Character Spotlight: Jane Mitchell - The Heart of 'Fashion Fatale'
Hello, I'm Nathan Finley, the author of 'Fashion Fatale,' a novel where high fashion meets high-stakes intrigue against the glittering backdrop of New York City's Fashion Week. Today, I want to give you a closer look at the protagonist of my book, Jane Mitchell, whose journey through the luxurious yet perilous world of fashion forms the crux of the story.
Jane Mitchell is not your typical heroine found in the glitz of fashion-centric tales. As a managing director at Quantum Quotient CPAs and a seasoned forensic accountant, Jane is more accustomed to spreadsheets than runway sheets. Her role requires a meticulous eye for detail and a tenacious determination to uncover truths hidden in financial data. While invaluable in her day job, these traits become unexpectedly crucial when she steps into the high-stakes fashion world.
The story begins with Jane attending an exclusive fashion show, a far cry from her usual corporate environment. Accompanied by Alex, her partner from the NYPD, what was supposed to be a glamorous evening quickly turns into a puzzling intrigue when a top model collapses on the runway under mysterious circumstances. From here, Jane's foray into the fashion industry becomes more than just a simple escape from her day-to-day life; it transforms into an adventure that challenges her analytical skills in completely new ways.
What I love about Jane is her complexity and relatability. Despite her intellect and professional success, she harbors doubts about her fit in the glamorous world of fashion. This internal conflict adds depth to her character, making her journey not just about solving a mystery but also about personal growth and self-discovery.
Throughout 'Fashion Fatale'’ Jane uses her forensic accounting skills to navigate through layers of deceit, uncovering financial discrepancies and the fashion industry's darker, more exploitative aspects. Her development from a numbers-focused accountant to a decisive detective in a murder mystery highlights her adaptability and the universal challenge of stepping out of one's comfort zone.
Jane's interactions with other characters, from the charming yet enigmatic Vivienne Lacroix to her dependable partner Alex, paint a picture of her evolving personal dynamics. These relationships play a pivotal role in driving the narrative forward, as Jane leans on and learns from her encounters with each person she works with.
In creating Jane Mitchell, I aimed to craft a character who embodies strength, intelligence, and integrity. She is a testament to the idea that one can maintain personal ethics in a world where such principles are often glossed over for the sake of appearance and profit. Jane represents not only the fight against visible adversaries but also the internal battles one must overcome to remain true to oneself in challenging situations. Jane also has flaws. She is a workaholic and has difficulties finding the way in her personal life. We’ll explore this side of Jane more in the third novel in the series, ‘Serenity’s Shadow.’
Thank you for joining me, and let me know what you think about Jane!
