THE ARCTIC FURY reviewed in Shelf Awareness!

I’m such a huge Shelf Awareness fan, and surprise! Today they reviewed THE ARCTIC FURY, which gladdens my book loving heart.

You can read the full review here! They called it “gripping” and “compelling” and I particularly loved this bit:

“Readers who love historical fiction, strong women and unusual settings will find all three--as well as a couple of truly inventive twists--in Macallister's novel.“

Again, full review here if you want to check it out. Completely spoiler-free! Definitely brightened my Monday.

my review of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE at CHIRB!

I was thrilled to get the chance to review V.E. Schwab’s new novel The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue for Chicago Review of Books — not just because I love Schwab’s work, which I do, but because it provided the perfect occasion to get some things off my chest about what I see as widespread genre snobbery in today’s book world. The intro:

I’m tempted to say the modern idea of genre is a joke, except that it’s not funny. A sincerely curious, skilled, and committed writer can basically write whatever she wants, genre be damned. Yet certain genres are still elevated and others dismissed; the New York Times “By the Book” feature still regularly asks writers “Which genres do you avoid?”

(Because it interrupted the review’s flow, my editor asked me to take out a snotty aside about a certain Very Famous Historical Fiction Author whose answer to that By the Book question insulted anyone who has ever written in any genre, including her own. Part of her response: “Choosing to write a genre novel is like fencing the universe because you are afraid of space.“ You can check that out here!)

You should definitely read Schwab’s book, and I promise that my review of it doesn’t give anything too major away: only that “Schwab is an author who understands the importance of both subverting and satisfying reader expectations” and “You can relax into your enjoyment of the story and trust that she knows what she’s doing, because she does.” 

Read the full review here.

THE ARCTIC FURY tops Washington City Paper's upcoming book roundup!

Oh, this one is so lovely! As a longtime Washington City Paper reader, I’m thrilled to see my name pop up in its pages, and the warm words of praise for The Arctic Fury are the icing on the proverbial cake.

The whole write-up is so good I could quote it in its entirety, but here are a couple of quick highlights:

“‘In the front row sit the survivors,’ begins The Arctic Fury, D.C. author Greer Macallister’s fourth novel. Like all of her books, this one intertwines history and the female gaze in stunning detail. Macallister writes women like no one else, her characters’ strengths and shortcomings vividly magnified by the societies and even geography that would diminish them.”

Love it! And also this:

“We care deeply for [these] characters, believe in what they fight for, but never feel lectured or pulled out by a modern point of view. These women live and shine brightly in their own time—exactly as historical fiction should read.”

And if you do want to read the whole thing, you can! The whole piece rounds up several upcoming books from DC-area authors, including They’re Gone, from Anthony Award-nominated E.A. Aymar, writing under the pseudonym E.A. Barres — a book I can’t wait to read, and an author I’m sharing a panel with at the Fairfax County Public Library (check out the details on my Events page, won’t you? Registration is a must.)

Here's the whole round-up.

Writing Outside of Books!

The events are coming fast and furious, so this will be a brief post, but hey! Next week, you can get (virtually) up close and personal with me, Bethanne Patrick, and E.A. Aymar for a panel called Writing Outside of Books, hosted by the Fairfax County Public Library. It’s this coming Monday, October 26, and space is limited. So register ASAP — it’s free!

Register here.

October's Historical Fiction Happy Hour!

So many virtual happenings coming up! Can’t wait to share them all with you. (I try my best to keep the Events page up to date, so click on over there to check it out.)

One of my favorite events earlier this year was my appearance on the inaugural Historical Fiction Happy Hour, which is organized by excellent historical fiction authors Carrie Callaghan and Linnea Hartsuyker. October’s Historical Fiction Happy Hour is shaping up to be another great one, with Stephanie Dray (Ribbons of Scarlet) and Samantha Rajaram (The Company Daughters) and a secret special guest!

(I can’t tell you who that guest will be, but I can hint that she has a fabulous novel with a chilly title coming out in December, and she’ll be giving away an early copy of said book to one lucky happy hour attendee!)

Register on Crowdcast by clicking here.

win an early copy of THE ARCTIC FURY from Goodreads!

It’s just about all there in the headline, but yes! Goodreads is giving away just 10 copies of the ARC of THE ARCTIC FURY, so hustle over there and get your name in while the getting’s good!

Enter here.

CHIRB interview with Christina Baker Kline!

Not only did I get to read an early copy of Christina Baker Kline’s new book THE EXILES (it’s soooo good!), I also got to interview Christina for the Chicago Review of Books.

I talked with Christina about inspiration decades in the making, the responsibility she felt toward those who lived the history she fictionalizes, and the upsides of swapping a virtual book tour for the traditional traveling version. “I will miss meeting people on the road and hearing their reactions to a novel I’ve spent years writing in solitude. Those interactions are the best part of being on tour. (Snarfing cold breakfast sandwiches in airports, not so much!)”

Read the interview here.

giveaway for WOMAN 99 and THE EXILES!

I’m currently reading an advance copy of Christina Baker Kline’s fabulous new novel THE EXILES, which follows a trio of women in 19th-century Australia through hardship, oppression and opportunity. Though set in the 1840s, the issues it covers still resonate today: the gendered nature of power, societal and individual struggles with inequity, prison systems and the theft of native lands. It’s also just a cracking good story.

There are two fun coincidences between our latest work, one of which is driving the giveaway announced below:

Since Christina and I both draw on real-world history, it turns out we have a couple of real-life characters in common! Before he disappeared on the Arctic expedition that inspired my upcoming novel THE ARCTIC FURY, John Franklin was the Governor of Van Diemen’s Land (modern-day Tasmania,) and he and his wife Jane figure heavily in the plot of THE EXILES.

The other coincidence has to do with a pair of exciting recent announcements: both THE EXILES and my novel WOMAN 99 have been optioned for TV production by the same company, Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories! Read about Christina’s deal here and mine here.

So: want to win a copy each of THE EXILES and WOMAN 99 before their adaptations come to a screen near you? Check out the giveaway details and enter by signing up for my newsletter, visiting my Facebook page or Tweeting a message. Deadline is August 15.

virtual launch event for Diana Giovinazzo's THE WOMAN IN RED!

I haven’t done many online events this summer, but I’ve got one next week that I’m really excited about — time to break out the lipstick!

I’ll be interviewing debut author and all-around awesome person Diana Giovinazzo about her new novel THE WOMAN IN RED! The event is hosted by Southern California institution Vroman’s Bookstore, but you can attend from anywhere via Crowdcast. (Time below is local to the bookstore — so 9 p.m. Eastern, 8 Central, 7 Mountain, 6 Pacific.)

Sign up here to attend!

And for a little more about this fabulous historical novel, here’s my blurb:

“Diana Giovinazzo establishes herself as a worthy new voice in historical fiction with this irresistible tale of Anita Garibaldi: firebrand, lover, soldier, mother, revolutionary. Garibaldi isn’t just fierce, she’s ferocious. Her unstoppable energy propels this novel forward through tragedy and triumph, soaring all the way.”

Nina Dobrev and Made Up Stories teaming up for WOMAN 99 series!

I am absolutely over the moon to share some extremely exciting book-to-screen news! Here, let’s let Variety tell it, they’re the professionals:

Nina Dobrev to Star in ‘Woman 99’ Series With Bruna Papandrea Producing

Nina Dobrev and Bruna Papandrea are teaming to adapt the Greer Macallister novel “Woman 99” for television.

Dobrev will star in and executive produce the series, with Papandrea also executive producing under her Made Up Stories banner. Made Up Stories’ Steve Hutensky and Casey Haver will also serve as executive producers with Janice Park serving as producer. Macallister will serve as a consulting producer. Endeavor Content will produce. No writer or network is currently attached.

“Woman 99” follows a young woman whose quest to free her sister from an infamous insane asylum risks her sanity, her safety, and her life. The novel was published by Sourcebooks Landmark in March 2019.

Read the rest of the article here! Lots more goodness and details and quotes to be had.

And if you just can’t get enough, you can also read about it in the Hollywood Reporter, TVLine, The Wrap, and Deadline, among others! I mean, it’s been quite a day.

(And if you want your very own copy of WOMAN 99, you can support indie bookstores by buying it right here from Bookshop, or use this handy link for other sellers! Just saying.)