History – Page 2 – A Bookish Home Podcast

Ep 116: Julia Kelly on Capturing the End of One Era for the Queen and British High Society

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022Posted in History, Research, WritingLeave a comment

Today Julia Kelly is on the podcast to discuss her historical novel, The Last Dance of the Debutante, a masterful, glittering novel that whisks you to midcentury Britain as it follows three of the last debutantes to be presented to Queen Elizabeth II.

We recorded this conversation before the Queen’s passing. It’s fascinating to hear more about the ending of one era for England in the 1950s as we witness another time of change today.

“Julia Kelly elegantly brings to life the last official presentation of debutantes at court with her exquisitely researched and beautiful written detail in The Last Dance of the Debutante. This story was so decadent, I wanted to don silk and crinoline and read it with a glass of champagne.” —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Julia Kelly is the international bestselling author of historical women’s fiction books about the extraordinary stories of the past. Her books have been translated into 13 languages. She has also written historical romance. In addition to writing, she’s been an Emmy-nominated producer, journalist, marketing professional, and (for one summer) a tea waitress. Julia called Los Angeles, Iowa, and New York City home before settling in London.

You can find out more about her books at her website https://www.juliakellywrites.com/.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep 115: Amy Tector on Archival Secrets and Sweeping Readers Away to Paris

September 7, 2022September 7, 2022Posted in History, WritingLeave a comment

Amy Tector is on the podcast this week to discuss her new novel, The Honeybee Emeralds. We chatted about capturing expat life and Parisian destinations, how to have a successful critique group (Amy’s is twenty years in and counting!), her most exciting discoveries as an archivist, and much more.

“Debut novelist Tector captures European life and her characters beautifully as she interweaves the perspectives of four women seeking fulfillment and success in this satisfying adventure. Keep an eye on this author.” —Booklist

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Amy Tector was born and raised in the rolling hills of Quebec’s Eastern Townships. She has worked in archives for the past twenty years and has found some pretty amazing things, including lost letters, mysterious notes, and even a whale’s ear. Amy spent many years as an expat, living in Brussels and in The Hague, where she worked for the International Criminal Tribunal for War Crimes in Yugoslavia. She lives in Ottawa, Canada, with her daughter, dog, and husband.

You can find out more about her books at her website https://www.amytector.com/.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep 114: Sarah McCoy on Mustique Island’s Glamour, Royalty, Secrets, and Scandal

August 31, 2022August 4, 2022Posted in History, Summer Reading, WritingLeave a comment

Sarah McCoy is back on the podcast this week to discuss her new novel Mustique Island, a compulsive, sun-splashed voyage of self-discovery with a wealthy divorcee and her two headstrong daughters in 1970s Mustique, the world’s most exclusive private island, where Princess Margaret and Mick Jagger were regulars and long-held secrets are the buried treasures.

“Glamorous, scandalous, and wholly immersive in a way that will keep you turning pages long after the sun has set, Mustique Island is a captivating story of mothers and daughters told with adventurous spirit and heart. Toss this in your beach bag and your summer reading is set.”
—Steven Rowley, bestselling author of The Guncle

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

SARAH McCOY is the New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author of the novels MUSTIQUE ISLAND; MARILLA OF GREEN GABLES; THE MAPMAKER’S CHILDREN; THE BAKER’S DAUGHTER, a 2012 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee; THE TIME IT SNOWED IN PUERTO RICO (Random House); “The Branch of Hazel: a novella” in GRAND CENTRAL; and LE SOUFFLE DES FEUILLES ET DES PROMESSES, a French exclusive title.

Sarah’s work has been featured in Real Simple, The Millions, Your Health Monthly, Huffington Post, Read It Forward, Writer Unboxed, and other publications. She hosted the NPR WSNC Radio monthly program “Bookmarked with Sarah McCoy” and is a Board Member for the literary nonprofit Bookmarks. She taught English writing at Old Dominion University and at the University of Texas at El Paso.

She lives with her husband, an orthopedic sports surgeon, and their fur children Gilly Pup and Tutu Cat in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

You can find out more about her books at her website www.sarahmccoy.com or reach her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @SarahMMcCoy.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 112: Jamie Ford on Plotting a Sprawling Family Saga and Exploring Inherited Trauma

August 17, 2022August 4, 2022Posted in History, Summer Reading, WritingLeave a comment

This week my guest is Jamie Ford, the New York Times Bestselling Author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. His new novel, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy, is this month’s “Read with Jenna” pick and a powerful exploration of the love that binds one family across generations.

“The Many Daughters of Afong Moy is simply transcendent. The first Chinese woman to set her lotus-bound feet in America is destined to set off a ripple through time and space, as her descendants struggle with her legacy of loss and loneliness. Themes of karma, courage, love, and motherhood weave timelessly through eight generations of women seeking to find balance in an increasingly tempest-racked world. Jamie Ford has outdone himself!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Jamie Ford’s debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, spent two years on the New York Times bestseller list and went on to win the 2010 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. His work has been translated into thirty-five languages. Having grown up in Seattle, he now lives in Montana with his wife and a one-eyed pug. Learn more https://jamieford.com.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 106: Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Author of Take My Hand

July 7, 2022July 6, 2022Posted in History, WritingLeave a comment

Today my guest is Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of Take My Hand, a profoundly moving story about a Black nurse in post-segregation Alabama who blows the whistle on a terrible wrong done to her patients.

“Deeply empathetic yet unflinching in its gaze…an unforgettable exploration of responsibility and redemption.”—Celeste Ng

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is the New York Times bestselling author of Wench and Balm. She was a finalist for two NAACP Image Awards and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for fiction, and she was awarded the First Novelist Award by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Dolen is the current Chair of the Board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. On behalf of the foundation, she has visited nearly every public high school in the District of Columbia to talk about the importance of reading and writing. She is currently Associate Professor in the Literature Department at American University and lives in Washington, DC with her family. Learn more at https://dolenperkinsvaldez.com.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 101: Kristy Woodson Harvey, Author of The Wedding Veil

May 19, 2022May 16, 2022Posted in History, Reading Life, Summer ReadingLeave a comment

Today I’m thrilled to share an episode with one of my favorite authors, Kristy Woodson Harvey. We discussed The Wedding Veil, a sweeping new novel following four women across generations, bound by a beautiful wedding veil and a connection to the famous Vanderbilt family.

“Masterfully woven…[a] literary homerun. This split-time narrative will delight readers of both contemporary and historical novels. As with all her books, Harvey delivers her trademark glamour and lighthearted spirit, all while weaving in fashion, architectural design, and the dramas that play out in daily life. It’s a delightful, well-shaped novel that leaves readers with a burst of joy in the end.” ―New York Journal of Books

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

About the Author:

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including Under the Southern Sky, and The Peachtree Bluff series, which is in development for television with NBC. Her writing has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Southern Living and USA TODAY and she was a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction. She blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic, and loves connecting with fans on KristyWoodsonHarvey.com. She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband and son where she is (always!) working on her next novel.

Listen to Past Episodes of A Bookish Home Featuring Friends & Fiction Authors:

Ep. 96: Patti Callahan Henry on Once Upon A Wardrobe

Ep. 85: Kristin Harmel on The Forest of Vanishing Stars

Ep. 58: Mary Kay Andrews on Hello Summer

Ep. 36: Mary Kay Andrews on Sunset Beach

Ep. 80: Mary Alice Monroe on The Summer of Lost and Found

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 97: Jennieke Cohen, Author of My Fine Fellow

March 28, 2022March 28, 2022Posted in History, Research, Young AdultLeave a comment

Jennieke Cohen is on the podcast this week to discuss her new young adult novel, My Fine Fellow, which is a retelling of My Fair Lady set in 1830s London.

I adored My Fine Fellow and agree with author Stacey Lee who called it “a fun dish of a novel with a healthy sprinkle of feminism. My Fine Fellow is fresh as the rain in Spain.”

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Jennieke Cohen is a Filipina-American author of young adult historical fiction. Her debut novel, Dangerous Alliance, was a Junior Library Guild selection and has been translated into multiple languages. Jennieke studied English history at Cambridge University and has a master’s degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California.

To learn more about Jennieke Cohen and follow her on social media visit https://www.jenniekecohen.com.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 96: Patti Callahan Henry, Author of Once Upon a Wardrobe

March 7, 2022Posted in Books for Adults, History, Research1 Comment

Bestselling novelist and Friends & Fiction co-host Patti Callahan Henry joins the show this week to tell us about her new book Once Upon a Wardrobe, which pulls back the curtain on the early life of C. S. Lewis.

We discussed what the Narnia books have meant to Patti, how the pandemic set this novel in motion, soaking up the magic of the setting on a research trip, and much more.

“I advise you to read this book, then wait for a while and then read it again, for while it may not be Narnia, there is magic in it.” —Douglas Gresham, C.S. Lewis’ Stepson

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sixteen novels and podcast host. She is the recipient of The Christy Award 2019 Winner “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year for 2020 and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for 2019. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti is also a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine. A full-time author and mother of three, she now resides in both Mountain Brook, Alabama, and Bluffton, South Carolina with her husband.

To learn more about Patti Callahan Henry and follow her on social media visit https://www.patticallahanhenry.com/.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.

Ep. 95: Catherine Ostler, Author of The Duchess Countess

February 23, 2022Posted in Books for Adults, History, ResearchLeave a comment

This week, I’m speaking with Catherine Ostler about her new book, The Duchess Countess: The Woman Who Scandalized Eighteenth-Century London, which explores the life of the stylish and infamous Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston.

We discuss Elizabeth Chudleigh’s notoriety and what it reveals about the Georgian era, writing the book you want to read, the literary characters the Duchess Countess inspired, transporting readers to the past, and much more.

“The real-life tale of Elizabeth Chudleigh is begging for a Netflix adaptation, with shades of Jane Austen, Bridgerton, and a dash of The Scarlet Letter.” —The New York Times

You can also listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Catherine Ostler is an author and journalist who has been editor-in-chief of Tatler, the Evening Standard (London), and editor of The Times (London) Weekend Edition. She has also written for a wide range of publications, including Vogue, Daily Mail (London), and Newsweek. She read English at Oxford University, specializing in literature.

To learn more about Catherine Ostler and follow her on social media visit https://www.catherineostler.com.

Browse Books Mentioned On This Episode:

Looking for a book mentioned on the podcast? Want to browse books by past guests? Visit A Bookish Home Podcast’s Bookshop.org page.

Happy Reading and Listening,

Laura Szaro Kopinski

ABookishHome.com

*A Bookish Home is now an affiliate of Bookshop.org. At no extra cost to you, we receive a small commission if you purchase something through the Bookshop.org links provided.