I recently joined historian Jordan Mattox on the History of California Podcast to talk about the real archival research and historical events behind An Unlikely Prospect, my novel set in post-WWII San Francisco during the 1945 V-J Day “Peace Riot.”

We explored:

• Post-war San Francisco on the edge of celebration and unrest
• Women journalists pushing for authority in male-dominated newsrooms
• How civic memory gets shaped — and who history leaves out
• What fiction can reveal when the historical record goes quiet

Jordan approaches California history with curiosity and nuance, and our conversation meant a lot to me. If you’re interested in California history, journalism, or how research becomes narrative, I’d love for you to listen.

Listen here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/history-of-california/id1458797870?i=1000730696765

(Also available on other podcast platforms.)