On Binge Reading this week, biographical fiction author Marie Benedict talks about her latest best seller, The Mitford Affair, the story of the beautiful and notorious Mitford sisters. Famous as the debutant daughters of an English Peer and then infamous as World War II traitors

Hi there. I'm your host, Jenny Wheeler and critics rave about Marie Benedict’s uncanny ability to unearth untold woman's stories - from Albert Einstein's first wife to the hidden life of Agatha Christie - from JP Morgan's personal librarian-  to Andrew Carnegie's maid, she's written about them all.

On Binge Reading today, Marie talks about where her passion for storytelling comes from and how she works on excavating stories like a literary archaeologist.

Historic Romance Giveaway

Looking to fill your library?  A raft of best selling authors have got together to offer this free library… Take your pick!! Lots of variety, including Books #5 and #6 in Of Gold & Blood..

Our giveaways this week, two of the books from the Of Gold & Blood old California series - books, #5 (Unbridled Vengeance) #6 (Hope Redeemed) are free to download.

That's a full length rancher mystery, and a Spanish romantic novella.

HISTORIC ROMANCE GIVEAWAY

https://books.bookfunnel.com/freehistromanceapr1523/vl97ws0m6p

Historical Romance Sale

Lots of Romance Fiction here too, not free but reasonably priced

And Books #7 (Tainted Fortune) and #8 (Captive Heart) are here.

Can a sugar heiress and a winemaker solve a puzzling murder before their vintage turns deadly?

That's a San Francisco mystery and A Hawaiian Christmas Novella.

ROMANCE BOOKS SALE

https://books.bookfunnel.com/histromanceapr1523/xcktnmd6c8

Links to things discussed in this episode

The Mists of Avalon – the book that got Marie hooked on history: :  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mists_of_Avalon

Mists of Avalon TV series; https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244353/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Mists-Avalon-Marion-Zimmer-Bradley/dp/0345350499

Lord Redesdale (The Mitford daughter’s father:  https://spartacus-educational.com/SSredesdale.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Mitford,_2nd_Baron_Redesdale

The Mystery of Mrs Christie, by Marie Benedict:  https://www.authormariebenedict.com/the-mystery-of-mrs-christie.html

Mileva Einstein:  https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-forgotten-life-of-einsteins-first-wife/

The Other Einstein, by Marie Benedict: https://www.authormariebenedict.com/the-other-einstein.html

The Personal Librarian: https://www.authormariebenedict.com/the-personal-librarian.html

Victoria Christopher Murray – Marie’s Co-Author and author in her own right of more than 30 books: https://victoriachristophermurray.com/

Belle da Costa Greene: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_da_Costa_Greene

Mick Herron: The Slough House series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Herron

Mary McLeod Bethune:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_McLeod_Bethune

Eleanor Roosevelt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Roosevelt

Where to Find Marie Benedict Online

Website: authormariebenedict.com

Facebook: @authormariebenedict

Instagram: @authormariebenedict

Don't forget if you enjoy the show, do leave us a review so others can find us too. But now here's Marie.

Introducing Author Marie Benedict

Biographical fiction author Marie Benedict

Jenny Wheeler: Hello there Marie, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us.

Marie Benedict: I am absolutely delighted to be here as, as I said to you right before you hit the record button, obviously I love to talk books, but oh my gosh, I love New Zealand and it's just such a delight to get to talk with you while you were there.

Jenny Wheeler: That's wonderful. Now you've made a name for yourself. write a bestselling historical fiction about real women's stories.

Some of them well-known women, others of them not so well known at all,

French American author Samantha Vérant delivers perfectly seasoned fiction that combines her passions in life - France, food and love. And her latest book, The Spice Master at Bistro Exotique, set in Paris, is a romantic and culinary delight.

Hi there. I'm your host, Jenny Wheeler, and in Binge Reading this week, Samantha talks about moving to France and marrying a sexy French rocket scientist she met in 1989, but ignored for 20 years, and writing about that adventure in bestselling memoirs and three entertaining romcoms accompanied by lots of mouth-watering recipes.

As usual, we've got some great giveaways - details for those and all of Samantha's contact details - she's happy to answer book club questions if you're interested - in the show notes for this episode on the website, thejoysofbingereading.com.

And remember, if you like the show, do recommend us to other people. Leave us a review so others will hear about the show too. There's nothing better than word of mouth recommendations,

This week's Giveaway

Ten free copies of Poisoned Legacy in Audio to give away to ten lucky readers/listeners

FREE OFFER LIMITED TO FIRST TEN LISTENERS

If audio is your first choice for reading these days, jump in and enjoy a "First" - Book #1 In Of Gold & Blood in Audio, free to download from Bookfunnel

This is a new feature in Bookfunnel and the first time I have used it.

go to poisoned legacy audio book link

If you are one of the lucky winners, then give us your feedback when you've listened - we'd love to hear what you think..

Your feedback at [email protected]

And here is the link again in case the button isn't working properly

https://dl.bookfunnel.com/hb6gjajdcf

Links to topics discussed in the show

Michelin Stars: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_Guide

Dominque Crenn” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominique_Crenn

Her restaurant - Atelier Crenn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atelier_Crenn

Gabrielle Hamilton:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabrielle_Hamilton_(chef)

The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux; http://www.samanthaverant.com/2020/01/the-secret-french-recipes-of-sophie.html

Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars: http://www.samanthaverant.com/p/sophie-valrouxs-paris-stars.htmlie

Seven Letters From Paris: http://www.samanthaverant.com/2020/01/seven-letters-from-paris.html

How To Make A French Family: http://www.samanthaverant.com/2020/01/how-to-make-french-family.html

Charles’s Coconut Ice Cream Recipes Link http://www.samanthaverant.com/2022/12/happy-holidays-and-easy-recipe-from.html

Marcel Proust and the Madeleine Effect:  https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/07/more-than-cake-unravelling-the-mysteries-of-proust-s-madeleine

Remembrance Of Things Past Marcel Proust: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Search_of_Lost_Time

Recipes for Wild boar and Pot Au Feu De La Mer:

http://www.gourmetfly.com/Cookingwildboar.html

https://www-lespommesdeterre-com.translate.goog/recette/pot-au-feu-de-la-mer/?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

Matt Haig The Midnight Library: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52578297-the-midnight-library

Forever Hold Your Peace: Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721248/forever-hold-your-peace-by-liz-fenton-and-lisa-steinke/

A Man Called Ove, Frederik Backman: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18774964-a-man-called-ove

Charlotte’s Web, E. B. Wright:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte%27s_Web

Phylloxera: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phylloxera

The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Garden

Roald Dahl: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl

The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe, C S Lewis:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion,_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe

Namratha Prasant: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tmullen/2020/07/13/how-this-woman-from-india-created-a-french-wine-label/?

Lily Chu is leading the way in a new approach to publishing, launching her bestselling books in audio format first, and then following up with print a few months later, and it's certainly working for her. Her whip smart, funny romcoms have been top of both Audible and Apple best sellers lists in 2021 and 2022.

Hi there. I'm Jenny Wheeler, your host, and today Toronto based romcom author, Lily talks about her latest book, The Comeback. It introduces readers to the global phenomenon of K-Pop music. And I can tell you the book is certainly a delight. The introduction to K-Pop fascinating

When Ari comes home from a long day at her law firm to find an unfamiliar, gorgeous man camped out in her living room, life as she knows it begins to change, especially when she discovers the man in question is South Korea's hottest K-Pop star.

Links for Items discussed in the show

Lily's K-Pop bands list:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IMuxkuRKGKJtzSlosJ6XG?si=07081c9daca34678

BTS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTS

Ateez: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ateez

Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series: https://www.amazon.com/Guild-Hunter-15-book-series/dp/B07W4K2C9N

Amy Lea Exes and Oh's: https://www.amyleabooks.com/exes-and-o-s

Roselle Lim: Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/54019924

Where to find Lily Chu online

Website: www.lilychuauthor.com

Instagram: @lilychuauthor

This week's Giveaways -free books and win a library

That's coming up next, but first to the all important matter of free books, which we have every episode. And as usual today, two book offers. First, the chance to go into a draw to win a library of wine and dine reads, plus an e-reader to go along with them $550 in value.

That's more than 50 books, plus an E-reader to the lucky winner. Brother Betrayed, Book # 2 in the Of Gold & Blood series, is included

enter the draW

I am including the full link in case the button doesn't work - they seem to have become temperamental lately!

https://www.booksweeps.com/giveaway/win-a-bundle-of-literary-historical-book-club-fiction-mar-2023/

FREE HISTORICAL FICTION

Download new books today to top up your library for the new season - Summer or Winter

Looking for your next favorite read? Look no further! A group of historical fiction authors have got together to offer this March promo - and Sadie's Vow, Book #1 in the Home At Last series is included. Limited Time Only.

DOWNLOAD FREE HISTORICAL FICTION

I am including the full link in case the button doesn't work - they seem to have become temperamental lately!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/historicalgiveaway0423/yk7cg8skez

And just a reminder - if you enjoy the show, leave us a recommendation on your favorite podcast site so others will find us too. There's nothing like a Word of Mouth recommendation!

But now here's Lily. Hello there, Lily, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us.

Lily Chu: Hi. Thanks for having me.

Introducing Romcom author Lily Chu

Lily Chu - 'hidden

Jenny Wheeler: The Comeback, which is the book we're particularly talking about today, is your second romcom and it follows closely on the first, which was called The Stand-in, and that was really a tremendous success for a debut novel.

Did you suffer that nerve thing of having a major success for your first book and feeling inadequate about getting grips with the second? How did that go for you?

Lily Chu: I generally feel inadequate, so that wouldn't be a new feeling. Thank you for calling it success. I'm so happy people are enjoying The

Stand-In. I hope they enjoy The Comeback just as much. But you know, it's interesting you should say that because I was actually writing a lot of The Comeback as I was editing The Stand-In, so it hadn't really hit because the way publishing's a weird world in the way that it does its timing.

By the time The Stand-In came out,

This week on The Joys of Binge Reading to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, a little bit of green. Irish thriller author Catherine Ryan Howard with her latest nerve shredding suspense Runtime.

It's a book that was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Crime Fiction Book Of The Year, and is a Top 10 Kindle Best Seller.

Hi there. I'm your host, Jenny Wheeler, and on Binge Reading today, Catherine talks about her psychological thriller about an actress cast in a horror film that begins to mirror real life.

And as well as talking about Run Time she also tells us how she plots her intricate stories - she has a very special Excel spreadsheet for the job - and how she came to be dubbed the Queen of High Concept thrillers.

Links to Things Discussed In The Show

Beyond the Woods: the horror movie Catherine’s brother was in:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_the_Woods

The TV Set: a comedy movie about making a comedy – one of Catherine’s favorites:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473709/

Jurassic Park: (1990 novel by Michael Crichton) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic_Park_(novel)

Netflix documentary on Sophie Toscan du Plantier

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14681732/

Sophie Toscan du Plantier: Unsolved Cork murder:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sophie_Toscan_du_Plantier

Danya Kukafka: Notes On An Execution:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57773248-notes-on-an-execution

The Secret Race: Inside The Hidden World of the Tour De France:   https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Race-Inside-Hidden-France/dp/034553042X

The Quiet Tenant:  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705718/the-quiet-tenant-by-clemence-michallon/

Michael Connelly: https://www.michaelconnelly.com/writing/desert-star/

Strong Irish Crime and Thriller Writers:

Liz Nugent: https://www.liznugent.com/

(Liz is coming up on Binge Reading mid year.)

Jane Casey: (Maeve Kerrigan series)  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1173340.Jane_Casey

Jo Spain: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14190033.Jo_Spain

Jo on Binge Reading:  https://thejoysofbingereading.com/jo-spain-best-selling-irish-thrillers/

Andrea Carter: https://andreacarterbooks.com/

Dervla Mctiernan: https://dervlamctiernan.com/

Where To Find Catherine Ryan Howard Online

Website: https://catherineryanhoward.com/

Instagram: @cathryanhoward

As usual we got a historical fiction giveaway – New Year’s Historical Fiction - lots of historical fiction free for download, including Tainted Fortune Book # 7 in my Old California Of Gold and Blood Mystery series.

DOWNLOAD HERE IF BUTTON DOESN'T WORK! https://books.bookfunnel.com/historicalgiveaway0423/yk7cg8skez

GET FREE HISTORICAL FICTION

Links to Catherine's books and the giveaway as usual can be found in the show notes for this episode on the website, www.thejoysofbinge eading.com.

If you enjoy the show, don't forget to leave us five stars, or a pleasing comment on your favorite podcast provider, so others hear about us and can enjoy the show too.

But now here is Catherine. Hello there, Catherine, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us

Introducing thriller author Catherine Ryan Howard

Catherine Ryan Howard: Thank you so much for having me.

Irish thriller author Catherine Ryan Howard

Jenny Wheeler: Now you are in Dublin and I'm in Auckland, so we're just about as far apart as we could be, but it's wonderful to be able to talk directly like this.

Catherine Ryan Howard: I think if, we went any closer, you'd start coming back to me. We are literally on the opposite sides of the world.

Jenny Wheeler: That's right. Look, you're an award-winning, internationally best selling thriller writer whose books have been optioned for screen, From your debut, you've enjoyed a great level of success. Tell us how you actually got started on this trip.

Catherine Ryan Howard: Thank you for that lovely recap. I always wanted to be a writer.

Welcome to Encore on Binge Reading, the show where we invite back authors who've already been on The Joys of Binge Reading to talk about their latest book.

Hi there. I'm your host, Jenny Wheeler, and today on the show we have Canadian romcom author Roselle Lim. talking about her latest magical story of love, Sophie Go's Lonely Hear4ts Club.

Links to books mentioned in the show:

Roselle's first Joys of Binge Reading episode - one of the "Best of 2021"

listen to roselle lim's first show

Books recommended by Roselle:

For Twice In My Life by Annette Christie https://www.amazon.com/For-Twice-in-My-Life/dp/B0B836CMVK/

The Luminaries by Susan Dennard:  https://www.amazon.com/Luminaries-Susan-Dennard/dp/1250194040

Where to find Roselle on line:

Website: Rosellelim.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosellewriter/

Twitter: @RoselleLimwriter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/54019924

But before we get to Roselle, as usual, we've got a giveaway for our listeners, 10 free copies this week of Sadie’s Vow, the first book in my new Home At Last series.

I love Sadie as a character for her staunch loyalty to her dying mother's wishes.... even when it seems to be working against her self interest...

get sadie's vow

And don't forget. If you like what you hear, leave your comments wherever you listen to your audio so others can hear about us too.

Introducing romcom author Roselle Lim

But now here's Roselle.

Romcom author Roselle Lim

Jenny Wheeler: So welcome to the show, Roselle. It's wonderful to have you back with us. You were last on Binge Reading in February, 2021, with a fabulous romcom called Vanessa Lu's Magical Paris Tea Shop.

It featured in the Best of the 2021 books for the year and that was terrific. That was only your second novel, so it wasn't as if you had a great series behind you.

Now this new book is Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club, and it continues that romcom theme of Canadian Chinese girl finding her way in life and getting herself established.

Sophie is a newly minted professional matchmaker with a rather overpowering mom. It’s located in Toronto, and I wondered what was the biggest challenge for you in writing the story?

Roselle Lim: The biggest challenge for me? Well, first of all, the book is a retelling, a loose retelling, of the Snow White fairy tale.

So in the fairy tale you do have that evil stepmother, right? And in this one for me it is portraying to me a realistic version of what it is like when you are suffering from emotional abuse from a parent, or this case both parents.

A picture of family emotional abuse

Jenny Wheeler: Yes, because the father in the story is very much overpowered by the mother. He is more interested in placating his wife than in looking after his daughter's interests, isn't he?

Roselle Lim: Yes, he's very much the enabler, a common formula or a dynamic when that kind of abuse happens in the family.

Jenny Wheeler: Interesting that you drew on the fairy tale aspect, because your work is often referred to as magical realism. How close do you think you are to that description of magical realism?

Roselle Lim: I wanted to imbue magic as an ordinary magic into this and in Sophie in particular. It's about the red threads and being able to see them and how they link people together.

This is how soulmates are viewed by Sophie and by the reader. I like having the subtle magic in there. And I think for magical realism, there is a cultural cornerstone to it. I believe I've established that. with my Chinese culture as the back.

Jenny Wheeler: Yes, she's desperate to prove herself and earn a living as a matchmaker so she doesn't have to return to living with her parents.

In desperation she takes on a group of elderly gents as possible candidates for matchmaking because she just wants to develop a back list of people who've used her services and can give her a good report.

...

Today on The Joys Of Binge Reading, a real historical fiction treat. Diana Giovinazzo and Antoinette's Sister, historical fiction bursting with intrigue, adventure, and romance.

Hi there. I'm your host, Jenny Wheeler, and on Binge Reading today, Diana Giovinazzo presents two historical feasts and two formidable women.

Antoinette's Sister is a tale of power, love, and the entwined lives of two sisters, both queens during 18th century Europe's most volatile period. One will keep her head, the other will lose it

This is historical fiction at its most entertaining and informative.

Historical Fiction Sales Specials

But before we get to that news of two special historical fiction sales, the first one on Kobo finishes February 28th, so don't waste any time in getting in and having a look.

I've got the first three books of the Of Gold & Blood Series in this Kobo sale. The first three books, with 25% off Normal retail price. Take a look now

Kobo Sale here: https://kobo.com/p/february-boxset-sale !

KOBO SALE HERE

And then we are sharing in another great historical fiction sale on Book Funnel, with loads of other historical fiction books there. Great quality historical fiction.

I've got Book Five in the Of Gold & Blood series, Unbridled Vengeance, and Susannah's Secret, Book One in Home At Last, on sale.

Great Historical Fiction Sale here:  https://books.bookfunnel.com/greathistoricalfiction/ky7epqyx9f 

GREAT HISTORICAL FICTION SALE

That's where you'll find them. Before we get on to Diana though, just let me say, if you enjoy this show, why not leave a comment online so others can find us too? But that's enough of our housekeeping.

Links for this episode

The Kingdom Of The Two Sicilies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_the_Two_Sicilies

Caserta Palace: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palace_of_Caserta

Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_I_of_the_Two_Sicilies

Where to find Diana Giovinazzo Online

Website: https://dianagiovinazzo.com/

Facebook @dianagauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianagauthor/

Twitter: TikTok: @dianagauthor

Wine Women and Words podcast: https://www.winewomenwordspodcast.com/

(Editor’s Note – Maria Carolina was called Charlotte by her family, and I refer to her by that name a few times in the podcast.  Sorry if this is confusing – but it was one of the names she was known by to her family.)

Introducing Diana Giovinazzo, historical fiction author

Diana Giovinazzo, historical fiction author.

Now, here's Diana. Hello there, Diana, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us

Diana Giovinazzo: Thank you so much for having me. It's such a pleasure.,

Jenny Wheeler: You've written these two lovely books about forgotten women of history, Antoinette's Sister, which is the latest one and the one we'll be focusing on here today, but also The Women in Red, which got tremendous reviews when it was published.

Both of them are these forgotten women. You’ve said that getting into genealogy and your own family history is what drew you into writing fiction.

Tell us about how that happened.

Diana Giovinazzo: It was really interesting. I was having a conversation with my dad and we were discussing how my family ended up coming to the United States and the questions of how turned into, well, why. Why were they leaving Italy?

Why were they coming to California? Because there were a massive number of, Italians that left the country going to Australia, New Zealand, the United States and all throughout South America, and my father said well, you should look at Anita Garibaldi and check out her story. I think you'd really like it. That might give you some answers. And so, I did. I picked up a biography and I absolutely fell in love with her story and started digging into the Italian history and what was going on with unification and the country itself.

Kate O'Keeffe is the perfect Valentine's Day guest for this week's Binge Reading. A USA Today. best selling author of laugh out loud, rom coms, sweet romance, feel good stories with gorgeous Happily Ever Afters.

Hi there. I'm your host, Jenny Wheeler. And on Binge Reading today, Kate talks about a recent book of hers, Never Fall For The One That Got Away, the last book in the It's Complicated series that asks and beautifully answers. a key question.

If life gives you a second chance with the one that got away, do you take it?

This week's Book Offers and Giveaways

We've also got a couple of other great giveaways. A Historical Fiction Sale with 65 books in it. Great titles, many different time periods and locations, including Susannah's Secret, Book Two in my new Home At Last series,

SEE FEMALE FICTION SELECTION

And then we've also got an American Historical Fiction Giveaway, eight paperbacks, one winner. You have to enter by February 8. Once again, I've got Unbridled Vengeance in this one, Book Five in the Of Gold & Blood series.

enter american historical fiction giveaway 

Links in this episode

Bridget Jones' Diary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/227443.Bridget_Jones_s_Diary

Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice: https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/05/01/secrets-from-bridget-jones-s-diary/

Pride and Prejudice: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1885.Pride_and_Prejudice

Marian Keyes: https://www.mariankeyes.com/

Sophie Kinsella: https://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/

Leeanna Morgan: https://www.leeannamorgan.com/

Where To find Kate O'Keeffe Online

Website: ttps://kateokeeffe.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateokeeffeauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateokeeffewriter/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kateokeeffewriter

Private Facebook Group you can ask to join: Kate’s Cupids: https://www.facebook.com/groups/katescupids

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-o-keeffe

Introducing Romcom author Kate O'Keeffe

Kate O'Keeffe, laugh-out-loud romcom author

But that's enough of the housekeeping. Here's Kate.

Jenny Wheeler: Hello there, Kate, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us.

Kate O'Keeffe: Hi, Jenny. It's fantastic to be here. Thanks for inviting me.

Jenny Wheeler: We're thrilled to have you on this Valentine's Week, and as I've mentioned in the intro, you do live in New Zealand in Hawkes Bay in a beautiful area, but you write international bestsellers set in many other parts of the world. Tell us how you got into this right at the beginning.

Kate O'Keeffe: Got into writing you mean?.

Jenny Wheeler: Yes, the writing.

Kate O'Keeffe: Well, I have always been a voracious reader, and I imagine most writers will say that ever since I was a little girl. I grew up in a family with a father who was a business professor and published many books 20 plus books. So I was always around the possibility that I could do it.

Of course, what I write is extraordinarily different from business books,., the other end of the spectrum as it were.

I'd studied literature at university and I was a bit of a literary snob. In fact, I wouldn't read anything that wasn't a prize winner or a literary classic. and then one day a friend of mine handed me Bridget Jones' Diary and I read that and absolutely loved it.

'Gosh' I can read for enjoyment!

And I had this epiphany where I thought, gosh, I can read for enjoyment instead of just bettering myself and reading the classics to make sure I've read all the classics.

And that really was the beginning of me realizing that actually I might like to write this as well, and over the years, I began to write a few ideas down.

It wasn't until my son was two and he was napping, and I wasn't going to work at the time. I was a stay-at-home mother and I just thought, you know what? I might just try, I might just see if I can do this. And that was, gosh, 13,

On Encore today, we have Australian author, Natasha Lester who was last on the show in August, 2020 with her international best seller, The Paris Secret. Encore, you may recall, is the show where we talk to authors who've already been on Binge Reading about their latest book.

Hi there, I'm your host, Jenny Wheeler, and today on Binge Reading, Natasha returns to talk about her latest World War II spy saga, The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre. A story that Kate Quinn has called a “triple-stranded-delight.”

American ex-spy Alix returns to Paris in 1947, determined to build a new life for herself, with a fascinating job in the house of Christian Dior.

But among the bolts of silk and Ritz cocktails an old enemy lies in wait. Alix must reach back unto her wartime past to try and trap her enemy. hoping it is not too late to build a new future out from under his shadow.

Natasha Lester The Paris Secret - Binge Reading August 2020:

www.thejoysofbingereading.com/natasha-lester-paris-secrets/

Historical Fiction - Free Giveaway

Our Giveaway this week is a great range of free historical fiction, my book, Sadie's Vow, the first book in the new Home At Last series included.

FREE BOOKS GIVEAWAY

As usual, links for everything to do with this episode, how to access those free books and anything else I might've been talking about with Natasha can be found in the show notes for this episode on the website, The Joys of Binge Reading.com. And if you like the show, why not leave us a comment so others will find us too.

Links in this episode

Karl Wolf, Nazi SS officer responsible for many deaths:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Wolff

Allan Dulles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Dulles

Galerie Dior: https://www.galeriedior.com/

Staffette: The women of the Italian Resistance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_women_in_the_Italian_Resistance

Rita Hayworth and Gilda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilda

Dior exhibitions:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/15/arts/design/christian-dior-costume-institute-met-review.html

https://www.vogue.com/article/christian-dior-retrospective-fall-2017-couture

Diablesse dress Alix wears in the book: From Natasha Lester’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Caio9ESPrFY/

Where to find Natasha online:

Website: www.natashalester.com.au

Instagram: @natashalesterauthor

But now, here's Natasha.

Introducing author Natasha Lester

Natasha Lester - World War II romantic adventures

Jenny Wheeler: We know from our last talk that you have got a long-standing passion for Dior, so tell us about that briefly.

Natasha Lester: I have. But this book was a bit of an accident in terms of how Dior was woven into the story, I have to say. I mean, I love his gowns.

I think he really revolutionized fashion. He is one of the few designers who can lay claim to having changed fashion so radically.

But for this one, because I was really interested in what happened to women after the war.

They had amazing independence, they'd been able to earn their own money, work in any job anywhere during the wartime, because all the men were away. And then suddenly the men came back from the war and women were actively dissuaded from working and told to return to the home and return to the kitchen. And I wanted to examine what that might've felt like for women.

And tied up in all of that is the New Look. And Dior is often scapegoated as being part of that re-domestication of women. But I think that's oversimplifying it.

I think it's much more complicated than that. And in fact, I think that actually, his aim was to celebrate women, at a time where women were told to return to the background and he was trying to bring them back to the foreground.

So in some ways, he was doing the opposite of what he's often blamed for.

Dion was a cultural marker for gender relations

For this particular story,

Happy New Year and welcome back to Part Two of the Best of Binge Reading 2022, and the seven top shows for the year as selected by you, our listeners.

We ran the first part of the Best of Binge Reading 2022 Part 1 in the first week of January, so if you missed out on that, do check it out.

Hi, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler. The seven authors represented here, like those before them, range across the whole field of popular fiction from romance maestro Jayne Ann Krentz to Kate Quinn and her remarkable spy story - set - it in of all places – in Ukraine - during the Second World War.

We travel from from Patti Callahan's inspirational revisiting of Narnia and the story of the love affair between CS Lewis and Joy Davidman, to a surprise nonfiction book, our first ever, but such a good story. Kate Langbroek’s Ciao Bella, her heart warming account of taking her family of six to Italy for a year.

As you'll know if you heard Part One, the selection is based solely on the number of people who listened to the shows that ran between December 1st, 2021 and December 1st, 2022. Taking those dates allows us to compile and edit the show. In time for posting in January 23.

To give you the flavor, we include selected highlights from each show. We hope that you might discover new authors you've missed first time round or find books you might want to get into in 2023.

Just as our listeners hailed from all over the world so do the authors represented here so here it is, Part Two of the Best of Binge Reading 2022.

I do hope you do enjoy it, and if you do, leave us a comment or a review so others will find us too

Introducing romantic suspense author Jayne Ann Krentz

Jayne Ann Krentz is an internationally celebrated author who has sold 35 million copies of her books worldwide. But when she started out, she spent six years battering on publisher's doors trying to find her way in. I asked her about those years.

Jenny Wheeler: And you were writing for yourself and really just for the joy of it, for that whole six years?

Jayne Ann Krentz: I wouldn't call it the joy of it. I always say that if you're doomed to write, you don't have any option.

It really is a kind of an addiction. It's a compulsion, and if you can quit writing, you will quit writing because there are enough frustrations in the business that you're not going to fight it. Every writer I know has just kept at it. That's how it works.

I think it's because we can't stop and I say that, but there does come a time for some writers when they do stop, all of a sudden.

I look back in their names that have just gone, and I have no idea where they went. I guess they just walked away. I can't do that.

Creating a 'Jayneverse' for her readers

Jenny Wheeler: Yes. That's interesting. So now you've created what you described at the end of one of your recent books as a Jayneverse, A universe but it's a Jayneverse. Now that's an interesting concept. It's something that almost seems to have stolen up on you?

Can you explain to readers who don't know what a Jayneverse is?

Jayne Ann Krentz: Well, I have my editor to thank for pointing it out. We were talking one day about the next book, what would the next book be like, what did I want to work with? And  with so many of my books, I want to work with similar things.

I love working with the psychic vibe, and with a certain kind of hero and a certain kind of heroine. Certain kinds of plots. I don't do gore, or serial killer plots. I do more murder mystery type plots.

And I like the romantic vibe in the books. And after a while you create a world of that.

Every writer has a ‘verse,’ I think, a metaverse and I think they spend their entire careers exploring that universe. And it's endless. It's as broad as your imagination.

So in some sense, every author has their own personal universe, and that's what they write out of, that's what they write from, and that's what they explore.

Happy New Year and welcome to The Best Of Joys Of Binge Reading for 2022.

We're presenting the Top 15 Shows for the year as selected by you, our listeners.

And from previous years, I know that this is one of the most popular shows every year, so it's wonderful to do it for you.

I'm Jenny Wheeler, the host of the show. And first of all, thank you for being part of our growing audience this year. This year, we reached the 250 episode mark, a great achievement, and we wouldn't have done it without your appreciative listening.

 We've divided the show into two parts because 15 episodes is too long to listen to in one go.

The first part with eight of the shows that are selected, will run this week. And then the second we'll run in two weeks in mid-January, to give us plenty of summer relaxing time.

How we selected the 'Best of' authors

You know that I treasure all the authors we talked to and I'd never attempt to pick and choose winners.

So this selection is based solely on the numbers of people who listened to the shows that ran between December 1st, 2021 and December 1st, 2022. Taking those dates allows us to compile and edit the show in time for posting on the first Tuesday in January, 2023.

To give you the flavor, we've included selected highlights of each show so you can discover new authors you might have missed first time round or find books you might want to get into in 2023.

I'm thrilled once again at the generous blend of genres and locations represented in the ‘Best Of’ results, with mysteries, romances, historicals, thrillers, and even an outlier nonfiction title, all featured in the top 15.

And just as our listeners hailed from all over the world so do the authors you listened to, with the US, the UK, and Australian authors all well represented

 So let's get onto it. The first list runs this week, the second one, mid-January. Here it is. The Best of the Joys of Binge Reading 2022,  Part One.

Best Of 2022 - Barbara Freethy - Chart-Topping Romance

Barbara Freethy - Chart topping romance and woman's fiction author

Contemporary author Barbara Freethy is an Amazon KDP best-selling author of all time with a total of 12 million books sold in multiple languages. And that was just when I spoke to her six months ago.

She's a master of thrilling mysteries, romantic suspense and heart-warming romance. Barbara was a successful traditionally published author who made an early jump to ND that's independent publishing. And she's found that being an indie – that’s independently published – author- totally suits her talent and style.

That's particularly so because traditionally the big five publishing houses generally only handle one book a year and. Barbara writes much faster than one book a year. I asked her about that process

It goes without saying that you write highly entertaining and addictive books, but even so, How do you account for that brilliant success?

Many different factors contribute to author success

Barbara Freethy: It's really hard to account for the success. There are a lot of factors that have gone into it. Publishing on a regular basis, being consistent with what I write, and meeting the reader's expectations has been helpful for me. There are a lot of different factors.

I put a lot of time in, but then a lot of authors put a lot of time in, so I don't do anything that much differently. I've got a good head for business, the business of publishing as well as for the writing, and that's been helpful in my pursuit of an indie career.

Jenny Wheeler: Yes. you write in the genres of romantic suspense and contemporary romance. Those are your, main focuses, and you are firmly established in that as a reigning queen in that area.

Barbara Freethy: I really appreciate with digital now and with indie that I can write a book and, bring it out in four months for my audience. So, That's been great.

Jenny Wheeler: It's valuable too,