Happy Monday! Patricia here. Please help me welcome L.A. Chandlar to the blog. L.A., the mic’s all yours!
Jazz & Josephine Baker in The Hindenburg Spy
One of the things I love most about living in New York City for the past 24 years is that you have an eyewitness view to the past, the present, and the future. You walk in the footsteps of past and future legendary artists, journalists, lawyers, fashion icons, construction workers, teachers…and the list goes on. I’ve personally passed on the street Sting, Paul McCartney, Rachel Ray, Billy Collins (poet laureate), Hoda, Ravi Coltrane, and Harrison Ford.
So in my writing, I love to evoke that same feeling. We often learn history in sterile history books, but we feel history when we read historical fiction. I enjoy bringing in cameos for the time period. The Hindenburg Spy is all about high action, high stakes, glamour, and romance to keep the thrill extra fiery. So who better to accent all of that than the incomparable Josephine Baker?
Lane Sanders makes her way to Frankfurt to board the Hindenburg, making a pit stop in Paris where she first has a quick meeting with Churchill and a former intelligence agent. Then, in a nod to Josephine’s future daring work as a spy in World War II, Lane has an unforgettable meeting with the entertainer who shares some of her real-life quotes to not only support Lane’s efforts, but to inspire her. Let’s just say she leaves Lane a bit dazzled. The scene features descriptions of Josephine’s famous club, Chez Josephine, one of her fantastic gowns, the wild show, her witty and surgically accurate opinions on racism in the U.S., and most importantly: the dance of life. Josephine Baker goes on in real life to not only become a spy as part of the French Resistance —even carrying a cross with poison inside in case of capture— but to be a beacon of light in the fight against racism and to speak at the March on Washington in 1963.
Paired with Josephine, the art form that is the backdrop of The Hindenburg Spy is jazz. The jazz scene in New York City in the 1930s was incredible, especially on Swing Street: 52nd between Fifth and Seventh Avenues. I have special scenes at Onyx on Swing Street with Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald at The Savoy up on Lenox at 140th, and “Smack” Henderson at Café Society.
“There is no limit to what we can achieve if we believe in ourselves. Life is a dance, and we must keep moving to the rhythm.”
—Josephine Baker
The Hindenburg Spy is a thrill-ride in knowing that the final journey on the Hindenburg comes to a fiery end of epic proportions. But even on board the airship, jazz has its place and helps Lane gain the upper hand against her formidable nemesis.
Jazz in the 1930s was about change, freedom, and identity. The music comes alongside Lane as she searches for aspects of her own identity and changes coming ahead in her own life. Ultimately, Lane’s fight is for justice even when it demands the biggest risk she’s ever taken. And she’ll do it in her own unique style, with red Mary Janes every step of the way.
Readers, who have you enjoyed “meeting” in historical fiction novels and who would you love to “meet” in historical fiction novels?
About L.A. Chandlar
L.A. Chandlar is the award-winning author of the Lane Sanders MYSTERY SERIES. She’s been nominated for the Agatha, Lefty, Macavity and Anthony Awards; and is the winner of Suspense Magazine’s Crimson Scribe and GANYC Apple Award for Outstanding NY Fiction. She’s been living
and writing in New York City for over 24 years, and has been speaking for a wide variety of audiences including a women’s group with the United Nations. L.A. has also worked in PR for General Motors, is the mother of two sons, and has toured the nation managing a rock band. She is a fierce advocate for women’s rights. She loves coffee and wine; and hates thwarted love and raisins.
Website: https://www.lachandlar.com
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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7656965.L_A_Chandlar
Chicks on the Case 
Congratulations on your upcoming release. Love seeing Lane’s adventures through the words on the pages.
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L.A., thank you for joining us on the blog. Congratulations on The Hindenburg Spy! I love coming across historical figures in fiction novels, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, Emily Dickinson. There are so many great figures in history that I’d love to see featured in mystery novels especially, like Barbara Jordan. Thinking cap activated!
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LA Chandlar here 😉 Thanks so much for having me! Oh man, wouldn’t Barbara Jordan be amazing? I give a spotlight to Eunice Carter in Hindenburg – she was born way before Barbara – but she has similar aspects. She’s credited with taking down Lucky Luciano as the first Black woman prosecutor in NYC. The DA, Thomas Dewey, gets more airtime about it, but she was the one who did the legwork and was certain they could nab him on more than just tax evasion. She totally did it. There’s a plaque of her at 100 Centre Street in the main court building. LOVE.
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This sounds like a fun read. Thanks. I have certainly met a few folks reading historical fiction, Katherine Wright immediately comes to mind. Have read several series where Winston Churchill is a key character showing different sides of this complex man. Edith Wharton and Amelia Earhart are a couple more.
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Churchill is always lots of fun. I have him in my third book (Pearl Dagger) and in Hindenburg. Great pics – Amelia Earhart… It’s the best part of histfic – getting to “meet” them in a way that’s human and not sterile like in history books.
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I think Amanda Flower is writing a series featuring Katherine Wright. I
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She did! That’s the series where I read about her.
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L.A.
I am so excited for your new books. I had already preordered The Hindenburg Spy, and will probably grab The Lost Stories after I unofficially get off work tonight (shh, I’m officially on vacation, but lawyers and work…
as far as historical figures go, the chicks know what I’m gonna answer. Al Capone’s gang. Dorothy Parker would be awesome. Bonnie and Clyde. Dillinger. I think I see a theme here.
one of my favorite movies is Midnight in Paris. Get to be introduced to people like Hemingway, Josephine Baker, as a matter of fact, the Fitzgeralds.
your stories are the kind of people I like to read about, because I like that particular era. And I love your new covers!
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Thanks, Hestia! YAY to preordering! I LOVE Dorothy Parker – great one! I adored Midnight in Paris, too. I once went to a speakeasy in NYC where you had to dress in the era. Honestly, it was JUST like that movie. Felt like I was stepping back in time – I felt like I might see one of my characters walk around the corner. SO wonderful. (Oh hey! If you sign up for my newsletter this month I’ll send you a vignette from Lost Stories 😉
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Midnight in Paris is sooooo good! Thanks for the reminder. I need to rewatch it.
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Woohoo! It’s great to have Lane’s return! I really loved it when the Star Trek:The Next Generation crew met Mark Twain. That was fun. Cheers!
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LA Chandlar here 😉 That was SO FUN!!!!!!! I love going to the places in NYC where Twain wrote, especially the Beekman Hotel lounge. I’ll take you there next time you come to the city!
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LA Chandlar here! 😉 Thanks SO SO much for having me on Chicks! You all are fabulous. XOXO
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Thank you, LA, so happy to have you visit us today-and fabulous backatcha!
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Historical fiction is so fun to read! I liked meeting the celebrities in Kyra Davis Lurie‘s The Great Mann, especially Ethel Waters. I’m not sure who I’d want to meet. Maybe great writers? Christie, Dickens, Chandler?
Congrats on The Hindenburg Spy! Sounds amazing!
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ooh, I loved Kyra’s book. And not just because she’s a friend!
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LA Chandlar here 😉 Great writers would be so much fun. Great idea. Have you watched The Man Who Invented Christmas? About Dickens writing A Christmas Carol. I really loved it. It inspired me as a writer on top of the fun idea of watching him create the beloved book.
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Thanks so much for stopping by, Laurie! I love historical mysteries and THE HINDENBERG SPY is lined up on my Kindle. As to what I’d like to see in terms of the genre, I’d love to read a series set in the silent film era – specifically the early 1920s when Hollywood was developing into being a thing and the stars were building their “dream palaces.” All that I know of are gone now, sadly, thanks to McMansions.
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LA Chandlar here 😉 That era was sensational. I always think of Hearst Castle with that.
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I love bringing along on trips historical fiction set in the location I’m visiting–so much better than a tour guide or simple history book! (And yes, I admit to having read a lot of James Mitchener for that reason back in the day.)
Thanks for visiting the Chicks today, dear LA, and as a big fan of jazz, I’m so excited to read The Hindenburg Spy!
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LA Chandlar here 😉 Oooooohhhh yes, so much better than a tour guide. You are going to LOVE the jazz scenes! OMG. LMK when you get to those parts. What I would do to go back to visit Swing Street….
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Congrats on the new release. Sounds fun.
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LA Chandlar here 😉 Thanks, Mark! It’s a LOT of fun – so much fascinating history to work with. And so much that I hadn’t known. Very interesting.
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Ella Fitzgerald would be right up there on my list of people I’d love to “run into” in a book! I haven’t read much historical fiction but New York in the 1920s and 30s is my sweet spot. Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today!
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LA Chandlar here 😉 Ella!!!!!! She’s singing in couple of scenes in this book at The Savoy. I need to give her an actual cameo. GREAT idea. Thanks, Marla!
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Congrats on the new book, Laurie! The list of people I’ve “met” through fiction is long. I’m in awe of anyone who can tackle that challenge – getting a real person “right” and making it fit the story.
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LA Chandlar here 😉 Thanks, Liz! And I have to say, I hear you on the real person / historical struggles. This one was a bear to write because of the BIG historical ramifications and also wrapping in my other characters, not to mention the limitations of the actual ship. I had some great editors help! Phew! I LOVE IT – it’s my favorite book yet.
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Hi again, Laurie! Congrats on The Hindenburg Spy–straight to my TBR! I recently read Edith Maxwell’s A Case for the Ladies, featuring a young Amelia Earhart. I’d like to meet Anne Morrow Lindbergh as a character, I think. I read a lot of her books when researching a middle school history paper on the kidnapping case of her baby son, and I’ve never forgotten them.
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LA Chandlar here 😉 YES! Isn’t it fun seeing these historical characters in a real life setting, and earlier or later than we usually hear about them? I think it really reveals their humanity. SO interesting! And YAY to being added to your TBR pile! Thanks, Lisa!
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