Let's Talk with Lois Winston

Although I write contemporary humorous mysteries, I enjoy reading across multiple genres. For the past several years, I’ve submerged myself in historical novels, especially those that incorporate figures and events from history. And when those historical events have a through-line to current events, that’s a unicorn of a read.

Such is the case with the historical fiction of Shelley Noble. I’ve known Shelley for nearly thirty years, and although I’ve enjoyed all her books, her most recent release blew me away, given the times we live in. Because if we fail to learn from history, we’re doomed to repeat our mistakes. That’s a message we all need to consider right now.

From Contemporary Cozy Mysteries to Historical Mysteries

As Shelley Freydont, Shelley spent her early career writing several cozy mystery series, including The Lindy Haggerty Dance Company Mysteries, The Katie McDonald Sudoku Mysteries, and The Liv Montgomery Celebration Bay Mysteries, before transitioning to historical mysteries with her Newport Gilded Age Mystery series.

Her love of research and the Gilded Age then led to The Lady Dunbridge Mysteries, which she wrote as Shelley Noble. At the same time and under the same name, she also began writing beach-themed contemporary women’s fiction.

From Historical Mysteries to Historical Women’s Fiction

Shelley’s latest three books combine history, feminism, and friendship, intertwining the stories of fictional protagonists with real-life historical figures. Gender equality is a theme that runs through each of these books. They feature women fighting for a voice, the right to work, the right to vote, the right to control their own bodies and their own destinies.

In The Tiffany Girls, she introduces us to the largely unrecognized and unsung group of women artists responsible for the design and construction of many of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s stained glass creations.

The Colony Club includes a Gilded Age society matron and a well-known actress of the time, along with a fictional woman determined to work in a male-dominated field. Together, the three women overcome societal constraints, class biases, and scandal to create the Colony Club, the first social club exclusively for women.

The Sisters of Book Row is Shelley’s most recent book. It’s the story of three sisters, their fight against censorship and book banning and their struggle to preserve some of the great literary works of antiquity.

In 1915 Fourth Avenue in New York was the home to forty rare and used bookshops. It was also a primary target of anti-vice activist Anthony Comstock, whose Comstock Laws threatened imprisonment for anyone caught owning, selling, or circulating books that didn’t fit into his narrow definition of what Americans should be allowed to read. Sound familiar?

Do you enjoy books that weave together history and fiction? What are some of your favorites?

Want to learn more about our author Lois Winston? Visit her WEBSITE.