About the Show

On today’s show I chat with author Nicole Evelina about writing historical fiction with strong, sometimes forgotten by history, female leads. We dive into Arthurian legends and discuss her series focusing on Guinevere and then talk about something a bit more relevant by discussing her latest book, which deals with the very first woman to run for president.

For those who love history, write historical works, or who are thinking about writing historical books, this show is a must listen! The resources she mentioned are also mentioned below.

Resources Mentioned

http://www.missedinhistory.com/podcasts

About the Guest

Nicole Evelina is a multi-award-winning historical fiction and romantic comedy writer. Her most recent novel, MADAME PRESIDENTESS, a historical novel about Victoria Woodhull, America’s first female Presidential candidate, was awarded the prestigious B.R.A.G Medallion and was the first place winner in the Women’s US History category of the 2015 Chaucer Awards for Historical Fiction.

Her debut novel, DAUGHTER OF DESTINY, the first book of an Arthurian legend trilogy that tells Guinevere’s life story from her point of view, was named Book of the Year by Chanticleer Reviews and took home Silver for Best New Voice from the Independent Book Publishers Association’s (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Awards, in addition to winning gold in five additional competitions.

Its sequel, CAMELOT’S QUEEN, was named Best Second Book by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, took first place in the myth/legend category of the Ozma Awards for fantasy, and was a finalist for four other awards, including the fantasy category of the Midwest Book Awards, where it took second to its prequel, Daughter of Destiny.

BEEN SEARCHING FOR YOU, her contemporary romantic comedy, won the romance category of the Midwest Book Awards and took Silver in romance category of the Independent Book Publishers Association’s (IBPA) Benjamin Franklin Awards, in addition to winning three additional romance competitions and finaling in two more.

Nicole is currently working on her first non-fiction book, THE ONCE AND FUTURE QUEEN (2018) which traces the evolution of the character of Guinevere in Arthurian legend from her Celtic roots to the present day. She’s also writing MISTRESS OF LEGEND (2017), the final book in her Guinevere’s Tale trilogy.

Nicole’s writing has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Independent Journal, Curve Magazine and numerous historical publications. She is one of only six authors who completed a week-long writing intensive taught by #1 New York Times bestselling author Deborah Harkness. As an armchair historian, Nicole researches her books extensively, consulting with biographers, historical societies and traveling to locations when possible. For example, she traveled to England twice to research the Guinevere’s Tale trilogy, where she consulted with internationally acclaimed author and historian Geoffrey Ashe, as well as Arthurian/Glastonbury expert Jaime George, the man who helped Marion Zimmer Bradley research The Mists of Avalon.

Nicole is President-elect and self-publishing liaison for the Romance Writers of America (RWA)’s Missouri chapter. She is also a member of and book reviewer for The Historical Novel Society, as well as a member of the Historical Writers of America, the St. Louis Writer’s Guild, Alliance of Independent Authors, the Independent Book Publishers Association and the Midwest Publisher’s Association.

Her website is http://nicoleevelina.com/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bqkBZP

She can be reached online at:

• https://twitter.com/NicoleEvelina
• http://www.goodreads.com/nicoleevelina
• http://pinterest.com/nicoleevelina/
• https://www.facebook.com/nicoleevelinapage/
• http://instagram.com/nicoleevelina

Nicole Evelina’s Amazon Author Page

About the Book

Forty-eight years before women were granted the right to vote, one woman dared to run for President of the United States, yet her name has been virtually written out of the history books.

Rising from the shame of an abusive childhood, Victoria Woodhull, the daughter of a con-man and a religious zealot, vows to follow her destiny, one the spirits say will lead her out of poverty to “become ruler of her people.”

But the road to glory is far from easy. A nightmarish marriage teaches Victoria that women are stronger and deserve far more credit than society gives. Eschewing the conventions of her day, she strikes out on her own to improve herself and the lot of American women.

Over the next several years, she sets into motion plans that shatter the old boys club of Wall Street and defile even the sanctity of the halls of Congress. But it’s not just her ambition that threatens men of wealth and privilege; when she announces her candidacy for President in the 1872 election, they realize she may well usurp the power they’ve so long fought to protect.

Those who support her laud “Notorious Victoria” as a gifted spiritualist medium and healer, a talented financial mind, a fresh voice in the suffrage movement, and the radical idealist needed to move the nation forward. But those who dislike her see a dangerous force who is too willing to speak out when women are expected to be quiet. Ultimately, “Mrs. Satan’s” radical views on women’s rights, equality of the sexes, free love and the role of politics in private affairs collide with her tumultuous personal life to endanger all she has built and change how she is viewed by future generations.

This is the story of one woman who was ahead of her time – a woman who would make waves even in the 21st century – but who dared to speak out and challenge the conventions of post-Civil War America, setting a precedent that is still followed by female politicians today.

Purchase from Amazon

This show is part of the My Author Home Radio Network