Episode Details

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Janis Daly, author of the book The Path Beneath Her Feet and creator of #31titleswomeninhistory, along with four additional authors from the list.

The compiled list of historical fiction represents thirty-one titles to read, discover, learn, and celebrate women who’ve made history, individually or collectively. Their achievements languish in the shadows, awaiting authors to write their stories and readers to embrace them.

According to Janis, developing the list wasn’t easy because there are far more books than she could include. But this is how she made her final decision:

• Had to be historical fiction
• Had to be written by a woman
• Looked for diversity in authors – cultural, type of publishing, and name recognition
• Looked for diversity in the subject – cultural, setting, field of recognition
• Ratings on Goodreads

Here is the list of books Janis has included for the 31 days of March in 2025:

1. Akmaral by Judith Lindbergh - Amazon Warrior Women, Ancient History Asia
2. American Daughters by Piper Huguley - Progressive political daughters and friends, Alice Roosevelt, Portia Washington, early 1900s America
3. Can’t We Be Friends by Denny S. Byce & Eliza Knight - Entertainers Ella Fitzgerald, Marilyn Monroe, 1950s America
4. Circling the Sun by Paula McLain - Aviator Beryl Markham, 1920s Africa
5. The Dark Lady’s Mask by Mary Sharratt - Writer Aemilia Bassano Lanier, late 1500s England
6. Daughters of Green Mountain Gap by Teri M. Brown - Women Healers of Rural America, late 1800s North Carolina
7. Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki - Philosopher & Women's Rights Activist Margaret Fuller, mid 1800s Massachusetts & Italy
8. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray - Writer & Editor Jessie Redmond Fauset, 1920s New York
9. Hild by Nicola Griffin - St. Hild of Whitby, Dark Ages England
10. Illuminating Darwin by Jill George - Writer, Editor & Anthropologist Arabella Buckley, mid/late 1800s England
11. The Invincible Miss Cust by Penny Haw - Veterinarian Aleen Cust, late 1800s Great Britain
12. Katharine, the Wright Sister by Tracey Enerson Wood - Aviator Advisor & Business Manager Katharine Wright, early 1900s Ohio
13. Katharine’s Remarkable Road Trip by Gail Ward Olmsted - Civil War Nurse & Educator Katharine Prescott Wormeley, early 1900s New England
14. Lady Flyer by Heather B. Moore - Aviator Nancy Harkness Love - World War II United States
15. The Last Twelve Miles by Erika Robuck - Codebreaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman, 1920s Washington DC / Florida
16. Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray - Princess Selene of Egypt, First Century BC, Rome
17. Madame Pommery by Rebecca Rosenberg - Jeanne Alexandrine Pommery, mid/late 1800s France
18. Mademoiselle Eiffel by Aimie K. Runyan - Claire Eiffel, late 1800s France
19. The Mesmerist by Caroline Woods - Social activist Abby Swift Mendenhall, late 1800s Minnesota
20. Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles - Librarian Jessie “Kit” Carson, World Wa