PHOTO: Pamela Harju at home in the Irish countryside, where her love for music and storytelling creates award-winning fiction.
Mastering Musical Fiction and Supernatural Mysteries
Pamela Harju delivers captivating stories inspired by her love for music, blending supernatural twists, heartfelt romance, and mystery in award-winning works that showcase her creativity and passion for storytelling.
Pamela Harju is an extraordinary storyteller whose passion for music and bold imagination breathe life into every story she writes. With a body of work that spans five novels, a collection of short stories, and various other pieces, Harju has firmly established herself as a notable voice in contemporary fiction. Her ability to draw from diverse genres, especially her unique focus on musical fiction, sets her apart in a literary world brimming with creativity. Harju’s fascination with music and her love for supernatural twists take center stage in her latest endeavour, the In Time to the Music series—a compelling foray into the world of supernatural cosy mysteries.
Harju’s journey as an author has been nothing short of impressive. Her debut novel, The Truth about Tomorrow, a touching coming-of-age story, won the WriteIntoPrint’s Captivating Opening Contest in 2017. Continuing her literary success, she wrote Two Hearts in a Grave, a love story that earned Firebird Book Awards in the Music and Musical Fiction categories. Other standout works include her contemporary romance Sympathetic Strings, which also received a Firebird Book Award, and the intriguing mystery A World Other Than Her Own. Each of her novels reflects her deep connection to music, with melodies woven intricately into the fabric of her storytelling.
Pamela Harju is a versatile and innovative storyteller whose award-winning works captivate readers with their originality, emotion, and musical brilliance.
When asked about the inspiration for blending music and the supernatural in her In Time to the Music series, Harju revealed that her love for both elements naturally led to their combination. “I have always loved stories with supernatural and unusual twists, so when I was looking for ideas for a series, I knew I had to incorporate both of those,” she explained. “I have so many ideas that I always welcome the opportunity to join some of them together.”
One of the most captivating aspects of the series is Vanessa Naylor’s ability to receive musical warnings—a concept that Harju admits wasn’t based on folklore or personal experience but stemmed from a vivid imagination. “I have a hectic internal jukebox, but it’s more reactive than proactive,” she said. “To be honest, I can’t remember what inspired the idea, but I’m so glad it came to me because it’s a lot of fun to write and a great opportunity to research appropriate songs.”
It’s clear that Harju’s personal connection to music plays a major role in her creative process. “I almost always write about music, one way or another,” she shared. “I’m the least musically talented person you could ever meet, but I find musicians fascinating people and kindred spirits, mostly very down-to-earth and kind.” Drawing from her own passion for rock music—she’s a devoted fan who travels across the UK and Ireland to see her favorite bands—she breathes authenticity into her characters and settings.
Crafting a supernatural cosy mystery, however, was not without its challenges. “Sometimes, I get so carried away with the story that I forget about Vanessa’s musical premonitions!” Harju admitted. Writing her first series has also been a learning experience, as she worked to balance individual book plots with overarching storylines, ensuring an engaging pace while leaving enough intrigue to keep readers hooked.
Though the Edwardston Music College setting in her series isn’t based on a specific real-life location, Harju has drawn immense inspiration from the remarkable college buildings across the UK and Ireland. For her, the setting is more than just a backdrop—it’s a character in itself, with its coziness, mystery, and history adding depth to her narratives.
As for what’s next, Harju has an exciting roadmap for the In Time to the Music series. Vanessa Naylor’s adventures will take her to “a private island off the coast of Ireland” in the next installment. Harju plans the series to ultimately include six full-length novels, as well as short stories in between. “I’m currently writing the first draft of book five,” she revealed. For those eager to jump into the series, the prequel, Overture, is available for free on most e-book platforms.
Pamela Harju’s dedication to her craft, her boundless imagination, and her love for music make her a truly delightful and original voice in fiction today. With the In Time to the Music series and her many other works, she invites readers to lose themselves in stories filled with rhythm, passion, and mystery.
If you’re looking for fiction that blends the power of music with the intrigue of the supernatural, Pamela Harju’s work promises to strike all the right chords.
This article is adapted from an interview conducted by Reader’s House magazine.
