Hey there, folks! Kendra Cassidy here—retired Admiral, occasional troublemaker, and lover of a good story. Today, I’m sitting down with Tess Bentley, a historical fiction author who weaves together the best of time travel, gothic mystery, and romance into stories that pull you right into the past—whether you’re ready for it or not.

Tess has always been a lover of books, but before she took up the pen, she spent a decade as a registered nurse. Then she pivoted back to her first love: literature. Earning a master’s degree in English with a specialization in Gothic Studies (yes, that’s a real thing, and it’s as cool as it sounds), she immersed herself in the rich, eerie world of Victorian fiction. With a passion for women’s history and storytelling, she crafts novels that blend meticulous historical detail with deeply personal narratives.

Her debut novel, Vale, sends a modern woman hurtling back to Victorian England, where love, loss, and legacy collide. Her upcoming novel, The Longcase Clock, promises to take readers on another breathtaking journey through time. And if you’re already hooked? Don’t worry—there’s even more in the works!

When she’s not writing, you’ll find Tess in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, likely sipping coffee and re-reading Jane Eyre for the hundredth time. She’s got the soul of a Brontë and the mind of a time traveler—so let’s dive into this interview and see what she has to say!

Follow Tess Bentley and her work at tessbentley.com or on Instagram at @tessbentleyauthor. Now, let’s get to it!

A book that pleasantly surprised you?

A book that pleasantly surprised me is a bit of an oldie. It was We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. I had no idea what it was about, which is my favorite way to begin a book, and I thoroughly enjoyed its secretive feel and seclusive storyline. 

Coffee, tea, or cacao?

Coffee! I hate waking up early in the morning, but I do look forward to that first cup of coffee. Nothing tastes as good as that first cup!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

At the risk of sounding a bit trite, I knew at an early age that I was a writer. Funny thing is, I wanted to be an actress. I think because I desired one thing, I overlooked what it meant for me to be a writer. As it would happen—professionally—I became a nurse. I had long given up my fantasies about Hollywood, especially as I began my love affair with literature. So I never quite put the writer side of myself away, but certainly, she was dormant. When I began my first novel (which at the time I didn’t intend to publish) I started to look back and could see all the signs of a person who was (and is!) highly creative. It was as though I had circled back to that child who just inherently knew she was a writer. Now to be a published one, that was a different thought process for me altogether. 

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

I’m drawn to historical fantasy as a genre, but I am also an independent scholar of the Gothic and the Victorian era. Because of this, I’m very keen to prevent as many anachronisms (unless they’re intentional) as possible. I don’t write historical fiction in the sense that I’m taking a historical figure and event and reimagining it, I more so use it as the backdrop in my novels. It’s quite important to the characters (I like to write time-travel) and the plot, so a lot of research goes into my books. Besides reading other academic works, I love Victorian writers, so I often glean information from those novels (and still, I verify because they’re also fiction writers) and I do my best to ensure accuracy. As for the realism in my stories, it’s hard not to draw from one’s own experiences, or from others. I don’t necessarily take a whole person and create a character out of them, but as writers we are pulling from within and there are certainly times where you realize that art does indeed, mirror life.  

 What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

When I find myself stuck on a scene or dealing with a bit of writer’s block, I can almost always breakthrough it by writing by hand (yes pen and paper) in my notebook! I always write out the plot points, characters names, basically anything to do with the met data of the story in a notebook designated for that novel. I feel like I can allow myself to make mistakes and be sloppy as I plan, rearrange, and change my mind in a notebook more than I can on a Word Document. Perhaps it has to do with the formality of typing (I am a millennial after all) which was usually for the final draft when I was younger. For whatever reason, it has carried over with me and allows me to be freer and more creative. Also…I write in cursive, which I know is strange to so many people now! 

 Is there a trope you find yourself going back to in multiple works? Or one you avoid?

I do seem to have a taste for time travel. My debut novel, Vale, has a millennial woman who is taken back to Victorian England due to a family curse. The novel that secured me literary representation, and will hopefully go on submission sometime this year, also uses time travel. This story has a child protagonist time-traveling from Victorian England (1841) to the twentieth century, during the Second World War (1941). It’s not my aim to only write novels with time-travel, in fact, the book I’m currently writing, Emberley, a prequel to Vale, does not include time-travel. However, I am fond of it as a plot device. As a writer, it’s a great way to connect us as humans to our past and to show both what we’ve achieved, and where we have actually regressed despite calling it “progress”. I especially love the challenge of using as much realism as possible, despite such a fantastical plot device. 

 What does your family think of your writing?

I am very fortunate to have an all-around supportive family. Many of them are the first readers of my books, which isn’t always recommended, but lucky for me, they are honest without trying to prove themselves as literary critics. They all seem to enjoy my stories and reinforce my abilities as a writer. Also, both my immediate family and extended family have attended my author events and have supported me in many ways. I’m certainly blessed on this end. 

 How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I have written two complete novels, with one published and one getting ready to go on submission! I have also started my third novel, which I hope will be out at the end of this year, though it is more likely, early 2026. It’s hard to claim a favorite. I’m really proud of the one going on submission, called The Longcase Clock. It was a little trickier to write and I adore the story. However, I also love Vale, my debut novel. It is a story of loss, grief, love, and starting over. The love story and family saga still excite me when I pick it up. I can’t choose!  

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

Hearing from my readers is one of the very best things about being a writer. Sometimes I receive emails or replies form my newsletter telling me about how much my book meant to them, and often I get tagged on social media when someone has created a post or reel. It’s so much fun to see what my readers create with the music or photos they use to bring my book to life. I honestly never expected that! As far as what do they say: I often get told that my book is a comfort to them, even though it deals with grief and loss. Many readers love the love story and the historical details. Readers have been very kind saying they adore my writing style, which is such lovely feedback. 

 What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?

I have been on three! The closest one to me is the John Steinbeck house in Salinas, Ca. I went years ago. He’s one of my favorite American authors. More recently I made my formal literary pilgrimage to the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, England. That was the most important thing on my non-existent bucket list. Charlotte Brontë is my favorite author of all time, and it was a dream come true. I can’t wait to make my way back to Haworth someday. During that same trip to the UK, I visited the city of Bath, and I did visit the Jane Austen Centre; the author lived there for a time. It was neat to see!

 Are you traditionally or self published? Or both? Do you feel there are advantages to one over the other?

I am currently self-published, though I do have representation for one of my novels. We expect to go on submission this year. Fortunately, I have very realistic expectations and if it doesn’t work out, my agent fully supports me self-publishing that novel and then we will go on submission with another. My goal is to be hybrid. I love having full control, especially with who I use as an editor and cover artist. I’ve learned so much by indie-publishing. When I published Vale, I followed the trad pub model (NetGalley, Edelweiss, making my books returnable for booksellers, professional reviews, etc), and it was such an eye opener. Even though I had good success with my first book, and definitely plan to continue that path, it is nice to have someone in the industry for support and guidance. 

What does literary success look like to you?

For me, it’s honestly about connecting with my readers. Of course, this is easily said but in practice, not easily done. To find “your readers” you must have some exposure and reach as an author. It doesn’t need to be massive—unless fame and glory is your goal—fortunately for me, I’m much more realistic than that. So for me to feel successful, I’d like to have to freedom to publish what I want (if trade doesn’t want it, then I’m happy to do it myself) and to gain a readership as I go. As long as I have that connection with my readers and I’m able to attend the occasional event, I will feel successful. Anything that happens beyond that, I will feel immensely grateful for. 

What do you have coming next?

I am currently editing my novel, The Longcase Clock, a time-slip bildungsroman, which will go on submission to publishers this year. As I await that journey, I am finishing up Emberley, which is the prequel to my novel, Vale, which is available now everywhere books are sold. Emberley is a gothic, family saga that gives insight into the origins of the Emberley family curse that is told in Vale. Hopefully we will see it released at the end of 2025 or early 2026! 

Thank you!