All about the novel Lady Cavendish’s Christmas Caper

Who is Camille Cabrera?

Camille Cabrera is a #1 top selling American author. She specializes in writing mystery and suspense novels. Her worlds often include familiar holiday themes in order to sharply contrast the unknown

What is Lady Cavendish’s Christmas Caper about?

Lady Cavendish firmly believes that she’s only a lady in name. All of her friends call her Charlie. She’s convinced that the name Charlotte is too sophisticated and borders on being painfully self-assured. Lately, nothing about Charlie’s life bolsters her confidence. In fact, she has absolutely no idea what she’s doing…


Charlie has until next Christmas to find a priceless missing art piece that’s the only thing standing between her and her inheritance. The cozy town is hiding more than just the location of the noteworthy artwork. Charlie’s late grandmother wrote that she would only receive the castle and all its treasures after successfully finding the tactfully hidden artwork. As the clock moves closer to the deadline, it will take a Christmas miracle to help Charlie earn her inheritance and keep her wonderful new home.


Eager to explore Haversham, Charlie heads out sightseeing. It isn’t long until a flat tire leaves her stranded outside of the local tavern, where a tall, brooding stranger lends her a helping hand. Intrigued, Charlie proposes an innocent little wager. One harmless bet leads to another, and soon she’s agreed to host a Christmas Eve party at the castle. Unwilling to admit defeat, she takes the challenge in stride, but will the town’s sleepy secrets come to light just in time to foil the holiday spirit?

 Interview

What inspired Lady Cavendish’s Christmas Caper?

The story came from a combination of inspirations. I remember watching a television show about a lovely couple remodeling a castle. For fun, I started looking online at the prices of castles. I’ve been fortunate to visit the English countryside a few times and wanted to draw from that experience. When writing the story, I wanted it to feel somewhat familiar while also just removed enough to feel fantastical. The story took on a life of its own once I found an image of a beautiful stained-glass window. Ultimately, I pulled from bits and pieces of my real life and crafted a completely different story.

What drew you to writing?

From a young age, I could always be found reading. Each book held a brand new story, just waiting to be discovered. Writing inevitably became my creative outlet as I grew more comfortable with the written word. For me, the journey to writer required me to first become a dedicated reader. Reading opened doors that I never even knew existed.

How did you choose which character to centre the story around?

Lady Cavendish felt like the best character to emphasize. She experiences a vast amount of character growth before the end of the story. Lady Cavendish (Charlie) is an American plopped into a cozy small town across the pond. While the setting is fictional, it’s also loosely reminiscent of the real world. I wanted to explore a character stuck in a rut who has the opportunity to achieve a better life just within reach. She’s smart, sensitive, and dedicated to retracing her family roots. A person who understands their past has a better chance of controlling their future.

What was your process for writing your book?

I like to write my books in chunks. Typically, I like to write for a few hours and then loosely plan the next few chapters. The process tends to be somewhat organized. For example, I like to write the story from start to end before returning to rework certain parts. However, I have had moments (especially when writing Lady Cavendish’s Christmas Caper) where I write specific scenes and chapters out of order.

What is your approach to world and character-building?

The world and the character tend to go hand-in-hand. When writing a cozy mystery, the world- building often requires an intimate setting. Small towns and isolated environments allow me as an author to emphasize the inner work happening within my characters. While my mysteries obviously require solving, my characters also require a certain level of growth before they can achieve their intended outcomes.

Did you have a favourite moment in the book to write?

I’ll try my best to answer this question without giving away any spoilers. Yes, I was cheering my protagonist on as we saw her unravel not one but two different mysteries. Charlie’s faith in herself and her growing connection to her family allows her to achieve a much-needed level of persistence. Miracles tend to happen when people have faith and make the time to do the work.

I also enjoyed creating the Christmas party scene. It’s a pivotal moment emphasizing Charlie’s improved relationship with the town.

Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why?

I’d say that I’m a bit like Charlie’s grandmother. I tend to have nontraditional ways of navigating the world. As a creative, it’s important to balance being an active participant with the role of an

impartial observer. Charlie’s grandmother embraced her life and understood that people have different facets that make them unique.

Has writing and publishing a book changed the way you see yourself?

Absolutely. I believe writing and successfully self-publishing several novels has allowed me to explore my own relationships. Writing remains a tool that not only helps me to connect with other people but also encourages me to reach deeper into myself. Awareness remains a perpetual process that must be explored frequently and freely. For me, writing has offered me a skeleton key to unlocking my potential. In contrast, publishing has emboldened me to accept the duality of life as an author and storyteller.

Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?

I am inspired by Agatha Christie. Christie remains an icon within the cozy mystery world. She’s the conventional Queen of Cozies. Her short stories and novels function as massive pillars of creativity, allowing the authors of today to branch out into nontraditional fictional situations.

When reading, I try to understand the time and the place each author came from. Recognizing the time an author grew up in means putting together the social and societal puzzle that a writer navigated on a daily basis while creating their works.

Every book I’ve ever read has helped me to become the author I am today. Reading improves empathy. As an author, I strive to create characters that readers can empathize with or at least understand. Crafting characters with a significant level of humanity requires countless hours of reading.

What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book, and what advice were you given?

Write with fearlessness and edit with discernment. In my experience, the first draft will likely not be the last. Writing can feel challenging, but the most difficult part often comes from starting.

Have the courage to make mistakes while building characters and crafting worlds. Persistent progress has a way of beating unpracticed talent.

What’s your favourite writing snack or drink?

Coffee. Coffee, always. When writing, I like to have a pot of freshly brewed black coffee nearby. A slice of chocolate cake also tends to be alarmingly close to wherever I write. After publishing a book, I like to celebrate with a bottle of champagne split between friends.

Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favourite music?

I love music, but I avoid listening when writing. To me, music tells its own story. I try to avoid perceiving other people’s works while creating my own.

When not writing, I love listening to genres ranging from smooth jazz to alternative rock. Music conveys a story to the heart in the same way a book tells a story to the mind.

Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?

My friends and family members have always encouraged my work. My first editor is actually one of my oldest friends. She believed in me before anyone else. On the other hand, some of my biggest supporters have also been loose acquaintances and business partners willing to take a chance on my work.