What happens when historical fiction dares to challenge the rules? On the True Fiction Project, host Reenita Hora welcomes New York Times bestselling author Madeline Martin, whose latest novel, The Secret Book Society, uncovers the radical act of women reading books in the Victorian era. A three-times-widowed Countess builds a secret book club, defying a culture that viewed literate women as dangerous. Madeline shares her extraordinary path through self-publishing, traditional publishing, and deep historical research, writing over 40 books along the way. Rich with Victorian women's history, hatpin fighting, seances, and the language of flowers, this episode is a love letter to storytelling. Tune in to hear the author read the prologue, in which a street boy delivers a single boot as proof that a woman may have been wrongfully taken to a lunatic asylum. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ Why historical fiction set in the Victorian era continues to captivate readers, and how the rigid etiquette of the period creates a rich backdrop for subversive, empowering storytelling rooted in women's history. ✅ How self-publishing works in the romance novel market, including why authors must release books every one to two months to remain visible, and how Madeline Martin balanced that pace with a full-time career and family. ✅ How a real historical account of a woman wrongfully committed to a lunatic asylum became the foundation for The Secret Book Society, demonstrating how literary fiction is born from documented history. ✅ How intentional detail, including the language of flowers, hatpin fighting, and female authors of the era, can transform a novel into an immersive, layered reading experience. Subscribe to Reenita’s Storytelling Den on Substack for free at https://substack.com/@reenitahora and to her YouTube channel to watch the video version of this episode! https://www.youtube.com/@reenymal Check out her website to stay up-to-date on events, book releases and more! https://reenita.com/ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Madeline Martin introduces The Secret Book Society and its Victorian-era setting, where women's reading was actively suppressed 02:36 Madeline shares her 20-year writing journey, from childhood storytelling to publishing over 40 historical fiction and romance novels 05:06 A candid look at self-publishing: writing six to eight books a year, managing every detail, and why independent publishing is demanding 09:56 The transition from historical romance to literary fiction, and why a hatpin played a significant role in the novel 15:41 Madeline reads the prologue of The Secret Book Society KEY TAKEAWAYS: 💎 Victorian era restrictions on women's reading were not just social norms; they were enforced control. The Secret Book Society reclaims that history by centering women's empowerment through the radical, joyful act of gathering to read works by female authors. 💎 Madeline Martin's publishing path illustrates the demanding realities of self-publishing, where output volume directly determines visibility. Her shift to traditional publishing allowed her to trade quantity for quality, producing one richly researched historical fiction title per year. 💎 The most compelling literary fiction is often grounded in stranger-than-fiction historical truth. Martin's discovery of a real Victorian woman saved from an asylum by a single thrown boot proves that history, when told with heart and craft, needs very little embellishment. ABOUT THE GUEST: Madeline Martin is a New York Times and international bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance, with books translated into over 25 languages. She lives in sunny Florida with her husband (known as Mr. Awesome), two amazing daughters, and two very spoiled cats. The Secret Book Society: A Novel – A USA Today Bestselling Historical Gothic Mystery: Martin, Madeline Madeline Martin (@MadelineMartinAuthor) - Facebook Madeline Martin - Instagram Madeline Martin (@MadelineMMartin) / Posts - X Madeline Martin - Threads Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
