Season 10, Episode 1 - Vanessa Riley

Written By Colin Mustful

In this episode of History Through Fiction: The Podcast, host Colin Mustful interviews Vanessa Riley, author of Fire, Sword, and Sea. Riley discusses the chaotic world of 17th-century Caribbean piracy, the challenges faced by women and Black pirates, and the research behind her heroine, Jacquotte Delahaye. Listeners will hear about the realities versus myths of piracy, the importance of telling untold stories, and Riley’s passion for bringing overlooked historical figures to life through engaging, well-researched fiction.

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About the Author

Vanessa Riley is an acclaimed author known for captivating novels such as Island Queen, a Good Morning America Buzz Pick, and Queen of Exiles, an ABC View Lit Pick. She was honored as the 2024 Georgia Mystery/Detective Author of the year for Murder in Drury Lane and the 2023 Georgia Literary Fiction Author of the Year for Sister Mother Warrior. Her craft highlights hidden narratives of power, love, and sisterhoods of Black women and women of color in historical fiction, romance, and mystery genres. Her works have received praise from publications like the Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Publisher Weekly, and the New York Times.

An Unforgettable Tale of Rebellion, Sisterhood, and Power on the High Seas.

Jacquotte Delahaye, the mixed-race daughter of a tavern owner on Tortuga, rejects marriage for a life at sea. Disguised as Jacques, she earns respect as a dockworker and forms powerful bonds with other women living as men, including Bahati and Dirkje. Jacquotte’s love for Lizzôa, a courtesan, deepens her journey. For twenty years, she raids the Caribbean, but when piracy turns to slave trading, Jacquotte risks everything to fight for freedom, leading a daring war of liberation.

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Colin Mustful

Colin Mustful is the founder and editor of History Through Fiction, an independent press dedicated to publishing historical narratives rooted in factual events and compelling characters. A celebrated author and historian whose novel “Reclaiming Mni Sota” recently won the Midwest Book Award for Literary/Contemporary/Historical Fiction, Mustful has penned five historical novels that delve into the complex eras of settler-colonialism and Native American displacement. Combining his interests in history and writing, Mustful holds a Master of Arts in history and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. Residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he enjoys running, playing soccer, and believes deeply in the power of understanding history to shape a just and sustainable future.

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Announcing Season 10 of History Through Fiction: The Podcast