Bold, Beautiful, and Black: Writing Black Women Back into History with Krystal Marquis
Release Date: 05/01/2023
Elizabeth I and Her Pirates
The Exploress
My second novel, FYREBIRDS, just came out, and it would mean a huge amount if you’d pick up a copy. If you'd like a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before the sequel arrives, go and listen to my over on Pub Dates. This episodes is coming to you with the support of my fabulous patrons. Have you ever thought about becoming one? Patrons get all episodes early and ad-free, voting rights on content, behind the scenes stuff, AND up to two exclusive bonus episodes a month, like this one. You can now try out being a patron with a 7-day free trial! to find out more.
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Announcement!
The Exploress
...see you on the other side, my friends. Have you ever thought about becoming a patron? They get all episodes early and ad-free, voting rights on content, behind the scenes stuff, AND up to two exclusive bonus episodes a month. I'll be posting episodes there throughout my maternity leave, so if you want more Exploress in your life, head on over! You can now try out being a patron with a 7-day free trial! to find out more. My second novel, FYREBIRDS, just came out, and it would mean a huge amount if you’d pick up a copy. If you'd like a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before the sequel arrives, go and...
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The FYREBIRDS Audiobook
The Exploress
I'm thrilled to bring you this extra-long audio sample of the FYREBIRDS audiobook: the Prologue and Chapter 1, narrated by the amazing Saskia Maarleveld. If you like what you hear, the is out now wherever audiobooks are sold. You can request it to stream digitally from your local library; if they don't have it in their collection, you can ask them to buy a copy, usually via their website.
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War, Women, and Whimsy: An Interview with Author Ryan Graudin
The Exploress
Guess what? My second novel, FYREBIRDS, hits shelves TODAY. How exciting! I’m celebrating by inviting one of my favorite authors to join us. is the award-winning novel of many books for young adults and children; her debut adult fantasy, THE ENCHANTED LIES OF CELESTE ARTOIS, comes out today. This novel, set in Belle Epoque Paris just before the First World War, is absolutely FULL of my favorite things: history, strong women, and magic. Join us as we talk about her enchanting novel, how she used history as a springboard for writing it, and what she discovered along the way. Remember,...
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NIGHTBIRDS: Let's Talk Spoilers
The Exploress
It’s FYREBIRDS month on The Exploress! To celebrate the release of my second novel, and the conclusion of the NIGHTBIRDS series, I’m sharing an episode of my other podcast, Pub Dates, where I’ve been taking listeners behind the scenes on this series’ creation. In this episode, I’m going to answer reader’s burning questions about NIGHTBIRDS. Warning: there will be spoilers in here, so save this one for later if you haven’t read the book yet. My second novel, FYREBIRDS, is hitting shelves on August 27th, and it would mean a huge amount if you’d pick up a copy. If you do, I’ll...
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Scofflaws Revisited: The FYREBIRDS Edition
The Exploress
It’s FYREBIRDS month on The Exploress! I’m celebrating the release of my second novel, and the conclusion of the NIGHTBIRDS series, by revisiting an old episode from our season on the 1920s: the one where we talk about the women who skirted the Prohibition law. Make sure you listen through to the new epilogue, where I talk about all the ways I used my research on the 1920s as inspiration when I was building the world of my novel. FYREBIRDS is hitting shelves on August 27th, and it would mean a huge amount if . If you do so by September 4th, I’ll send you some very special prizes,...
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Crude, Rude, and Setting the Mood: An Interview with Author Therese Oneill
The Exploress
It's interview time! Let's spend some time with the delightful Therese Oneill, author of such nonfiction gems as Unmentionable: A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Sex, Marriage and Manners and her latest book Unbecoming a Lady: The Forgotten Shrews and Sluts that Shaped America. This isn't your average collection of biographies. These ladies weren’t pretty, graceful, or quiet, and so history didn’t know what to do with them. Join us as Therese introduces us to a few delightful dames. Thanks for listening! You can now buy Unbecoming a Lady wherever good books are sold, and you can . If you want...
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Bathing Beauties: Annette Kellerman & The History of Women's Swimwear
The Exploress
Let's celebrate the North American summer with a dive (see what I did there?) into the history of women's bathing suits. It's as fascinating, and sometimes as absurd, as you'd imagine. I have a book coming out in August! FYREBIRDS, the sequel and conclusion to NIGHTBIRDS, is hitting shelves on August 27th, and I would love it if you'd pick up a copy. To find out all about it, go to . If you're looking for a recap of NIGHTBIRDS before FYREBIRDS comes out, or are keen to read along with me for the very first time, go and listen to my four-part readalong over on my other...
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A Lady's Life in Tokugawa Japan, Part IV: Off to Battle with Samurai Warrior Women
The Exploress
In this four-part series, we're time traveling back to Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) to find out what life was like there for the ladies. If you've been binging Shogun lately, then this one's for you! For show notes, including a list of sources and some cool images, go to (If you're dying for a full transcript, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) In June, I'm doing a NIGHTBIRDS readalong on my other podcast, . Whether you're looking for a recap before FYREBIRDS comes out or are keen to read along with me for the very first time, it's going to be a lot of fun! Ways to...
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A Lady's Life in Tokugawa Japan, Part III: Fashion & Fun with the Glamorous Geisha
The Exploress
In this four-part series, we're time traveling back to Tokugawa Japan (1603-1868) to find out what life was like there for the ladies. If you've been binging Shogun lately, then this one's for you! For show notes, including a list of sources and some cool images, go to (If you're dying for a full transcript, you'll find it over on my Patreon.) In June, I'm doing a NIGHTBIRDS readalong on my other podcast, . Whether you're looking for a recap before FYREBIRDS comes out or are keen to read along with me for the very first time, it's going to be a lot of fun! And listeners...
info_outlineIn this episode, we’re jumping back to 1910s Chicago, which is the setting for my friend Krystal Marquis’s New York Times and Indie bestselling novel The Davenports. This heartwarming historical romance introduces us to four young Black women navigating life at the turn of the century, falling in love, taking risks, and carving their own paths through the world. I loved talking to Krystal about her research and inspirations.