance. Who is Fiona Flippant, and what does she mean to Stella in terms of achieving her goals?

Stella’s goal is to become a writer, a big dream for a young Black woman of the time. But with the help of a family friend, she ends up taking on the anonymous advice column that her mother created. Though she’s initially wary of the role, the pseudonym Fiona Flippant offers Stella the chance to hone her writing skills and make a valuable connection with the owner of a popular publication. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword, however, as the column veers toward gossip, and Stella lands in hot water for some of her pieces.

Stella, Olivia, and Nate are all either Black or biracial—and they are not the only characters who encounter discrimination here. Can you say anything about the different ways in which your characters handle this problem?

One of the most important themes of this novel is the importance of being true to one’s self, especially in the face of adversity and cruelty. As much as she’s met with everything from curiosity to ire, Stella is comfortable in her skin. She wouldn’t change anything about herself, and is always ready to stand up to anyone who insults her. Olivia is less open about her feelings, and her polite demeanor makes her more inclined to keep the peace and vent her frustrations in private. Of the two, Nathaniel is more like Olivia, but the more time he spends with Stella, the more her confidence rubs off on him. Ultimately, these characters understand that it’s not up to them to change, or hide, or make themselves small in response to discrimination, but rather, on society to evolve out of its racist views.

This novel is billed as a stand-alone. Will you write more historical romances, and if not, what are you working on next?

While Stella’s story is complete, I’m happy to say that I’m working on a companion novel! This time, we’ll be following Olivia on her journey to growing up, becoming more independent, and of course, falling in love. I love these characters, and am so happy to be spending more time with them.

Thank you so much for answering my questions!

S. (Sophie) Isabelle is the author of the YA novels The Witchery and Shadow Coven. The Great Misfortune of Stella Sedgwick is her latest novel. Find out more about her and her books at http://sisabellebooks.com/.

Photograph of S. Isabelle © Amanda Smith Photography. Reproduced with permission.