Historical Happy Hour

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 Jane Healey 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 Jane Healey's 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 Jane Healey 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.

Elize Hooper joins Jane Healey on 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 Jane Healey on 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 Jane Healey 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 joins Jane Healey 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 Jane Healey's 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 joins Jane Healey 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 Jane Healey's 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 Jane Healey's 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 Jane Healey's 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 Jane Healey's guest on Historical Happy Hour 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. They discuss their mutual passion for historical fiction, focusing on their recent World War II novels. Kate Thompson talks about her book The Wartime Book Club and shares the fascinating history and story behind it, while Jane Healey delves into her novel, Goodnight from Paris, highlighting the true story of WWII Resistance fighter and Hollywood actress Drue Leyton. Jane and Kate  explore their writing processes, the balance between fact and fiction, and their  research techniques. 

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 Jane Healey on 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.

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.

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, 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.

Jane Healey  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 Jane Healey 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. 

Jane Healey 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.

Jane Healey welcomes 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.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah  joins Jane Healey to talk about her new 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.

Debut author Avery Cunningham  joins Jane Healey to talk about her new book, The Mayor of Maxwell Street. This tells the story of 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.

Bestselling author and host of Historical Happy Hour discusses her latest novel, Goodnight from Paris.

Bestselling author Gill Paul joins Jane Healey 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.

Bestselling author Ariel Lawhon joins Jane Healey to talk about her new book, The Frozen River. 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.

Bestselling author Aimie K. Runyan, joins Jane Healey to discuss her latest novel, A Bakery in Paris. 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.Aimie K. Runyan is a multipublished and bestselling author of historical fiction. She has been nominated for a Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year award and two Colorado Book Awards. She lives in Colorado with her wonderful husband and two (usually) adorable children.

Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of seven historical fiction, joins Jane Healey to discuss her new book, The Spectacular.  This is 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.FIONA DAVIS is the New York Times bestselling author of seven historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including THE SPECTACULAR, THE MAGNOLIA PALACE, THE ADDRESS, and THE LIONS OF FIFTH AVENUE, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her novels have been chosen as “One Book, One Community” reads and her articles have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and the Oprah magazine. She first came to New York as an actress, but fell in love with writing after getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages and she's based in New York City.

Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author, joins Jane Healey 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.”

New York Times and International Bestselling author Madeline Martin joins Jane Healey to talk about her latest novel The Keeper of Hidden Books. It's 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.

Julie Gerstenblatt joins Jane Healey to talk about her much buzzed about debut novel Daughters of Nantucket: "Set against Nantucket's Great Fire of 1846, this sweeping, emotional novel brings together three courageous women battling to save everything they hold dear.” Please join us! Julie Gerstenblatt holds a doctorate in education in Curriculum and Instruction from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post, Grown&Flown, and Cognoscenti, among others. When not writing, Julie is a college essay coach, as well as a producer and on-air host for A Mighty Blaze. A native New Yorker, Julie now lives in coastal Rhode Island with her family and one very smart shichon poo. Daughters of Nantucket is her first novel.

New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi joins Jane Healey to talk about her new novel, The Perfumist of Paris.Paris, 1974. Radha is now living in Paris with her husband, Pierre, and their two daughters. She still grieves for the baby boy she gave up years ago, when she was only a child herself, but she loves being a mother to her daughters, and she's finally found her passion—the treasure trove of scents.She has an exciting and challenging position working for a master perfumer, helping to design completely new fragrances for clients and building her career one scent at a time. She only wishes Pierre could understand her need to work. She feels his frustration, but she can't give up this thing that drives her.Tasked with her first major project, Radha travels to India, where she enlists the help of her sister, Lakshmi, and the courtesans of Agra—women who use the power of fragrance to seduce, tease and entice. She's on the cusp of a breakthrough when she finds out the son she never told her husband about is heading to Paris to find her—upending her carefully managed world and threatening to destroy a vulnerable marriage.