Episode Details

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Maryka Biaggio, author of the book Gun Girl and the Tall Guy. Maryka Biaggio is a psychology professor turned novelist who specializes in historical fiction based on real people. She loves unearthing the stories of people overlooked by history and bringing them back to life—portraying their challenges and foibles and rekindling their emotional world. Previous novels include The Model Spy, The Point of Vanishing, Eden Waits, and Parlor Games. Her fiction has won several accolades, including Willamette Writers Award, Oregon Writers Colony Award, Historical Novel Society Review Editors’ Choice, La Belle Lettre Award, an Upper Peninsula of Michigan Notable Books Award, and a Regional Arts & Council grant. She served on the Board of the Historical Novel Society North America Conference from 2015-2025. She has mentored other writers in AWP's Writer-to-Writer Mentorship Program since 2020. She’s an avid opera fan and enjoys gardening, art films, and, of course, great fiction. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

In my book review, I stated Gun Girl and the Tall Guy is a historical fiction by Maryka Biaggio. It is based on a true story of a crime duo, Celia and Ed Cooney, in 1920s Brooklyn. And quite frankly, I loved everything about this book! The characters are vivid. I could see the Brooklyn from 100 years ago. And the story is amazing.

Celia grew up in a tough environment. She escapes her family and marries Ed, a young man just home from the war. He is kind, gentle, and loves her completely. But, like most young couples, they are broke. When she learns she is pregnant, she doesn't want to raise her child with nothing. So, they hatch a plan to rob a store - just to get enough to start them on their way. But the thrill and the fame, as well as an ever-increasing need for more things, keeps them in the game long after it makes sense.

Although it makes no sense, I was routing for Celia and Ed to evade the police! Maryka did a great job getting me to pull for the bad guy rather than the Brooklyn police, which is what started happening as the pair became more infamous. I won't spoil it for you - it's a must read.

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You can follow Author Maryka Biaggio

Website: https://marykabiaggio.com/

IG: @authormaryka

FB: @maryka.biaggio

Purchase a copy of Gun Girl and the Tall Guy on Amazon:

Paperback: ​https://amzn.to/3N7slpa​

Kindle: ​https://amzn.to/49fR43f

Teri M Brown, Author and Podcast Host: https://www.terimbrown.com

FB: @TeriMBrownAuthor

IG: @terimbrown_author

X: @terimbrown1

Want to be a guest on Online for Authors? Send Teri M Brown a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/member/onlineforauthors

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