My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Meredith Ritchie, author of the book Poster Girls. Her historical fiction novel takes place in North Carolina during WWII, and is based on the true but forgotten events that happened in her hometown. When her triplets left for college, she wrote Poster Girls as a cure for acute empty nest syndrome. She now lives in Charlotte with her husband, two cats, four chickens and grown adults that occasionally return to her cozy coop.

Poster Girls was named 2022 "Best of the Nest" for fiction by QC Nerve magazine and was recently named as part of the 2024 North Carolina Reads program sponsored by NC Humanities, a division of the Library of Congress. A lifelong learner, Meredith believes history told in the form of stories can never be forgotten, especially history that happened in our own backyard.

In my book review, I stated that Meredith tells a delightful story about a group of "Rosie the Riveters" working in a bullet factory in Charlotte, NC during WWII. The story comes from two points of view - Maggie and Cora. Both women are married to soldiers, have moved to Charlotte from other areas, and love books - enough to start a friendship. However, others aren't quite as keen to see this relationship, since Maggie is a white woman of privilege and Cora is a poor, black woman.

These two women are strong and fight for themselves and for one another. I enjoy how Meredith shows how, despite her good intentions, Maggie often 'gets it wrong.' I also love how she shows that Cora, who interprets life through a lens of racism, also gets it wrong. Most importantly, I love how the two characters persevere despite it all.

​If you love a good historical fiction, especially one that makes you think about issues we face today, then, this is the book for you.

You can follow Author Meredith Ritchie

Website: meredithritchie.com

IG: @postergirlsbook

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

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My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Mark Jamilkowski, author of the book The Road to Moresco. Mark is a first-time author, a co-founder of a healthcare start-up, a husband and father. He enjoys music, reading and researching, games of strategy, photography, cooking, and writing. Mark authored "The Road to Moresco", a historical fiction novel released in August 2023, to tell the incredible story of a mother and her daughter beginning in early 1900's Italy. The story of these persistent and resilient women is complex, intimate, and inspiring.

In my book review, I stated The Road to Moresco is a story about Maria-Luisa Moresco and then her daughter Claire. As a woman in the early 1900s, Maria-Luisa was ahead of her times and wanted more than the traditional life of motherhood. Unfortunately, her life was not easy, and the reader follows her as she pushes her way forward despite such things as earthquakes, war, and murder. Her daughter lived with these consequences and suffered her own difficult journey.

The story and characters were really good. The historical research that went into the novel is also phenomenal. However, Mark had a difficult time intertwining the story with the history. I often felt like I was reading a great novel interrupted by a strong history lesson – which is something we discuss. Nonetheless, the story is a wonderful portrayal of strong women in a time when women were meant to be something else.

You can follow Author Mark Jamilkowski:

Website: www.mark-jamilkowski-author.com/

X: @roadtomoresco

Goodreads: @ Mark_Jamilkowski

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

#markjamilkowski #theroadtomoresco #familysaga #historicalfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Jennifer Manocherian, author of the book Alpha Bette. Alpha Bette is Jennifer’s first novel. She put much of her personal and professional life experience into writing it, having been a family therapist, divorce mediator, Broadway and Off-Broadway producer, musical book writer, screenwriter & producer, and screenwriting teacher. She co-wrote and produced the films Family Blues and Boundary Waters (in production) as well as wrote the book of two musicals that are streaming online: Marry Harry, a full-length musical, and Cockroaches & Cologne, a short musical. She is a proud board member of New York Stage and Film, The Peace Studio, and 18by Vote. She is married with five children and many grandchildren—great source material!

In my book review, I stated Alpha Bette is a contemporary fiction told from the viewpoint of several characters who revolve around the matriarch Bette Gartner. At ninety-five, Bette has lost her husband, most of her friends, and even her granddaughter. She has to rely on help from her housekeeper and night nurse after a fall that left her reliant on her wheelchair.

One morning, after what she is sure is a sign from her dead husband, Bette orchestrates a dinner party. The entire story takes place in one day giving readers a glimpse into the past and present of Bette and those around her: housekeeper, aide, two neighbors, daughter and son-in-law, great-granddaughter, and what Bette hopes to be her eventual great-grandson-in-law. Throw in a cremated parrot, political prisoners, a spoiled puppy, a cancer scare, and a medium who Bette believes can speak to her husband, George, and you have a dinner party you'll never forget.

This book reminds me a bit of My Grandmother Told Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman and The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley. I think it is because we get into the heads of so many characters and see how they touch one another's lives.

​Jennifer states that people either love or hate the ending. I'm in the love category, but that may be because I saw it coming! This is another must-read.

You can follow Author Jennifer Manocherian:

Website: https://jennifermanocherian.net/

FB: @ jmanocherian

IG: @jennifermanocherian

LinkedIn: @jennifer-manocherian-2421855

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

#jennifermanocherian #alphabette #contemporary #familyfiction #terimbrownauthor #authorpodcast #onlineforauthors #characterdriven #researchjunkie #awardwinningauthor #podcasthost #podcast #readerpodcast #bookpodcast #writerpodcast #author #books #goodreads #bookclub #fiction #writer #bookreview