#read99women: Therese Anne Fowler

It must be some kind of record that it’s already March 6th and I haven’t yet mentioned Women’s History Month on the blog! (Rest assured it’s come up plenty on Twitter.) But of course women, history, and especially historical novels featuring women from history are all near and dear to my heart. For the last two years, my spring blog project was a series of #womenshistoryreads interviews; this year it’s the #read99women series, and genre-wise, I’m casting a much wider net.

And a good thing, too, since some of the books I’m most looking forward to this year are outside of the historical fiction genre. One of the most highly anticipated is A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD, coming from Therese Anne Fowler. Of course she’s a historical fiction superstar, best known for her Zelda Fitzgerald novel Z and its followup A WELL-BEHAVED WOMAN; but her newest novel is contemporary, and by all accounts, it’s a real knockout. It hits shelves next Tuesday, March 10.

Therese Anne Fowler (pronounced ta-reece) is a New York Times and USA Today best selling author whose novels present intriguing people in difficult situations, many of those situations deriving from the pressures and expectations of their cultures as well as from their families. Her books are available in every format and in multiple languages, and are sold around the world. Z has been adapted for television by Amazon Studios. A Well-Behaved Woman is in development with Sony Pictures Television.

Therese Fowler

Therese’s #read99women pick is PRIDE AND PROMETHEUS by John Kessel, which she describes as “a brilliantly imagined, vividly rendered tale that puts Mary Bennet from Austen's Pride & Prejudice into Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.”

More: “It's a tensely plotted yet thoughtful examination of Mary Bennett's character set ten years after Lizzie and Darcy wed, when Mary is on the verge of permanent spinsterhood. Kessel, who won awards for his novelette version of the story, originally conceived it when he noticed that Austen's and Shelley's novels were published around the same time. He wondered what might happen if Mary were to meet Victor at a London ball, when Victor is in the city as part of his efforts to create a bride for his creature. The result is a fascinating read. Stories about Mary Bennet have become almost a cottage industry. But Kessel was among the first in, and I would argue that his tale is among the most interesting, skillful, and original of the bunch."

Fascinating!

#read99women: Abby Fabiaschi

It should be no surprise to anyone reading my blog that I’m a constant reader. I believe reading widely is one of a writer’s most important tools for learning how to write even better. But it might surprise you to know that audiobooks form at least half of my reading these days. I get audiobooks for my phone through Overdrive (aka The Library) and audiobooks on CD to play in my ancient car whenever I have a drive of any length (without my kids present. Little pitchers and all that.)

Audiobook narration is an art, like any other kind of performance, and a great narrator — or set of narrators, if the book requires — can really make a good book even better. Sadly the reverse is also true, and awkward narration has definitely interfered with my enjoyment of a book, but the good news is that most narrators out there are pretty great at their jobs. If you have the chance to pick up anything narrated by Julia Whelan or Xe Sands, for example, they’ll take your audiobook experience to the next level.

One of my favorite audiobooks of the past few years is Abby Fabiaschi’s I LIKED MY LIFE. The book has three points of view and the audiobook uses three narrators, and it makes a wonderful story even more of a gut punch. (I mean gut punch in a good way!) I’m thrilled to welcome Abby as today’s #read99women guest.

And here’s her bio: Abby is a human rights advocate interested in economic solutions to social/cultural problems. In 2017 she co-founded Empower Her Network, an organization that paves a path for survivors of human trafficking with a will for independence by breaking down housing barriers, financing education, and uncovering employment opportunities. 

When her children turned three and four in what felt like one season, she resigned from her post as a high tech executive to pursue writing. I LIKED MY LIFE (St. Martin’s Press) is her debut novel. She and her family divide their time between West Hartford, Connecticut and Park City, Utah. When not writing or watching the comedy show that is her children, she enjoys reading across genres, skiing, and hiking. Oh, and travel. Who doesn’t love vacation?

Abby Fabiaschi

Abby’s pick is AMERICANAH by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. “I first learned of Chimamanda in 2009 through her Ted Talk on the dangers of the single-story. (If you haven’t seen it, the topic is more relevant than ever.) After watching her speak, I dove into HALF OF A YELLOW SUN, which was my favorite book of last decade. She earned the title again with AMERICANAH, a novel that changed some things for me.”

She continues, “Her writing sucks me in: ‘There was something in him, lighter than ego but darker than insecurity, that needed constant buffing, polishing, waxing.’ I believe Chimamanda to be the best contemporary novelist out there.”

No higher praise than that!

#read99women: Denny S. Bryce

One of the things I’ve enjoyed most about the lineup for #read99women (which is still evolving — 99 is a lot!) is the variation. Everyone’s bringing something different to the table. For example, some of the writers featured have more than a dozen novels out in the world; at the other end of the spectrum, some have yet to release their debuts. Everyone’s bringing her own unique mindset and experience to her choice for the series, and that delights my merry little writer’s heart.

Today’s guest is an experienced reviewer and, of course, a voracious reader; I’m very much looking forward to reading her first novel when it’s published next year. Without further ado, please welcome Denny S. Bryce!

Denny S. Bryce

Denny's debut novel, WILD WOMEN AND THE BLUES, is coming from Kensington Books in the spring of 2021. An RWA Golden Heart® award winner, Denny writes mainstream historical fiction and book reviews for NPR Books and entertainment articles for FROLIC Media. A devotee of Joss Whedon, she began her writing journey in fan fiction. Her fandoms include Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy/Spike), Angel (the TV series), Leverage, and Being Human (BBC).

Some of Denny's favorite historical fiction authors include Stephanie Dray, Diana Gabaldon, Beverly Jenkins, Laura Kamoie, Susanna Kearsley, Attica Locke, Tembi Locke, Jess Montgomery, Walter Mosley, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Kate Quinn, Alice Walker, and Beatriz Williams. A member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), Historical Novel Society (HNS), and Novelists, Inc. (NINC), Denny is represented by Nalini Akolekar at Spencerhill Associates and resides in Virginia. You can follow her on Twitter @dennysbryce.

Denny’s recommendation is REMEMBRANCE by Rita Woods. She describes the novel as a “complex story of loss and survival told across 200 years by four women, united by the color of their skin and the supernatural powers they command. Woods creates memorable characters in all four settings, each with a distinct purpose that helps make the impossible relatable. Remembrance is a well-researched, epic historical fantasy that…delivers upon the themes of pain and suffering, loss and survival — and how they can drive the creation of a safe place that by its very existence is timeless.”

Doesn’t that give you goosebumps? Read the complete review at NPR Books here.

#read99women: Erica Wright

I first met Erica Wright several years ago at the fabulous Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, when we were on a panel together talking about our debut novels. In the intervening years, we’ve both published several more books, and Erica happened to relocate to Washington, DC, becoming one of my favorite local authors to do joint events with. If you’re in DC, you can actually catch us tomorrow at Solid State Books! We’ll be talking about WOMAN 99 (me) and FAMOUS IN CEDARVILLE (Erica.) Check out the event info here.

Erica Wright's new crime novel FAMOUS IN CEDARVILLE received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. She is the author of three previous novels including THE RED CHAMELEON, which was one of O, The Oprah Magazine's Best Books of Summer 2014. Her poetry collections are INSTRUCTIONS FOR KILLING THE JACKAL and ALL THE BAYOU STORIES END WITH DROWNED. She's currently working on a book about snakes for Object Lessons. Her poems have appeared in Blackbird, Crazyhorse, Denver Quarterly, New Orleans Review, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. She is the poetry editor and a senior editor at Guernica Magazine as well as a former editorial board member for Alice James Books. She has taught creative writing at Marymount Manhattan College and New York University's continuing studies program and currently runs a novel writing group through OneRoom. She grew up in Wartrace, TN and now lives in Washington, DC with her husband and their dog Penny.

Erica Wright

Erica’s recommendation is THE TENTH MUSE by Catherine Chung, which has drawn raves from reviewers everywhere from Bustle to USA Today. Add Erica’s heartfelt praise to the chorus: “I enjoyed every sentence of this smart, moving story. Chung makes math seem both beautiful and thrilling.”

#read99women: Jessica Strawser

Today’s guest is Jessica Strawser, author of yesterday’s #read99women recommendation NOT THAT I COULD TELL. (Love it when that happens!) Her latest novel FORGET YOU KNOW ME comes out in paperback tomorrow. If you hurry, you can still preorder!

Jessica Strawser is the editor-at-large at Writer’s Digest, where she served as editorial director for nearly a decade and became known for her in-depth cover interviews with such luminaries as David Sedaris and Alice Walker. She’s the author of the book club favorites ALMOST MISSED YOU, a Barnes & Noble Best New Fiction pick, and NOT THAT I COULD TELL, a Book of the Month selection. Her third novel, FORGET YOU KNOW ME, released to raves in 2019 and will be new in paperback March 3, 2020 (all from St. Martin’s Press). Honored as the 2019 Writer-in-Residence at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Strawser has written for The New York Times Modern Love, Publishers Weekly and other fine venues, and lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two children.

Jessica Strawser

Jessica’s pick for #read99women is THE MOTHER-IN-LAW by Sally Hepworth. “A brilliantly crafted story of how two people forced to unite as ‘family’ can misunderstand one another for years—getting in their own ways, as all beautifully flawed humans do—only to find love, friendship, and understanding in spite of unrealized good intentions.” She gives it “my highest recommendation—perfect for book clubs and readers who love this intersection of family drama and suspense.”

Read Jessica’s full review here, and follow her on BookBub for other recommendations and more information on her books.

#read99women: Jenni L. Walsh

The conventional wisdom tells authors that once they publish in a particular genre they should stick to it, but more and more, today’s authors are branching out. Sometimes under a single name and sometimes using a pseudonym (or two), authors are crossing genres, co-authoring with others, and generally writing up a storm across the old constraints of category. You love to see it. Today’s guest is a great example of someone successfully writing for several different audiences at once.

Jenni L. Walsh spends her days knee deep in words in Philadelphia’s suburbia. Beyond words, Jenni is a mama (of an soulful six-year-old, an dinosaur-loving four-year-old, and two needy furbabies), a wife, a Philly and 'Nova sports fan. For the mamas, SIDE BY SIDE is the story of America’s most infamous crime spree of Bonnie and Clyde, told in the raw and honest voice of the woman who lived it, Bonnie Parker. In BECOMING BONNIE, a prequel set in the Roaring Twenties, a picture of Bonnie's earlier life, before and while she meets Clyde, is brought to life. For the kiddos, Jenni's debut middle grade books, SHE DARED, features true stories from women who, at a young age, accomplished daring feats of perseverance and bravery. Her next middle grade release is fiction, still untitled, and is inspired by a real-life resistance group, known as the White Rose. Publication is planned for early 2021. Jenni will also be contributing to the Girls Survive series with a book about the London Blitz during the Second World War. Look for that middle grade book in early 2021 as well.

Jenni L. Walsh

For #read99women, Jenni recommends Jessica Strawser’s NOT THAT I COULD TELL. She puts it at the top of her must-read list because “I really connected with the characters and firmly believe that Strawser has an uncanny ability to make situations and lives that, though unfamiliar to my own, feel familiar and relatable. It's a skill that sucks me into a novel and takes me along for all the twists, turns, and page-turning surprises (which this novel most certainly has). I highly recommend!”

You can read the rest of Jenni’s rave review here.

And guess whose recommendation is running tomorrow? Tune in and find out!

#read99women: Ann Mah

Most of the writers I’ve featured so far in the #read99women series specialize in either fiction or nonfiction, but today’s guest, Ann Mah, applies her considerable talents to both genres with equal skill. If you’ve read her mouth-watering food writing, you know it’s not to be read on an empty stomach.

Her bio: Ann Mah is a food and travel writer and novelist based in Washington, D.C. and Paris. A regular contributor to the New York Times’ Travel section, her articles have also appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, the Washington Post, Vogue.com, Food52, BonAppétit.com, Best American Travel Writing 2017, The New York Times: Footsteps, and other publications. Her most recent novel, THE LOST VINTAGE, was a USA Today bestseller and Indie Next pick. Her other books include a memoir, a novel, and a French cookbook for the Instant Pot. Her books have been translated into eleven languages.

Ann Mah

Ann’s pick is THE LAST BOOK PARTY by Karen Dukess, which has also won honors from Parade, O Magazine, and the New York Post. Ann calls it “a modern yet timeless coming-of-age story about friendship, romance, and one young woman's complicated relationship with a wickedly charming family of literary superstars.” Read the rest of her rave review here.

For more on Ann, her books, and her other recommendations, follow her on BookBub here.

#read99women: Alyssa Palombo

Happy Friday! Today’s #read99women guest, like many of our recent guests, has a new novel out (what is it with February this year, seriously?) In a starred review, Library Journal called THE BORGIA CONFESSIONS an “excellent tale of family infighting, jockeying for power, and exploiting the church to attain personal wealth and power,” and added that it “will keep readers enthralled long into the night. Who needs sleep, anyway?” Sounds like a serious case of “one more chapter” syndrome! Hardcore readers know how that goes.

Alyssa Palombo is a writer living and working in Buffalo, NY. She’s a classically trained mezzo-soprano who also dabbles in playing piano. When not writing, she can usually be found reading, hanging out and laughing way too hard at nonsensical inside jokes with friends, traveling (or dreaming of her next travel destination), at a concert, or planning for next Halloween. She’s a metalhead and a self-proclaimed French fry connoisseur. She’s the author of three other historical novels: THE VIOLINIST OF VENICE, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN FLORENCE, and THE SPELLBOOK OF KATRINA VAN TASSEL.

Alyssa Palombo

Alyssa’s recommendation: "I absolutely adored Cass Morris's FROM UNSEEN FIRE; it's one of my favorite books of the last few years. The novel is a fantasy set in a world closely based on ancient Rome, and it has absolutely everything I want in a book: solid research and worldbuilding; a badass, admirable heroine coming into her own power; a dashing hero; a delicious romance; and lots of politics and scheming a la Game of Thrones. The heroine, Latona, is someone I'd love to be friends with - along with many of the other awesome ladies in the cast - and the hero, Sempronius, is utterly swoon-worthy. I love the elegant, well-thought out magic system, and the Roman-inspired background is beautifully detailed and completely immersive. There's a sequel coming soon - this book is the first in a planned series - and I can't wait, just as I can't wait for anything else Morris writes in the future!"

#read99women: Pamela D. Toler

Whenever I do a book event at a bookstore, I like to buy something while I’m there. Most often, of course, it’s a book. This week, I returned to One More Page in Arlington, Virginia, which is basically my happy place. They sell chocolate and wine alongside their books and it’s a rare visit when I don’t leave with some form of all three. This time, the wine was a bubbly called Sauvage, the chocolate was a rather large and fancy take on a peppermint patty, and the book was Pamela D. Toler’s WOMEN WARRIORS.

Subtitled “An Unexpected History,” Pamela’s fabulous nonfiction look at women warriors through the ages earned a rave from Booklist, which called it “thoroughly delightful, personable, and crucially important.” It’s newly out in paperback., which is why it was at the top of my to-buy list, and also why Pamela herself is today’s #read99women guest.

Pamela D. Toler

Armed with a PhD in history, a well-thumbed deck of library cards, and a large bump of curiosity, author, speaker, and historian, Pamela D. Toler translates history for a popular audience. She goes beyond the familiar boundaries of American history to tell stories from other parts of the world as well as history from the other side of the battlefield, the gender line, or the color bar. Toler is the author of eight books of popular history for children and adults.  Her newest book is Women Warriors:  An Unexpected History. Her work has appeared in Aramco World, Calliope, History Channel Magazine, MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History and Time.com. 

For her #read99women choice, Pamela recommends a book called EIGHTY DAYS, which also happens to be one of my favorite nonfiction reads of the past few years. “On November 14, 1889, Nelly Bly, reporter for the popular newspaper The World, sailed from New York on the trip that would make her famous: an attempt to travel around the world in less than eighty days. Eight and a half hours later, unknown to Bly, the literary editor of the monthly magazine, The Cosmopolitan, boarded a westbound train in a reluctant and largely forgotten attempt to beat Bly around the world. Matthew Goodman tells their story.”

Read the full review here.

#read99women: Kerri Maher

If you’ve been following along with #read99women, you already know this, but February is truly a stunning month for new releases this year! So many authors I love have new books coming out. Thank goodness I was able to get early copies of some of them, because my TBR pile is already toppling!

Kerri Maher’s new novel, THE GIRL IN WHITE GLOVES, was one I was lucky enough to read a few months back. I loved it and I think you will too. You can see my blurb on BookBub, and here’s a little teaser: “Kerri Maher's latest novel skillfully delves beyond Grace Kelly's famously cool ice-blue exterior to reveal the passionate, blood-red heart beneath.“

In addition to THE GIRL IN WHITE GLOVES and THE KENNEDY DEBUTANTE, Kerri Maher is also the author of This Is Not a Writing Manual: Notes for the Young Writer in the Real World under the name Kerri Majors. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and founded YARN, an award-winning literary journal of short-form YA writing. A writing professor for many years, she now writes full-time and lives with her daughter in Massachusetts, where apple picking and long walks in the woods are especially fine.

Kerri Maher

Launching a new book is always a busy time, so I’m thrilled Kerri was able to make time to share a #read99women recommendation with us! Here it is: WE ARE THE LUCKIEST by Laura McKowen.

Kerri says: “Sobriety is having a moment, on Instagram and major newspapers and morning talk shows, and Laura McKowen's contribution to the conversation is extremely important. In fact, ‘Why aren't we talking about this’ -- i.e. why aren't we talking about why people everywhere are numbing their experience of modern life with one ‘thing’ or another -- is one of the guiding questions of her memoir…. Everybody, whether they think they have a problematic ‘thing’ in their lives or not, could benefit from reading this insightful look at one woman's brave journey.” Read the rest of her great review here.