Before flying back to the States, the lovely Harmony Verna, author of Daughter of Australia, is going to show us the sights down under! Let's see what delights await us in Western Australia! And thank you all for touring with us!!! 
Tucked within the diverse landscape of Western Australia, the Goldfields were a magnet for thousands of prospectors and other adventurers in the early 20th century. As in the California Goldrush in 1850, Western Australia boomed as men and mining companies flocked to find gold and fortune.
Unfortunately, many of the pioneers were not prepared for such an inhospitable land of searing heat, red earth and black flies. Today, the real gems in this area are the towns of Leonora and Gwalia, the main points of interest including the magnificent Gwalia State Hotel, a large open cut mine, the old miners’ cottages and other commercial buildings, left by residents in December 1963 when the Sons of Gwalia Gold mine closed. A very special attraction is Hoover House, now a guest house, but originally built in 1898 as a home for the mine manager. Herbert Hoover, who commissioned the house was later to become 31st President of the United States of America. A highlight for spring travelers? Every year, this barren desert land erupts in wildflowers in every hue imaginable. Photos courtesy of Australia's Golden Outback 
All about Daughter of Australia and Harmony Verna
In a stunning debut novel that evokes the epic scope of Colleen McCullough's classic The Thorn Birds, Harmony Verna creates a poignant, beautifully told story of love and courage, set in Australia and America in the early decades of the twentieth century.
The desert of Western Australia is vast and unforgiving. It's a miracle that the little girl dressed in rags and abandoned in the sand is still breathing when an old miner discovers her. Even more so that he is able to keep her alive long enough to bring her to the town from which she'll take her name: Leonora. Sent to an orphanage, mute with grief and fear, Leonora slowly bonds with another orphan, James, who fights to protect her until both are sent away--Leonora to a wealthy American family, James to relatives who have emigrated from Ireland to claim him. Years later, Leonora is given a chance to return to her beloved Australia. There, in Wanjarri Downs, she will again come face to face with James, who's grown from a reticent boy into a strong, resourceful man. Only James knows the truth about Leonora--that her roots and her heart are here, among the gum trees and red earth. And they will fight to find a way back to each other, even as war, turmoil, and jealousy test their courage again and again. Sweeping in scale yet filled with intricately drawn characters and vivid details that conjure the fascinating setting, Daughter of Australia is storytelling at its most exhilarating and rewarding. 
Throughout her twenty year career in communications, Harmony Verna has worked with all media facets: radio, television, magazines, newspapers, public relations, advertising and marketing. As a freelance writer, she has written scripts for the Food Network and articles for Modern Bride Magazine, Connecticut Woman Magazine and more. DAUGHTER OF AUSTRALIA was a final round selection for the James Jones First Novel Contest. Verna lives in Newtown, Connecticut, with her husband and their three young boys.
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There is no better guide to Kyoto, Japan than acclaimed mystery writer, Susan Spann. Her Shinobi mysteries take us far beyond the tourist spots to the hidden corners of the city where intrigue abounds. Come along!
In Japan, ancient culture and modern technology coexist in a manner you rarely see elsewhere in the world. Tokyo’s massive neon skyscrapers rise around Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines established during the 8th and 9th centuries, and Kyoto has been a center of Japanese culture for thousands of years.
Historically, Kyoto was home to a number of hanamachi or “flower towns” where geisha lived, trained, and entertained (mostly male) patrons in the district’s many teahouses and restaurants. Although famous for their beauty, geisha were not prostitutes. Their primary functions were singing, dancing, and engaging patrons in conversation during meals. Geisha still exist today, and if you visit Kyoto, you can tour the remaining hanamachi and see where real geisha (or “geiko”) live and train, as well as watch a performance of traditional dances. If you find yourself in Japan, it’s definitely worth the trip! All photos courtesy of Susan Spann
All About Claws of the Cat and Susan Spann
May 1564: When a samurai is brutally murdered in a Kyoto teahouse, master ninja Hiro has no desire to get involved. But the beautiful entertainer accused of the crime enlists the help of Father Mateo, the Portuguese Jesuit Hiro is sworn to protect, leaving the master shinobi with just three days to find the killer in order to save the girl and the priest from execution. The investigation plunges Hiro and Father Mateo into the dangerous waters of Kyoto's floating world, where they learn that everyone from the elusive teahouse owner to the dead man's dishonored brother has a motive to keep the samurai's death a mystery. A rare murder weapon favored by ninja assassins, a female samurai warrior, and a hidden affair leave Hiro with too many suspects and far too little time. Worse, the ninja's investigation uncovers a host of secrets that threaten not only Father Mateo and the teahouse, but the very future of Japan. 
Susan Spann began reading precociously and voraciously from her preschool days in Santa Monica, California, and as a child read everything from National Geographic to Agatha Christie. In high school, she once turned a short-story assignment into a full-length fantasy novel (which, fortunately, will never see the light of day).
A yearning to experience different cultures sent Susan to Tufts University in Boston, where she immersed herself in the history and culture of China and Japan. After earning an undergraduate degree in Asian Studies, Susan diverted to law school. She returned to California to practice law, where her continuing love of books has led her to specialize in intellectual property, business and publishing contracts. 
Today's stop is exciting because we have a native of China leading the tour. Weina Dai Randel, author of the acclaimed Empress of Bright Moon dulology, The Moon in the Palace and The Empress of Bright Moon. Weina will show is the highlights that no traveler should miss when visiting this fascinating country. 
As someone who was born and raised in China, I honestly can't think of a place for you to visit, because, there are simply too many memorable places in China! Where should I start? The Forbidden City? The Great Wall? The Drum Tower, the Summer Palace in Beijing? Each place is imbued with history, splendor, and sadness too – because as you look around, you can't help thinking the people who strolled on those ground, the important people who once played a vital part in the history, are now, gone.
I was dazzled by the sight everywhere I saw when I revisited China after living in the U.S. for almost fifteen years. I've taken some pictures here and maybe you'll find me somewhere on them? You'll see the Great Wall, a corner of the Summer Palace, and the frozen river at the exit of the Summer Palace – it really was that cold in Beijing in December that the entire river was frozen. I can't resist adding a picture of the Yu Garden in Shanghai as well. If you go to China, you have to stop in a southern city such as Shanghai and Suzhou, which are famous for their delicate and extravagant gardens. The Yu Garden was built in 1559, that's about 450 years old, before the U.S. became independent. Yes. It's true, if you go to China, people will casually tell you this is 500 years old and that's 800 years old, and for history lover like me, I could only nod and admire. I have to mention the city of Xi'an, too, known as Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty, as described in my novels The Moon in the Palace and The Empress of Bright Moon. Xi'an is home for many world famous cultural heritage sites: Qin Shi Huang's Terracotta Army, Great Maternal Grace Pagoda, built in A.D 652, by Emperor Gaozong, in honor of his mother. Yes, I mentioned the pagoda in my novel as well! The two palaces where Empress Wu lived no longer exist, but I found some reconstructed images of the Daming Palace, a secondary palace, smaller, more like a resort, which Empress Wu frequented at leisure. According to sources, the Daming Palace had about 5 miles perimeter, with 11 gates and more than 40 sites, pavilions, palaces, and a lake, known as Penglai Lake in Empress Wu's time. One palace, the Linde Palace, famous for its magnificent structure, measured about 132,400 square feet. Photos by Weina Dai Randel (from top to bottom) One of the buildings inside Summer Palace A picture of Great Wall A picture of the Yu Garden A corner of Summer Palace 
All About The Moon in the Palace and Weina Dai Randel
The time for taking hold of her destiny is now At the moment of the Emperor's death, everything changes in the palace. Mei, his former concubine, is free, and Pheasant, the heir and Mei's lover, is proclaimed as the new Emperor, heralding a new era in China. But just when Mei believes she's closer to her dream, Pheasant's chief wife, Lady Wang, powerful and unpredictable, turns against Mei and takes unthinkable measures to stop her. The power struggle that ensues will determine Mei's fate–and that of China. Surrounded by enemies within the palace that she calls home, Mei continues her journey to the throne in The Empress of Bright Moon, the second book in Weina Dai Randel's acclaimed duology. Only by fighting back against those who wish her harm will Mei be able to realize her destiny as the most powerful woman in China. 
WEINA DAI RANDEL is the author of The Moon in the Palace and The Empress of Bright Moon, historical novel series of Empress Wu, the first and only female ruler in China. Weina was born and raised in China. Her passion for history compels her to share classical Chinese literature, tales of Chinese dynasties, and stories of Chinese historical figures with American readers.
Weina received an M.A. in English from Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas, where she was inspired to write about Empress Wu of China when she took a class in Asian American literature. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Writer's Garret in Dallas. The Moon in the Palace is her first novel. 
Next on our tour, we head to the Old World splendors of St. Petersburg, Russia! The amazing Jennifer Laam will guide us through the modern streets of the sprawling city, and show us the specter of a bygone era! 
The historical characters who emerged from Russia’s Romanov dynasty include the formidable Peter the Great, the transformative Catherine II, and the tragic romantics Nicholas and Alexandra. Many of their stories played out in St. Petersburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this gorgeous city, travelers discover not only the ghosts of Russia’s imperial legacy, but the cultural heritage of the Russian Empire. This is where Tchaikovsky’s grand music was first played and Alexander Pushkin’s clever verse first adored. Consider a visit during the early summer to celebrate the city’s magical white nights. Discover the lost glories of the Winter Palace and revel in the world class art collection of the Hermitage Museum. Admire the towering Alexander Column, built to honor Russia’s victory over Napoleon in 1812, and Catherine’s tribute to Peter, the Bronze Horseman. Explore the streets, take in the beauty of the churches, seek out cafes and artists, and let your imagination soar.
Above: The Bronze Horseman ©Alex Florstein Fedorov, Wikimedia Commons Below: The Winter Palace (Public Domain Photo) 
All About Jennifer Laam and The Tsarina's Legacy
Then…Since the moment he first saw her on the night she seized the throne, Grigory “Grisha” Potemkin has loved Empress Catherine of Russia. Their love was forged first from passion, and then from friendship, as they began a long and prosperous political association. Now older, they face treacherous new threats, both from outside of Russia and from those within their intimate circle. Haunted by the horrors of his campaign against the Muslim Turks, Grisha hopes to construct a mosque in the heart of the empire. Unfortunately, Catherine's much younger new lover, the ambitious and charming Platon Zubov, stands in his way. Grisha determines that to preserve Catherine's legacy he must save her from Zubov's dangerous influence and win back her heart.
Now...When she learns she is the heiress to the Romanov throne, Veronica Herrera’s life swiftly turns upside down. Even as she gains a noble legacy, she loses everything she once thought important. Heartbroken and seeking purpose, Veronica agrees to accept a ceremonial position as the new tsarina and to act as an advocate to free a Russian artist sentenced to prison for displaying paintings critical of the church and government. For her efforts, she is both celebrated and chastised. As her political role comes under fire, Veronica is forced to decide between the glamorous perks of European royalty and staying true to herself. In The Tsarina’s Legacy, Jennifer Laam deftly reveals the compelling connections between Grisha and Veronica as they struggle to make peace with the ghosts of their pasts and help secure a better future for themselves and the country they both love.
Yemen? Yes, you heard us right, Yemen. Not your usual vacation stop, but that's what's great about Reading Around the World... we don't have to worry about little annoyances like pesky government warnings telling you not to visit a place. (Seriously, it's probably not safe.) We can see all the beauty and turmoil of Yemen from the comfort of the patio or nearest beach chair! Over to the lovely and talented Nomi Eve to tell us all about Yemen and her gorgeous book, Henna House! 
1. What are some of the sights that a visitor to Yemen shouldn’t miss? It's important to note that "The U.S. Dept. of State warns U.S. citizens against all travel to Yemen because of the high security threat level posed by the ongoing conflict and terrorist activities." But if one were to ignore travel warnings and go to Yemen (not advised!), the northern city of Sana'a is a must see for any tourist. A UNESCO World Heritage site, its distinctive towering buildings stand at the crossroads of ancient trade routes and offer breathtaking views and bustling markets. Another wonderful site is Socotra Island in the Indian Ocean. Socotra is chock full of species not seen anywhere else on earth including the distinctively shaped and named Dragon's Blood Tree. The island is part of an archipelago and is a magnet for students of biodiversity.
2. What are some popular dishes or well known staples in Yemeni cooking? One of my favorite dishes is jachnun -- a rolled sweet dough that is baked overnight and traditionally eaten with a tomato sauce and a spicy relish. Another wonderful dish is Saltah,. Salted is a meat stew flavored with fenugreek and chili peppers, tomatoes, garlic and herbs. Most Yemeni stews are eaten with flat baked breads. 3. How has Yemen changes since the era depicted in Henna House? Yemen has changed in many ways, but perhaps the most striking way is that today it is one country, Yemen, but in the era of Henna House it was divided two. The north was a Muslim Caliphate ruled by an Imam and called The Kingdom of North Yemen, the south was a British Protectorate, governed by England. Also, in the era of Henna House, Yemen had a Jewish community. Today there are almost no Jews living there. 4. Why did you choose to write about Yemen and the evacuation of the Jewish people? While I myself am not Yemenite, I have a dear relative who is. Her stories intrigued me, and as I started to research early 20th Century Yemen, I grew more and more fascinated. Soon I realized that I had to write a book! Above: Sana'a By Dar_al_hajar.jpg: Antti Salonenderivative work: MrPanyGoff - Dar_al_hajar.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14894185 Below: Dragon Blood Trees (Public Domain Photo) 
All About Henna House and Nomi Eve
“A touching coming-of-age story” (Publishers Weekly) in the tradition of Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent, about a young woman, her family, their community and the customs that bind them, from “a storyteller of uncommon energy and poise” (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times).
This vivid saga begins in Yemen in 1920. Adela Damari’s parents’ health is failing as they desperately seek a future husband for their young daughter, who is in danger of becoming adopted by the local Muslim community if she is orphaned. With no likely marriage prospects, Adela’s situation looks dire—until she meets two cousins from faraway cities: a boy with whom she shares her most treasured secret, and a girl who introduces her to the powerful rituals of henna. Ultimately, Adela’s life journey brings her old and new loves, her true calling, and a new life as she is transported to Israel as part of Operation On Wings of Eagles. Rich, evocative, and enthralling, Henna House is an intimate family portrait interwoven with the traditions of the Yemenite Jews and the history of the Holocaust and Israel. This sensuous tale of love, loss, betrayal, forgiveness—and the dyes that adorn the skin and pierce the heart—will captivate readers until the very last page. 
Nomi Eve is the author of Henna House and The Family Orchard, which was a Book-of-the-Month Club main selection and was nominated for a National Jewish Book Award. She has an MFA in fiction writing from Brown University and has worked as a freelance book reviewer for The Village Voice and New York Newsday. Her stories and essays have appeared in The New York Times, Glimmer Train Stories, The Voice Literary Supplement, Conjunctions, and The International Quarterly. She teaches fiction writing at Drexel University and lives in Philadelphia with her family. 
Our next stop on the tour brings us to the birthplace of modern civilization, Greece! Our resident classics expert, Amalia Carosella, has some handy tips for a successful visit to Bronze Age Greece! 
Don’t forget to bring plenty of guest-gifts with you when you travel through Bronze Age Greece. Guest-friendship was one of the most sacred bonds, and your best bet for traveling unmolested in and out of the incredible palaces of the Achaean kings. You won’t want to miss the imposing Lion Gate of Mycenae, or the sprawling palace at Knossos on the island nation of Crete – perhaps not quite so impressive as it was during its height, before the Minotaur was defeated and Minos fell, but worth the journey all the same.
The Rock of Athens has weathered every storm, an impenetrable walled fortress upon the Acropolis from which King Theseus rules Attica and Crete with the advice and counsel of his assembly. Be sure not to snub King Nestor of Pylos, either – an entertaining host with a story for every occasion, you’ll find your poor reputation precedes you if he feels that he’s been slighted. And of course, across the sea, there is the golden city of Troy, its walls the work of Poseidon himself. You’ll find no finer palaces, no grander treasures than those inside Troy’s towering walls – at least not outside of Egypt. But tread carefully if your curiosity draws you to the Nile Valley, for Egypt is not often known for its kindness to foreign travelers, even when they come with rank and riches aplenty... Above: View of Athenian Monuments (Public Domain Photo) Below: Lion Gate of Mycenae. By Du Moncel Theodore (1821 - 1884) Details of artist on Google Art Project [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 
All About By Helen's Hand and Amalia Carosella
With divine beauty comes dangerous power.
Helen believed she could escape her destiny and save her people from utter destruction. After defying her family and betraying her intended husband, she found peace with her beloved Theseus, the king of Athens and son of Poseidon. But peace did not last long. Cruelly separated from Theseus by the gods, and uncertain whether he will live or die, Helen is forced to return to Sparta. In order to avoid marriage to Menelaus, a powerful prince unhinged by desire, Helen assembles an array of suitors to compete for her hand. As the men circle like vultures, Helen dreams again of war—and of a strange prince, meant to steal her away. Every step she takes to protect herself and her people seems to bring destruction nearer. Without Theseus’s strength to support her, can Helen thwart the gods and stop her nightmare from coming to pass? 
Amalia Carosella graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelors degree in Classical Studies and English. An avid reader and former bookseller, she writes about old heroes and older gods. She lives with her husband in upstate New York and dreams of the day she will own goats (and maybe even a horse, too). For more information, visit her blog at www.amaliacarosella.com. She also writes myth-steeped fantasy and paranormal romance under the name Amalia Dillin. Learn more about her other works at www.amaliadillin.com.
What world tour would be complete without a trip to the City of Lights?! Heather Webb is back today to talk to us about one of her favorite places (and mine!) and her gorgeous debut novel, Becoming Josephine! 
Ahhh, Paris, City of Light. There’s so much to say about this enchanting place. I adore it for its pulsing energy, and not the kind you might think—not the nightlife and the brasseries brimming with people (though this is great, too!), but the thrum of history and the lingering essence of those who lived and fought for the city before us. Those who once walked the cobbled streets, leaving their mark on the great French capital. As the sun sets and all is cast in a rosy hue, remember the powdered wigs and gowns of the monarchy, the washer women and tavern keepers, the famous coffeehouses that served as the hotbed of the revolution, and the brilliant minds that have added to the city’s allure. Artists, scientists, novelists, fashion designers, chefs. Remember one of my favorite people in history—fashion icon, patroness of the arts, horticulturalist, mistress of orphans, and generous soul who helped shape so much happening in her eighteenth century world, and still today—Josephine Bonaparte.
Above: Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral (Public Domain Photo) Below: Malmaison, Josephine's residence, just outside Paris. (Photo by Heather Webb) 
All About Becoming Josephine and Heather Webb
A sweeping historical debut about the Creole socialite who transformed herself into an empress Readers are fascinated with the wives of famous men. In Becoming Josephine, debut novelist Heather Webb follows Rose Tascher as she sails from her Martinique plantation to Paris, eager to enjoy an elegant life at the royal court. Once there, however, Rose’s aristocratic soldier-husband dashes her dreams by abandoning her amid the tumult of the French Revolution. After narrowly escaping death, Rose reinvents herself as Josephine, a beautiful socialite wooed by an awkward suitor—Napoleon Bonaparte.
Editor, author, and super-cool human being, Heather Webb, takes us to London for the next stop on the tour! She edited the brilliant anthology, Fall of Poppies, which features a gripping collection of short stories about World War 1 from a tribe of bestselling authors. The stories take place all over the world, but we chose London for our stop, as the "Poppy" metaphor is so closely tied with England. 
All About Fall of Poppies and Heather Webb
Top voices in historical fiction deliver an unforgettable collection of short stories set in the aftermath of World War I—featuring bestselling authors such as Hazel Gaynor, Jennifer Robson, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig and edited by Heather Webb.
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month... November 11, 1918. After four long, dark years of fighting, the Great War ends at last, and the world is forever changed. For soldiers, loved ones, and survivors the years ahead stretch with new promise, even as their hearts are marked by all those who have been lost. As families come back together, lovers reunite, and strangers take solace in each other, everyone has a story to tell. In this moving anthology, nine authors share stories of love, strength, and renewal as hope takes root in a fall of poppies. Featuring: Jessica Brockmole Hazel Gaynor Evangeline Holland Marci Jefferson Kate Kerrigan Jennifer Robson Beatriz Williams Lauren Willig Heather Webb 
Heather Webb is the author of historical novels BECOMING JOSEPHINE and RODIN’S LOVER, which have been sold in six countries and have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, France Magazine, Elle and more, as well as received national starred reviews. RODIN’S LOVER was a Goodreads Pick of the month in 2015. Up and coming, LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS, an epistolary love story set during WWI will release in the fall of 2017 by HarperCollins. Heather is also a professional freelance editor, and contributor to award-winning writing sitesWriterUnboxed.com and Writers in the Storm.
Bound for a new continent, and a new beginning.
In her illuminating debut novel, Aimie K. Runyan masterfully blends fact and fiction to explore the founding of New France through the experiences of three young women who, in 1667, answer Louis XIV’s call and journey to the Canadian colony. They are known as the filles du roi, or “King’s Daughters”—young women who leave prosperous France for an uncertain future across the Atlantic. Their duty is to marry and bring forth a new generation of loyal citizens. Each prospective bride has her reason for leaving—poverty, family rejection, a broken engagement. Despite their different backgrounds, Rose, Nicole, and Elisabeth all believe that marriage to a stranger is their best, perhaps only, chance of happiness. Once in Quebec, Elisabeth quickly accepts baker Gilbert Beaumont, who wants a business partner as well as a wife. Nicole, a farmer’s daughter from Rouen, marries a charming officer who promises comfort and security. Scarred by her traumatic past, Rose decides to take holy vows rather than marry. Yet no matter how carefully she chooses, each will be tested by hardship and heartbreaking loss—and sustained by the strength found in their uncommon friendship, and the precarious freedom offered by their new home. 
Aimie K. Runyan is an author of Historical fiction whose purpose is to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. Her debut novel, PROMISED TO THE CROWN, the story of three women sent by Louis XIV to help colonize his Quebec colony, was a ten-years-in-the-making labor of love. She loves baking, travel, hiking, and all things sacred unto nerd culture. She lives outside Denver with her loving husband and two adorable children. 
Today is the start of a very exciting Blog Tour and Giveaway here at aimiekrunyan.com! We will be featuring 10 novels, all historical fiction, by some of the most talented authors in the business. One thing that ties these books together, aside from some fantastic writing, is a gripping location. We'll take you all the way from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Napoleonic-era Paris, Feudal Japan--and beyond!
Keep watching this space for the next two weeks and enter to win a mega-prize that includes all 10 of these books (signed!) and a gorgeous travel tote! The first stop on our tour is to Hollywood, and our tour director is none other than the lovely Anne Girard, author of Platinum Doll! 
Some might think that the glittering Hollywood of yesteryear lives now only in grainy black and white photos, and on film, but there are still some wonderful locations for walking down memory lane, spots that harken back to the early motion picture capital of the world. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard is one such spot. In 1929, the hotel hosted the first Academy Awards in their ballroom. You might try to take a peek inside and imagine the linen draped tables, the tuxedos, gowns and champagne. This Hollywood landmark also boasts a beautifully reminiscent Spanish Colonial revival style interior (and guest rooms reputed to house ghosts!). It’s certainly worth a visit, or a drink at the bar where the likes of Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and Cary Grant once sipped martinis. Once you’re in the spirit, then move back outside and, just across the street, you can step into the shoes of icons from Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable to, my favorite (of course) Jean Harlow at what was once the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theater. To cap off your nostalgic tour, just a few blocks away, The Hollywood Museum is a must-see. The museum, housed in the historic art deco Max Factor building, is a place to linger among movie props, costumes, scripts, and fabulous old photos from Tinseltown’s golden era. I especially loved their collection of Jean Harlow memorabilia, including a copy of her novel, Today is Tonight. It is a day not to be missed by anyone who loves old Hollywood.
Set against the dazzling backdrop of Golden Age Hollywood, novelist Anne Girard tells the enchanting story of Jean Harlow, one of the most iconic stars in the history of film.
It is the Roaring Twenties and seventeen-year-old Harlean Carpenter McGrew has run off to Hollywood—to escape her small, Midwestern life and see her name in lights. Harlean becomes Jean Harlow and as she is thrust into the limelight, Jean learns that this new world of opportunity comes with its own set of burdens. Torn between her family, a fragile young marriage, and her passion to perform, she is forced to confront the difficult truth—that fame comes at a price, if only she is willing to pay for it. Amid a glittering cast of ingenues and Hollywood titans—Clara Bow, Clark Gable, Laurel and Hardy, Howard Hughes--Platinum Doll introduces us to the star who would shine brighter than them all. 
Anne holds a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University, and a bachelor's degree in English Literature from UCLA. A chance meeting with the famed author Irving Stone 25 years ago sharply focused her ambition to tell great stories from history, and write them only after detailed research and extensive travel to the places her characters lived. That determination has provided a fascinating journey that has taken her from the halls of Chenonceaux, to a private interview with one of Pablo Picasso's last surviving friends, and most recently an invitation inside Jean Harlow's home.
Since the publication of her acclaimed first novel, Courtesan, in 1993, a novel that remains in print today, her work has been translated into 18 different languages, bringing her international success and award-winning status. Visit Anne at: www.annegirardauthor.com |
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