Shows
Historical Happy HourThe Last Assignment by Erika RobuckBestselling 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 al...
2025-12-0326 min
Historical Happy HourMrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure by Rhys BowenIn 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...
2025-10-0737 min
Historical Happy HourThe Harvey Girls by Juliette FayIn 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
2025-09-1832 min
Historical Happy HourThe Lies They Told by Ellen Marie WisemanIn 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.
2025-09-0927 min
Everybody Pulls The TarpJane Healey: Finding Hope In Rejection, Creating Your Own Breakthroughs, & Overcoming Creative BlocksThis week Andrew talks with bestselling author Jane Healey. Jane shares the incredible story of how she connected with a publisher she had long aspired to work with — and how it ultimately became her breakthrough as an author. This conversation is a powerful reminder that we hold the power to create our own opportunities when we work hard, take risks, & put ourselves out there. You’ll hear actionable ideas on finding glimmers of hope in rejection, overcoming creative blocks, learning from feedback, & more. ** Follow Andrew **Instagram: @AndrewMoses123Twitter/X: @andrewhmosesSign up for e...
2025-09-0437 min
Historical Happy HourConfessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza KnightIn 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 earl...
2025-08-3031 min
Historical Happy HourWayward Girls by Susan WiggsIn 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 expl...
2025-08-2633 min
History, Books & Wine PodcastInside The Women of Arlington Hall: A Conversation with Jane HealeyWelcome back to History, Books and Wine, Season 5!I’m excited to be joined on the show today by guest author, Jane Healey. On this episode we’re going to talk about her book, The Women of Arlington Hall. In this book, a female codebreaker puts her future and her heart on the line in a stirring novel about love, loyalty, betrayal, and Cold War spy games. Paired with this episode:Jane: Diet CokeEliza: Mumm Napa Brute RoseJane's Book:The Women of Arlington HallW...
2025-08-2622 min
Historical Happy HourL.A. Women by Ella BermanIn 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 creati...
2025-08-1832 min
Historical Happy HourA Promise to Arlette by Serena BurdickIn 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 ret...
2025-08-0628 min
Historical Happy HourCome Fly with Me by Camille Di MaioIn 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...
2025-07-2328 min
Historical Happy HourBeyond This Place of Wrath and Tears by Jack FordIn 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 expl...
2025-07-1648 min
Historical Happy HourFagin the Thief by Allison EpsteinIn this episode of Historical Happy Hour, bestselling author Jane Healey sits down with novelist Alison Epstein to discuss her bold reimagining of Oliver Twist in her new book Fagan and the Thief. Epstein offers a compelling retelling from the perspective of Jacob Fagan, Dickens’ infamous pickpocket, giving him a first name, a backstory, and—most importantly—humanity. They explore the novel’s reclamation of a deeply antisemitic character, delve into Epstein’s research process for recreating Victorian London, and unpack themes of identity, mentorship, toxic relationships, and moral ambiguity. The conversation is an insightful look at how historical fiction ca...
2025-07-0731 min
Historical Happy HourSix Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi Six Days in Bombay by Alka JoshiBestselling author Alka Joshi returns to discuss her newest historical fiction novel, Six Days in Bombay. Inspired by the enigmatic life and mysterious death of Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil—dubbed the Frida Kahlo of India—Joshi weaves a rich narrative through the eyes of a fictional nurse, Sona, who cares for a dying artist and embarks on a journey across 1930s Europe to fulfill the artist’s final request. With vivid research, immersive sensory detail, and reflections on identity, loss, and artistic legacy, Joshi and host Jane Healey dive deep into the novel's origins, character development, historical settings, and Joshi’...
2025-06-2738 min
Disability Daily PodcastJune 8: Mary Jane OwenTranscript
Today we remember blind disability rights advocate and philosopher Mary Jane Owen!
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Hello and welcome to the Disability Daily Podcast! I’m your host, Katie, and over the past couple years, I’ve worked on a 365-day calendar that recognizes different folks and key moments in disability history each day of the year. I’m turning this into a quick daily podcast, and I’m excited to share this with you!
If you’re committed to learning more about disability and accessibility, please subscribe to the podcast on Podbean, Apple Podc...
2025-06-1503 min
Historical Happy HourThe Eights by Joanna MillerIn 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...
2025-05-2434 min
Historical Happy HourThe Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorrisNew 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 them...
2025-05-2040 min
Historical Happy HourThe Amalfi Curse by Sarah PennerNew 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.
2025-05-1434 min
Historical Happy HourThe Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha LesterNew 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.
2025-04-1141 min
Historical Happy HourThe Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise HooperElize 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.
2025-04-0532 min
Historical Happy HourThe Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily CritchleyEmily 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.
2025-03-2228 min
Historical Happy HourThe Lotus Shoes by Jane YangDebut 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.
2025-03-0530 min
Historical Happy HourThe Women of Arlington Hall (Preview) by Jane HealeyFor 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.
2024-12-3043 min
Historical Happy HourThe Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan KamaliMarjan 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.
2024-12-1739 min
Historical Happy HourThe Fabled Earth by Kimberly BrockKimberly 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.
2024-12-0439 min
Historical Happy HourKatharine, the Wright Sister by Tracey Enerson WoodTracey 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.
2024-11-1833 min
Historical Happy HourThe Long March Home by Tosca LeeTosca 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.
2024-11-0437 min
Historical Happy HourThe Trade Off by Samantha WoodruffSamantha 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?
2024-10-2846 min
Historical Happy HourWhen We Chased the Light by Emily BleekerEmily 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.
2024-10-2034 min
Historical Happy HourThe Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda LoigmanLynda 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.
2024-10-1143 min
Historical Happy HourEchos of Us by Joy Jordan-LakeJoy 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.
2024-10-0538 min