Bonjour de Paris, where spring is on the way!
Last week, my writing group met at my apartment for lunch. We are rarely in the same city at the same time, so getting together in person felt wonderful.
March is Women's History Month. Many thanks to author Janis Robinson Daly for creating this program about women’s contributions and accomplishments! Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade is #20 on the calendar. How many of these novels have you read?
The topics of historical fiction - women taking action and defining their futures - are relevant today. We must march forth and continue fighting for our rights to education, jobs in our fields, childcare, and healthcare. We must also continue to fight for the right to read freely. On February 6, author Anne Korkeakivi organized Writers Out Loud, an event that raised over $10,000 for the Authors Guild’s Freedom to Read Fund.
Continuing my CARD theme, this month, I’m sharing two evocative posters of the organizations that my real-life characters belonged to during World War I. Founded in 1917, the National League for Woman’s Service provided stateside war services such as feeding and caring for soldiers, veterans and war workers. It is here that the group’s treasurer Anne Morgan crossed paths with NYPL librarian Jessie Carson, who volunteered as the chair of the businesswomen's unit. The NLWS often worked with the American Committee for Devastated France.
And here is a poster of the American Committee for Devastated France. If you’ve read Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade, you know that 350 American, British, and French women worked hand in hand to rebuild northern France during and after World War I. Here we see a woman in a horizon blue uniform guiding a mother and her children away from the ruins of war.
It was an honor to tell the stories of the women of CARD, and I’m excited about the paperback release on April 1.
You can preorder here:
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Author Marcy Goldman kindly let me know that my novel THE PARIS LIBRARY was featured in the Ideal Bookshelf: Librarians. It made my day! I have long been a fan of Jane Mount’s work. Are any of your favorites in this stack?
I’m thrilled that you will soon be able to listen to my new novel, The Parisian Chapter, and roam around the City of Light with my characters Lily and Mary Louise.
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Thank you so much for reading my newsletter! I appreciate you support.
My best,
Janet
I am reading Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade AND listening to The Paris Library!
Congratulations, Janet! It's fantastic to see that your new book is right around the corner and I can hardly wait to read it. I love your Substack updates and know that you are actively doing something for our right to read freely too. Thank you. I have reread your books because I love them so much. On your next book signing trip to the U.S., please consider coming to Tempe's Changing Hands bookstore. It's a place I know you would love to visit and Phoenix would love to meet you!