Julie Gerstenblatt joins us to introduce her debut novel, DAUGHTERS OF NANTUCKET, in conversation with bestselling author Serena Burdick. DAUGHTERS OF NANTUCKET is a rich and atmospheric historical debut, inspired by true events that took place during the height of Nantucket's iconic whaling days, as well as Julie’s time living in Nantucket. Lovers of historical fiction won't want to miss this in-conversation event with two brilliant authors as they discuss their writing, answer audience questions and sign books! Beer and wine will be available for purchase along with Julie and Serena's books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
For fans of Jenna Blum and Christina Baker Kline, a rich and atmospheric historical debut that centers on Nantucket's Great Fire of 1846 in which three very different women are brought together, each forced to re-evaluate her priorities and answer the harrowing question: “What—and whom—would you save?”
Authentic and engaging, Gerstenblatt’s debut fiction creates a vivid portrait of three women’s lives converging at a prime inflection point in the history of Nantucket, and the history of American commerce, civil rights, and social change. When a massive fire breaks out in the middle of a July night, the three women are brought together, and each is forced to reevaluate her priorities and answer the harrowing question: “What—and whom—would you save?”
Eliza Macy, wife to a whaling captain at sea for years on end and mother of three daughters, fights to conceal her financial troubles and keep her feelings for an old flame at bay, all while reckoning with the sincerity of her so-called “progressive” values.
Maria Mitchell, a character based on the real-life female astronomer born and raised on Nantucket, runs the island’s library, the Atheneum, and spends her nights stargazing and charting calculations by candlelight, aiming to discover her own comet. She also tries to define her undeniable attraction to another young woman on the island.
Meg Wright, a pregnant free Black woman, a wife and mother, who along with her husband experiences push back when they try to relocate their successful shop to Main Street, also fights to keep the island’s schools integrated so her young daughter can receive an equal education.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Julie Gerstenblatt holds a Doctorate in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and teaches writing at Roger Williams University. Her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post, Cognoscenti, among others. She is also a producer for A Mighty Blaze, a social media and marketing organization of volunteer creatives dedicated to connecting writers to readers and which has grown into a leading resource for author interviews. Julie lives in coastal Rhode Island with her family and one very smart poodle.
Serena Burdick is the USA Today, Toronto Star and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of THE GIRLS WITH NO NAMES. She is the author of the novel THE STOLEN BOOK OF EVELYN AUBREY, FIND ME IN HAVANA, and the 2017 International Book Award Winner for Historical Fiction for her novel GIRL IN THE AFTERNOON. Her books have been translated into nine languages and published in eleven territories to date. She studied creative writing at Sarah Lawrence, holds a Bachelors of Arts from Brooklyn College in English literature and an Associates of Arts from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in theater. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.
