This Sunday, V chats with Shaina Steinberg about her debut novel, Under the Paper Moon, her work in television, inspiration for writing about the post-war period, how war is represented in art and literature, researching historical periods, incorporating true events into fiction, the importance of historical accuracy, Albert Einstein, the Nazi regime, and Jane Austen.

About the Author: Shaina Steinberg

Originally from Chicago, Shaina Steinberg graduated from Vassar College with a BA in English Literature. During and after college, she traveled extensively, including living abroad in Scotland and working in Colorado as a horse wrangler. She received her master’s degree from New York University, where she studied the representation of war in art and literature, culminating in a thesis on photojournalism and the Vietnam anti-war movement.

Shaina began her career working on Malcolm In The Middle before joining the WB show Everwood. At the end of the series, she moved on to Cold Case, Bionic Woman, and the Starz show Spartacus. She also wrote two episodes of Chase for NBC.

Additionally, Shaina has developed pitches, pilots, and features with companies such as Temple Hill, Endgame Entertainment, Fremantle, eOne, Blondie Girl, Josephson Entertainment, and Alcon. She was named to the Young and Hungry List in 2013 and to the WriteHer List in 2017.

Her most recent project, Bride Hard, starring Rebel Wilson, was shot in Georgia in July 2023. Shaina currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jason, their son, and an unbelievably fluffy Australian shepherd.

This Sunday, V chats with a stellar trio of guests about Barbara Mertz, aka Elizabeth Peters, Egypt and Egyptologists, the bonds formed among these women and writing, the American Research Center, women’s rights, a wonderful birthday party event, enriching conversations with creative people, and lasting legacies.

This Sunday, V chats with Irina Shapiro about her historical mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, the Victorian era, foundling hospitals, the gritty nature of historical mysteries, unpredictability, and the gift of being a writer.

About the Author: Irina Shapiro

Although initially known for her time-travel series, Irina was always intrigued by the foggy, gaslit streets, shadowy hansom cabs, and brutal underworld synonymous with Victorian England. These images are the backdrop to her series of gripping mysteries that feature Lord Jason Redmond and Inspector Daniel Haze, a crime-solving duo as complex as the cases they investigate. Through their eyes, readers experience both the opulence of upper-crust society and the gritty reality of those less fortunate, as Redmond and Haze solve mysteries that delve deep into the historical context of the time. Irina is currently working on a new historical mystery series, the Bell and Tate Mysteries, which will introduce Scotland Yard Inspector Sebastian Bell and nurse Gemma Tate, whose personal histories and unique talents make them the perfect, if at times reluctant, partners as they investigate grisly murders in Victorian London.

Irina Shapiro Books: https://bookshop.org/contributors/irina-shapiro