It is a true pleasure to welcome Allison Pataki to the blog today, the same day her brand-new book THE QUEEN’S FORTUNE hits the stands! I was lucky enough to read an early copy of the novel, so I can wholeheartedly recommend it. I also got to interview Allison for the Chicago Review of Books: you can read that interview here.

More on Allison: Allison Pataki is the New York Times bestselling author of THE QUEEN’S FORTUNE, THE TRAITOR’S WIFE, THE ACCIDENTAL EMPRESS, SISI: EMPRESS ON HER OWN, WHERE THE LIGHT FALLS, as well as the nonfiction memoir BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES and two children’s books, NELLY TAKES NEW YORK and POPPY TAKES PARIS. Allison’s novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages. A former news writer and producer, Allison has written for The New York Times, ABC News, The Huffington Post, USA Today, Fox News and other outlets. She has appeared on The TODAY Show, Fox & Friends, Good Day New York, Good Day Chicago and MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

Allison graduated Cum Laude from Yale University with a major in English and spent several years in journalism before switching to fiction writing. A member of The Historical Novel Society, Allison lives in New York with her husband and family.

And Allison’s pick for #read99women is one of my favorites of the past few years: CIRCE by Madeline Miller. Says Allison: “I had not spent much time with The Odyssey or the fables of Greek mythology since Freshman year of college, so I was delighted by Miller's reimagining of the goddess's story on the island of Aiea. Miller's writing is visceral and she draws her characters with richness and power.”

For more on Allison, her books, and her other recommendations, click through to her BookBub page here.

And THE QUEEN’S FORTUNE isn’t the only great new book out this week! Tune in tomorrow to hear about another brand-new #read99women release, this one “an exhilarating debut novel of one woman's courage in the face of catastrophe.”