The Artist Colony: A Novel

(Paperback)

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Description

Crossing two popular genres: The novel crosses historical fiction with mystery, both popular genres that sell well.

Timeliness: The racism against and fear of immigrants depicted in the novel is also prevalent in America today.

Addresses important issues that will resonate with modern readers: The repression of human rights was the force behind Congress's Immigration Act of 1924 that banned entry from all Asian countries; took away the inalienable rights of Asian Americans to own property; created anti-miscegenation laws making biracial marriages illegal, and even forbade Japanese students from attending white schoolsactions that have been made relevant today by the actions of the USs current administration.

Reviews

2022 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Historical
2022 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in Regional (Fiction)
2022 IPPY Awards Gold Winner in Mystery

"FitzPatrick keeps the pot stirred nicely, with revelations popping up like whack-a-mole. There is also a nice sense of scene, capturing this idyllic place on the Monterey peninsula. . . . The Artist Colony delivers an escape to gorgeous Carmel and an engaging mystery."
--Kirkus Reviews

". . . readers who enjoy an exciting narrative with unexpected twists will find this a diverting and illuminating read."
--Historical Novels Review

"Bold, creative, and unexpected--all the things nice ladies weren't supposed to be when they escaped to Carmel-by-the-Sea to make art without criticism. FitzPatrick, a descendant of one of those feisty female pioneers, has honored her family legacy and entertained her fans with a fast-paced whodunit that is equal parts loving tribute and killer thriller."
--Meredith May, author of The Honey Bus and Loving Edie

"The Artist's Colony is a sumptuous ride through the Carmel-by-the-Sea as Sarah Cunningham attempts to uncover the truth about her sister's mysterious death. Atmospheric and delicious, FitzPatrick delivers a thrilling page-turner woven with artistic flourish. This exquisite novel does not disappoint! Highly recommended!"
--Michelle Cox, author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series

"It's 1924 and a young woman journeys to Carmel, California, to learn more about her sister's sudden death. She soon learns that the bohemian arts colony is anything but idyllic, as she's confronted by flagrant racism and intimations of murder. Fitzpatrick has written a vivid historical novel with an absorbing mystery at the center of it, and I was riveted."
--Elizabeth McKenzie, author of The Portable Veblen

"The dramatic landscapes of Carmel, beautifully depicted by FitzPatrick, are central to the plot, whose blow-by-blow story keeps us gripped to the final revelation of Ada's murderer . . . a must-read novel for anyone who loves historical fiction, art, detective stories, and the West Coast."
--Maggie Humm, author of Talland House

Praise for FitzPatrick's Katherine Mansfield:

"FitzPatrick deftly captures Mansfield's fervent dedication to her craft and her unwavering hope that she will overcome her illness. A well-informed, intuitive account of a singular modernist writer whose life is cut short."
--Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

JOANNA FITZPATRICK was raised in Hollywood. She started her writing habit by applying her orange fountain pen and a wild imagination to screenplays, which led her early on to produce the film White Lilacs and Pink Champagne. Accepted at Sarah Lawrence College, she wrote her MFA thesis Sha La La: Live for Today about her life as a rock n roll stars wife. Her more recent work includes two novels, Katherine Mansfield, Bronze Winner of the 2021 Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) in Historical Fiction, and The Drummers Widow. The Artist Colony is her third book. FitzPatrick divides up the seasons between her Monterey Bay home in Pacific Grove, California, and a hameau in southern France where she begins all her new book projects.