We recently had the chance to connect with Elle Jauffret and have shared our conversation below.
Elle, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: When was the last time you felt true joy?
I find true joy in everyday moments, like watching my children laugh or taking a peaceful walk on the beach. But as a writer, one of my most recent bursts of pure happiness came when I read an early review of my upcoming book, Cosplayed to Death (Book 2 of the Suddenly French Mysteries series). The reviewer called it ‘the epitome of a modern cozy’—’with a gorgeous setting, fabulous characters, and a complex investigation.’ That kind of validation, after pouring so much into a story, was absolutely thrilling!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi there, bonjour! I’m Elle Jauffret, a writer who believes in the power of stories to transport, comfort, and inspire. My work blends intricate mysteries, police procedural, cozy settings, and heartfelt characters to create the kind of books you’d curl up with on a rainy afternoon (think modern cozy fiction with a twist.) My debut novel, Threads of Deception (Book 1 of the Suddenly French Mysteries), won a PenCraft Award and was nominated for an Agatha Award.
On Instagram @ellejauffret, I share my writing journey, behind-the-scenes glimpses into my novels, and the real-life inspirations that shape my stories (like the town that inspired Caper Cove, the fictional setting for my series). Right now, I’m thrilled to see the release of Cosplayed to Death (Book 2 in the series), which promises more intrigue, a dash of romance, and the reveal of secrets.
What makes my brand unique? I write for readers who crave fast-paced traditional mysteries with depth, stories that feel like a warm hug but keep you guessing until the last page. When I’m not working or writing, you’ll find me trying out new recipes, plotting my next fictional whodunit, or enjoying escape rooms (because real-life puzzles are fun too!).
I’d love for you to join me on this adventure, whether by diving into my books, following along at ellejauffret.com, or connecting on Instagram @ellejauffret.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I came to the U.S. as an adult with strong writing skills but uncertain English. Eager to improve, I enrolled in a creative writing class at a local college, where I had the fortune of meeting Professor Larry Starzec. One day, he encouraged me to submit a piece to The Willow Review, an esteemed literary journal. At the time, I didn’t fully understand the significance of the opportunity (most people around me dismissed it) but his faith in me changed everything. To this day, whenever doubt creeps in, I recall his words from my recommendation letter: “Elle has superior writing skills.” That single sentence became my anchor.
Now, I write across multiple genres: literary short stories that delve into the complexities of human emotion and commercial mysteries that keep readers eagerly turning the pages. Whether through thoughtful introspection or thrilling narratives, my mission remains the same: to connect, to transport, and to remind others that their voices matter too.
Thank you, Mr. Starzec. Your belief in me made all the difference.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I used to believe that ‘serious’ writing was the only kind that mattered. My early novels were literary—dense, atmospheric, the kind of prose that gets praised in workshops but doesn’t always fly off shelves. And despite being repped by a top New York agent, they didn’t sell. That failure stung. But it also forced me to ask: Was I writing for the right reasons?
The truth was, I’d spent years trying to sound like the ‘right kind’ of writer (elegant, formal, important) when what I really loved were stories that moved, that felt like a conversation with a friend over coffee. So I did something terrifying: I stripped my writing down. I read commercial novels like a thief, studying how dialogue could crackle. I even took a screenwriting class to force myself to write leaner, funnier, faster. (As a foreign-born attorney, ‘chatty’ didn’t come naturally. I once wrote a romantic scene that read like a contract negotiation.)
The result? Threads of Deception, my debut mystery, a book that’s still me (with all my love of hidden layers, and cultural quirks), but now with jokes, heart, and a plot that doesn’t let you pause. It earned me a three-book deal, and proved that sometimes, the thing you’re worst at (dialogue!) is exactly what your story needs.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The quiet myth? That ‘literary’ means ‘deeper’, when really, it just means ‘a different kind of depth.’
For years, I wrote in a rich, lyrical style, the kind of prose that unfolds slowly, like savoring a complex wine. There’s beauty in that. There’s art in that. But somewhere along the way, I noticed an unspoken assumption: that if a book is accessible, it must be simple. That if it’s plot-driven, it can’t also be profound. And that’s just not true.
When I began writing Threads of Deception, I didn’t leave my love of language behind, I just redirected it. The sentences might move faster now, the stakes might pull the reader forward more urgently, but the heart of the story, the questions it asks and the emotions it explores, are just as deep. And the response? An Agatha nomination, and readers telling me how much the book meant to them.
Here’s what I’ve learned: literary fiction and commercial fiction aren’t opposites. They’re just different paths to the same destination—stories that move us. One lingers like a poem; the other grips like a hand on your shoulder. But both can change you. Both can matter.
I still adore a gorgeously woven sentence. I still believe in the power of a quiet, introspective novel. But I also believe in the novel you can’t put down, the one that makes you feel while it makes you think. Because in the end? Depth isn’t about the style. It’s about the soul. And soul doesn’t belong to any one genre.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Absolutely! I’ve had so many ‘tap-dancing-to-work’ moments!
There was the first call from a NY agent. Hearing someone say, ‘I get your voice, and I want to champion it’ felt like a door swinging open. (Yes, I ugly-cried.) It was the first time I knew my stories belonged in the world, even if that path later led me in a different direction. Then there was the 3-book deal. Holding that contract, realizing this was real, and my stories would actually find readers.
But the real magic? The moments that made me think, ‘This is why I write,’ were the human ones:
• My book launch, where over 50 people showed up to celebrate my debut and the bookstore ran out of my books. I’ll never forget the woman who drove two hours just to tell me my book made her feel seen and heard.
• My first bookstores signing, where my book sold out (the bookstore ran out of copies. Best problem ever.)
• Standing onstage at Bouchercon, where Michael Connelly—Michael Connelly!—introduced me at the Debut Breakfast. I may have blacked out from excitement. (He was as kind as he is talented.)
• The Agatha nomination for Best Debut Novel, because it came from readers and peers who loved traditional mysteries as much as I do. And the PenCraft win, which felt like a quiet nod: ‘Keep going. You’re on the right path.’
• Being invited to keynote at conferences and sit on panels (including Comic-Con) alongside writers I’d admired for years. The first time someone lined up for my autograph, I whispered, ‘Are you sure you’re in the right line?’ (They were.)
But here’s the real tap-dancing moment: Every time a reader tells me my book resonated with them. The woman who said my protagonist’s reinvention gave her courage to change her own life. The man who confessed he ‘doesn’t read cozies’, but mine was the exception. (My books are traditional mysteries with a cozy element.) That’s the high nothing else touches. It’s not the awards or the stages (though those are thrilling); it’s the connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ellejauffret.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellejauffret/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellejauffret/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elle.jauffret
Image Credits
AJO
