Historical Fiction: Unpacked

Apr 11 2024 139 ep. 36 mins 36

Historical Fiction: Unpacked Podcast artwork

Author Alison Treat hosts this weekly podcast focused on her favorite genre. Listen in to her conversations with historical fiction authors about their work. They unpack how the medium of story draws us in, ignites our curiosity, and informs us about the past, so that we can better live in the present.

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Joanna Davidson Politano—The Elusive Truth of Silent Films

Apr 11 2024 22 mins

On the final episode of Historical Fiction: Unpacked, I talk with Joanna Davidson Politano about her latest novel, The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple. We had a wonderful conversation about the silent film industry, the part gardens play in this story, and Joanna's research and writing process. Here's a description of the novel: In her newest narrative, Politano once again whisks re

A.D. Rhine—War and Friendship

Apr 04 2024 37 mins

This week's episode features a fun conversation. Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson make up A.D. Rhine. They met as military "brats" when they were kids and stayed close over the years. They've united to write a duology, Horses of Fire and Daughters of Bronze. I sat down with Ashley and Danielle to talk about their friendship, their mutual love of Homer's Iliad, and what led them t

Erin Bartels—Recognizing Women Artists in History

Mar 28 2024 33 mins

Award-winning author Erin Bartels joins me on the show to talk about her latest novel, The Lady with the Dark Hair. We discuss the barriers women historically faced when they wanted to pursue a career as an artist as well as the recent emergence of female artists from history. Here is a description of the novel: A charismatic man with a legacy that long outlives him. A forgotten

Allison Pataki—America’s Forgotten Leading Lady

Mar 21 2024 28 mins

New York Times Bestselling author Allison Pataki joins me on the show today to talk about her latest release, Finding Margaret Fuller. We discussed Margaret's place in history, the many famous transcendentalist writers she was connected to, and her influence on the U.S. feminist movement. We also talked about Allison's research process, including her visit to Concord and Walden Pon

Jennifer Ryan—The Underground Library

Mar 14 2024 32 mins

I had a wonderful conversation with Jennifer Ryan about her newly released novel, The Underground Library. It's based on the real Bethnal Green Library, which went underground to service the bomb shelters beneath the streets of London during the Second World War. Jennifer and I chatted about the roles women played during World War II, how research inspires her stories, and what lea

Joel H. Morris—Exploring Lady Macbeth

Mar 07 2024 30 mins

This week's episode brings you a conversation with Joel H. Morris. His debut novel, All Our Yesterdays, releases next week, and it's the origin story of the famous lady featured in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Joel and I discussed his love of Shakespeare and how he became fascinated with one of the most studied female literary figures. Here's a description of Joel's novel: A propu

Gail Lehrman—A Tale of New York City

Feb 29 2024 32 mins

I spoke with Gail Lehrman about her love for New York City, how she came to become a writer later in life, and what's so special about her debut novel, Across Seward Park. Here's a description of the novel: Unions. Strikes. War. Depression... Set in the crowded tenements and teeming streets of New York's Lower East Side, Across Seward Park follows one family's journey through the

Eric Z. Weintraub—The Jewish Expulsion From Spain

Feb 22 2024 26 mins

Eric Z. Weintraub spoke with me about his newly released novel, South of Sepharad: The 1492 Jewish Expulsion from Spain. Eric and I talked about what we're writing, the role of Eric's Jewish heritage in his decision to write about this topic, the research his project required, and how he found a publisher. Here's a description of South of Sepharad: Fleeing death by the Spanish In

The Apron Strings Series—with Amy Lynn Walsh

Feb 15 2024 30 mins

Amy Lynn Walsh joins me on the show today to talk about her new release, Nellie. It's part of the Apron Strings Series, a string of heartfelt inspirational stories by various authors featuring different women through the decades. Amy and I talked about the book's setting of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which is the area where we both live! We also discussed tuberculosis treatment, Am

Dean Cycon—Life After Auschwitz

Feb 08 2024 49 mins

Dean Cycon is an author, lawyer, human rights advocate and internationally renowned social entrepreneur. His debut novel, Finding Home, released last June. We talked about this tale of survivors of Auschwitz returning to their former town following World War II, why Jews in Hungary had a slightly different experience from those in other European countries, how Dean incorporated the