Goodreads Choice Awards Finalists 2025

Ask the Author: Stephanie Dray

“Ask me a question.” Stephanie Dray

Answered Questions (16)

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I love all of your books!! They are page turners and I learn so much I'm going to NY with my daughter next month to see Oh Mary. It is about Mary Todd Lincoln. Do you havve a recommendation of a book about her that is similar in style of you books? I appreciate your help.
Stephanie Dray I'm so sorry that I haven't actually read much about Mrs. Lincoln. I am told that Jennifer Chavierini's "Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker" is wonderful though.
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No question? (Just a comment) I find your work exceptional! Madame Secretary was excellent and a fascinating profile on a woman making inroads into government -- "a man's world". Sadly so much of this is still true today for women, especially those who wish to make true change. Thanks for all of your research and hard work!
Stephanie Dray This is a very kind comment! Thank you! I wish it was a little less relevant to today's world.
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What are you currently working on?
Stephanie Dray I am currently working on a novel about Frances Perkins!
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Any chance you might tackle a book about Marquis de Lafayette? I loved your book about Patsy Jefferson and Eliza Hamilton. Lafayette (or his wife) needs a book next!
Stephanie Dray As it happens, THE WOMEN OF CHATEAU LAFAYETTE will be out in March :)
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No question. Just accolades for America’s First Daughter! I loved it. In order for any story to work for me, there has to be a smart author. You and Laura fit the bill. It has been a long time since any book caught my attention like your book has. I just wished it was longer. Excellent book that will get a 5 star review from me. I guess I need a question mark to post here. So?
Stephanie Dray Thank you so much! I think if it was any longer our publisher would have wanted to kill us, though.
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I never received my Giveaway copy of My Dear Hamilton .... what do I do?
Stephanie Dray Please contact Goodreads and they'll make sure the publisher gets your copy to you.
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I absolutely loved My Dear Hamilton, as well as America's First Daughter, (but I'm still not a fan of Thomas Jefferson). For me, your story telling ability is like an Oscar winning movie, where you don't want it to end. Would you please consider a book about Adrienne Lafayette, and the Reign of Terror? The hints about her in My Dear Hamilton made me want to know more.
Stephanie Dray First, I am so grateful that you enjoyed those books. Also, I think you've read my mind! Keep an eye out for my next projects because I think you'll be happy.
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Hi Stephanie! I have read both America's First Daughter and My Dear Hamilton. Both are two of my favorite novels! I never read books more than once, but I have a list of only 3 books, two of which are those, that I would read again. I am itching to read another novel of yours! I was wondering if you've considered writing about Pocahontas or Martha Washington? Thank you for your work and dedication to these novels!
Stephanie Dray You are too kind! I haven't considered either of those figures but now you've got me thinking ;)
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Hello Stephanie, I am one of the winners from the giveaway of My Dear Hamilton and I just wanted to inform you that whoever sent it out did so with an incomplete amount of postage so in order for me to pick up the book I had to pay $4.22. I have entered other giveaways and won and I was never asked to pay for the postage for the book. I didn't know if this was normal? -Danielle
Stephanie Dray No it’s not. Please contact Goodreads who will check with the publisher so that you can be reimbursed. So sorry this happened!
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Mrs Dray, Pompeii is one of my favourite historical events and I've just foundout about your story The Whore but can't seem to find it any any where; or the compilation, Priestesses and Prostitutes, it's in. Even though I already have 2 of the 4 books with no interest in the 3rd, your story does Interest me greatly! Was it pulled from ebook publishing? And if so will it -ever come out again7
Stephanie Dray Hi hi! Thank you so much for asking. It's part of A DAY OF FIRE which is available for sale everywhere.
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How do you deal with those readers that are disappointed that America's First Daughter is a work of historical fiction and not a non fiction piece? Does that influence how you either work your future pieces and/or promote future pieces? IMO-I found it in the FICTION section, therefore I wasn't surprised nor disappointed that it was fiction and not nonfiction.
Stephanie Dray Hi Pauline! What a great question that you ask. Historical fiction is it's own artform and I wouldn't change anything about it to accommodate those people who prefer non-fiction history. There is room in the world for both. And I love both. But I have been wishing to embark upon an educational campaign that will help educate readers about the genre as a whole. Look forward to new blog posts and articles for me on the wonderful world of historical fiction, what it is. And what isn't. Thanks so much!
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What other people are you interested in writing about?
Stephanie Dray Oh gosh, Hannah. What a great question. I'm very interested in people like Dolley Madison, Edith Wilson, Adrienne Lafayette, and Arsinoe II of Egypt! But there are so many fascinating people in history that I could never write about all the ones that catch my fancy. Is there someone you'd like me to write about?
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Reading America's First Daughter made me feel as if every history class I have ever taken was only half the story. They somehow glaze over women and how pivotal they've been to history - even when they haven't been the ones with the direct power. Firstly, I applaud you for exposing me and others to such wonderful women and their stories. Secondly - how do you pick your topics and which women's stories to tell?
Stephanie Dray First, thank you for your kind words. Second, what a great question! I am drawn to writing about women who have stood in the shadow of others--particularly those who have had to carry on the work of their famous relations. Cleopatra Selene, Patsy Jefferson, and now, from the forthcoming book, Eliza Hamilton, are all women who took upon themselves a mission of guarding, protecting, and picking up the pieces of a shattered legacy. All while learning to define themselves. I love to explore the moral dilemmas, difficult choices, and heartbreaking sacrifices that shaped these women’s lives. And I hope you will fall in love with my heroines just the way that I did when writing about them.
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What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Stephanie Dray So many great things about being a writer. The first is that I get to make something that people enjoy, straight out of my own imagination. The second best thing is that I can do it from anywhere, wearing yoga pants. And the third best thing is the email I get from readers asking questions or otherwise telling me how my books have touched them.
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I am a fan of your short The Princess of Egypt Must Die. Is there any chance that you will be expanding on this?
Stephanie Dray Hi Priscilla! I'm so glad you asked. I've worked up a proposal and the first few chapters of a book about this heroine's life but I've had to put it on the back burner to work on my other projects. Right now I'm neck deep in a novel about Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, but I hope to return to the ancient world soon!
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How do you deal with writer’s block?
Stephanie Dray I don't generally experience writer's block as an absence of ideas. I've always got plenty--too many--of those. What usually happens to me is I sit down to write a scene and I'm not sure exactly how I should go about it. I'm paralyzed by self-doubt. I usually talk it through with an author friend, or I read some more research to knock something loose, or sometimes I just force myself to start, no matter how horrible the end result, just to write myself out of a corner!
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