We’re excited to have Marie Benedict and Courtney Sheinmel on here today to talk about her new release. Let’s start with learning a bit more about you, and then we’ll talk more about The Secrets of Lovelace Academy.
Did you love to read as children? If so, can you tell us some favorite books?
Courtney and Marie both loved, loved, loved to read as children. While Marie has too many favorite childhood books to list, she does have special book from middle school that put her on the path to writing historical fiction about women, although she didn’t know it at the time. The Mists of Avalon, a female-centric retelling of the Arthurian legend, that opened her eyes to women’s stories hidden in the past. Courtney’s favorite childhood book was the now out-of-print The Littlest Rabbit by Robert Kraus.
Courtney with her dog Brandy
What was your biggest fear when you were young? Did you get over it?
Marie’s biggest fear (aside from playing dodgeball, see the below answer to a question about embarrassing grade school moments) was probably pursuing her interests, even if they were uncool. This leads to the answer to the next question…
What advice would you give to your younger selves?
Be brave sooner.
Are your pasts woven into the story? If so, how?
Elements of both Courtney and Marie’s lives can be found in THE SECRETS OF LOVELACE ACADEMY. For example, as former attorneys, they know what it’s like to be the only woman or girl in the room, which is something that they drew upon in crafting the experiences of the main characters, Lainey Philips and Mileva Maric Einstein.
Marie as a child
Would you be willing to share an embarrassing grade school moment?
Marie has no problem sharing that she could never, ever climb to the top of the rope in elementary school gym class. And she still has nightmares about being pummeled in dodgeball.
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
While Courtney has always known she’d like to be a children’s book writer, Marie was more of a history lover, who didn’t realize that she could uncover the hidden voices in history through fiction until she already an attorney.
What is your favorite or most challenging part of being a writer?
Staying patient as the book nears its end!
Can you tell us a little about the novel?
The Secrets of Lovelace Academy is a historical adventure about a young girl plucked from a London orphanage to begin attending the prestigious Lovelace Academy. Fitting in amongst the many privileged students within the schools’ ivy-covered walls presents challenges unlike the ones Lainey has faced in the past — as well as more secrets than she could have ever imagined. Terrified she’ll be cast out of the academy, Lainey grabs at her chance to prove herself by traveling to Switzerland to meet a female scientist crafting a groundbreaking theory, none other than physicist Mileva Maric, wife of Albert Einstein.
How did you come up with the idea for Lovelace Academy?
Courtney and Marie were looking for a way to engage younger readers in the stories of historical women who’ve left behind important legacies. After a series of fits and starts, they created the world of Lovelace Academy, where girls and young women are encouraged to study math and the sciences — very rare for the early 1900s — and where they have the opportunity to encounter some of these incredible women from the past.
Is there a special reason you chose to write about orphans and homeless children?
Courtney with her sister
Courtney and Marie were intrigued by the notion of a brilliant girl from difficult circumstances who was propelled by a desire to prove herself — in the classroom and outside of it. This dovetailed with their interest in sharing the hardships endured by these unfortunate children during this time period, as a way to offer a unique view on the past and some perspective on our present.
How did you come up with the character of Lainey Philipps?
Courtney was inspired by her own dear mother. She had been a stellar math student as a child, at a time when that subject was challenging for young girls to pursue.
Are your other characters based on anyone you know?
Although, of course, Marie never met Mileva Maric Einstein (she lived from 1874-1948), she has spent so much time researching her that she feels like she knows her.
What parts of the story of Mileva Maric and Albert Einstein are true?
The Secrets of Lovelace Academy contains part of the story of Mileva Maric and Albert Einstein and the manner in which their collaboration and marriage led to some of the most important theories in modern physics. This tale is shared in full in The Other Einstein, which is Marie’s heavily researched novel inspired by the real-life relationship of Mileva and Albert and the work they did together.
What historical research did you do to make the 1900s setting accurate and to detail the life of the Einsteins?
Marie, who loves nothing more than getting lost in the rabbit holes of history, spent an enormous time researching Mileva Maric Einstein, the early years of Albert Einstein, and the time period in which she and Albert lived. This involved locating and studying the existing letters between Mileva and Albert as well as letters exchanged between Mileva and her best friend, researching early physics theories, understanding the many goings-on in Eastern Europe and Switzerland during the early 1900s, and traveling through many of the pertinent areas, including the apartment Mileva and Albert shared (and that Lainey visits in our book) which is currently a museum.
Do you have any message or advice for the teachers and parents who will be sharing your book with their students and families? What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Courtney and Marie hope that readers — whether they be teachers, parents, or younger readers — find inspiration in Lainey and Mileva’s perseverance in a time period that wasn’t encouraging to bright young women and girls, and that helps them build the confidence to prevail in our own.
What are you working on now?
Together, Marie and Courtney are working away on something special to follow THE SECRETS OF THE LOVELACE ACADEMY. The moment when they are allowed to discuss it, they’ll share!
Can’t wait to discover that secret! Please keep us posted. For now, you’ve made us all eager to read The Secrets of Lovelace Academy. Thanks so much for joining us, Marie and Courtney. And we look forward to seeing what you come up with next.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Lainey Philipps has lived at the Sycamore Home for Orphaned Children since she was three years old. Now nearly a teenager, her life is hard, and she doesn’t expect it to get better—until a chance encounter during an open house changes everything when Lainey meets a woman who invites her to attend the prestigious Lovelace Academy.
Fitting in amongst the many privileged students within the ivy-covered walls of Lovelace Academy presents challenges unlike the ones Lainey has faced in the past. Her life of drudgery has hardly prepared her for the aristocratic airs and cutthroat academic ambition of the other girls. Terrified she’ll be cast out of the academy, Lainey grabs at her chance to prove herself by traveling to Switzerland to meet a female scientist crafting a groundbreaking theory.
Determined to prove her capability and reach her destination, Lainey must rely on her own wit—as well as a mysterious boy who has yet to prove himself as friend or foe. But the real test is what awaits her in Switzerland, at the home of Mileva Maric, wife of Albert Einstein.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Marie Benedict is a lawyer with more than ten years of experience as a litigator at two of the country’s premier law firms. She found her calling unearthing the hidden historical stories of women. Her mission is to excavate from the past the most important, complex, and fascinating women of history and bring them into the light of present day where readers can finally perceive the breadth of their contributions as well as the insights they bring to modern day issues. Marie is the author of many books for adults including the New York Times bestseller The First Ladies. The Secrets of Lovelace Academy, written with Courtney Sheinmel, is her first book for kids. Visit her online at AuthorMarieBenedict.com.
Courtney Sheinmel is a chocolate-lover, mac and cheese expert, mom to Archer, and the author of nearly thirty books for kids and teens, including the acclaimed Stella Batts and My Pet Slime series for young readers. Her book She Persisted: Helen Keller was part of Chelsea Clinton’s She Persisted series. Courtney received a National Scholastic Educator Award for her work as a writing instructor at the nonprofit Writopia Lab. Visit her online at CourtneySheinmel.com.
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