In this month’s Women’s Fiction Column, I’m talking with author Jenni L. Walsh.
Jenni is the bestselling author of fourteen books for adults and children, including Unsinkable, a novel about the Titanic disaster, which became an instant USA Today bestseller. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in historical or contemporary settings. Her newest novel ACE, MARVEL, SPY, was released on January 14th.
Marie: Thanks for take the time to talk with me today, Jenni! Please give us a quick synopsis of your new book, ACE, MARVEL, SPY.
Jenni: ACE, MARVEL, SPY is about a real-life woman named Alice Marble that really rings true with the adage that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. Alice’s story is truly spectacular with so many unbelievable twists and turns. During the 30’s she was the “it” girl in tennis, winning 18 grand slams. She was also a singer, a designer, and most notably a writer for the Wonder Women comics. All of that seems pretty normal. But then, when the Second World War begins, Alice is asked to become an international spy, with an ex-lover as her mark, under the guise of playing tennis. Hence the title: Ace, Marvel, Spy.
Marie: How did you run across Alice Marble’s story? What was it about her that made you want to turn her life story into a novel?
Jenni: I absolutely love coming across a strong woman from history whose story hasn’t yet been told as a novel. That’s been the case with many of the women I’ve written about—and Alice is no exception. With so many ups, downs, twists, turns, surprises, defeats, and wins her story was begging to be told as a novel (and a film, if I do say so myself!). I’m so honored to be the one who’s gotten to tell it.
Marie: It’s a fascinating story, and one I don’t think may people have heard before. What kind of research did you do for this book? Is the novel entirely based on the historical record? Or did you have to alter or edit events, change timelines, or add characters to make the story work as a novel?
Jenni: While Alice’s story hadn’t yet been told as a novel, Alice had penned a memoir, which was like striking gold for me as an author. I used Alice’s memoir like my Bible. If she included it in her memoir, then I felt comfortable including it—within reason. I say that because there are certain moments, places, and people in Alice’s memoir that historians have questioned the validity of. I purposely chose not to read any nonfiction books or let those speculations affect my telling of Alice’s story. She wrote her memoir for how she’d like to be remembered in our history. I honored that the best I could.
Marie: Well, I think Alice would be pleased with the book. But tell me, as a writer, what biggest challenges you face when transforming someone’s real life experience into an engaging, page turning novel?
The holes! A memoir, diary, or other primary sources are my main and most coveted research items. They provide that first-hand look into experiences, emotions, thoughts, interpretations, and so forth. But sometimes something is mentioned but the details surrounding that event or moment are hazy. The details may be slim. The event could happen but then the resource skips ahead, not saying what happened next. There are a slew of reasons why as an author I need to fill in gaps or holes in a story, which is actually my favorite parts of storytelling. I take what’s given to me and add from there to make it my own and to create a fully fleshed out scene.
Marie: Apart from Alice, which of the characters did you find the most intriguing or fun to write?
Jenni: By far, my favorite character to write (besides Alice) is Teach, Alice’s coach. Teach is stubborn. She’s driven and tenacious. She’s an expert in the game of tennis. She’s also controlling and relentless. Teach believes in sacrifices, both for herself and for Alice. She’s the type of person you love to have in your life, but also hate having in your life. Teach is also extremely level-headed, yet someone who relies on astrology when making choices. She’s one of those characters that is a bit of an enigma but who at the same time makes perfect sense. I also think she turned out to be a very funny and witty character. I could see Kate Winslet playing her in a film adaptation, especially since Teach has a British accent.
Marie: Oh, I could definitely see Kate Winslet in that role! But back to Alice; what aspects of Alice’s character do you think readers will find most inspiring? Are there things about her personality or actions that might give readers pause?
Jenni: Writing Alice’s character arc may have been my most challenging yet. At the onset, she’s rather selfish and self-centered. Her family has given up a lot for Alice’s tennis dreams to take root. Then, after Teach comes along, her coach does everything within her power for Alice to reach her tennis aspirations (though Teach 100% shares in those goals). At first, I didn’t know how Alice would grow and transform throughout the novel. But it came to me, and it was so rewarding to show the widening of Alice’s worldview.
Marie: Alice passed away in 1990, but if you could sit down and have a conversation with her today, what questions would you want to ask her? And what would you want to say to her?
Jenni: My gut reaction would be to ask her what was true and not true. But, no, I don’t think I’d want to actually do that. Rather, I’d want to thank her for being a trailblazer in women’s tennis, in women’s equality, and in race equality. I’d like Alice to know that she made a difference.
Trailblazer, superstar, activist, and spy: Alice Marble is a true American icon.
Alice strives to have it all.
At seventeen, Alice Marble has no formal tennis skills and no coach. What she does have is an ability to hit the ball as hard as she can and a strong desire to prove herself. With steadfast determination and one sacrifice after another, Alice plays her heart out on the courts of the rich and famous, at national tournaments, and—the greatest of them all—at Wimbledon, rising to be one of the top-ranked players in the world.
But then her world falls apart.
With the outbreak of war with Germany, Alice’s tennis career and life come to a screeching halt, and for the first time, she is forced to confront who she is without tennis. As she seeks to understand her new place in the world and how she can aid in the war efforts, a telegram arrives with devastating news from overseas. Heartbroken and lost, she feels like she can only watch as the war wreaks havoc in every area of her life.
Until an unexpected invitation arrives.
Alice is given the chance to fight back when the US Army sends her a request: Under the guise of playing in tennis exhibition games in Switzerland, she would be a spy for them. Alice aches for nothing more than to avenge what the war has taken from her and to prove herself against this new opponent. But what awaits her might be her greatest challenge yet.
From her start as a promising athlete with worn-out shoes to her status as a glamorous international star, Alice Marble’s determination to control her own life and destiny fuels a story of achievement, discipline, loss, and love.
Jenni L. Walsh’s Ace, Marvel, Spy brilliantly showcases the life of Alice Marble, a real-life tennis sensation known for her extraordinary talent and indomitable spirit. This fast-paced and action-packed historical novel spans multiple international settings and is enhanced by discussion questions that prompt readers to reflect on Alice’s challenges and triumphs, making it an ideal choice for book clubs.
Suspense Historical [Harper Muse, On Sale: January 14, 2025, Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9781400246748 / ]
Jenni L. Walsh worked for a decade enticing readers as an award-winning advertising copywriter before becoming an author. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in historical or contemporary settings. She is a proud graduate of Villanova University, and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband, daughter, son, and various pets.
Jenni is the USA Today bestselling author of historical novels Becoming Bonnie, Side by Side, A Betting Woman, The Call of the Wrens, and Unsinkable. She also writes books for children, including the nonfiction She Dared series and historical novels Hettie and the London Blitz, I Am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies, Over and Out, and Operation: Happy.
When not curled up with a good book, Marie Bostwick can usually be found in her office, trying to write one.
A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eighteen uplifting works of historical and contemporary fiction, Marie’s books are beloved by readers across the globe.
Drawing on her lifelong love of quilting and her unshakable belief in the power of sisterhood, Marie’s popular Cobbled Court Quilt series has been embraced by quilters and non-sewers alike. Her standalone books have also found a passionate following among lovers of women’s fiction. Marie’s novel, The Second Sister” was adapted into the 2018 Hallmark Hall of Fame feature film “Christmas Everlasting”, starring Patti LaBelle. Marie’s most recent novel, Hope on the Inside, was published in March 2019 and was chosen as a Reader’s Digest “Select Editions” book.
Marie’s latest endeavor is Fiercely Marie, a lifestyle blog that encourages women to live every minute and love every moment. She is currently working on her next novel, “The Restoration of Celia Fairchild”, which will be published by William Morrow in the spring of 2021.
Marie lives in Washington state with her husband and a beautiful but moderately spoiled Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
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