Hi, Jennifer! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Sure thing. First, thank you for the chance to connect with The Nerd Daily readers. I’m excited to chat about The Girls of the Glimmer Factory with you.

I grew up in New York City and moved to San Diego after I graduated from the University of Michigan. When I am not going down historical research rabbit holes, I am a volunteer with So Say We All, a live storytelling organization where I am a performer, performance coach, and occasional guest producer. When I’m on deadline, however, I’m just the lady who takes your cover charge at the front door at the bar. I am also a volunteer with Reality Changers, a non-profit that supports low-income high school students working to become the first in their families to go to college. I specialize in college essay development and nagging.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I’ve been storytelling for as long as I can remember and writing since I could hold a pencil. There was never a discovery per se.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Diary of Anne Frank
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Feral City

Your latest novel, The Girls of the Glimmer Factory, is out January 28^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Courageous prisoners resist Nazi propaganda.

What can readers expect?

I hope readers will walk away reminded of how the strength of women’s friendships can see us through even the most harrowing times. A reviewer on Goodreads called The Girls of the Glimmer Factory a “brutally beautiful story,” which was the best compliment I think I could ask for.

Where did the inspiration for The Girls of the Glimmer Factory come from?

My debut historical novel Cradles of the Reich was set in the Nazi baby breeding program called the Lebensborn Society.  When I was doing research for it, I came across familiar examples of Nazi propaganda.  There were antisemitic children’s books, films, and even board games. These I’d known about. What I hadn’t realized was that the Nazis created an entire concentration camp specifically for propaganda purposes. They needed to create a place where they could show the world how well Jewish people were living in Nazi-occupied Europe, so they built the lovely Jewish settlement they called Theresienstadt.

As the Nazis were drafting the Final Solution, the genocide of European Jews, they knew the world would start asking questions. Theresienstadt was a place they could take Red Cross inspectors to convince them that any talk of death camps were just rumors fabricated by the Lugenpresse, – the lying news — and so-called Jewish sensationalists.         

I almost wrote about Theresienstadt in Cradles of the Reich. But the more I learned, I realized that this propaganda camp had to be more than a story element in a book. It needed to be its own novel with its own cast of characters − characters who would show the strength of human connection, kindness, art, and beauty.

Can you tell us a bit about your research process for The Girls of the Glimmer Factory?

I’ll start by saying that my author’s note is 14 pages because there were so many people supporting my research, including four sensitivity readers in different fields. I relied on dozens of subject matter experts to ensure I celebrated holidays correctly, put the right food on the table, and used the appropriate vernacular. I tried to weave in the details unobtrusively, so my research would help make the environment authentic rather than overwhelm readers with minutiae. I also spent 5 days at the former concentration camp in the Czech Republic. There, I got to view the artwork produced and performed at Theresienstadt, see their barracks, and walk their paths. I stayed at a small hotel that was once prisoner housing that was transformed into a fake coffeehouse for Red Cross inspections and propaganda films.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I was in awe of how, despite being in such a horrific environment, prisoners managed to create a vibrant cultural scene with thousands of concerts, performances, and lectures. There were also more than 5,000 pieces of visual art made by prisoners, from children’s drawings to pieces by world renowned artists. I was deeply moved when I saw  — and listened to — their work in the Theresienstadt archives.

Did you face any challenges? How did you overcome them?

My biggest challenges came from within. I had more than a few dark nights of the soul when I questioned my ability to take on the enormous responsibility of writing about Theresienstadt. The subject matter could not be timelier, and I wanted to make sure I communicated that effectively (without getting preachy or info dumping). I struggle with anxiety under the best of circumstances, but thankfully I have good friends I can call and lean on for support.

What’s next for you?

I’ll be on tour so please check out the events section on my website to see if I’ll be in a city near you. I absolutely love meeting readers! (It’s my favorite part of the job, really.)

Then it’s back to writing my next novel, a story loosely based on my mother’s experiences as a “beard” for gay men in Greenwich Village in the 1950s.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up in 2025?

One of Them by Kitty Zeldis

The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

The Belle Haven Home for Girls by Adele Myers

Of course, I will be continuing my ongoing battle with my growing TBR list: read one, add two!

Will you be picking up The Girls of the Glimmer Factory? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Jennifer Coburn, Author of ‘The Girls of the Glimmer Factory’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Cross My Heart by Megan Collins

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The Last Room on the Left by Leah Konen

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Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

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A group of young women in a home for unwed mothers in 1970s Florida who find a book to witchcraft—a guide which may just be the key to regaining their power or the source of their worst nightmares.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

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A twisty domestic thriller about an author who travels to a remote Scottish island to write his next book…only to run into a woman who looks exactly like his missing wife.

The Weekend Guests by Liza North

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In the vein of Lucy Foley’s chilling, atmospheric mysteries, a compulsive, psychological thriller about a group of old university friends whose seaside reunion will end in betrayal and murder.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young

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In this captivating atmospheric novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Unmaking of June Farrow, a woman investigates her twin brother’s mysterious death while confronting the ghosts of her own haunted past.

The Crash by Freida McFadden

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A gut-wrenching story of motherhood, survival, and twisted expectations, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden delivers a snowbound thriller that will chill you to the bone.

A Serial Killer’s Guide to Marriage by Asia Mackay

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Two former serial killers trying to keep their past buried realize that old habits die hard in this “wildly original, razor-sharp thriller” (Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark).

Call Her Freedom by Tara Dorabji

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A sweeping family saga following one woman’s struggle to protect her culture and her family amidst the backdrop of a military occupation.

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson

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From the USA Today bestselling author of The Dead Girl in 2A and The New Neighbor comes a chilling new thriller that forces the question: are murderers always the bad guys?

Head Cases by John McMahon

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Head Cases follows an enigmatic group of FBI agents as they hunt down a murderer seeking his own justice in this electrifying―and commercial―series debut.

At The Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce

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A murderess becomes the guardian of two very unusual girls in this mesmerizing gothic novel from acclaimed author Camilla Bruce.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets First Lie Wins in this electric, voice-driven debut novel about an elusive bestselling author who decides to finally confess her true identity after years of hiding from her past.

We Could Be Rats by Emily Austin

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A moving story about two very different sisters, and a love letter to childhood, growing up, and the power of imagination—from the bestselling author of Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead and Interesting Facts About Space.

The Perfect Home by Daniel Kenitz

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Fixer Upper meets Gone Girl in this suspenseful and witty domestic thriller set in the world of home renovation TV—featuring a woman who becomes public enemy #1 after a horrifying discovery prompts her to flee her celebrity husband with their twin babies.

Old Soul by Susan Barker

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The Historian meets Under the Skin in this searingly provocative literary horror novel about one woman’s determination to stay alive at any terrifying cost.

We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr

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Weaving the women’s stories across multiple timelines, We Rip the World Apart reveals the ways that simple choices, made in the heat of the moment and with the best of intentions, can have deep and lasting repercussions―especially when people stay silent.

The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang

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An empowering, uplifting tale of two women from opposite sides of society, and their extraordinary journey of sisterhood, betrayal, love and triumph.

The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha

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A billionaire is primed to announce the succession plan for his company to his family at a lavish reunion, but at least one person won’t make it through the week alive. . . Most family reunions end in tears. This one will end in murder.

The Girls of the Glimmer Factory by Jennifer Coburn

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From the author of Cradles of the Reich comes a poignant and inspiring tale for fans of The Forest of Vanishing Stars and The German Wife about resistance, friendship, and the dangers of propaganda, based on the real story of the Nazi “show camp” Theresienstadt.

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

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From New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis, an utterly addictive new novel that will transport you from New York City’s most glamorous party to the labyrinth streets of Cairo and back.

Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow

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Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton

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The Kennedy Girl by Julia Bryan Thomas

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From esteemed author Julia Bryan Thomas comes a novel for readers who loved the fashion and glamour of The Second Life of Mirielle West and the clandestine intrigue of The Secrets We Kept, showcasing a journey to France through the eyes of a wide-eyed American orphan who becomes embroiled in an international espionage scheme.

What January releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 24 New Fiction Books Releasing In January 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.