Goodreads Choice Awards 2025

Ask the Author: Marie Benedict

Answered Questions (31)

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What will your next book be in 2024? So anxious for another of your fabulous tales.
Marie Benedict Thanks so much for asking! My next book will be THE QUEENS OF CRIMES, which will be released on February 11, 2025. It focuses on Agatha Christie’s legendary rival, the mystery writer Dorothy Sayers, the race to solve a real-life murder, and the power of friendship among women.
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hello Marie, I have read all your books and currently I am reading The Other Einstein. And I have been doing some research on religion. I learned that Albert Einstein was an agnostic, but I could not find anything about Mileva's religion. By chance: is there anyway to know?
Marie Benedict In the book THE OTHER EINSTEIN, I explore what is known about Mileva's religious upbringing. Thanks for reading!
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Where would I find letters that Mary McLeod Butane and Eleanor Roosevelt that they wrote to one another?
Marie Benedict Thanks for being interested! There aren't many of them, but the best place to find the ones that remain are in the FDR Presidential Library archives. I had to review them on microfiche!
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Thank you & Victoria for this wonderful book =) ?
Marie Benedict Thank you so much for reading!!
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Hello Marie--I have read all your books and love them. I am wondering if you've ever considered writing about Emily Roebling, the wife of Brooklyn Bridge engineer John Roebling? It seems that Emily Roebling guided the construction of the BB after John Roebling died. It seems that she would make an interesting story, yes? I look forward to your reply. Thanks! Leslie
Marie Benedict Thank you for searching for these women? There is actually a terrific book about her, The Engineer's Wife!
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Hi Marie! I have heard so many great things about your books and had a number of them on my TBR for some time. Can't wait to dig in to your work this year. Any thoughts on order of approach? I thought I might start with your latest.
Marie Benedict Thank you so much for your interest, Molly! My books can be read in any order. I suggest that you choose the woman, the time period, and the topic that most interests you. I follow these women wherever they lead -- geographically, time-wise, and subject-wise -- so I recommend you follow the woman whose story intrigues you most.
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What books are on your summer reading list this year?
Marie Benedict What a tough, wonderful question!! I was fortunate to read so many fabulous books this summer (including deep dives into beloved authors) and I've just loaded a whole slew of them onto Goodreads! So many amazing reads.
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What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?
Marie Benedict Love this question!! Every family has its share of mysteries, doesn't it? Not unlike the mystery at the heart of Agatha Christie's life! There is a certain amount of suspense and intrigue around my ancestors' flight from Ireland and Italy to this country that might serve as good fodder for a story . . .
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I am facilitating your book entitled The Other Einstein for my book club in February. I saw that you were open to skype. I am wondering if you would consider joining our club on zoom if you would be available to do that? Our book club will be meeting on February 16 at 1 p.m. If you are available to join us on zoom please let me know. You can email me at sherry.rasmussen@rocketmail.com.
Marie Benedict Sorry to miss you but thanks for reading THE OTHER EINSTEIN!
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I don't really have a question, just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed The Mystery of Mrs. Christie. I have been a Christie fan since I was 11 years old. The book was brilliant. Thank you. Ps. I also enjoyed The Only Woman in the Room and have placed your others books on my TBR pile. What other famous women will you be writing about?
Marie Benedict Thank you SO much!! As I mentioned to another writer, I actually have a new novel coming out on January 25 called HER HIDDEN GENIUS. It's about the brilliant British scientist Rosalind Franklin who discovered the structure of DNA but whose research was taken by other scientists -- Wilkins, Watson and Crick -- and used as a basis of a paper for which the won the Nobel Prize. Such an important story!
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Hello, I, Gwendolyn, would like to say, that even though you are an author that I have just found in a list of historical literature writers, I could help but wonder if you had ever read the book, "Passing," by Nella Larsen? Congratulations on your new book.
Marie Benedict Thank you! And yes, I read and loved Passing in the years I was considering writing the story of Belle da Costa Greene. Such an important novel .
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What's the next after The Personal Librarian? No rush... I know you're a mom and only 24 hrs a day... Amazed at all you've written.
Marie Benedict Thank you!! What a terrific experience THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN has been! I actually have a new novel coming out on January 25 called HER HIDDEN GENIUS. It's about the brilliant British scientist Rosalind Franklin who discovered the structure of DNA but whose research was taken by other scientists -- Wilkins, Watson and Crick -- and used as a basis of a paper for which the won the Nobel Prize. Such an important story!
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Hi Marie, I so enjoy your books and am anxiously awaiting the release of The Personal Librarian. I see that you released an audiobook about Agent 355 last summer. Any chance that will ever be a book?
Marie Benedict How wonderful would that be!! There are so many historical women whose stories deserve a wife audience! Thank you so much for this note.
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Marie, we have put THE OTHER EINSTEIN on our book club's list for May. We will meet via Zoom on May 25 at 7 p.m. CDT, and I read that you are willing to meet with book clubs when available. Do you think you could fit us in? Please contact me via email, and hopefully, we can work this out. Thank you! Lynn Genter lynneebiz@gmail.com
Marie Benedict Boy I am so sorry I did not see this is time!! Thank you so much for selecting THE OTHER EINSTEIN for your book club!
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Oh, will you take some more woman as an addendum to my "suggested female heroes"? https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/67905/9-women-who-helped-win-american-revolution All of these women astound me...not because they demonstrated true courage against the enemy British, but their because of their courageous defiance of social convention.
Marie Benedict Thank you so much for this! I get incredible suggestions from readers, and I'm always grateful to have them!
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I enjoyed reading Carnegie's Maid. Will it be adapted into a movie? There's a visual richness to your writing and you've created a compelling fictional yarn that's steeped in US history. I suspect it would be a hit on the big screen.
Marie Benedict Thank you so much for the lovely compliment!! I am hopeful that it will be adapted, and I will keep you posted as I learn more.
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Hello Marie - I have chosen The Other Einstein for our February Book Club book. It is on Sunday, February 24. Would you be able to Skype our club? Let me know. My email is: barberbc3@hotmail.com I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks.
Marie Benedict What a terrific invitation! Thank you for it -- and for reading THE OTHER EINSTEIN for your book club! I am sorry I wasn't able to participate.
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Hi Marie, our book group is currently reading The Other Einstein. We will be discussing our experience reading the book on March 11th, at 7 p.m. CST. Would you be able to SKYPE with us at that time? Thank you, Susan
Marie Benedict Thank you for your wonderful invitation -- and for reading THE OTHER EINSTEIN for your book club! I am sorry I wasn't able to participate.
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The Only Woman in the Room was great storytelling. Did you run across any conflicting information about her adopted son?
Marie Benedict Thank you for your note -- and reading! Yes, I did come across lots of conflicting information about Hedy's adopted son, and that is why I had to fictionalize the circumstances around his adoption when I needed to address it in the book -- because it wasn't a settled issue. I discuss this in more detail in my Author's Note. Thanks again for reading and reaching out!
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Book suggestion - I just finished reading Astoria, by Peter Stark. You might be interested in looking into the life of Marie Dorion. I think her story might be a good deal more interesting than Sacagawea's?
Marie Benedict Thank you for your suggestion! I often get incredible ideas about important historical women from readers. I appreciate it!
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Marie Benedict
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