Please join us for What's New in Historical Fiction, a regular panel series featuring historical novelists with new and upcoming titles. Moderated by Colin Mustful, founder of History Through Fiction, this special panel includes:
Anna Rasche, author of The Stone Witch of Florence
Lynda Cohen Loigman, author of The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern
Rose Sutherland, author of A Sweet Sting of Salt
Jillian Forsberg, author of The Rhino Keeper
Anna Rasche is a historian and gemologist with an impressive background, including work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Her debut novel, The Stone Witch of Florence, draws from her original research on medieval gemstone medicine and brings to life a riveting tale set against the backdrop of the Black Plague. Living in Brooklyn with her family, Rasche's expertise shines through in this historical fiction, where the power of gems meets the peril of pandemics.
Lynda Cohen Loigman, a Harvard and Columbia Law School graduate, captivates readers with her rich storytelling. Her debut, The Two-Family House, was a USA Today bestseller and Goodreads 2016 Choice Awards contender. The Wartime Sisters earned acclaim as a Woman's World Book Club pick and one of Real Simple's Best Books of 2019. Her latest, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern, set in a Florida senior community, explores love, loyalty, and second chances.
Rose Sutherland, raised in rural Nova Scotia, brings her diverse experiences—from studying theater in NYC to apprenticing at a French pâtisserie—into her storytelling. Her debut novel, A Sweet Sting of Salt, set in 1832 Nova Scotia, follows midwife Jean Langille as she navigates love and deceit after meeting the mysterious Muirin. This tale reimagines the selkie wife folktale, challenging Jean to rescue Muirin and unravel hidden secrets.
Jillian Forsberg, a historian and author with a master's in public history from Wichita State University, debuts with The Rhino Keeper, the true tale of an 18th-century sea captain and his rhinoceros, Clara. Former editor for The Fairmont Folio and essayist, Forsberg's work explores lesser-known history. She resides in Wichita, Kansas, with her family and pets, enjoying vintage dresses, gardening, and antique malls.