Ellen Marie Wiseman's debut novel, THE PLUM TREE, was inspired by her mother's childhood in Germany during WWII. Ellen is a bestselling author whose novels have been translated into eighteen languages. Bookbub named THE PLUM TREE One of Thirteen Books To Read if You Loved ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE. Ellen’s second novel, WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND, was named a Huffington Post Best Books of Summer 2015. The Historical Novel Review named her third novel, COAL RIVER, "one of the most "unputdownable" books of 2015." Her fourth novel, THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN, was named A GREAT GROUP READS Selection of the Women’s National Book Association and National Reading Group Month and a Goodreads Best Book of the Month. THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR, a novel set during the Spanish flu, comes out in July 2020. Ellen lives on the shores of Lake Ontario with her husband and a spoiled Shih-tzu. When she’s not busy writing, she loves spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Ellen’s #read99women pick is Julie Kibler’s THE HOME FOR ERRING AND OUTCAST GIRLS, which she calls “a beautifully written, heartbreaking novel.” She goes on, “I loved it, not only because of the wonderful characters and compelling storyline, but because it so artfully illustrates past and present discrimination against women, and how organized religion can save some people but destroy others.” Read the full review on BookBub here.