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.

In 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 can be both entertaining and powerfully subversive.