The Jane Healey Happy Hour

New York Times bestselling author Jenna Blum joins Jane Healey to celebrate the fifth anniversary—and rebrand—of the podcast and to discuss her sharp, darkly funny romantic thriller, Murder Your Darlings. The novel follows mid-career historical fiction writer Sam Verner as she embarks on a whirlwind romance with a charismatic, bestselling novelist—only to find herself entangled in a web of obsession, ambition, and mounting bodies. Jenna shares how she pivoted from historical fiction to suspense, why she wanted to explore codependency and narcissism, and how her own writing life inspired the novel’s behind-the-scenes publishing details. From blizzards in Maine to deliciously vile antiheroes, this conversation dives into love, power, and the strange, wonderful world of being a writer.

Bestselling author Heather B. Moore joins Jane Healey to discuss her richly researched new novel, Julia, which explores the extraordinary life of culinary icon Julia Child. From her surprising work in the OSS during World War II to her groundbreaking cooking career that began in Paris, Moore paints a vivid portrait of a woman who found her passion later in life and never looked back. The conversation dives into Julia’s love story with Paul Child, her relentless determination to publish Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and how Moore balanced fact and fiction in this biographical novel.

Bestselling 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 also dives into Erika’s writing process, the strange “alchemy” of research, and a sneak peek at her next projects, including a new intelligence heroine and a Southern Gothic historical horror novel drawn from her own family’s past.

In 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 and joys of balancing hope with historical truth.

In 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

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.