Picture a storyteller who spins tales of love, scandal, and secrets against the glittering backdrop of the Jazz Age—meet Beatriz Williams! This New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction has a knack for whisking readers away to the 1910s through 1960s, where romance and intrigue dance in perfect harmony. With her vivid prose and meticulous research, Williams transforms bygone eras into living, breathing worlds that captivate readers worldwide.
Born in Seattle, Washington, Williams now calls the Connecticut shore home, where she crafts her novels between family life and, as she humorously notes, endless laundry. Her journey from corporate strategist to literary star is as compelling as her stories, blending a passion for history with a flair for unforgettable characters.
The Making of Beatriz Williams
Beatriz Williams’s path to authorship was anything but conventional. A Stanford University graduate with an MBA from Columbia, she thrived as a communications and corporate strategy consultant in New York and London. Yet, her heart belonged to storytelling. Inspired by her love for 20th-century history—sparked during a college course on the First World War’s cultural devastation—she began penning novels on company laptops, hiding her literary ambitions. In 2012, she took the leap, leaving the corporate world to focus on writing, a decision that launched her into the literary spotlight.
Beatriz Williams’s Unforgettable Stories
Williams’s novels are a masterclass in historical fiction, blending romance, mystery, and rich historical detail. Her debut, Overseas (2012), set during World War I, introduced her signature style: lush settings, complex characters, and narratives that leap across time. A Hundred Summers (2013) captures the glamour and heartbreak of 1930s Rhode Island, weaving a tale of love and betrayal that became a bestseller. A Certain Age (2016) dives into the Jazz Age, inspired by Richard Strauss’s opera, with a witty exploration of old money versus new in 1920s New York. Her Wicked City series, starting with The Wicked City (2017), follows flapper Gin Kelly through Prohibition-era scandals, earning praise for its vibrant energy.
Williams’s writing shines through her obsessive attention to voice and characterization. Her heroines—bold, flawed, and fiercely human—navigate love, betrayal, and societal constraints with courage. Whether exploring Cold War espionage in Our Woman in Moscow or the Gilded Age in The Forgotten Room (co-authored with Karen White and Lauren Willig), she crafts stories that feel immediate, as if the past is unfolding in real time. Her ability to weave historical accuracy with emotional depth has made her a favorite among readers and critics alike.
Why Beatriz Williams Matters
Beatriz Williams has redefined historical fiction by making the past accessible and relatable. Her novels don’t just recount history; they immerse readers in the emotions and struggles of another era, offering a lens to understand our own world. Her focus on strong female characters challenges traditional narratives, highlighting women’s agency in times of constraint. Translated into over a dozen languages and regular fixtures on bestseller lists, her works have earned numerous awards and a devoted global following. Williams’s collaborations with authors like Karen White and Lauren Willig have also expanded the genre, creating shared universes that delight fans.
- Born: Seattle, Washington
- Key Works: A Hundred Summers, A Certain Age, The Wicked City, Our Woman in Moscow
- Awards: Multiple nominations for Goodreads Awards, including Best Historical Fiction
- Fun Fact: She writes under the pseudonym Juliana Gray for historical romance and mystery
Snag A Hundred Summers and dive into Beatriz Williams’s dazzling world of historical fiction, where every page pulses with romance and intrigue!