The True Fiction Project is an unscripted-to-scripted podcast series that explores the journey of a story from non-fiction to fiction. It showcases the art of audio storytelling to explore how scripted fiction is inspired by our daily life, and it explores how audio storytelling can spark interesting IP that can be further developed for other media. Join our host Reenita Hora, as she conducts audio interviews with guests from all walks of life that have interesting stories. A fiction writer then listens to the interview, defines a main character inspired by it, and creates a piece of short audio fiction based on it. The episode pieces together the interview (non-fiction), the audio story + the print version (both fiction). Learn more at https://reenita.com/podcasts/true-fiction-project/
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S8 Ep 6 - Designed by Preeti
2026/09/26
Welcome, I'm Reenita Hora, and on this episode of The True Fiction Project, I sit down with actor, writer, and producer Rashmi Rustagi to talk about her award-winning feature film, Designed by Preeti. Rashmi takes us behind the scenes of a story inspired by the real experiences of three Indian women and follows Preeti's journey from an abusive marriage toward independence and empowerment. We talk about the cultural expectations that can keep women in unhappy relationships, the importance of talking openly about mental health, interracial relationships, and why Rashmi believes even serious stories need a little laughter along the way. And yes, we get into the story behind the movie's infamous tofu joke! Plus, stay through the end for the Designed by Preeti trailer.
Watch her film, Designed by Preeti, on Prime Video, and leave a review. Send me an Instagram DM @reenita_storyteller with a screenshot of the review and I’ll send you her cookbook, Designed by Preeti, as a special gift! Just in time for the festive season. Only a limited quantity is available so act fast!
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How Rashmi's experiences growing up in Lucknow, India, and her early work in radio and theater eventually led her to acting and filmmaking in the U.S.
✅ How real-life stories inspired Designed by Preeti, and why Rashmi wanted to tell an ultimately hopeful story about a woman finding her independence.
✅ Why cultural expectations, stigma, mental health, and even interracial relationships can complicate the lives of Indian-American women.
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
01:02 Reenita introduces Rashmi and Designed by Preeti
04:17 How Rashmi's mother encouraged her creative ambitions and helped launch her early career
05:20 Bienvenidos a Los Angeles and Rashmi's experience being part of an Oscar-shortlisted film
06:54 The real-life women who inspired Designed by Preeti
08:39 Domestic abuse, cultural expectations, and why women may stay in difficult marriages
11:03 The story behind the movie's very unexpected tofu/dildo joke
13:02 Why Rashmi ultimately removed the punchline from the film
14:41 Mental health, therapy, and changing attitudes across generations
18:18 What's next for Rashmi? A thriller road trip featuring three women
19:24 A special Designed by Preeti cookbook giveaway
21:46 Designed by Preeti trailer
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 Rashmi uses storytelling as a way to explore serious social issues while still leaving audiences with a sense of hope. For her, Preeti's journey is ultimately about a woman taking a stance, rebuilding her life, and standing on her own feet.
💎 Designed by Preeti grew out of real-life experiences involving three Indian women, including friends and a close relative whose stories stayed with Rashmi and eventually became the foundation for the film.
💎 The film explores the less visible layers of domestic abuse, including control, isolation, cultural stigma, and the pressure women can face from their own communities.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
A powerful voice at the intersection of storytelling and social change, Rashmi Rustagi is a California-based actor, writer, and producer born and raised in Lucknow, India. Her acting credits include roles in major films such as The Avengers, India Sweets and Spices, and Hungry, as well as appearances on acclaimed television series such as Grey’s Anatomy, Atypical, and Never Have I Ever.
She acted in the short film Bienvenidos a Los Angeles, which was shortlisted for the 2024 Academy Awards.
Beyond acting, Rashmi has established herself as a socially conscious filmmaker. Her award-winning film, Unborn, streams on Amazon Prime Video and confronts the practice of female feticide within the Indo-American community.
Most recently, she wrote, produced, and starred in Designed by Preeti, an award-winning feature exploring domestic abuse, mental health, interracial romance, and female empowerment. It is now available to rent on demand.
Rashmi Rustagi’s website · Designed by Preeti · Rashmi’s Recipes · Rashmi on LinkedIn · Rashmi on Facebook · Rashmi on Instagram
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S8 Ep 5 - The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore
2026/09/15
Welcome, I'm Reenita Hora, and on this episode of True Fiction Project, I talk with debut novelist Anika Fajardo about her new women's fiction release, The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore. Born in Colombia and raised in Minnesota, Anika opens up about writing a memoir, two middle-grade novels, and now a magical-realism story about a woman haunted by the voices of her deceased female relatives. We dig into grief, identity, and the long road to finding her Colombian father, a real search that inspired this family saga novel. Tune in to hear Anika read an excerpt describing the fateful 1989 meeting between Dory's parents in Rome.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How magical realism rooted in Colombian author Anika Fajardo's heritage shapes her voice and storytelling style.
✅ Why Dory hears a chorus of ancestral voices left behind by her deceased female relatives.
✅ How Anika's publishing journey, from memoir to middle grade fiction, led to her women's fiction debut.
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Anika Fajardo introduces the premise of her women's fiction novel The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore
01:59 Anika discusses her memoir, Magical Realism For Nonbelievers, and the story behind its title
03:44 How Anika stumbled into writing middle grade fiction with her novel What If a Fish
07:08 Anika explains the ancestral voices that follow her protagonist Dory throughout the story
13:10 Anika reads an excerpt describing her parents' fateful 1989 meeting in Rome, Italy
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 Dory's chorus of deceased relatives illustrates generational grief and how women absorb the messages of those who raised them.
💎 The novel weaves a present-day female protagonist story with a 1980s Colombian setting, featuring flashbacks of her parents' romance.
💎 Anika's life as a Minnesota author, teacher, and reviewer shaped her lifelong love of adult fiction and storytelling.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Anika Fajardo’s debut novel is The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore. She is also the award-winning author of Magical Realism for Non-Believers: A Memoir of Finding Family, and the middle-grade novels What If a Fish and Meet Me Halfway. Born in Colombia and raised in Minnesota, she currently lives with her family in Minneapolis.
Anika Fajardo - Website
Gobblefunking with Words - Website
Anika Fajardo - Facebook
Anika Fajardo - Instagram
Anika Fajardo - Threads
The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore - Book
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S8 Ep 4 - Moonshine Over Georgia
2026/08/25
Southern Fiction comes alive in this episode of True Fiction Project as author Chris Skates shares the true story behind his novel Moonshine Over Georgia. Host Reenita Hora talks with Chris about his grandfather, a Prohibition-era revenue agent who hunted moonshiners through the Georgia woods, and how those family memories became historical fiction. Chris also reflects on his winding path from nuclear chemist to White House speechwriter, and how that unlikely mix shaped his storytelling voice. Tune in to hear Chris Skates read a gripping excerpt describing the violent aftermath of a real moonshine-related murder that shaped his book.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How Chris Skates turned decades of family stories about his grandfather's work as a revenue agent into the Southern Fiction novel Moonshine Over Georgia
✅ Why real Prohibition-era moonshine busts in Georgia were far more dangerous and heartbreaking than the Hollywood version ever showed
✅ How the notorious John Wallace murder case connects directly to the events depicted in this historical fiction story
✅ How a career as a White House speechwriter helped Chris sharpen his fiction writing craft and finally finish the book he started decades earlier
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Chris Skates explains how his grandfather's work as a revenue agent during the Prohibition Era inspired Moonshine Over Georgia
05:16 The emotional childhood memory that first revealed the real toll of the moonshiners' trade on families
09:00 How raids worked in the field and why the Southern fiction genre captures this history so vividly
16:18 Chris teases the real-life connection to the John Wallace murder case made famous in an old TV movie
22:09 Chris Skates reads a historical fiction excerpt from Moonshine Over Georgia depicting the case's violent turning point
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 Chris Skates spent nearly two decades interviewing his grandfather, tracking down living witnesses, and digging through archival records to make Moonshine Over Georgia as historically accurate as possible
💎 The real Prohibition-era moonshine trade caused widespread alcoholism, poverty, and violence, giving this Southern fiction story a weight that goes far beyond a simple crime tale
💎 Chris's mother, who lived part of this story as a child, confirmed that his historical fiction portrayal of her father captured the man and the era with striking accuracy
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Chris is a novelist with 30 years of experience as a chemist at nuclear and coal plants. He’s been able to combine this diverse background of science and energy with a passion for writing. Chris began publishing in 2000, with over 150 stories, articles, and columns to his name, alongside four novels. He’s also contributed to Turkey Call Magazine and is preparing a non-fiction collection. His writing journey culminated in key roles as a speechwriter and energy advisor at both the state and national levels of government.
Moonshine Over Georgia is, though, Chris’ most prized and honored work to date. A historical fiction novel, it draws on the harrowing, exciting, and very real stories that Chris’ grandfather would tell him while he was growing up, when he was working as a revenue agent in Prohibition-era Georgia.
Sample of Moonshine Over Georgia
Moonshine Over Georgia: A Novel Based On Actual Events - Amazon
Chris Skates - LinkedIn
Moonshine Over Georgia - Facebook
Chris Skates - Facebook
Chris Skates - X
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S8 Ep 3 - The Last Waltz
2026/07/31
In this episode of The True Fiction Project, actor Rishi Jaiswal walks us through his unlikely leap from aerospace engineering to a national Broadway tour, his lead role in The Revolution's Wife, and the deeply personal story behind his new short film, The Last Waltz. This movie is about a South Asian family confronting their trans daughter's identity and the silence that follows. We also talk about dance, Sundance, and the strange coincidences that shaped this casting. Tune in to hear the trailer of The Last Waltz, highlighting the moment a father finally faces the daughter he can barely name.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ How Rishi Jaiswal traded aerospace engineering for a career on stage and screen, starting with So You Think You Can Dance and a national tour of Life of Pi on Broadway.
✅ Why he sent a freedom fighter poem about Gaza to land his role in Revolution's Wife, and how that bold risk paid off during the casting process.
✅ How growing up around a family dance studio and Bollywood culture shaped the way Rishi approaches every character he plays on screen and stage.
✅ Why The Last Waltz speaks directly to the South Asian community about learning to accept a trans child, even without fully understanding her journey first.
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Rishi Jaiswal shares how he became involved in Revolution's Wife
03:25 How a Gaza freedom fighter poem helped Rishi land his role in Reenita's script
05:14 Discussion of the Revolution’s Wife script
07:56 The Sundance Film Festival encounter that unexpectedly brought Nosheen into the cast as Padma
11:35 From aerospace engineering to a family dance studio, tracing Rishi's winding path into the arts
15:10 Rishi introduces The Last Waltz, his own short film about a trans daughter and her parents
22:38 Watch the exclusive trailer for The Last Waltz ahead of its debut at the LA Shorts Festival
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 Rishi's role in Revolution's Wife was a lifelong dream
💎 Following your fears, not avoiding them, is what pushed Rishi from a stable engineering path into acting and dance, including his years with the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
💎 Real support does not require full understanding. Reenita and Rishi agree that parents do not need to fully understand their children, only to keep showing up for them.
BIO
Rishi Jaiswal is an Indian-American actor, filmmaker, and founder of Aikyam Entertainment. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, his career spans from national television—including shows like So You Think You Can Dance, ABC’s Prank Panel with Johnny Knoxville, and NBC’s American Auto opposite Ana Gasteyer—to starring roles in national commercial campaigns. He penned the award-winning play Radicals, which is slated for a stage return early next year. Rishi also wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the feature film Unmasked now that recently gained distribution, and he is currently starring in an upcoming short film based on the Gadar revolutionary movement "Revolution's Wife", directed by Reenita Malhotra. His latest project, The Last Waltz, is set for its world premiere at the Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival." early next month!
ABOUT THE GUEST:
The Last Waltz Tickets LA Shorts Fest
Rishi Jaiswal - Instagram
Rishi Jaiswal - LinkedIn
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S8 Ep 2 - Charlotte Salomon Paints Her Life
2026/07/21
This episode of the True Fiction Project dives into the remarkable true story behind the historical fiction novel, Charlotte Salomon Paints Her Life, by Pamela Reitman about Charlotte Salomon, a young Jewish artist who painted over a thousand works while fleeing the Nazis in France. We talk about the ethics of biographical fiction, how Pamela handled the unanswered questions of Charlotte’s life, and why this story of art born from unimaginable loss still resonates today. This conversation reveals the research process behind historical novels and what it means to give voice to those who can no longer speak for themselves. Tune in to hear Pamela and excerpt of the novel when Charlotte is being reminded that she is a genius artist.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How biographical fiction differs from traditional biography when writers face gaps in the historical record
Why Charlotte Salomon's artwork Life? Or Theater! is considered a masterpiece of Holocaust literature and modern art
How author Pamela Reitman decided which relationships, like the one with Wolf Abrams, to fictionalize and which to leave ambiguous
The role that art and trauma played in helping Salomon process the loss of her mother and family during Nazi occupation
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
01:10 Pamela Reitman shares her historical fiction novel about Charlotte Salomon's and explains the difference between biographical fiction and traditional biography writing
04:34 Discussion of the Wolf Abrams relationship and the choice to leave their romance ambiguous
07:49 Pamela describes the genesis of the book, since there was already a biography
10:39 Pamela shares how she discovered Charlotte Salomon's work at the Jewish Museum in San Francisco
13:08 Discussion of the time period during which Charlotte’s work was created, and where the listener can learn more about this amazing woman
15:56 Pamela reads a moving excerpt from her novel about Charlotte's belief in her own artistic genius
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Writers of biographical fiction carry a unique responsibility, especially as Holocaust survivors who could verify the facts become fewer with each passing year
Charlotte Salomon's more than 1,300 paintings, created in a single year while she lived without identity papers, eventually became an opera that debuted in Salzburg in 2017
Pamela Reitman believes art served as a way to transform suffering rather than heal it completely, shaping the emotional core of her historical novel
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Pamela Reitman, a Jewish Book Council Network author, is an award-winning writer with numerous publications in literary journals, news outlets, and magazines. She has a B. A with honors in English from Columbia and an MPH from UC Berkeley. She is retired from a career in public health and community service focused on reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness. Pamela is also Director Emerita of Makor Or: A Jewish Meditation Center in San Francisco. She now lives in Healdsburg, California, with her husband.
Charlotte Salomon Paints Her Life is Pamela’s debut novel. Over two months on Amazon’s Hot New Releases for Biographical Literary Fiction, Kirkus Reviews calls this novel “a vividly detailed rendering of a real life caught in a maelstrom of 20th-century horror.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Pamela Reitman (@PamelaReitman1) - Facebook
Pamela Reitman - Website
Amazon.com: Charlotte Salomon Paints Her Life: A Novel
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S8 Ep 1 - The Secret Book Society
2026/07/07
What happens when historical fiction dares to challenge the rules? On the True Fiction Project, host Reenita Hora welcomes New York Times bestselling author Madeline Martin, whose latest novel, The Secret Book Society, uncovers the radical act of women reading books in the Victorian era. A three-times-widowed Countess builds a secret book club, defying a culture that viewed literate women as dangerous. Madeline shares her extraordinary path through self-publishing, traditional publishing, and deep historical research, writing over 40 books along the way. Rich with Victorian women's history, hatpin fighting, seances, and the language of flowers, this episode is a love letter to storytelling. Tune in to hear the author read the prologue, in which a street boy delivers a single boot as proof that a woman may have been wrongfully taken to a lunatic asylum.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ Why historical fiction set in the Victorian era continues to captivate readers, and how the rigid etiquette of the period creates a rich backdrop for subversive, empowering storytelling rooted in women's history.
✅ How self-publishing works in the romance novel market, including why authors must release books every one to two months to remain visible, and how Madeline Martin balanced that pace with a full-time career and family.
✅ How a real historical account of a woman wrongfully committed to a lunatic asylum became the foundation for The Secret Book Society, demonstrating how literary fiction is born from documented history.
✅ How intentional detail, including the language of flowers, hatpin fighting, and female authors of the era, can transform a novel into an immersive, layered reading experience.
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Madeline Martin introduces The Secret Book Society and its Victorian-era setting, where women's reading was actively suppressed
02:36 Madeline shares her 20-year writing journey, from childhood storytelling to publishing over 40 historical fiction and romance novels
05:06 A candid look at self-publishing: writing six to eight books a year, managing every detail, and why independent publishing is demanding
09:56 The transition from historical romance to literary fiction, and why a hatpin played a significant role in the novel
15:41 Madeline reads the prologue of The Secret Book Society
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 Victorian era restrictions on women's reading were not just social norms; they were enforced control. The Secret Book Society reclaims that history by centering women's empowerment through the radical, joyful act of gathering to read works by female authors.
💎 Madeline Martin's publishing path illustrates the demanding realities of self-publishing, where output volume directly determines visibility. Her shift to traditional publishing allowed her to trade quantity for quality, producing one richly researched historical fiction title per year.
💎 The most compelling literary fiction is often grounded in stranger-than-fiction historical truth. Martin's discovery of a real Victorian woman saved from an asylum by a single thrown boot proves that history, when told with heart and craft, needs very little embellishment.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Madeline Martin is a New York Times and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance, with books translated into over 25 languages. She lives in sunny Florida with her husband (known as Mr. Awesome), two amazing daughters, and two very spoiled cats.
The Secret Book Society: A Novel – A USA Today Bestselling Historical Gothic Mystery: Martin, Madeline
Madeline Martin (@MadelineMartinAuthor) - Facebook
Madeline Martin - Instagram
Madeline Martin (@MadelineMMartin) / Posts - X
Madeline Martin - Threads
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S7 Ep 12 - Last Light Over Galveston
2026/05/14
Historical fiction meets raw human resilience in this rich conversation with award-winning author Jennifer Wright on this episode of the True Fiction Project. Jennifer’s book, Last Light Over Galveston, centers on women's empowerment during the turn of the century, following a young woman who defies her wealthy family in search of purpose, only to find herself stranded in Galveston as a monster hurricane bears down. Jennifer reveals how writing fiction based on real historical events gives readers the empathy that dry textbooks simply cannot. From her journalism roots to her life as an Air Force wife abroad, Jennifer brings an outsider's curiosity and an insider's discipline to every story she tells. Tune in to hear an excerpt of the book to when the character Kathleen arrives in Galveston, contemplating a decision as she arrives at the ocean.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why historical fiction is one of the most powerful tools for helping readers connect emotionally with real historical events, and how award-winning author Jennifer Wright uses storytelling to bring the human side of history to life in ways that journalism and textbooks simply cannot.
How women's empowerment in the early 1900s was both revolutionary and dangerous, and what it cost a young woman to walk away from wealth and family in pursuit of purpose and passion during the turn of the century.
What the research process looks like for a fiction writing project rooted in a real natural disaster, including how firsthand newspaper accounts from 1900 shaped the world of The Last Light Over Galveston.
Why the period voice of historical fiction is one of the most challenging craft elements to master, and how collaboration with a skilled editor protects the authenticity of the story.
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Jennifer Wright, award-winning author, introduces Kathleen, a wealthy woman craving purpose beyond marriage at the turn of the century
02:27 Jennifer shares her journey from journalism to marriage to historical fiction and explains why historical storytelling can reveal the human side of history
07:30 The plot of Last Light Over Galveston unfolds: women's empowerment, family conflict, and survival during the Galveston Hurricane
10:30 Jennifer discusses the different time periods she chooses to write about and how books are marketed
15:30 Jennifer and Reenita discuss the challenge of period voice and how editors protect the authenticity of historical fiction
18:34 Jennifer Wright reads a snippet of the prologue of Last Light Over Galveston, of character Kathleen's arrival in Galveston
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Historical fiction has a unique power to draw readers into events they might otherwise dismiss. Jennifer Wright's work proves that when you place a fully realized human being inside a natural disaster, readers stop seeing history as a subject and start feeling it as an experience.
Jennifer Wright's creative process begins with six months of deep research into a historical event before a single word of fiction is written. Her ability to compress that into three months under a publishing contract for Last Light Over Galveston speaks to both her discipline and her instincts as a fiction writing professional.
Labeling books by age category, such as young adult or new adult, can quietly shrink an award-winning author's readership. Wright argues that a compelling protagonist transcends age and that character development should be the draw, not a marketing bracket.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Jennifer Wright has been writing since middle school and eventually earned a master’s degree in journalism from Indiana University. However, it took only a few short months of covering the local news to realize that writing fiction is much better for the soul–and definitely way more fun. A born-and-bred Hoosier, she was swept off her feet by an Air Force pilot and has spent the past decade traveling the world and, every few years, attempting to fit old curtains into the windows of a new home. She currently resides in New Mexico with her husband and two children.
Her debut novel, 'If It Rains,' was nominated for a Kipp Award, and her second novel, 'Come Down Somewhere,' was a 2023 Carol Award finalist. She is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).
Jennifer Wright - Facebook
Jennifer Wright - Instagram
Jennifer Wright - Website
Last Light over Galveston: by Wright, Jennifer L. - Amazon
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S7 Ep 11 - Taylor Era by Era
2026/04/21
Taylor Swift biography writing takes rare skill, and Caroline Sullivan has mastered it. On the True Fiction Project, host Reenita Hora sits down with UK-based music journalist Caroline Sullivan, author of Taylor Era by Era: The Unauthorized Biography, exploring Taylor Swift's remarkable rise. Caroline shares how deep research and dry wit shape her storytelling, revealing surprising details about Taylor's music activism, her fight to reclaim her album rights from Scooter Braun, and her extraordinary bond with her mother. Tune in to hear Caroline read from the afterword of Era by Era, capturing the final emotionally charged night of the Eras Tour in Vancouver and what comes next for Taylor Swift.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
What an unauthorized biography actually means legally, and how a skilled music journalist like Caroline Sullivan conducts deep research without ever meeting the subject, using published sources, industry contacts, and her own expert voice to tell a compelling story about a Taylor Swift biography.
How Taylor Swift's music activism led her to spend nearly five years fighting to buy back her first six albums from Scooter Braun, ultimately reclaiming her album rights and setting a powerful precedent for artists across the music industry.
How Caroline approached the tone of Era by Era differently from other Taylor Swift books by weaving in dry British humor and personal music journalism perspective, turning dense research into a reading experience worthy of a Sunday Times bestseller.
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Reenita opens with a bold question about unauthorized biography writing and what permissions are actually required.
02:00 Caroline Sullivan discusses her six books, including pop star profiles of Madonna, Ed Sheeran, Adele, Dua Lipa, and Taylor Swift
04:10 Deep dive into music journalism research methods and why published sources form the backbone of a music biography
06:36 The origin story of Taylor Era by Era, how the publisher approached her after her Dua Lipa book, and how it sold 50,000 copies
12:20 Discussion of Taylor Swift's music activism, her long battle to reclaim her album rights, and her influence on the broader music industry
19:00 Caroline reads from the afterword of Taylor Era by Era, covering the final night of the Eras Tour in Vancouver and Taylor's appearance at the Grammy Awards
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Writing a Taylor Swift biography without the subject's cooperation is entirely legal and achievable through thorough research, industry sources, and a strong authorial voice. Caroline Sullivan proves that an unauthorized biography can outsell the competition when personality and craft drive the narrative.
Taylor Swift's relentless pursuit of her album rights against Scooter Braun is one of the most significant acts of music activism in modern industry history, and one that Caroline documents with admiration throughout Taylor Era by Era, showing how Taylor uses her platform to benefit all artists.
The Eras Tour was far more than a concert series. With 149 dates, a terrorist threat in Vienna, and fans paying just to listen from behind the stage, it became a cultural phenomenon that Caroline argues marks a turning point in pop star history and in Taylor's personal legacy.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
I'm a UK-based music journalist who writes for The Guardian and more, and have written seven books, most recently Taylor: Era by Era - an unofficial biography of Taylor Swift.
Caroline Sullivan - Facebook
Caroline Sullivan - Instagram
X: @TheCSullivan
Taylor Era by Era: The Unauthorized Biography
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S7 Ep 10 - The Last Spirits of Manhattan
2026/03/31
What happens when Alfred Hitchcock, Manhattan ghost stories, and a family legend collide? In this episode, debut novelist John McDermott reveals how he crafted The Last Spirits of Manhattan from a true event where Hitchcock rented his ancestor's decaying house for a celebrity-studded party. McDermott shares insights into the fiction writing process, navigating permissions for historical fiction featuring real figures, and why he added actual family ghosts to crash Hitchcock's 1956 soiree. From his publishing journey with Simon and Schuster to teaching undergraduates at Stephen F. Austin State University, McDermott offers invaluable lessons on creative writing and perseverance. Tune in to hear the chilling opening of The Last Spirits of Manhattan where Snug, a ghost trapped in the coal room, stirs as a new venture begins.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How to balance historical fiction writing accuracy with poetic license when featuring real celebrities like Alfred Hitchcock, Henry Fonda, and Charles Addams as characters in your supernatural fiction.
The importance of literary research in crafting authentic period pieces, including navigating copyright permissions, advertising archives, and biographical sources when developing your novel.
Strategies for incorporating family history and personal anecdotes into creative writing, as demonstrated by McDermott's transformation of a Manhattan ghost story family legend into a publishable manuscript.
The reality of the publishing journey, including the persistence required through finding the right agent and working with major publishers like Simon and Schuster.
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal.
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 A story inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's 1956 party at John McDermott's great aunt's Manhattan house
02:30 Discussion of McDermott's family roots from Wisconsin to Texas and his role at Stephen F Austin State University's creative writing program
04:48 Exploring the marriage plot as an inciting incident and how poetic license shapes historical fiction writing
06:03 Navigating permissions and copyright issues when featuring deceased celebrities like Henry Fonda and Charles Addams in fiction
09:45 The addition of supernatural fiction elements, including family ghost stories and getting this novel published
15:32 An excerpt from The Last Spirits of Manhattan prologue introducing the blue girl ghost who hangs out in the coal room
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Historical fiction success requires extensive literary research to capture authentic voices and settings, but the magic happens when authors blend documented facts with imaginative storytelling through careful poetic license.
The publishing journey for a debut novel often spans decades with multiple manuscript attempts. McDermott's 20-year persistence and four complete manuscripts before finding success with Simon and Schuster demonstrate that timing, craft improvement, and presenting the right idea to the right people all matter.
Creative writing drawn from family history creates deeply personal and compelling narratives. By weaving real family members who died from the Spanish influenza into his Manhattan ghost stories, McDermott transforms historical research into emotionally resonant supernatural fiction.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
John A. McDermott was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He now serves on the board of directors for the Writers’ League of Texas and teaches creative writing at Stephen F. Austin State University. Before teaching, he worked as an actor, bartender, house painter, and advertising copywriter. He lives in Nacogdoches with his wife and teenage daughter.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
John A McDermott - Website
John A McDermott - LinkedIn
John A McDermott - Facebook
The Last Spirits of Manhattan - Instagram
Book Shop - Website
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
S7 Ep 9 - Get Up and Get it
2026/03/17
What does it look like when a woman refuses to be put in a box? On the True Fiction Project, host Reenita Hora sits down with the fearless Keldamuzik Diva, a singer, songwriter, actress, and fashion designer whose life is the ultimate blueprint for women's empowerment. Keldamuzik shares how she went from childhood auditions to starring in films, performing in live theater, launching her beret collection Tamz, and hosting her own fashion shows, all while building a fiercely independent brand. Her story is proof that creative entrepreneurship has no ceiling. Tune in to hear Keldamuzik Diva deliver a powerful verse from her song "Get Up and Get It," a bold declaration of independence and self-sufficiency for women everywhere. Listen here to stream her music
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why women's empowerment and financial independence go hand in hand, and how Keldamuzik Diva's music speaks directly to women who are building lives on their own terms as independent artists and entrepreneurs.
How a multifaceted artist can successfully manage a music career, an acting career, and a fashion line simultaneously without sacrificing quality or passion, even when industry insiders say otherwise.
What it truly takes to succeed in the entertainment industry as a creative entrepreneur, from navigating auditions and live theater to launching a product line and hosting your own fashion shows.
How personal branding in the entertainment industry requires more than one skill set, and why having your hands in multiple areas of performing arts can actually strengthen rather than dilute your brand.
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Keldamuzik on why the entertainment industry demands a strong personal brand and multifaceted creative approach
01:56 Keldamuzik explains how she ignored industry advice to specialize and instead pursued creative entrepreneurship across multiple fields
04:34 Kelda discusses how acting came first, from childhood auditions to co-starring in the live stage play How Black Mothers Say I Love You
06:32 Living in California and having a song on The Housewives of Atlanta
08:05 Keldamuzik describes her beret collection, Tams, her inclusive fashion shows, and her upcoming glitter lipstick line
10:12 Keldamuzik shares the women empowerment message behind her song "Get Up and Get It" and performs a verse live
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
💎 The entertainment industry is crowded, and the most resilient creatives are those who build a distinct personal brand by developing skills across multiple disciplines rather than limiting themselves to one lane.
💎 True women's empowerment is not just a message in a song. For Keldamuzik Diva, it is a lived practice: she earns her own income, produces her own shows, creates her own fashion line, and answers to no one but herself.
💎 Launching a beret collection and hosting inclusive fashion shows that welcome customers of all heights, weights, and backgrounds is Keldamuzik's way of dismantling traditional gatekeeping in the fashion world and making space for every woman to shine.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Keldamuzik is a multifaceted artist known for her international touring, music placements on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and an acting role in the film "First Date," available for streaming on Hulu. In addition to her accomplishments in the entertainment industry, she has launched her own beret line, Tamz, and is involved in producing fashion shows.
Keldamuzik - Website
Get Up and Get It
Keldamuzik - Apple Music
https://weartamz.com/
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S7 Ep 8 - Freefall: A Divine Comedy
2026/02/24
Memoir writing blurs the line between truth and imagination in this revealing conversation with Lily MacKenzie. We explore how creative writing techniques shape both fiction narrative and personal stories, as Lily explains her unique approach: "you lie in the service of the truth." The prolific author, with works published in over 170 venues, teaches writing dialogue, narrative structure, and storytelling techniques at the University of San Francisco's Fromm Institute for older adults. Discover why age matters, and doesn't matter, in the writing community, and what connects memoir to traditional storytelling. Hear an excerpt from Freefall: A Divine Comedy where Tilly, an installation artist approaching 60, confronts her anxieties about aging and finances in San Francisco.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How memoir writing employs storytelling techniques identical to fiction, including writing dialogue that reconstructs past conversations through imagination in writing and memory recreation.
Why traditional narrative structure rules can be broken in favor of fragmented, non-chronological approaches that create compelling conversations between different life stages.
The distinction, or lack thereof, between memoir writing and historical fiction, and how both genres recreate time periods through similar creative writing processes.
How the writing community serves older adults by providing audience, connection, and purpose while preserving family legacies through literary arts.
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Memoir writing and the concept of lying in the service of truth with creative writing techniques
03:30 Does age affect readership and character development in novels featuring women over 60
05:51 Why writing community and memoir writing appeal to older demographics seeking legacy preservation
07:07 Exploring narrative structure and making a comparison to historical fiction
10:58 Inspiration behind the Freefall: A Divine Comedy novel about four women writers reuniting in Whistler and Venice
15:09 Reading excerpt from Freefall: A Divine Comedy featuring installation artist Tilly confronting aging and financial anxiety
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Memoir writing succeeds by "lying in the service of truth," using creative writing techniques like scene construction, imagery, and writing dialogue to recreate authentic experiences from imperfect memory recreation.
Narrative structure doesn't require chronological order or traditional story arcs; fragmented approaches can create powerful juxtapositions between life stages, allowing pieces to "talk to each other or clash."
Writing community for older adults serves multiple purposes beyond skill development, creating audiences for each other's stories and fostering connections through shared memoir writing experiences.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Lily Iona MacKenzie has published poetry, essays, and short stories in over 170 venues. She’s also published four novels: Fling!, Curva Peligrosa, Free Fall: A Divine Comedy, and The Ripening: A Canadian Girl Grows Up, a sequel to Free Fall and two poetry collections: All This and California Dreaming. Shanti Arts Publishing released her hybrid memoir Dreaming Myself into Old Age: One Woman’s Search for Meaning on 9/19/23. She blogs at http://lilyionamackenzie.com and teaches creative writing at the University of San Francisco's Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Lily MacKenzie - Website
Lily MacKenzie - LinkedIn
Lily MacKenzie - Facebook
Lily MacKenzie - Business Facebook
Lily MacKenzie - Twitter
Lily MacKenzie - Instagram
Free Fall - A Divine Comedy - Website
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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
S7 Ep 7 - Jurassic Girl
2026/02/10
Middle-grade historical fiction meets women in science in this inspiring episode! In this episode we welcome Michele Hollow, author of the novel Jurassic Girl, a biographical fiction about Mary Anning, the remarkable 12-year-old fossil hunter who discovered an ichthyosaur in 1811. Despite being poor, female, and self-educated, Mary triumphed over the dismissive men of the Geological Society. Michele shares her journey from animal writing and wildlife conservation journalism to crafting this middle-grade biography, discussing her research at the Lyme Regis museum and the challenges of writing historical research with authentic dialogue. Tune in to hear an excerpt from Jurassic Girl where young Mary visits Elizabeth Philpot's library for the first time.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How Michele Hollow discovered the story of Mary Anning, the pioneering fossil hunter who made groundbreaking discoveries in paleontology despite facing gender and class barriers in 1811
The process of transforming journalism skills into middle-grade historical fiction writing, including researching Lyme Regis and the Geological Society archives to create authentic biographical fiction
Why Mary Anning was dismissed by male scientists of her time and how she persisted in her fossil hunting work along the dangerous cliffs of England's Jurassic Coast
Michele's background in animal writing and wildlife conservation, from childhood classes at the Bronx Zoo to writing a middle-grade biography about the Grateful Dead
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Michele Hollow shares her work: animal writing, wildlife conservation, and middle-grade historical fiction
02:19 - Michele's childhood passion for animals, from the Bronx Zoo zoology classes to volunteering at Central Park Zoo and learning about wildlife
05:03 Michele discusses her experiences writing about the Grateful Dead
07:42 - Discovering Mary Anning, the 12-year-old fossil hunter who found an ichthyosaur in Lyme Regis in 1811, despite being dismissed by the Geological Society
10:12 - Research process for Jurassic Girl, including connecting with the Lyme Regis museum and studying Mary Anning's life through biographical fiction sources
14:32 - Excerpt from Jurassic Girl where Mary Anning visits Elizabeth Philpot's library and discusses fossil hunting and paleontology discoveries
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Mary Anning overcame extraordinary obstacles as a poor, self-educated 12-year-old girl in 1811 to make groundbreaking fossil hunting discoveries that changed our understanding of prehistoric life, yet faced dismissal from the male-dominated Geological Society
Michele Hollow demonstrates how journalism skills translate powerfully to middle-grade historical fiction, using research abilities to uncover details about Lyme Regis, museum archives, and Mary Anning's life while creating authentic dialogue for biographical fiction
Jurassic Girl brings women in science history to young readers, showing how Mary Anning's persistence and passion for paleontology paved the way for future scientists despite the gender barriers of her time
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Michele C. Hollow writes about health, pets and wildlife, climate, and lifestyle. Her byline has appeared in The New York Times, Next Avenue, The Guardian, Parents, AARP, and The Costco Connection. She's the author of The Everything Guide to Working with Animals (Adams Media) and a middle-grade biography of the Grateful Dead (Enslow Publishing).
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Michele C. Hollow - LinkedIn
Michele C. Hollow - Facebook
Michele C. Hollow - Website
Jurassic Girl: The Adventures of Mary Anning, Paleontologist and the First Female Fossil Hunter (Dinosaur books for kids 8–12): Hollow, Michele C.
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S7 Ep 6 - Corpse in the Craftsman Cottage
2026/01/27
What is a cozy mystery? Author Lori Pollard-Johnson joins host Reenita Hora to discuss her mystery book, Corpse in the Craftsman Cottage. This episode explores the cozy mystery genre and Lori discusses fiction writing, creative writing processes, and how contemporary mystery fiction blends genres. Her protagonists are divorced best friends running a house flipping business, discovering mystery and mayhem in unexpected places. Learn about cozy mystery authors, mystery novel writing, and the importance of sisterhood in mystery genre storytelling. Then, listen to the fiction read to hear how the protagonist discovers a waterlogged corpse hidden inside a closet aquarium while renovating a 1920s craftsman cottage.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Discover what defines a cozy mystery and how violence stays off the page while maintaining compelling mystery elements and engaging dead body scenarios in cozy crime fiction.
Learn the importance of crafting strong female friendships in women's fiction, including how divorced protagonists support each other through house flipping adventures and mystery solving.
Gain insights into the mystery novel writing process, from finding inspiration in real-world food critics and chefs to developing small-town mystery settings that keep readers engaged without graphic cozy mystery violence.
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 The cozy mystery genre, violence occurs off the page in cozy crime fiction
02:15 Lori's fiction writing journey from periodicals to mystery books, including culinary mystery and women's fiction projects
03:28 Defining a cozy mystery and a culinary mystery inspired by working with chefs
06:32 The importance of female friendship and sisterhood themes in contemporary mystery fiction and cozy mystery storytelling
10:52 Reading from Corpse in the Craftsman Cottage featuring a shocking dead body discovery in a house flipping project
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Cozy mystery novels keep violence off the page, allowing readers to enjoy mystery solving without graphic content—the dead body exists. Still, readers don't witness the killing, making cozy crime fiction accessible and entertaining.
Culinary mystery books blend food industry knowledge with mystery writing, creating authentic chef characters and restaurant settings that add flavor to contemporary mystery fiction while exploring themes beyond traditional small town mysteries.
Strong female friendships elevate women's fiction within the cozy mystery genre—protagonists who support each other through divorce, house flipping businesses, and mystery adventures create compelling, relatable narratives for cozy mystery authors to explore.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Lori Pollard-Johnson writes from Washington and Arizona with two 2024 releases: Corpse in the Craftsman Cottage, featuring BFF amateur sleuths, and Toxic Torte, a culinary cozy about a critic's demise. She has 100+ publishing credits and holds an MA in writing from Seton Hill University. A former teacher and college professor, she's been a PNWA Literary Contest finalist and won awards for short fiction and poetry. When not writing, she enjoys her grandbabies, yoga, swimming, hiking, renovating fixer-uppers, and watching javelinas in her backyard.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Lori Pollard-Johnson - Facebook
Lori Pollard-Johnson - Business Facebook
Lori Pollard-Johnson - Twitter
Lori Pollard-Johnson -Instagram
Corpse in the Craftsman Cottage (A Flippin' Good Mystery Book 1) - Amazon
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S7 Ep 5 - Pinocchio's Guide to the End of the World
2026/01/13
Hi everyone! In this episode, we’re diving into the world of songwriting, screenwriting, and fiction writing with author Eva Moon. We explore her journey from musician to playwright to novelist, discovering how storytelling evolves across musical theater, one-woman shows, and her debut novel, Pinocchio's Guide to the End of the World. Eva shares how her genetic mutation diagnosis transformed her creative writing process, leading to the comedy show Mutant Diaries and ultimately inspiring her fantasy fiction novel about Pinocchio at midlife, grappling with body image and self-discovery. Tune in to hear an excerpt from the book as Pinocchio reflects on his transformation and feeling like an imposter in his human body.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How storytelling naturally evolves across different creative mediums—from songwriting to screenwriting to fiction writing—and how to let your story dictate its own format
The power of using fantasy fiction and character development to process personal trauma, as Eva transformed her genetic mutation experience into compelling creative writing
How Pinocchio becomes a metaphor for body image, imposter syndrome, and self-discovery when dealing with physical transformation and identity
Why authentic storytelling that explores internal versus external identity resonates with audiences dealing with their own transformative experiences
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Eva Moon's multi-format creative writing career as songwriter, playwright, screenwriter, and novelist
03:20 How songwriting evolved into musical theater through patter and storytelling between songs at performance venues
05:00 Eva's genetic mutation diagnosis and creating Mutant Diaries, a woman's show, as creative writing therapy
08:00 Origin story of Pinocchio's Guide to the End of the World, exploring body image, transformation, and self-discovery
11:25 Eva reads an excerpt from Pinocchio's Guide to the End of the World, featuring Pinocchio at midlife reflecting on his transformation
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Let your creative writing take multiple forms throughout your career: Eva's evolution from musician to songwriter to playwright to novelist shows that storytelling mastery isn't about choosing one lane—it's about following where each story needs to go
Transform lived experience into universal themes through character development: Rather than writing another autobiographical piece after Mutant Diaries, Eva used Pinocchio to explore body image and identity crisis in ways that resonated beyond her personal genetic mutation story
The entertainment industry offers multiple entry points for independent creators: Eva's path included performing at clubs, attending screenwriting school, touring her musical theater show internationally, and self-distributing content—proving there's no single formula for author success
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Eva Moon is an author, songwriter, playwright, screenwriter, performer, and former Huffington Post blogger. Her plays and musicals have been staged across the US and UK, and her solo musical, “The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes,” is streaming on Amazon. “Pinocchio’s Guide to the End of the World” is her first novel.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Eva Moon - Website
Eva Moon - Author | LinkedIn
Eva Moon (@evamooon) • Facebook, Connect with friends
Eva Moon, Writer (@evamoonwriter) • Facebook
Eva Moon, storyteller, author (@evamoon) / Posts / X
Eva Moon - Instagram
Amazon.com: Pinocchio's Guide to the End of the World eBook
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S7 Ep 4 - Hidden: The Unsolved Mystery of Sarah Mumford
2025/12/30
Historical true crime, genealogical mysteries, and unsolved deaths await in this gripping episode of the True Fiction Project! I'm Reenita Hora, your host, diving into the mysterious world of true crime with author Michelle Graff and her book Hidden: The Unsolved Mystery of Sarah Mumford. We'll explore genealogical research, unsolved mysteries from 1899, and the dark reality of human trafficking and unwed mothers. Michelle uncovers parallels between her great-grandmother and 15-year-old Sarah Mumford through newspaper archives and primary source research. This blend of narrative nonfiction and historical fiction reveals the secrets of a Victorian-era death investigation. Then, hear an excerpt from the book as we witness Amelia giving birth to her daughter and, despite the shame of being unwed, courageously insisting that the baby's father be recorded in the doctor's records.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How genealogical research and newspaper archives can uncover historical true crime cases from the 1800s
How orphanage records reveal the dark history of human trafficking and exploitation of children in the Victorian era
The investigative techniques used in death investigations and forensic investigations during the 19th-century crime era
How narrative nonfiction and historical fiction blend to tell the stories of unwed mothers and hidden truths in family history
Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal
Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Michelle Graff explains how genealogical research on her great-grandmother led to discovering the 1899 historical true crime case of Sarah Mumford’s unsolved mystery
04:54 The death investigation reveals Sarah was dead before the train hit her, and the coroner uncovers that she was treated as an indentured servant
07:56 Michelle discusses using newspaper archives, primary source research, and orphanage records to piece together the narrative nonfiction story in Hidden
13:33 The themes of human trafficking, unwed mothers, hidden truths, and how children were exploited in the Victorian era
17:33 Michelle Graff reads an excerpt from Hidden: The Unsolved Mystery of Sarah Mumford
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Sarah Mumford's death investigation in 1899 revealed she was dead before being placed on train tracks, transforming the case from suicide to a covered-up murder involving child welfare exploitation
Michelle Graff combined genealogical research techniques with historical true crime investigation, using newspaper archives and orphanage records to uncover the parallel stories of Sarah and her great-grandmother Amelia
The book exposes how children from orphanages were exploited as indentured servants for profit, drawing connections to modern-day human trafficking issues
ABOUT THE GUESTS:
Michelle is drawn to mystery and true crime novels. Like so many true crime lovers, she longed to solve a real-life mystery. Fellow fans of history, genealogy, research, puzzles, true crime, mystery, social justice, and child advocacy can contact her at resiliencyonline.com.
Cultivating Human Resiliency - Website
Michelle Graff - LinkedIn
Hidden: The Unsolved Mystery of Sarah Mumford - Amazon
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FlameRetardant 2022/03/29
The Art of Storytelling
If you are a story teller or someone who loves stories, even when you don’t always know where the line between fiction and non fiction is drawn, this ...