THE JANE HEALEY HAPPY HOUR

Jane Healey welcomes debut novelist Laura Vogt to discuss In The Great Quiet, a historical novel inspired by the life of Vogt’s great-great-grandmother, who joined the 1893 Cherokee Outlet land run in Oklahoma Territory. Laura shares how family stories, extensive research into women homesteaders, and overlooked corners of American history shaped the novel, along with the challenge of writing fiction rooted in her own ancestry. The conversation also explores the emotional realities of the writing life, including the unpublished manuscript that came before this debut and why perseverance matters so much to emerging writers.

New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center joins Jane Healey to discuss her new romantic comedy, The Shippers, a childhood friends-to-lovers story set aboard a wedding cruise. Katherine shares how her own first kiss on a cruise inspired the novel, why she believes love stories deserve to be taken seriously, and how humor, hope, and emotional connection shape her writing. The conversation also explores her writing process, the slow path to literary success, upcoming screen adaptations, and her advice for aspiring writers on cultivating self-encouragement and trusting the creative process.

Bestselling historical fiction author Janis Robinson Daley joins Jane Healey to discuss her latest novel, Under Two Flags, inspired by a little-known 1918 memoir ghostwritten by Daley’s grandfather. The novel follows Josephine, a young American Jewish opera student who travels to Berlin during World War I to pursue her musical dreams amid growing political tension and hardship. Janice shares the remarkable true story behind the book, her research into wartime Berlin and opera training, and how she brought Josephine’s voice and resilience to life for modern readers. She also discusses writing found family dynamics, balancing historical fact with fiction, and why World War I remains such a compelling and underexplored era for historical fiction readers.

Jane Healey welcomes debut author Kayla Hardy to The Jane Healey Happy Hour to discuss The Quarter Queen, a historical fantasy set in 1840s New Orleans. Drawing on her background in Black folklore and Louisiana Creole history, Hardy explores the life and legend of Marie Laveau through a layered mother-daughter story that blends magic with real historical tensions. The conversation highlights how voodoo, Catholicism, and the realities of slavery intersect in the novel, as well as Hardy’s path from TV pilot to published book. Hardy also shares how she approached Marie as both a powerful figure and a flawed, human mother navigating a dangerous world.

Jane Healey welcomes back New York Times bestselling author Allison Pataki to discuss her new novel It Girl, inspired by the real-life story of Evelyn Nesbitt. From her rise out of poverty to becoming one of America’s first celebrities, Nesbitt’s life unfolds against the backdrop of the Gilded Age and the birth of modern fame. Pataki shares how she blended history with fiction to reclaim Evelyn’s voice, explores the darker side of early celebrity culture, and reflects on the enduring parallels between Nesbitt’s story and the treatment of women in the spotlight today.

In this episode of The Jane Healey Happy Hour, Jane Healey speaks with New York Times bestselling author Sadeqa Johnson about her new novel Keeper of Lost Children. Johnson shares the little-known history that inspired the book, including the real story of journalist and adoption advocate Mabel Grammer, who helped place more than 500 mixed-race “brown babies” born in post–World War II Germany into American homes.

In this episode of The Jane Healey Happy Hour, host and bestselling author Jane Healey speaks with novelist Lisa Patton about her new book Kissing the Sky, a story set against the backdrop of the 1969 Woodstock music festival. Patton shares how watching the festival’s 50th anniversary coverage sparked the idea for the novel and how extensive research—including conversations with Woodstock organizers and access to newly discovered archival tapes—helped her recreate the historic event.

New York Times bestselling author Jenna Blum joins Jane to celebrate the fifth anniversary—and rebrand—of the podcast and to discuss her sharp, darkly funny romantic thriller, Murder Your Darlings. The novel follows mid-career historical fiction writer Sam Verner as she embarks on a whirlwind romance with a charismatic, bestselling novelist—only to find herself entangled in a web of obsession, ambition, and mounting bodies. Jenna shares how she pivoted from historical fiction to suspense, why she wanted to explore codependency and narcissism, and how her own writing life inspired the novel’s behind-the-scenes publishing details. From blizzards in Maine to deliciously vile antiheroes, this conversation dives into love, power, and the strange, wonderful world of being a writer.

Bestselling author Heather B. Moore joins Jane Healey to discuss her richly researched new novel, Julia, which explores the extraordinary life of culinary icon Julia Child. From her surprising work in the OSS during World War II to her groundbreaking cooking career that began in Paris, Moore paints a vivid portrait of a woman who found her passion later in life and never looked back. The conversation dives into Julia’s love story with Paul Child, her relentless determination to publish Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and how Moore balanced fact and fiction in this biographical novel.

Bestselling author Erika Robuck joins host Jane Healey to talk about The Last Assignment: A Novel of Dickie Chappelle, her biographical novel about trailblazing war photojournalist Dickie Chappelle, who embedded with Marines and bore witness to Cold War flashpoints from Hungary and Cuba to Vietnam. They explore Dickie’s fearless calling to show civilians the realities of war, her complicated personal life and refusal to be tied down, the deep archival research at the University of Wisconsin that brought her story to life, and how Erika balances fact and fiction when writing about real women in history. The conversation also dives into Erika’s writing process, the strange “alchemy” of research, and a sneak peek at her next projects, including a new intelligence heroine and a Southern Gothic historical horror novel drawn from her own family’s past.

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author Jane Healey welcomes back Rhys Bowen to discuss her latest novel, Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure. Set in the South of France on the eve of World War II, the book follows Ellie Endicott as she discovers independence, friendship, and courage after being abandoned by her husband. Bowen shares the inspirations behind the novel—from a crumbling Italian villa to her reflections on “invisible women”—and dives into themes of resilience, female friendship, and personal reinvention during tumultuous times. The conversation also explores her research process, writing routines, and the challenges and joys of balancing hope with historical truth.

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, host Jane Healey chats with bestselling author Juliette Fay about her new novel The Harvey Girls. Together, they uncover the fascinating, little-known history of Fred Harvey’s hospitality empire, the young women who became Harvey Girls, and how this unique role transformed their independence in the 1920s. Fay shares insights into her research, character development, and writing process—while also reflecting on women’s opportunities, the challenges of historical fiction, and the surprising cultural impact of the Harvey Houses across the American Southwest

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author Jane Healey interviews Ellen Marie Wiseman about her powerful new novel, The Lies They Told. Set in 1930s Virginia, the book follows an immigrant mother navigating the harsh realities of Ellis Island, only to uncover the devastating impact of the American eugenics movement on rural families. Wiseman shares her deep research into this overlooked chapter of U.S. history, drawing connections between past and present, while reflecting on her writing process, character development, and personal influences.

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, host Jane Healey chats with bestselling author Eliza Knight about her newest historical fiction novel, Confessions of a Grammar Queen. Set in 1960s New York, the book follows Bernadette Swift, an ambitious copy editor aiming to become the first female CEO of a publishing house—alongside her endearing Great Dane, Frank. Jane and Eliza delve into the inspirations behind Bernadette’s character, including real-life editorial trailblazers, the feminist undertones of a secret book club, and writing from a dog’s perspective. They also explore the challenges women faced in the workplace during the early ’60s, the joys of historical research, and Eliza’s meticulous writing process, all while offering laughs, heartfelt stories, and sharp writing insight.

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author Jane Healey sits down with Susan Wiggs to discuss her moving and deeply researched novel, Wayward Girls. Inspired by the shocking true history of the Good Shepherd Institute in Buffalo, New York, the book sheds light on the hidden network of U.S. Magdalene laundries and the young women whose lives were upended there. Wiggs shares her personal connection to the story, her extensive research—including survivor accounts and archival documents—and how she crafted a fictional sisterhood of resilient characters navigating systemic repression, secrecy, and hope. The conversation also explores the creative process, challenges of writing historical fiction, and the enduring relevance of these untold histories.

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author Jane Healey chats with Ella Berman about her riveting new novel LA Women, set in 1960s and 70s Hollywood. The book explores the complex friendship—and eventual betrayal—between two ambitious female writers navigating a male-dominated literary and artistic world. Berman reveals how her own upbringing in LA and London, her research in Laurel Canyon, and a real-life family friend who lived through the era shaped the story’s vivid setting and emotional core. The conversation dives deep into the novel’s dual timelines, its themes of artistic integrity, feminism, and creative freedom, as well as the bittersweet challenges of writing under deadline while raising a child. Both authors reflect on the joys and pressures of modern authorship in a social-media-driven world.

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author Serena Burdick joins host Jane Healey to discuss her latest novel, A Promise to Arlette. Inspired by the bohemian life of Burdick’s grandmother—who was a muse to Man Ray and lived with Henry Miller in Big Sur—the novel blends art-world mystique, postwar trauma, and a rich exploration of female friendship and love. Set in both conservative 1950s Massachusetts and pre-WWII France, the story unfolds through a mysterious photograph and a buried past. Burdick and Healey delve into the research, historical figures, narrative structure, and the emotional weight of returning from war, offering listeners a deep look into the creative process behind this sweeping dual-timeline historical fiction.

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author Jane Healey welcomes fellow novelist Camille Di Maio to discuss her new release, Come Fly With Me—a richly researched and heartfelt novel set in the glamorous world of 1960s Pan Am stewardesses. Di Maio shares the serendipitous origin of the book, penned partly on a liquor store bag in Tahiti, and describes her immersive journey into the world of the World Wings International alumnae. From training regimens and rigid stewardess rules to tales of Sophia Loren’s elegance in-flight, Camille dives into the fascinating lives of mid-20th-century women with a dual-timeline narrative that blends friendship, reinvention, and mystery. Aspiring writers will also appreciate her insights on writing without outlines, editing, and getting published with humility and grit.

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, host and bestselling author Jane Healey sits down with acclaimed journalist and novelist Jack Ford to discuss his newest historical fiction novel, Beyond This Place of Wrath and Tears. Inspired by the true story of trailblazing WWII correspondent Lee Carson, the conversation dives deep into the remarkable life of a fearless woman who covered major moments of the war—from flying over D-Day beaches to entering Paris before its liberation. Ford shares how Carson’s legacy had nearly vanished and how her forgotten dispatches helped him capture her voice. The episode also explores Ford’s creative process, the Cold War espionage twist he imagined for Carson’s post-war life, and the enduring importance of historical fiction in illuminating untold stories.

Allison Epstein is our guest to talk about her latest novel, Fagin the Thief. It’s a thrilling reimagining of the world of Charles Dickens, as seen through the eyes of the infamous Jacob Fagin, London’s most gifted pickpocket, liar, and rogue.

New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi is back on the podcast to talk about her latest novel, Six Days in Bombay. This sweeping novel of identity and self-discovery takes readers from Bombay to Prague, Florence, Paris and London, to uncover the mystery behind a famous painter’s death.

In this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author and host Jane Healey sits down with debut novelist Joanna Miller to discuss The Eights, a richly imagined and impeccably researched historical novel about the first women to study alongside men at Oxford University in 1920. Joanna shares how the novel was born during lockdown, how real archives and immersive research shaped the vivid setting and layered characters, and why this untold story of female friendship, ambition, and societal change feels both timely and timeless. From her background in rhyming poetry to her creative process as a novelist, Joanna offers a heartfelt look into how history can inspire fiction—and how storytelling can reclaim forgotten voices.

New York Times bestselling author Kristina McMorris joins us again to talk about her latest novel. In The Girls of Good Fortune, set in 1888 Portland, Oregon, Celia—a young woman of mixed Chinese and white heritage—awakens in the city’s infamous Shanghai Tunnels, realizing she’s been abducted and is on the brink of being shipped off as forced labor. Navigating a society rife with anti-Chinese sentiment, Celia’s journey unfolds from her time as a maid entangled in a goldminers’ massacre to her desperate quest to escape and protect a child left in peril. This historical novel delves into themes of identity, resilience, and the enduring strength found beneath the surface.

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Penner is our guest to discuss her latest novel. The Amalfi Curse is an enthralling story of secrets, shipwrecks, and sea-witches set along the Amalfi Coast that alternates between 1821 and present day Positano. Set against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance, and the untamed magic of the sea.

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Girl from Greenwich Street. The Girl from Greenwich Street is a gripping historical thriller based on a real 1799 murder case that united bitter political rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in an explosive courtroom drama. When young Elma Sands disappears just before Christmas and is later found dead, public outrage targets a local carpenter—forcing Burr and Hamilton into an uneasy alliance to defend him. As the trial unfolds against the backdrop of a high-stakes election, the novel weaves mystery, ambition, and betrayal into a shocking final revelation about the woman at the heart of it all.

New York Times bestselling author Natasha Lester joins us to talk about her latest novel. The Mademoiselle Alliance tells the remarkable true story of Marie-Madeleine Méric, a glamorous Parisian mother who defied convention to become the leader of the largest spy network in Nazi-occupied France. From daring car rallies in Morocco to covert operations across Europe, she risked everything for freedom, resilience, and an unexpected love that bloomed in the shadows of war.

Elise Hooper joins the podcast again to discuss her latest novel. The Library of Lost Dollhouses is dual-timeline historical fiction about a mysterious collection of dollhouses that reveal the secrets of the women who once owned them. Spanning the course of a century, The Library of Lost Dollhouses is a warm, bright, and captivating story of secrets and love that embraces the importance of illuminating overlooked women.

Emily Critchley joins Historical Happy Hour to talk about her latest novel. The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a haunting tale of ambition, betrayal, and family secrets set in 1938. When lonely boarding school student Gillian Larking is drawn into the glamorous yet shadowed world of her enigmatic roommate Violet Claybourne and her family estate, Thornleigh Hall, she discovers a sinister reality beneath its grandeur. Entrapped by the sisters’ dark manipulations after a tragic accident, Gilly must navigate loyalty, deceit, and her own survival in a choice that will forever alter her destiny.

Debut author Jane Yang joins us to talk about her exciting new novel, The Lotus Shoes. This novel is based in China in the 1800s and follows the lives of two young girls. It begins when family tragedy causes Little Flower to be sold into slavery to Linjing’s wealthy family. From childish jealousy they two girls grow into womanhood and have to decide if they’re going to be arch rivals or friends in order to secure a future for them both.

Suzanne Nelson, renown author and foodie joins us to talk about her latest novel, The Librarians of Lisbon. The Librarians of Lisbon is a riveting tale of love, espionage, and friendship set in the glittering yet perilous backdrop of Lisbon during WWII. Best friends Selene and Bea, recruited as Allied spies under the guise of librarians, navigate treacherous webs of deception, danger, and forbidden romance. Inspired by real historical figures, Suzanne Nelson’s meticulously researched novel is a breathtaking journey of sacrifice, courage, and the unyielding power of friendship.

In our latest episode, we are talking with Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, and Chris Crabtree about their new gripping novel, Hold Strong. Hold Strong is a tale of love, sacrifice, and survival during World War II. Sam Carlson endures unimaginable hardship as a POW aboard the ill-fated Arisan Maru, while Sarah Haber uses her brilliance as a codebreaker to protect her country—unaware their lives will collide in a devastating way. Based on a remarkable true story, this novel is a powerful exploration of faith, courage, and resilience in the face of impossible odds.

Karissa Chen is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, Homeseeking. Homeseeking is an epic and intimate tale of one couple across sixty years as world events pull them together and apart, illuminating the Chinese diaspora and exploring what it means to find home far from your homeland.

New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Stolen Queen. She delights readers with a story centered on the Metropolitan Museum of Art and its famed Met Gala, while for the first time, exploring a territory beyond New York City—Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.

For our last Historical Happy Hour of 2024 Jane takes any and all questions you have about any of her books, the writing life, my pets – anything! We discuss authors our readers like to see in the coming year. Jane also shares a little sneak peek about her upcoming Cold War era novel, The Women of Arlington Hall, coming July 2025 and available for pre-order now.

Marjan Kamali joins us to talk about her latest novel, The Lion Women of Tehran. From the nationally bestselling author of the “powerful, heartbreaking” (Shelf Awareness) The Stationery Shop, a heartfelt, epic new novel of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran.

International bestselling author Aimie Runyan is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, Mademoiselle Eiffel. Claire Eiffel, the brilliant daughter of architect Gustave Eiffel, becomes her father’s confidante and indispensable assistant, supporting his ambitions until she’s pushed aside by a young protégé, Adolphe Salles, who later becomes her husband. As the Eiffel Tower rises, Claire’s devotion is tested by scandal and her father’s imprisonment, forcing her to fight for both her family’s freedom and their legacy.

Kimberly Brock is our latest guest to talk about her latest novel, The Fabled Earth. Southern mythology and personal reckoning collide in this sweeping story inspired by the little-known history of Cumberland Island when a once-in-a-century storm threatens the natural landscape. Faced with a changing world, two timelines and the perspectives of three women intersect where a folktale meets the truth to reveal what Cumberland Island has hidden all along.

Tracey Enerson Wood is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, Katharine, the Wright Sister. It’s a vibrant historical novel about the unsung hero behind the groundbreaking aeronautical achievement of Wilbur and Orville Wright: their sister. Perfect for fans of Marie Benedict and Fiona Davis it reveals the story of one of the most consequential women to ever live and the incredible, courageous choices she made so that others might fly.

Tosca Lee is our guest to discuss her latest novel. Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home is a gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope. International Book Award Winner in Historical Fiction.

Samantha Woodruff is our guest to talk about her latest novel, The Trade Off. It’s the tale of a young Jewish woman with a gift for math and numbers who wants to become a broker on Wall Street. But, because she is Jewish and female she can’t. She finds a way as the woman behind the man for her twin brother, but when she sees the Great Crash coming, will anyone listen?

Emily Bleeker is our guest to talk about her latest novel When We Chased the Light. A Hollywood legend. A legacy of secrets. An epic and emotional novel about forgiveness, fame, family, and truly unconditional love by the bestselling author of When We Were Enemies.

Lynda Cohen Loigman, the bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters is Jane Healey’s guest again on the podcast to talk about her latest novel, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern. This novel follows Augusta, a retired pharmacist, as she reconnects with her first love and reflects on her past, including her childhood experiences with her aunt, a woman with a deep knowledge of herbal remedies and a seemingly magical touch.

Joy Jordan-Lake, bestselling author of Under a Gilded Moon, joins the podcast to talk about her latest novel, Echos of Us. Echoes of Us weaves together the past and present as descendants of three unlikely World War II allies—an American farm boy, a Jewish student, and a German POW—clash over the future of their shared company. Hired to organize a family reunion, sisters Hadley and Kitzie uncover deep secrets and old wounds, revealing the story of a courageous woman who binds their histories together.

Crystal King, bestselling author of The Chef’s Secret and Feast of Sorrow, is our latest guest on Historical Happy Hour to discuss her latest novel, In the Garden of Monsters. A woman with no past… In post-war Italy, a beautiful model with no memory of her past is drawn into a mysterious world when she becomes the muse of Salvador Dalí at the eerie Sacro Bosco, the Garden of Monsters. As she poses as Persephone, she grapples with unsettling connections to the enigmatic garden and its dark host, Ignazio, who may hold the key to her forgotten identity.

Donna Jones Alward is our guest to talk about her new novel, When the World Feel Silent. A story of loss, hope and redemption against impossible odds… 1917. When tragedy strikes in Halifax Harbour, nothing for nurse Nora Crowell or war widow Charlotte Campbell will ever be the same again. Their paths will cross in the most unexpected way, trailing both heartbreak and joy its wake…

Greer Macallister is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Thirteenth Husband. It’s the story of scandalous heiress Aimee Crocker, who lit up the Gilded Age tabloids with her devil-may-care attitude and worldwide adventures

Sara Goodman Confino and Jennifer S. Brown  are our guests to discuss their upcoming novels! Behind Every Good Man – A wronged wife goes toe to toe with her cheating husband at the polls in this hilarious and heart-lifting novel by the bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write. The Whisper Sister – In 1920s NYC, Minnie Soffer’s father opens a soda shop; the American dream is within reach. However, the soda shop isn’t what it seems; it’s a front for a speakeasy. When tragedy strikes, Minnie inherits the bar. She’ll face gangsters, cops… and the threat of losing her family and freedom.

New York Times bestselling author Beatriz Williams is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, Husbands & Lovers. Husbands & Lovers blends a contemporary love story with a fascinating, mysterious past.

When single-mom Mallory Dunne receives the phone call no parent ever wants to receive – her son Sam is in kidney failure after ingesting a poisonous mushroom at camp – she must face the two biggest secrets of her life in order to save him: Monk Adams, Sam’s biological father, a charismatic, famous singer/songwriter she has not spoken to or seen since the summer Sam was conceived, and Mallory’s adoptive mother’s mysterious family history. Her genealogical search crosses decades and continents, transporting her to a world of espionage and political intrigue in 1950s Egypt.

In this bonus crossover episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling British novelist Kate Thompson, bestselling author and host of the popular From the Library with Love podcast, and Jane Healey interview each other.

New York Times bestselling author Erika Robuck is Jane Healey’s guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Last Twelve Miles. It’s based on the true story of two brilliant women on two sides of the law: Coast Guard Cryptanalyst Elizebeth Smith Friedman and South Florida Rumrunner Marie Waite. Fans of Robuck’s women in intelligence novels and her Key West set HEMINGWAY’S GIRL will enjoy this catch-me-if-you-can-style fusion.

Bestselling author Brooke Lea Foster joins the podcast to talk about her latest novel, All The Summers In Between. Set in the dual timelines of 1967 and 1977, All the Summers In Between is at once a mesmerizing portrait of a complex friendship, a delicious glimpse into a bygone Hamptons, and a powerful coming-of-age for two young women during a transformative era.

Helen Simonson discusses her new novel, The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club. A timeless comedy of manners—refreshing as a summer breeze and bracing as the British seaside—about a generation of young women facing the seismic changes brought on by war and dreaming of the boundless possibilities of their future, from the bestselling author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Barr is Jane Healey’s guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Goddess of Warsaw, a riveting historical saga spanning six decades taking readers from Warsaw to Hollywood, following a legendary screen actress with a dark secret about her life in the Warsaw Ghetto. It’s an enthralling tale full of deception, lust, revenge, betrayal, and sacrifice.

New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan Henry joins Jane Healey on the podcast to discuss her new novel, The Secret Book of Flora Lea. When a London woman discovers a rare book with connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood in the English countryside during WWII are revealed. As she embarks on a feverish quest, revisiting long-dormant relationships and bravely opening past wounds, her career and future hang in the balance.

Jane Healey welcomes bestselling author Martha Hall Kelly to talk her latest novel, The Golden Doves. Two female spies, bound together by their past, risk everything to hunt down an infamous Nazi doctor in the aftermath of World War II—an extraordinary novel inspired by true events from the New York Times bestselling author of Lilac Girls.

Historical Happy Hour welcomes acclaimed author Jennifer Ryan to discuss her latest novel, The Underground Library. When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this heartwarming novel based on true events. 

Bestselling authors Janie Chang and Kate Quinn join us to discuss their new novel, The Phoenix Crown, a thrilling and unforgettable narrative about the intertwined lives of two wronged women, spanning from the chaos of the San Francisco earthquake to the glittering palaces of Versailles. 

The podcast welcomes bestselling author, podcast creator and award-winning journalist, Jo Piazza to discuss her latest book. The Sicilian Inheritance is a multigenerational mystery and adventure about a woman who returns to Sicily to claim her family’s land and is threatened by the same forces that murdered her greta grandmother a hundred years earlier. It is an adventure filled with food, wine, gorgeous landscapes and just the right amount of kicking the patriarchy’s ass.

New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post, Allison Pataki, is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, Finding Margaret Fuller. This is an epic reimagining of the life of Margaret Fuller—America’s forgotten leading lady and the central figure of a movement that defined a nation.

It’s the 3rd anniversary of Historical Happy Hour. And my guest this month is the amazing, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah, to discuss her latest novel, THE WOMEN.

From master storyteller Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds, comes the story of a turbulent, transformative era in America: the 1960s. The Women is that rarest of novels—at once an intimate portrait of a woman coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided by war and broken by politics, of a generation both fueled by dreams and lost on the battlefield.

The Mayor of Maxwell Street is a work of Adult Historical Fiction where an ambitious Black debutante and aspiring journalist enlists the help of a low-level speakeasy manager to identify the head of an underground crime syndicate in the dangerous world of Prohibition-era Chicago.

To start 2024, I present an in-depth look at the story of Drue Leyton and her historic contributions to the end of WWII.

Bestselling author Gill Paul joins us to talk about her new book, A Beautiful Rival. This stunning new novel reveals the unknown history of cosmetic titans Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein and their infamous rivalry that spanned not only decades, but also broken marriages, personal tragedies, and a world that was changing dramatically for women—perfect for fans of Fiona Davis, Marie Benedict, and Beatriz Williams.

From the New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

From the New York Times Bestselling Author of The Magnolia Palace: A thrilling story about love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of dreams, set amidst the glamour and glitz of Radio City Music Hall in its mid-century heyday.

From the author of The School for German Brides, this captivating historical novel set in nineteenth-century and post–World War II Paris follows two fierce women of the same family, generations apart, who find that their futures lie in the four walls of a simple bakery in a tiny corner of Montmartre.

Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author joins us to discuss her latest novel California Golden, tells the story of two sisters navigating the thrilling, euphoric early days of California surf culture in a dazzling saga of ambition, sacrifice, and the tangled ties between mothers and daughters.

Entertainment Weekly calls California Golden “A shimmering rendering . . . pairs the surf culture of the Beach Boys with the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll of Daisy Jones & The Six.”

Madeline Martin is a New York Times and International Bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance. Her latest novel The Keeper of Hidden Books is a heartwarming story about the power of books to bring people together based on the real life heroic efforts of Warsaw’s librarians during WWII. It is a BookBub pick for best historical fiction of summer 2023.

Weina Dai Randel joins Jane Healey to talk about her novel, Night Angels. From the author of The Last Rose of Shanghai comes a profoundly moving novel about a diplomatic couple who risked their lives to help Viennese Jews escape the Nazis, based on the true story of Dr. Ho Fengshan, Righteous Among the Nations.

Set against Nantucket’s Great Fire of 1846, this sweeping, emotional novel brings together three courageous women battling to save everything they hold dear…

Nantucket in 1846 is an island set apart not just by its geography but by its unique circumstances. With their menfolk away at sea, often for years at a time, women here know a rare independence—and the challenges that go with it. Eliza Macy is struggling to conceal her financial trouble as she waits for her whaling captain husband to return from a voyage. In desperation, she turns against her progressive ideals and targets Meg Wright, a pregnant free Black woman trying to relocate her store to Main Street. Meanwhile, astronomer Maria Mitchell loves running Nantucket’s Atheneum and spending her nights observing the stars, yet she fears revealing the secret wishes of her heart.

On a sweltering July night, a massive fire breaks out in town, quickly kindled by the densely packed wooden buildings. With everything they possess now threatened, these three very different women are forced to reevaluate their priorities and decide what to save, what to let go and what kind of life to rebuild from the ashes of the past.

Alka Joshi joins us to talk about her new novel, The Perfumist of Paris. The final chapter in her New York Times bestselling Jaipur trilogy takes readers to 1970s Paris where Radha’s budding career as a perfumer must compete with the demands of her family and the secrets of her past.

New York Times bestselling author Kristina McMorris is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Ways We Hide, a sweeping World War II tale of an illusionist whose recruitment by British intelligence sets her on a perilous, heartrending path.

Paulette Kennedy is my latest guest to discuss her new novel, The Witch of Tin Mountain, a witchy southern gothic set in rural Northern Arkansas during the Great Depression, coming to you February 1st, 2023 from Lake Union Publishing. 

From Lynda Cohen Loigman, the bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters, comes a heartwarming story of two extraordinary women from two different eras who defy expectations to utilize their unique gift of seeing soulmates in the most unexpected places in The Matchmaker’s Gift.

Bestselling author Rhys Bowen discusses her new novel, Where the Sky Begins.  A woman’s future is determined by fate and choice in a gripping WWII novel about danger, triumph, and second chances by the New York Times bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook and The Tuscan Child. London, 1940.

This month’s book pick for Historical Happy Hour is perfect for Halloween! Please join me and the fabulous author Kris Waldherr as we celebrate the launch of her latest novel Unnatural Creatures: A Novel of the Frankenstein Women. Some tales aren’t what you think. For the first time, the untold story of the three women closest to Victor Frankenstein is revealed in a dark and sweeping reimagining of Frankenstein by the author of The Lost History of Dreams and Doomed Queens.

1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has to hide not only her efforts but her love for William, a Black soldier and a brilliant musician.

Meanwhile, in New York City, a Jewish woman stitches a quilt for her husband, who is stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. Between abolitionist meetings, Lily rolls bandages and crafts quilts with her sewing circle for other soldiers, too, hoping for their safe return home. But when months go by without word from her husband, Lily resolves to make the perilous journey South to search for him.

As these two women risk everything for love and freedom during the brutal Civil War, their paths converge in New Orleans, where an unexpected encounter leads them to discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us. Loosely inspired by the authors’ family histories, this stunning novel will stay with readers for a long time.

Three fabulous authors, Piper Huguley, Libbie Grant and Aimie K. Runyan, join me for a very special panel, celebrating the launch of Piper Huguley’s novel, By Her Own Design. It’s the incredible untold story of how Ann Lowe, a Black woman and granddaughter of slaves, rose above personal struggles and racial prejudice to design and create one of America’s most famous wedding dresses of all time for Jackie Kennedy. NYT Bestselling author Kate Quinn says Huguley has crafted a “heroine for the ages.”

This is a novel of the dark secrets of Ellis Island, when entry to “the land of the free” promised a better life but often delivered something drastically different, and when immigrant strength and female friendship found ways to triumph even on the darkest days. Inspired by true events and for fans of Kristina McMorris and Hazel Gaynor, The Next Ship Home holds up a mirror to our own times, deftly questioning America’s history of prejudice and exclusion while also reminding us of our citizens’ singular determination.

Inspired by the extraordinary true stories of World War II’s American Army nurses famously known as the Angels of Bataan and the unsung contributions of Filipinas of the resistance, this novel transports us to a remarkable era of hope, bravery, perseverance, and ultimately—victory.

As Marie Antoinette took her last breath as Queen of France in Paris, another formidable monarch—Antoinette’s dearly beloved sister, Charlotte—was hundreds of miles away, in Naples, fighting desperately to secure her release from the revolutionaries who would take her life. Little did Charlotte know, however, that her sister’s execution would change the course of history—and bring about the end of her own empire.

USA Today best-selling author Jillian Cantor reimagines and expands on the literary classic The Great Gatsby in this atmospheric historical novel with echoes of Big Little Lies, told in three women’s alternating voices.

The Last Season is a collaboration between Jenny Judson and Danielle Mahfood, who met in high school and shared a mutual love of historical fiction and romance novels. Instead of passing notes in class, Jenny and Danielle would write short excerpts from imaginary novels that featured themselves and their classmates as characters caught up in tales of romance and adventure. Many years later, after cheering for opposite teams at Harvard-Yale games, they came together in New York City to begin writing The Last Season, inspired both by the Victorian period and the financial crisis of 2008.

Thrilled to have Ron Balson, bestselling author and winner of the National Jewish Book Award, as my guest for this month’s Historical Happy Hour. We will be discussing his latest novel, Defending Britta Stein, a fascinating story of bravery, betrayal and redemption. 

My guest for this Historical Happy Hour is Nicola Harrison to discuss her new novel, The Show Girl. The Show Girl gives a glimpse of the glamorous world of the Ziegfeld Follies through the eyes of a young midwestern woman who comes to New York City to find her destiny as a Ziegfeld Follies star.

My guest for Historical Happy Hour is bestselling author Mark Sullivan. He will be joining me to discuss his latest novel, The Last Green Valley, the epic WWII story of one family’s decision to escape tyranny and run to freedom. 

Join us for a special Catskills edition of H3 with Elyssa Friedland, author of Last Summer at the Golden Hotel. We’ll go back in time to discuss the hotter-than hot vacation destination in the 50s, why it was known as the Borscht Belt, and its depiction in Dirty Dancing.

ONE ICONIC FAMILY. ONE SUMMER OF SECRETS. THE DAZZLING SPIRIT OF 1970S CALIFORNIA.“A delicious daydream of a book.” —Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of 28 Summers … “With lyrical writing and a page-turning plot, this sun-dappled book has it all: heart, smarts, and an irresistible musical beat.” —Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party

Occupied France, 1940. When the staff at a field hospital draw straws to find out who will join the evacuation from Dunkirk, Nurse Cate is left behind. But when the Nazis arrive to claim prisoners of war, she takes her chance and flees into the night, taking one patient with her.

New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff is our guest! Join us to discuss her new novel, The Woman with the Blue Star. Inspired by harrowing true stories, the novel is an emotional testament to the power of friendship and the extraordinary strength of the human will to survive.

A group of young women from Smith College risk their lives in France at the height of World War I in this sweeping novel based on a true story—a skillful blend of Call the Midwife and The Alice Network—from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig.

From New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller M.J. Rose comes a provocative and moving story of a young female architect in post-World War II Manhattan, who stumbles upon a hidden treasure and begins a journey to discovering her mother’s life during the fall of the Romanovs.