Be Charmed by These Bewitching Books from 2025

Ask the Author: Martha Hall Kelly

“My new novel THE MARTHA'S VINEYARD BEACH AND BOOK CLUB pubs May 27th--you can preorder it now wherever books are sold.” Martha Hall Kelly

Answered Questions (185)

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Hi Martha! This isn't necessarily a question, but I wanted to tell you how much I adore your books! No matter what else I have read hasn't compared to how much I relate to each of the women's stories you write about. They are so authentically real and relatable and I hope to read more of your work if there are more books to come out? :)
Martha Hall Kelly Wow, Breezi--that made my day. Thank you! And yes, my next book comes out this summer, May 27th--The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club. It was inspired by my mother's life growing up on Martha's Vineyard. I hope you enjoy it!
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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Martha Hall Kelly Thank you, Donna. Yes, I'm constantly inspired and awed by the resilience of the people who survived WWII.
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I am a Polish-American editor and translator and would like to send you a private message. Can I? Thanks. Bozena U. Zaremba. You can e-mail me at buzaremba@gmail.com
Martha Hall Kelly Hi Bozena, Are you on Instagram? Can you DM me there?
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I'm 13 and love chemistry, biology, reading, and writing. When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Was that your calling as a child, or did it come later in life? I want to write novel (for fun, but maybe publish it) but don't know how to start. Do you have any helpful advice? I don't want to be a writer (I hope to be a doctor) but I like writing and am curious about writers' lives. I liked The Golden Doves a lot.
Martha Hall Kelly Hi Charlotte--such great questions! I came to writing novels later in life, inspired by the true story behind Lilac Girls. But if you would like to try novel writing why wait? It is a lot of fun and there are so many great books to help you get started. The First Five Pages by Noah Lukeman is one of my favorites.
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Golden Doves -- riveting Lost Roses --entrancing Currently reading Sunflower Sisters Can't wait to read Lilac Girls! Do you currently have anything in the works for future publication?
Martha Hall Kelly The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club is my next book--coming summer 2025. Cannot wait to share it--I love it so much.
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I loved your newest book "The Golden Doves". It was very hard to put down. I finished it in 3 days. Will there will a follow up book to this one for the end of the book, to me, leaves us with a cliffhanger?
Martha Hall Kelly I’m so glad you enjoyed The Golden Doves! I would love that but it’s up to the publisher! 😊
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Where is The Golden Doves going to be set?
Martha Hall Kelly Hi Claire, The Golden Doves is set mostly in Paris and French Guiana with scenes in Texas, Rome, Germany and at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp in Furstenberg. It was so much fun to write all those locations!
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Hi Martha! My book club is currently reading this book and I was wondering if you'd be willing to participate in our next meeting, maybe answer some of our questions? It's going to be on 12/08 at 7:30pm EST. Would LOVE to have a chance to chat with you for a few minutes. You can answer privately via email if you prefer: michigantravelist at gmail dot com. Thank you.
Martha Hall Kelly So sorry I didn't see this earlier, Ana! The best way to reach out for book club visits is on my website or directly through NovelNetwork. They schedule everything and it's super easy!
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I saw you in March 2020 at La Roche. Will you be coming back to Pittsburgh? 😁
Martha Hall Kelly I hope so, Becky...I loved that event in Pittsburgh! :)
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I think I'll read them in reverse publication order, working my way forward in time. I have signed, first edition, first printings of the two newest and would love to get Lilac Girls in the same way. I cannot find one anywhere. If someone could help me, I'd greatly appreciate it?
Martha Hall Kelly Hi Dave, Thanks for reaching out--I wish I knew...and I wish I kept more first editions!
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Hello, I have a question for you about something that puzzled me while reading Sunflower Sisters. The beginning of chapter 23 finds Jemma in Hagerstown, MD. Thereafter, Hagerstown is referred to as being a part of Pennsylvania. I live in Hagerstown, MD and never was it a part of PA. I'm curious if this was an error on your part or am I missing something I didn't know about my hometown? Thank you, Valerie Kaufmann
Martha Hall Kelly No, you're not missing anything, Valerie--It was my mistake! Thankfully we got to change it in the paperback!
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I loved, loved Sunflower Sisters! I was sorry when it ended. I have loved your other two books also but I think Sunflower Sisters is my favorite. I also enjoy your information on the research that you have done. Is the Caroline Ferriday house a museum? Can't wait to see what you write next.
Martha Hall Kelly Hi Joann! I'm so glad to hear that this one is your favorite--and YES Caroline's house is a wonderful museum now called the Bellamy-Ferriday House and Gardens, in Bethlehem, CT. It's a lovely place to visit, owned and operated by CT. Landmarks, and in the spring during lilac time it's incredible there!
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Martha Hall Kelly you've done it again!! I just finished Sunflower Sister and I believe, although Lilac Girls and Lost Roses were terrific, this is your best work yet! I especially like how your notes at the end spoke about what was fact and what was fiction (I always wonder about those things when reading historical fiction). Congratulations, I believe you have another "hit"! Now my question is , "What's up next?"
Martha Hall Kelly You're the best, Nancy! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I have lots of new projects coming up...the next Random House book is a novel about two women, former French resistance workers, who hunt down the Nazi doctor who abused them at Ravensbruck Concentration camp. One is American (there were several Americans at the camp) and one French. Next book after that is a suspense novel that is set in my own house. A bit scary writing it, I must say! Also have an Amazon short story out soon and an audible original I co-wrote with my good friend Kathy Murray called the Munich Cowboys Cheerleaders. It's been a busy year!
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Martha, when did you realize yourself as a writer? After writing first book, publishing , success or …? You know this feeling inside «I am truly a writer»
Martha Hall Kelly Honestly, not until I got my first publishing contract. But I wish I'd been more confident about it earlier! Are you a writer?
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If I haven’t read any of the flower girl title books. Should I start with the second book 1st lost roses since it is a prequel to the lilac girls?
Martha Hall Kelly Good question, Patricia! They are all stand alone books, and you can read them in any order. Most people started with Lilac Girls and went back in time with the other two books (Lost Roses is WWI and Sunflower Sisters in Civil War) but now that the Civil War book is out some people have been reading that first and then working their way forward in time. Hope that helps!
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I just watched your zoom event with Blue Willow Books and loved it! I have to ask if your video can be found? I would love to share it with my book club! Fascinating interview!
Martha Hall Kelly Hi Brenda, So glad you enjoyed the Blue Willow event! I'm going to ask my team at Random House if they can put it on my website...will tell you what they say.
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Do I need to read Lilac Girls and Lost Roses BEFORE I read Sunflower Sisters?
Martha Hall Kelly Hi Becky! Feel free to start with Sunflower Sisters and work your way forward in time. Or it's just as good to start with Lilac Girls and go back in time!
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I just finished Sunflower Sisters and of course loved it just as much as I did Lilac Girls and The Lost Roses. Your books seem to live on in my head. The research you did for these books is incredible and so much history in them which is what grips my heart. I truly hope you have more books to come even though you have finished these three from the Ferriday-Woolsey family??? Your writing is beautiful!
Martha Hall Kelly Thank you, Brenda! I'm so glad you enjoyed Sunflower Sisters! Yes, I have two more on the way...very excited to share them.
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I mostly read WWII novels, as I find that era to be the most romantic and mind-boggling time in history. Lilac Girls still remains my favorite of all. I am wondering when they will make this story into a movie? I will be the first on line.
Martha Hall Kelly That's so nice, Janet. There's been lots of interest in adapting Lilac Girls...fingers crossed someone will make it!
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When will you be a guest at Bellamy-Ferriday House again?
Martha Hall Kelly Hi Lydia, We are planning a really interesting virtual event at the Bellamy-Ferriday House, where we choose three items from Caroline's archives to showcase and tell the stories behind. We don't have a date yet, but I will post it on my website when we do. We will get back to in-person events at the house whenever it's safe for all...cannot wait to get back out seeing readers again!
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