Checking in with Fiona Davis....plus a book giveaway

Today we welcome Fiona Davis to CLC to celebrate the publication of her latest novel, The Chelsea Girls. Thanks to Dutton, we have TWO copies to give away!

Fiona Davis began her career in New York City as an actress, where she worked on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in regional theater. After getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she fell in love with writing, leapfrogging from editor to freelance journalist before finally settling down as an author of historical fiction. Fiona's books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. She's a graduate of the College of William & Mary and is based in New York City. (Bio courtesy of Fiona's website.)

Visit Fiona online:
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram

Synopsis:
From the dramatic redbrick facade to the sweeping staircase dripping with art, the Chelsea Hotel has long been New York City's creative oasis for the many artists, writers, musicians, actors, filmmakers, and poets who have called it home—a scene playwright Hazel Riley and actress Maxine Mead are determined to use to their advantage. Yet they soon discover that the greatest obstacle to putting up a show on Broadway has nothing to do with their art, and everything to do with politics. A Red scare is sweeping across America, and Senator Joseph McCarthy has started a witch hunt for Communists, with those in the entertainment industry in the crosshairs. As the pressure builds to name names, it is more than Hazel and Maxine's Broadway dreams that may suffer as they grapple with the terrible consequences, but also their livelihood, their friendship, and even their freedom.

Spanning from the 1940s to the 1960s, The Chelsea Girls deftly pulls back the curtain on the desperate political pressures of McCarthyism, the complicated bonds of female friendship, and the siren call of the uninhibited Chelsea Hotel. (Courtesy of Amazon.)


What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
I think the recent Publishers Weekly review of The Chelsea Girls has been my favorite so far – it said that “Davis’s tale of one friendship’s strength will stun and satisfy readers.” I love that: stun and satisfy. Exactly what I hoped it would do as I was writing and researching it the past couple of years.

Which of your two lead characters is most similar to you and why?
Definitely Hazel, who’s a shy girl pushed into acting by her family, even though it doesn’t really suit her character. I came to New York as an actress, and although I enjoyed every minute, I imagined there was probably something else that would suit my introverted nature better. Turns out it was writing historical fiction, which is immensely challenging and fun. In the novel, Hazel becomes a playwright for the Broadway stage.

If The Chelsea Girls were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?
Hazel Ripley could be played by Brie Larson. Her face is fierce, intelligent, and guarded. For Hazel’s best friend, femme fetale Maxine Mead, it would be Jessica Chastain. She’s a redhead who can play sassy and sweet.

Which TV series are you currently binge watching?
I recently finished Fleabag, and loved the way the lead character was this flawed, funny woman who’s just trying to figure things out. I particularly adored Olivia Coleman as her sweetly vicious stepmom.

What is the oldest item of clothing you currently own?
I have a silk scarf that I bought when I first came to New York. Back then, I was a girl who tended toward jeans and a tee shirt and I remember thinking how grown up the scarf seemed. It’s a mix of gorgeous autumnal colors – browns and hazels – and I still adore it.

What is the funniest thing that happened to you recently?
I was recently out to lunch with a friend, bemoaning the difficulty of picking a title for my next book, which is set in the New York Public Library. She suggested placing a buxomy girl on the cover under the title “Stacked!” which I thought was hilarious. Not gonna happen, but I’m still laughing about it.

Thanks to Fiona for chatting with us and Dutton for sharing her book with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway ends August 4th at midnight EST.