On the final episode of Historical Fiction: Unpacked, I talk with Joanna Davidson Politano about her latest novel, The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple. We had a wonderful conversation about the silent film industry, the part gardens play in this story, and Joanna’s research and writing process. Here’s a description of the novel: In her newest narrative, Politano once again whisks readers away to Edwardian England, where an unlikely duo—an underground investigator and a silent-film actress—join forces to uncover secrets and solve cases. But the most baffling case still remains. Dive into the pas ..read more

This week’s episode features a fun conversation. Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson make up A.D. Rhine. They met as military “brats” when they were kids and stayed close over the years. They’ve united to write a duology, Horses of Fire and Daughters of Bronze. I sat down with Ashley and Danielle to talk about their friendship, their mutual love of Homer’s Iliad, and what led them to write these novels together. Here’s a description of the duology: A sweeping and epic duology in which Troy’s strong, yet misunderstood women take center stage in the most famous war in history. Andromache is cast ..read more

Award-winning author Erin Bartels joins me on the show to talk about her latest novel, The Lady with the Dark Hair. We discuss the barriers women historically faced when they wanted to pursue a career as an artist as well as the recent emergence of female artists from history. Here is a description of the novel: A charismatic man with a legacy that long outlives him.A forgotten woman whose fate is forever tied to his.And the family whose history is still being written. Toulouse, France—1879Catalan orphan-turned-fugitive Viviana Torrens has found sanctuary serving in the home of an aging artist ..read more

New York Times Bestselling author Allison Pataki joins me on the show today to talk about her latest release, Finding Margaret Fuller. We discussed Margaret’s place in history, the many famous transcendentalist writers she was connected to, and her influence on the U.S. feminist movement. We also talked about Allison’s research process, including her visit to Concord and Walden Pond and how real historical figures morph into a characters in her novels. Here’s a description of the novel: Massachusetts, 1836. Young, brazen, beautiful, and unapologetically brilliant, Margaret Fuller accepts an ..read more

I had a wonderful conversation with Jennifer Ryan about her newly released novel, The Underground Library. It’s based on the real Bethnal Green Library, which went underground to service the bomb shelters beneath the streets of London during the Second World War. Jennifer and I chatted about the roles women played during World War II, how research inspires her stories, and what lead her to become an author. Here’s a description of the novel: When new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds that Bethnal Green Library isn’t the bustling hub she’s expecting, she becomes determined to breathe lif ..read more

This week’s episode brings you a conversation with Joel H. Morris. His debut novel, All Our Yesterdays, releases next week, and it’s the origin story of the famous lady featured in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. Joel and I discussed his love of Shakespeare and how he became fascinated with one of the most studied female literary figures. Here’s a description of Joel’s novel: A propulsive and piercing debut, set ten years before the events of Shakespeare’s historic play, about the ambition, power, and fate that define one of literature’s most notorious figures: Lady Macbeth. Scotland, the 11th Ce ..read more

I spoke with Gail Lehrman about her love for New York City, how she came to become a writer later in life, and what’s so special about her debut novel, Across Seward Park. Here’s a description of the novel: Unions. Strikes. War. Depression… Set in the crowded tenements and teeming streets of New York’s Lower East Side, Across Seward Park follows one family’s journey through the roiling events of the 20th Century. Irving Friedman and his big sister Miriam struggle to survive in the savage sweatshops of the early garment industry. Then Marxist firebrand Leo Hirsch comes into their lives, drawi ..read more

Eric Z. Weintraub spoke with me about his newly released novel, South of Sepharad: The 1492 Jewish Expulsion from Spain. Eric and I talked about what we’re writing, the role of Eric’s Jewish heritage in his decision to write about this topic, the research his project required, and how he found a publisher. Here’s a description of South of Sepharad: Fleeing death by the Spanish Inquisition, a Jewish doctor makes an impossible choice between home and faith, then struggles to lead his family on a journey for a new life. GRANADA, SPAIN, 1492. Vidal ha-Rofeh is a Jewish physician devoted to his fa ..read more

Amy Lynn Walsh joins me on the show today to talk about her new release, Nellie. It’s part of the Apron Strings Series, a string of heartfelt inspirational stories by various authors featuring different women through the decades. Amy and I talked about the book’s setting of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which is the area where we both live! We also discussed tuberculosis treatment, Amy’s other books, and how she balances her writing life with her teaching career. Here’s a description of Nellie: Finances are tight for the O’Dwyer family who live on a mountain outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1 ..read more

Dean Cycon is an author, lawyer, human rights advocate and internationally renowned social entrepreneur. His debut novel, Finding Home, released last June. We talked about this tale of survivors of Auschwitz returning to their former town following World War II, why Jews in Hungary had a slightly different experience from those in other European countries, how Dean incorporated the perspective of the bystander into his story, and the role that music played in this novel. We also discussed how and why Dean turned from his former pursuits and began writing novels. Here is a description of Findi ..read more