Coming May 2022!
“From the captivating first line, The Seamstress of New Orleans transports the reader to the mystery and sultry magic of New Orleans. With McPhail’s acclaimed and atmospheric prose, The Seamstress of New Orleans is a tale of well-guarded secrets, societal bonds that must be broken, and women’s powerful resilience. A powerful and fascinating story." —Patti Callahan, New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Savannah
“The intrigue surrounding these two young widows will draw you in then you'll be rooted into the story by the historical detail of New Orleans at the turn of the century and the first female Mardi Gras Krewe. But what you will take away from the novel is the sheer power of female friendship. An exhilarating historical romp of found family and abiding friendship.”—Michelle Cavalier, Cavalier House Books (Denham Springs, LA)
“Reading this novel is like dining on a creole dish: rich, mysterious, and oh so satisfying.”—Fran Ziegler, Titcomb’s Bookshop (East Sandwich, MA)
“In a time and place when women were relegated to the home, these New Orleans ladies set about crafting their own future. Threads of missing husbands, menacing gamblers, and society on the cusp of changing women's rights weave together to form a riveting tale. The history of the first all-female Krewe was so captivating it sent me to do some googling for extra information. It was also an education about women's rights and the Napoleonic Code. Fascinating. McPhail has stitched an impressive work of historical fiction that will fuel plenty of book club discussions.”—Pamela Klinger-Horn, Valley Bookseller (Stillwater, MN)
“A riveting story of two women whose lives are woven together by chance at a time before women could vote, before the streets are paved, before women had the freedom to take jobs beyond the kind carried out by “domestics.” But fate has more in store for these two and when they get together, well, anything can happen. What a story!” — Linda Bond, Auntie’s Bookstore (Spokane, WA)
“A stunning novel that immersed me in the sultry, dangerous and beautiful world of New Orleans in 1900…richly rewarding, with the twists and turns through the genteel world of upper-class New Orleans and the harsh dangers of Storyville constantly surprising and keeping my heart racing, and each page turned faster than the last. Brilliant.” – Kim Taylor Blakemore, bestselling author of After Alice Fell
On a Mississippi morning in 1859, Emily Matthews begs her father to save a slave, Nathan, about to be auctioned away from his family. Judge Matthews is an abolitionist who runs an illegal school for his slaves, hoping to eventually set them free. One, a woman named Ginny, has become Emily’s companion and often her conscience—and understands all too well the hazards an educated slave must face. Yet even Ginny could not predict the tangled, tragic string of events set in motion as Nathan’s family arrives at the Matthews farm.
A young doctor, Charles Slate, tends to injured Nathan and begins to court Emily, finally persuading her to become his wife. But their union is disrupted by a fatal clash and a lie that will tear two families apart. As Civil War erupts, Emily, Ginny, and Emily’s stoic mother-in-law, Adeline, each face devastating losses. Emily—sheltered all her life—is especially unprepared for the hardships to come. Struggling to survive in this raw, shifting new world, Emily will discover untapped inner strength, an unlikely love, and the courage to confront deep, painful truths.
In the tradition of Cold Mountain, The Abolitionist’s Daughter eschews stereotypes of the Civil War South, instead weaving an intricate and unforgettable story of survival, loyalty, hope, and redemption.
“The Abolitionist’s Daughter brings to light the tragic yet inevitable entanglements of slavery, as ultimately manifested in the Civil War. The complications of race, division, and hate in this epic novel are still with us today and necessary to contemplate; The Abolitionist’s Daughter is Gone With the Wind for the 21st Century. ”
“What an impressive book this is! Diane McPhail works a spell on the reader, transporting us to Mississippi in the 19th century, introducing us to a family torn apart by the time and place in which they live. She tells a dark tale, yet it’s laced with lyricism and compassion. This is a powerful, imaginative, captivating book—I’d say, even urgent, considering the time we find ourselves in now.”
“A tender, sparkling debut that bears gentle witness to the abominations of slavery and oppression while heralding the grace, power and necessity of righting wrongs and choosing love. McPhail is full of talent and heart.”
“Diane McPhail excavates a nearly forgotten corner of American history and brings it to full, beating life. This is a fascinating and heartfelt look at the kinds of stories that don’t always make it into the history books.”
“ A contender, a deeply felt, thoroughly researched story . . . as good as it deserves to be.”
“Complex, vivid, and emotionally engaging. This is a story of harsh realities written with a tenderness that shines through and honors the account of one woman’s struggle to overcome her society’s rules and her circumstances in the face of inconceivable devastation. I couldn’t put it down.”
“From the captivating first line, The Seamstress of New Orleans transports the reader to the mystery and sultry magic of New Orleans. With McPhail’s acclaimed and atmospheric prose, The Seamstress of New Orleans is a tale of well-guarded secrets, societal bonds that must be broken, and women’s powerful resilience. A powerful and fascinating story.”
“The intrigue surrounding these two young widows will draw you in then you’ll be rooted into the story by the historical detail of New Orleans at the turn of the century and the first female Mardi Gras Krewe. But what you will take away from the novel is the sheer power of female friendship. An exhilarating historical romp of found family and abiding friendship.”
“Reading this novel is like dining on a creole dish: rich, mysterious, and oh so satisfying.”
“In a time and place when women were relegated to the home, these New Orleans ladies set about crafting their own future. Threads of missing husbands, menacing gamblers, and society on the cusp of changing women’s rights weave together to form a riveting tale. The history of the first all-female Krewe was so captivating it sent me to do some googling for extra information. It was also an education about women’s rights and the Napoleonic Code. Fascinating. McPhail has stitched an impressive work of historical fiction that will fuel plenty of book club discussions.”
“A riveting story of two women whose lives are woven together by chance at a time before women could vote, before the streets are paved, before women had the freedom to take jobs beyond the kind carried out by “domestics.” But fate has more in store for these two and when they get together, well, anything can happen. What a story!”
“A stunning novel that immersed me in the sultry, dangerous and beautiful world of New Orleans in 1900…richly rewarding, with the twists and turns through the genteel world of upper-class New Orleans and the harsh dangers of Storyville constantly surprising and keeping my heart racing, and each page turned faster than the last. Brilliant.”
Diane C. McPhail is an artist, writer, and minister. In addition to holding an M.F.A., an M.A., and D.Min., she has studied at the University of Iowa distance learning and the Yale Writers’ Workshop, among others. Diane is a member of North Carolina Writers' Network and the Historical Novel Society. She lives in Highlands, North Carolina, with her husband, and her dog, Pepper.
March 2022, “A Conversation with Diane McPhail”
April, 2019 Iowa Writers'/Yale Writers' Grad & Author of Historical Fiction Diane C. McPhail
View Interview with Mark Gottlieb, Trident Media Agency
“It is through story that we understand the conflicts and progressions of the past. And it has often been said that fiction may well be more truthful than fact.”
John Scognamiglio Books
Kensington Publishing Corp.
For review copies, event and interview requests, or other publicity-related queries, please contact:
Vida Engstrand, Director of Communications, Kensington Publishing
vengstrand@KensingtonBooks.com
For rights requests, please contact my agency:
Mark Gottlieb
Mailing Address:
Mark Gottlieb
Vice President and Literary Agent
Trident Media Group
355 Lexington Avenue, Floor 12
New York, NY 10017
(212) 333-1506
On Social Media pages:
Rep’d by Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group
To Contact The Author
Diane C. McPhail
The Abolitionist’s Daughter is available at all of your favorite book sellers.
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