When Rebecca Rosenberg discovered the real-life widows who made champagne a world-wide phenomenon, she knew she’d dedicate years to telling their stories. These remarkable women include Veuve Clicquot, Madame Pommery, and Lily Bollinger.
Can you tell us about your new book? Is it connected to any of your old works?
(RR): My new novel, Silver Echoes, is a dual-timeline historical mystery set in the Roaring Twenties. It centers on Silver Dollar Tabor, a burlesque and movie star who, beneath the glittering facade of fame, wrestled with a profoundly fractured identity, potentially indicative of undiagnosed Dissociative Identity Disorder, while navigating the era’s dangerous gangster underworld. Seven years after her disappearance and reported brutal murder, her mother, Baby Doe Tabor, is left to grapple with the mystery, desperately searching for answers.
Yes, Silver Echoes is a direct continuation of my exploration of the Tabor family. It’s connected to my previous novel, Gold Digger, The Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor. While researching Baby Doe’s life, I was consistently drawn to the even more compelling and ultimately tragic story of her daughter, Silver Dollar. I realized that her life, marked by the dramatic loss of wealth, psychological trauma, and a public persona that masked deep inner turmoil, offered a rich narrative landscape. I felt compelled to delve into the darker undercurrents of her life, revealing the less-celebrated aspects of the Roaring Twenties, and to explore themes of fractured identity, the corrosive nature of ambition, and the enduring bond between mother and child, all through the lens of Silver Dollar’s captivating, yet ultimately heartbreaking, story.
As a self proclaimed champagne geek, how does your interest continue through your stories? I’ve noticed that many of your stories revolve around the champagne industry.
(RR): My passion for champagne, or as I affectionately call it, my ‘champagne geek’ persona, naturally permeates my writing. I find it’s a constant thread that runs through my storytelling, manifesting particularly in my two interwoven series: The Gold Digger Series and the Champagne Widows series. This structure keeps my creative process dynamic and invigorating.
My connection to the world of sparkling wine is deeply personal and multifaceted. Living in Sonoma County, with the vineyards of Chateau St. Jean as my daily backdrop, I’m immersed in the culture. But it extends far beyond that. I actively engage with the industry as a speaker, event coordinator, social media influencer, and through my work interviewing producers and experts for SparklingDiscoveries.com, as well as podcasts and broadcasts. Each of these roles deepens my knowledge and appreciation for the intricacies of sparkling wine production and history.
My fascination led me to the extraordinary women who shaped the champagne industry. Veuve Clicquot, Madame Pommery, and now, Lily Bollinger, the subject of my current work-in-progress, License to Thrill: Lily Bollinger. These women revolutionized not just champagne, but the business world as a whole. Their stories, filled with innovation, resilience, and a touch of glamour, provide a rich tapestry for my narratives. My ‘champagne geek’ tendencies, therefore, aren’t just a hobby; they’re an integral part of my creativity, fueling my storytelling and driving my exploration of these remarkable women and their legacies.
What is something fun or unusual you’ve learned about champagne when researching your story?
(RR): Oh, where to begin? Researching champagne history is a constant source of delightful surprises. One of my absolute favorite discoveries, which features prominently in Champagne Widows, involves Barbe-Nicole Clicquot, the legendary Veuve Clicquot. She possessed an incredibly sensitive sense of smell, ‘Le Nez,’ which many considered a curse. However, she brilliantly transformed this perceived weakness into a cornerstone of her champagne empire. What’s even more remarkable is her audacity during the Napoleonic Wars. She defied Napoleon’s blockades, risking execution, by sending American ships laden with her champagne, cleverly disguised as shipments of chocolate and coffee. Imagine the sheer nerve!
Another captivating story comes from my research into Madame Pommery. During the Franco-Prussian War, when her home and winery were occupied by the Prussian Army, she faced the challenge of protecting her precious champagne. Not only were the Prussians stealing her stock, but she also needed to safeguard it for the French Resistance. Her solution? She ingeniously excavated the ancient chalk caves beneath the city’s refuse dump, creating a hidden sanctuary for her champagne and a refuge for the Resistance. It’s a testament to her resourcefulness and unwavering determination. These women were not just vintners; they were strategic geniuses, and their stories are truly inspiring.”
Where did your interest in historical fiction come from?
(RR): My passion for historical fiction truly blossomed while exploring the abandoned ghost towns of Colorado. Hearing the echoes of past lives sparked a deep fascination. Then, when I moved to California, the vibrant history of the Gold Rush and San Francisco completely seized my imagination. The dramatic narratives and the larger-than-life figures were irresistible. It’s precisely this allure that fuels my writing.
How do you come up with an idea for a book?
(RR): Discovering a woman’s story that hasn’t been told. I’m especially eager for next year’s project, a novel about Lillie Hitchcock Coit. She was a spirited heiress who built Coit Tower to honor the firefighters who bravely defended San Francisco from devastating fires. Her story, a captivating blend of a wild spirit, audacious daring, and remarkable generosity, perfectly embodies the kind of historical narrative that ignites my creativity.
Do you have any advice for writers who are struggling to finish a story?
(RR): If you’re struggling to finish a story, my strongest advice is this: don’t be afraid to set it aside. Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to work on something completely different. Start a new novel, explore a fresh idea. Then, when you revisit the original manuscript, you’ll often see it with a clearer perspective, and understand what needs to be done.
I experienced this firsthand with Silver Echoes. I wrote it ten years ago, and despite multiple drafts and edits, I felt it was missing something crucial. I shelved it because I couldn’t capture the story’s essence, the depth and complexity it deserved. The initial version was too bleak, too weighed down by despair. Yet, the story wouldn’t let me go.
What kept pulling me back was the profound bond between Baby Doe and Silver Dollar Tabor, revealed in their letters at the History Colorado archives. Re-reading those letters, I had a revelation. I realized Silver Dollar’s behavior—her request to be addressed by multiple names, her constant movement, her manic descriptions of fleeting jobs—strongly suggested Dissociative Identity Disorder. This insight completely transformed the narrative.
Suddenly, I knew how to tell the story. I decided to use a dual-timeline structure, interweaving Silver Dollar’s fragmented reality with Baby Doe’s desperate search for her missing daughter. By giving Silver Dollar’s internal struggle a name, and by showing the true love between mother and daughter, I was finally able to capture the heart of the story. So, don’t give up on a story that haunts you. Sometimes, you just need to step away, gain new insights, and let the characters reveal their truths.
Visit www.rebecca-rosenberg.com and preorder Silver Echoes!
Rebecca Rosenberg is a champagne geek, lavender farmer and multi-award-winning author of historical novels.