XO Romance --> Hidden Herstories

New name, new focus, same obsession with historical heroines

A year ago, I launched XO Romance, a newsletter dedicated to the radical joy of romance novels. Together we’ve had wonderful conversations about whether babies and marriages are truly necessary for HEAs and why romance novels are dangerous books for everyone. The ones I had the most fun considering are about older heroines, historical heroines, and the role of female friendship in romance novels. 

I have long been inspired by women’s history in the crafting of my historical novels. My heroine in Lady Claire Is All That was inspired by Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer. My Gilded Age Girls Club novels draw heavily on real 19^th century women like Madame Demorest and Margaret Gretchell LaForge. And my novel The Mad Girls of New York is based on the true of story of stunt reporter Nellie Bly. 

My current obsession is the nineteenth century women’s rights movement in America. It’s full of radical women of all ages, colors and classes teaming up to smash the patriarchy so women could live happily ever after in real life. It’s the audacious and outrageous story of how women got the vote in America….as well as how women got to wear pants, go to college, get a job, have their own money and do whatever the f*&! they want. It’s the story of how they got to determine if/when/how they became mothers and have custody over their own children. It’s the story of how women fought to become fully human in the eyes of the law—and how we are still fighting for that today. 

As I’m doing research for new works in progress, I can’t wait to share what I’m discovering with you all. So, I am revamping this newsletter. May I present….

Hidden Herstories

Women’s history for modern feminists

What to expect: short and pithy posts delivered weekly about radical housewives, unapologetic spinsters, rebellious single ladies and daring women of all ages, colors and classes teaming up to change the world. There will be nineteenth century wine moms, stunts and spectacles, stories from jail, badass Victorian matrons, love stories, legendary female friendships and nice ladies trolling the president. There will be snark, plot bunnies and pockets. 

For subscriber perks and more about the new newsletter, check out my updated about page. If this is not your truth and you’d like to unsubscribe, I understand and no hard feelings. But I hope you’ll all join me in reveling in these true stories about real historical heroines.

Thank you for reading! 

Coming up next week: the stay-at-home mom who started a revolution!