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WORK TITLE: Boardwalk Summer
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://meredithjaegerauthor.com
CITY: San Francisco
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Berkeley, CA; married; children: daughter.
EDUCATION:University of California, Santa Cruz, B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author.
AVOCATIONS:San Francisco history, beach walks, Peet’s Coffee, Victorian houses.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Meredith Jaeger is an alumnus of University of California, Santa Cruz; it is there that she studied modern literature. Jaeger splits her time between tending to her family and penning novels, many of which tie into the history of San Francisco. Jaeger resides close to the city. In an interview featured on the Happy Ever After website, Jaeger told Joyce Lamb that her novels are largely informed by “My surroundings.” She continued: “I have to intimately know a place in order to write about it.”
The Dressmaker’s Dowry
The plot of The Dressmaker’s Dowry switches back and forth between two different periods. The novel technically begins with Hannelore Schaeffer, a woman who has just traveled to the United States from her home country for the sake of starting fresh. Yet life in America isn’t quite what she anticipated. She manages to find work in a tailor’s shop, repairing the clothing of clients much wealthier than her. Her only company is another woman by the name of Margaret; she wound up working in the same shop as Hannelore under similar circumstances.
Everything changes for the two the day they encounter a new client. His name is Lucas Havensworth, and he manages to capture Margaret’s attention and affections quickly. She decides to pursue him romantically. Yet this decision leads to tragedy, as Hannelore never hears from or sees Margaret again afterward. Hannelore takes it upon herself to find out where Margaret could have gone, only to stumble upon horrifying truths.
The novel also focuses on modern times—or, more specifically, the life of Sarah Havensworth. Like Hannelore, Sarah resides within the city of San Francisco, albeit under more affluent circumstances. She spends her days toiling over her latest creative project: a novel that she can’t seem to get off of the ground. Sarah decides to focus her attention elsewhere. The case of Margaret and Hannelore has specifically captured her focus, compelling her to try and discover what exactly led them to their gruesome fates. In Sarah’s time, they are known only as victims of murder, yet no one knows how their murders occurred. Sarah believes she can unlock the truth, but it will take a bit of digging. “This gripping read is a satisfying exploration of the timeless nature of love and resilience,” wrote Carol Gladstein, a reviewer in Booklist. On the Historical Novel Society website, Diane Scott Lewis remarked: “Jaeger weaves an interesting story.” She added: “Except for the abuse scenes, it’s a light read with endearing characters.” A contributor to the Literary Quicksand commented: “For a first novel, Meredith Jaeger does a superb job building out plot and characters while keeping the plot fast-paced and exciting.” Val Adolph, another contributor to the Historical Novel Society website, said: “The novel has elements of romance in both the historical and modern stories and is a quick and easy read.” A writer on the Lit Bitch blog stated: “I think this is a great start for the debate author, with a few tweaks and character development this author could be a shining star in the historical fiction world!”
Boardwalk Summer
Boardwalk Summer also divides its story between the present and the past. In the present (or, rather, the year 2007) lives Marisol Cruz. Marisol spends her days working as a ticket vendor on the same boardwalk where her grandfather captured audiences so many years ago. It is due to his legacy that she and her child are able to reside in a small house on the beach. Yet everything seems to change for Marisol—including her image of her grandfather—when she chances upon Jason. The young man has just relocated to the state of California, and it is his meeting with Marisol that propels them both into uncovering the truth behind a very important mystery.
Said case involves a woman by the name of Violet Harcourt, who lived during the 1940s. Years ago, Violet used to reside on the very same boardwalk Marisol treasures so dearly. It is there that Violet made her attempts to reach Hollywood stardom. More specifically, she is able to secure the title of “Miss California,” a title she believes will help launch her into further success. Violet’s pursuit of the spotlight does not come easily for her, however. Her relationship with her husband is in tatters and, as Marisol discovers in the present, Violet’s story does not end happily. Marisol works together with Jason in order to learn more about Violet’s demise—as well as her possible ties to Marisol’s grandfather. “Hand this to readers looking for a beach read with a bit of depth,” remarked Booklist contributor Martha Waters. On the Lit Bitch website, one reviewer said: “There were lots of little elements that I thought worked well together in the book and the cover is a beauty!” She added: “Jaeger did a great job at capturing the nostalgia and magic of California’s beach culture!”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, December 1, 2016, Carol Gladstein, review of The Dressmaker’s Dowry, p. 33; April 1, 2018, Martha Waters, review of Boardwalk Summer, p. 59.
ONLINE
Bibliotica.com, https://www.bibliotica.com/ (June 21, 2018), review of Boardwalk Summer.
Book Club Girl, https://www.bookclubgirl.com/ (March 15, 2017), “Read a Q&A with authors Meredith Jaeger and Kristina McMorris,” author interview.
Happy Ever After, https://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (February 7, 2017), Joyce Lamb, “Interview: Meredith Jaeger, author of ‘The Dressmaker’s Dowry,’” author interview.
Historical Novel Society, https://historicalnovelsociety.org/ (February 1, 2017), Val Adolph, review of The Dressmaker’s Dowry; (August 1, 2018), Diane Scott Lewis, review of Boardwalk Summer.
Lit Bitch, https://thelitbitch.com/ (February 21, 2017), review of The Dressmakers Dowry; (July 17, 2018), review of Boardwalk Summer.
Literary Quicksand, http://www.literaryquicksand.com/ (February 9, 2017), review of The Dressmaker’s Dowry.
Meredith Jaeger website, http://meredithjaegerauthor.com (October 16, 2018), author profile.
San Francisco Book Review, https://sanfranciscobookreview.com/ (February 7, 2017), Meredith Jaeger, “My Path to Publication: Not an Overnight Success.”
We Heart Writing, https://weheartwriting.com/ (June 19, 2018), Jade Craddock, “Why I’m glad I was not an overnight success – Meredith Jaeger,” author interview.
Meredith Jaeger is the USA Today Bestselling Author of The Dressmaker's Dowry and Boardwalk Summer. The Dressmaker's Dowry has been labeled "a satisfying exploration of the timeless nature of love and resilience" in a Booklist starred review. New York Times bestselling author Kristina McMorris has praised it as, "A compelling debut novel that sent me racing to its final, revealing pages." The Dressmaker's Dowry has been published in English and translated into German and Polish.
Boardwalk Summer will release June 19, 2018. It has been called, "By turns a gripping mystery, a richly-detailed exploration of history and family, and a beautiful love story" by author Jillian Cantor. New York Times bestselling author Lori Nelson Spielman praises it as, "Punctuated with glamorous Hollywood details and a truly satisfying ending."
Meredith was born and raised in Berkeley, California and holds a BA in modern literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She lives outside San Francisco with her husband, their daughter (a rambunctious toddler) and bulldog.
USA Today bestselling author Meredith Jaeger was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, the daughter of a Swiss father and an American mother. While working for a San Francisco start-up, Meredith fulfilled her dream of writing a novel, the result of which was The Dressmaker,s Dowry. Meredith lives in Alameda with her husband, their infant daughter, and their bulldog.
Interview: Meredith Jaeger, author of ‘The Dressmaker’s Dowry’
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By: Joyce Lamb | February 7, 2017 12:01 am
Meredith Jaeger
Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Meredith! Please tell us a bit about your new release, The Dressmaker’s Dowry.
Meredith: The Dressmaker’s Dowry tells the story of an immigrant seamstress who disappears from San Francisco’s gritty streets in 1876, and a present-day writer who must delve into the secrets of her husband’s wealthy family only to discover that she and the missing dressmaker might be connected in unexpected ways. The novel is an exploration of love and resilience and it involves an exquisite emerald ring passed down through generations.
Joyce: What inspires your book ideas?
Meredith: My surroundings. I have to intimately know a place in order to write about it. I have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for most of my life, and I went to college in Santa Cruz. Many of the places visited by my characters in The Dressmaker’s Dowry are real. I love walking city streets, looking at old homes and wondering who lived there once upon a time. Hopefully, I’ll get to travel to research future novels. I’d like to write one set in New York.
Joyce: Is there anything funny that’s happened to you while doing research for a book?
Meredith: Yes! I was asked to take photographs of locations in The Dressmaker’s Dowry to include in the P.S. section. Being eight months pregnant at the time, I looked like a crazy woman hiking up the steep hills of North Beach with my giant belly. To make matters worse, many of these locations are bars and saloons — places a pregnant lady shouldn’t be found!
Bernie says hey.
Joyce: Do you have a pet that hangs out with you while you’re working?
Meredith: This is my English bulldog, Bernie. He snores louder than my husband, but I love him so much, it’s like music to my ears.
Joyce: Do you have any particular rituals that help you get into the writing frame of mind?
Meredith: I write at a local café. Before I lived on this island, I would drive 20 minutes on the freeway to visit this particular café because I needed to feel like I was going to work. I have a hard time writing at home. I’m too distracted by piles of laundry, my dog and my 5-month-old daughter. A latte is also a necessary component of my writing ritual. Honestly, being sleep deprived, sometimes I’m not in the writing frame of mind. However, the only way to finish a novel is to put my butt in the chair and write, whether inspiration strikes or not.
Joyce: Is there a TV show that you’ve recently binge-watched?
Meredith: Westworld! I’m not even a sci-fi fan, but the premise of the show was compelling and creepy. Thandie Newton and Evan Rachel Wood both are both wonderful in it.
Joyce: I don’t suppose you’d want to share a picture of you with your ’80s or ’90s hair or perhaps a prom picture?
Meredith Jaeger in 1998.
Meredith: Back in 1998 I was really into dyeing my hair with Henna. I was 15 or 16 here, and didn’t appreciate how naturally straight my hair was. Now it’s full of spit-up and falling out. Thanks, postpartum hair loss!
Joyce: What do you do in your spare time?
Meredith: I walk my dog around my neighborhood with my husband and our daughter, admiring the old Victorian homes. We always go to Peet’s Coffee first because I can’t start the day without a Peet’s latte. Sometimes we walk to the beach and enjoy the view of San Francisco across the water. My husband and I actually fight over who gets to wear the baby in the Ergo carrier! We both want her snuggles.
Joyce: What are you working on now?
Meredith: My current novel takes place in modern-day Santa Cruz and Hollywood during its Golden Age. A young single mother who dreams of becoming more than a waitress takes a job at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Centennial Celebration, selling raffle tickets. While working the museum booth, she finds an obituary of Miss California 1940, a troubled aspiring actress. Discovering a connection between her grandfather, an immigrant stunt diver, and the beauty queen, she suspects the young woman didn’t take her own life.
Joyce: Thanks, Meredith!
About The Dressmaker’s Dowry:
An exquisite ring, passed down through generations, connects two women who learn that love is a choice, and forgiveness is the key to freedom…
San Francisco: 1876
Immigrant dressmakers Hannelore Schaeffer and Margaret O’Brien struggle to provide food for their siblings, while mending delicate clothing for the city’s most affluent ladies. When wealthy Lucas Havensworth enters the shop, Hanna’s future is altered forever. With Margaret’s encouragement and the power of a borrowed green dress, Hanna dares to see herself as worthy of him. Then Margaret disappears, and Hanna turns to Lucas. Braving the gritty streets of the Barbary Coast and daring to enter the mansions of Nob Hill, Hanna stumbles upon Margaret’s fate, forcing her to make a devastating decision…one that will echo through the generations.
San Francisco: Present Day
In her elegant Marina apartment overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, Sarah Havensworth struggles to complete the novel she quit her job for. Afraid to tell her husband of her writer’s block, Sarah is also hiding a darker secret—one that has haunted her for 14 years. Then a news headline from 1876 sparks inspiration: Missing Dressmakers Believed to be Murdered. Compelled to discover what happened to Hannelore and Margaret, Sarah returns to her roots as a journalist. Will her beautiful heirloom engagement ring uncover a connection to Hanna Schaeffer?
Find out more at www.meredithjaegerauthor.com.
Why I’m glad I was not an overnight success – Meredith Jaeger
By Jade Craddock | June 19, 2018
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By Meredith Jaeger
When I was in my twenties, I decided I wanted to write a novel. I loved creative writing and I’d earned my bachelor’s degree in Modern Literature. But I ended up working full-time as an administrator at an English language school. ♥
I wrote the first draft of my novel (sometimes surreptitiously at work!) going wherever the plot took me. I used to be a “pantser” as in flying by the seat of my pants. I joined a novel writing class in San Francisco to meet other aspiring authors and I felt creative energy pouring from my fingertips. Six months later, I had a completed manuscript. I was well on my way to becoming a published author!
Except all the joy I felt when writing my novel seeped away when I sent out my first batch of query letters. Rejections from literary agents began to trickle — and then pour — into my inbox. After reading my pages, each agent told me kindly that my novel wasn’t for them, and another agent might feel differently.
Not one to give up easily, I found a critique partner, cut 20,000 words from my novel, and tried again. But even with my new and improved manuscript, I always received the same reply: “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to pass.”
When I reached 200 rejection letters, I made the painful decision to banish my novel to a folder on my laptop, never to be seen again. How was it that I could love my story so much, yet no one in the publishing industry felt the same way? I realized something, writing was an absolute dream, but the publishing business was a cold, harsh reality.
I didn’t wallow for long. I had a second novel to write — one that would get me a literary agent. I wrote that novel with the intention of being published. I attended the 2012 San Francisco Writers Conference and I got manuscript requests from every agent I pitched in person. I was on a high! I celebrated by drinking champagne in the (now closed) Gold Dust Lounge, once frequented by famed San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen.
But once again, the rejection letters piled up. On my thirtieth birthday, I shed some tears. I hadn’t told anyone, but I really wanted to be on a “thirty under thirty” list. Because that was never going to happen, I felt like a failure.
I took a year off writing. I got a job at a San Francisco startup, worked long hours, and planned my wedding. Keeping myself busy, I managed not to miss dreaming up stories. But on my honeymoon in Greece, my creativity sparked again. I opened a little leather notebook and began to outline The Dressmaker’s Dowry.
When I returned home, I was still working long hours at the startup, but I had a fire lit inside of me. This time, I became a “plotter” creating an elaborate outline for my novel with Post-It notes to tackle the dual timeline. It was the first time I had attempted to write historical fiction and I was nervous I couldn’t pull it off. But I didn’t let doubt get the better of me. I wrote every single weekend until I had a finished and polished draft.
Once again, I queried. Rejection letters followed. I was impatient. Against my better judgment, I signed a contract with a small press. Something in my gut felt wrong. Then one day, the owner of the company called me. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but we’re going to have to drop you from your contract. Your writing isn’t up to par with our other writers.”
I was shocked, then angry. This woman hadn’t even read my novel! Neither had my editor! Instead of listening to her harsh words, I saw the opportunity as a blessing in disguise. Free from my contract, I revised The Dressmaker’s Dowry a final time. Then I decided to shoot for the moon. I queried my dream agent, Jenny Bent. She had rejected my first two novels, but I had grown as a writer over the past six years.
When Jenny Bent told me she wanted to take me on as a client, it was one of the happiest days of my life. I was still working full-time (at a different San Francisco startup) but I began Jenny’s revisions right away. Once again, I spent every weekend in a café with my laptop. Jenny sent the novel off to publishers. And we waited.
Two weeks later, I got the news I’d long dreamed of. HarperCollins wanted to buy The Dressmaker’s Dowry! I felt both joy and relief. In the two years between signing my contract with HarperCollins and my book launch, I got pregnant, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, wrote another book, and continued to work.
When my editor asked me to rewrite half my novel, I didn’t flinch. I had learned that good writing is rewriting and not to be precious with my words.
The Dressmaker’s Dowry debuted in 2017. By then, I was a sleep-deprived new mother in my mid-thirties — a far cry from the fresh-faced twenty something I’d been when I started my writing journey. When I became a USA Today Bestseller, I could hardly believe it! All those years of writing and accumulating rejection letters while working full-time taught me a lesson in perseverance — I can do anything if I put my mind to it (including writing with a baby on my chest). I’m just getting started. My second novel, Boardwalk Summer will be published this month.
I’ve earned my bestseller status (along with a few grey hairs) because I never gave up on my dreams. Neither should you. I wasn’t an overnight success — more of an over-a-decade success — but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Meredith Jaeger is the USA Today bestselling author of Boardwalk Summer and The Dressmaker’s Dowry. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, the daughter of a Swiss father and an American mother. Meredith lives outside San Francisco with her husband, their feisty toddler (who is not a fan of wearing socks or shoes) and their lazy English bulldog. She has left the startup world to write full-time.
meredithjaegerauthor.com
March 15, 2017
Read a Q&A with authors Meredith Jaeger and Kristina McMorris
Today on the blog we have a special Q&A with historical fiction authors Meredith Jaeger and Kristina McMorris! Read on for their discussion about Meredith's new novel The Dressmaker's Dowry, on sale in trade paperback now. This gripping historical debut novel tells the story of two women: one, an immigrant seamstress who disappears from San Francisco’s gritty streets in 1876, and the other, a young woman in present day who must delve into the secrets of her husband’s wealthy family only to discover that she and the missing dressmaker might be connected in unexpected ways.
About The Dressmaker's Dowry:
San Francisco: 1876
Immigrant dressmakers Hannelore Schaeffer and Margaret O'Brien struggle to provide food for their siblings, while mending delicate clothing for the city's most affluent ladies. When wealthy Lucas Havensworth enters the shop, Hanna's future is altered forever. With Margaret's encouragement and the power of a borrowed green dress, Hanna dares to see herself as worthy of him. Then Margaret disappears, and Hanna turns to Lucas. Braving the gritty streets of the Barbary Coast and daring to enter the mansions of Nob Hill, Hanna stumbles upon Margaret’s fate, forcing her to make a devastating decision...one that will echo through the generations.
San Francisco: Present Day
In her elegant Marina apartment overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, Sarah Havensworth struggles to complete the novel she quit her job for. Afraid to tell her husband of her writer’s block, Sarah is also hiding a darker secret—one that has haunted her for 14 years. Then a news headline from 1876 sparks inspiration: Missing Dressmakers Believed to be Murdered. Compelled to discover what happened to Hannelore and Margaret, Sarah returns to her roots as a journalist. Will her beautiful heirloom engagement ring uncover a connection to Hanna Schaeffer?
Q&A with Meredith Jaeger and Kristina McMorris:
Kristina McMorris: San Francisco is definitely as strong a character as any person you created in THE DRESSMAKER’S DOWRY. What inspired you most about this city and its history? Did you discover any notable surprises while doing your research?
Meredith Jaeger: I grew up across the bay from San Francisco, its lights sparkling in the distance, so the city has always enchanted me. What inspires me most about San Francisco is its history as an open-minded and welcoming place, drawing artists, musicians and free spirits from around the globe. I love that a Mission District Victorian might have housed grunge rockers in the 90s, civil rights activists in the 70s, flower children in the 60s and immigrants like Hannelore and Margaret in the 1800s. One of the notable surprises I discovered during my research was that some San Francisco streets are (rumored to be) named after Gold Rush-era prostitutes. (Minna Street after Minna Rae Simpson and Cora Street after Belle Cora, a notorious madam). I also learned that anywhere from 40 to 75 ships are buried beneath the Financial District, abandoned by captain and crew during the Gold Rush. Back in 2001, the General Harrison was uncovered during construction, and then another ship from 1810 was discovered in 2005. Towering condominiums now cover both, hiding this fascinating piece of history.
KM: Part of THE DRESSMAKER’S DOWRY is set in 1876 and the rest in present day, but both narratives explore the divide between the ‘haves and have-nots.’ Which societal similarities and differences stood out to you most?
MJ: I’ve always been drawn to the theme of “haves” versus “have-nots.” 1876 San Francisco mirrors San Francisco today in that immense wealth is concentrated among very few. The present tech boom rivals the silver rush of the 1870s, only this time young men are moving to San Francisco for jobs as software engineers. Their high salaries have driven up housing prices to the point where middle-class families can no longer afford to live in San Francisco. We also have a homeless epidemic, and some of the new residents view the homeless as an inconvenient eyesore, rather than as people in need.
In Hannelore’s day, four Irishmen known as the “Bonanza Kings” formed a business partnership, the Consolidated Virginia Mining Company, which dealt in silver stocks and the operation of silver mines. In 1873 they discovered the “big bonanza,” and became multi-millionaires.
Like the Bonanza Kings, San Francisco startup founders dream of striking it rich with a bit of luck and strategic thinking. However, having worked for a socially conscious startup, I can say that today companies are giving back to the local community, doing things like providing meals for the homeless and reading to children in low-income neighborhoods.
KM: Another similarity between 1876 and the present day involves the influx of immigrants into the city and, by extension, the United States. Do you think immigrants of today face the same challenges as they did over 100 years ago?
MJ: Yes, unfortunately I think that this is true. In 1882, The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first major law restricting immigration to the United States. In the West, newly settled Americans resented the Chinese (who’d come during the Gold Rush to build the railroads) and blamed the Chinese for unemployment and declining wages. This law effectively halted Chinese immigration for ten years and prohibited Chinese from becoming US citizens. Ethnic stereotypes also applied to Irish immigrants like Margaret. Irish were caricatured in newspapers as illiterate drunks and met by signs reading, "Irish Need Not Apply." Even without a language barrier, the Irish had difficulty advancing beyond unskilled labor. I think there has been a frightening resurgence in the nativist movement of the 19th century—the belief that immigrants do not contribute to American society, and that they are dangerous. We must work hard to overcome these stereotypes and to remember that many immigrants want to provide better lives for their families. They’ve sacrificed everything to live in the land of liberty.
KM: In this time of mass-production clothing, I found it fascinating to learn about dressmakers of the 19th century. Can you share a little about the lives of the women who sewed, by hand, and of their typical work conditions? What other jobs were realistic options for working-class women at that time?
MJ: When I visited the California Historical Society while researching my novel, I was excited to find a “Miss O’Brien—dressmaker” who lived at 221 6th street in an 1876 San Francisco directory. In the Victorian era, dressmakers like Hanna and Margaret worked to support their families, in addition to their unpaid work cooking, mending and cleaning.
In the cramped rooms where they sewed, lighting was poor, fingers ached, hours were long, wages were low and seasonal dresses (for balls and society events) were in high demand. They worked under the scrutinizing eyes of a mistress (like Mrs. Cunningham) under tight deadlines, to meet the exacting standards of their wealthy clients. Women earned less than their male counterparts and sometimes worked 16-hour days. Dress shops for the elite could be found along commercial streets, however some dressmakers operated out of their own homes, or traveled to the homes of their clients. With fashion in the 1870s changing quickly, women paid for their dresses to be altered, to keep up with the day’s trends.
There weren’t many job options available to working-class women in the 19th century. Many went into domestic service, or worked in textile factories. In San Francisco, there were female boardinghouse managers, peddlers and washerwomen. Some working-class women performed burlesque in Barbary Coast dancehalls, or turned to prostitution.
KM: Present-day Sarah and Hunter are from different social classes, just like Hannelore and Lucas. Do you suspect it’s easier or more difficult for people today to marry outside their social class than it was in 1876? What might be different or similar?
MJ: I think it’s easier today for people to marry outside of their social class than it was in 1876. But that doesn’t meant it’s without its challenges. An article in The Atlantic reflects on the unique tensions these couples face, stating that spouses from different backgrounds struggle to reconcile their views on work, family, and leisure. In The Dressmaker’s Dowry, Sarah talks about how in her home feelings were expressed honestly, even when she ended up yelling, whereas in Hunter’s family, emotions are carefully controlled. Similar to the social conventions of the 1870s, a parent who grew up wealthy today might want their young child to take piano lessons and French lessons (like Lucas’s distinguished younger sister, Georgina), whereas a working–class spouse would rather the child play freely. Fortunately, in today’s world people have more opportunities towards upward mobility—they can reinvent themselves through their professions and interests, becoming who they want to be. In fact, many people move to San Francisco for this very reason!
KM: On a fun note, if a movie was ever made of THE DRESSMAKER’S DOWRY, who would you want to play the major roles?
MJ: This must be every author’s favorite question! If The Dressmaker’s Dowry were made into a movie, I would want Mia Wasikowska to play Hanna, Emma Stone to play Margaret and Eddie Redmayne to play Lucas. I think Blake Lively would make a good Sarah, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt would be great as Hunter (he’s my celebrity crush. I love his dimples. My husband has dimples too!).
The Dressmaker's Dowry is available now in trade paperback. Download the reading group guide and start reading an excerpt, and order your copy today!
Meredith is a USA Today Bestselling Author. She is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was raised by a Swiss father and an American mother. She is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Her own engagement ring, which is an heirloom from 1903, inspired her to write her debut novel The Dressmaker’s Dowry. She wrote it on weekends while working for a San Francisco startup.
Meredith finds the immigrant experience a rich part of the fabric of American history. Her second novel Boardwalk Summer has been called “a compelling story that channels both the glamour and big dreams of old Hollywood with the charm and thrills of Santa Cruz’s boardwalk.” (Elise Hooper, author of The Other Alcott). Meredith lives outside San Francisco with her husband, their feisty toddler and spoiled English bulldog, where she now writes full time.
Photo credit: Erika Pino Photography
My Path to Publication: Not an Overnight Success
by editor | Feb 7, 2017 | Articles, Book Publishing, Writer to Writer
By Meredith Jaeger
What does it take to get a novel traditionally published? More blood, sweat, and tears than training for a marathon. Full disclosure: My sister is the marathon runner, not me. However, my fingers get plenty of exercise while my brain is fired up on double-shot lattes.
If publishing a novel is a dream you’ve committed yourself to, prepare for a long road ahead. While I’m absolutely thrilled that my debut, The Dressmaker’s Dowry found a home with HarperCollins, I’ll let you in on a little secret. The word debut, which sounds lovely and sparkly as an Oscar gown, is misleading. A debut novel is the first novel an author has ever published. That doesn’t mean it’s the first novel an author has ever written.
My first book, which lives in a document on a defunct, pink laptop, was about a young go-go dancer and her best friend, an ESL teacher in Prague. It had a lot of heart—but not a lot of plot. I wrote it in 2009, when I was twenty-seven years old. Then I spent two years revising. But after my vibrant story received more than a hundred rejection letters, I decided to put my baby to rest.
In 2011, my second novel attracted agent interest during the speed date at the San Francisco Writers Conference. High on the success of my pitch, I expected to be published by my thirtieth birthday. When thirty arrived, no literary agent or publisher in sight, I drowned my sorrows in a bucket of buttered popcorn and watched Channing Tatum gyrate his hips in Magic Mike.
Which brings me to my marathon metaphor. When writing a novel, it’s easy to think you’re at mile twenty-five, when really you’re at mile six. I wrote four books and received countless rejections before I signed with my dream agent, Jenny Bent. Two of those rejection letters came from Jenny. (Thankfully she doesn’t remember my go-go dancing novel or the one after it!)
If you want to sell your book to one of the “Big Five” publishers, getting a literary agent is the first step, and sometimes also the hardest. Here are my tips to stand out from the slush pile:
The agent who doesn’t accept paranormal fiction doesn’t want to read your vampire novel. (That ship sailed into the twilight long ago!) Read submission guidelines and follow literary agents online. Twitter isn’t only for Donald Trump.
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Perfect your query letter. It’s the bridge between you and your dreams of publication. Redacting your 80,000-word manuscript to 300 words isn’t easy, but it’s your one chance to hook an agent into wanting more. Read book jacket copy for inspiration.
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You must complete your entire novel before sending off that query letter. The NaNoWriMo project you finished in December? It’s only half-baked. Rewrite your prose until you can’t stand the sight of it anymore.
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Find a trusted critique partner (not your mother) who will give you an honest opinion of your work. Take constructive criticism well. If you’re lucky, you’ll revise your novel for your agent, and then again for your editor. Learn to kill your darlings.
When I submitted The Dressmaker’s Dowry to Jenny Bent in March of 2015, she responded with a “revise and resubmit” request. My book needed more work before she could offer representation. I took her suggestions, sent my revisions to my critique partner (who told me it still wasn’t ready) and painstakingly ran those final miles.
Sometimes things need to move slowly before they can move fast. Jenny signed me as a client in August of that same year. By October, she’d sold my novel to the wonderful Lucia Macro at William Morrow (much champagne was drunk that day).
The Dressmaker’s Dowry makes its debut on February 7, 2017. If you had told me in 2009 that I wouldn’t be a published author until I was a mother in my mid-thirties, I don’t know if I would have laughed or cried. Dreams don’t always come true on your timeline, but that doesn’t mean you should ever give up.
MEREDITH JAEGER has lived and travelled around the world, spending periods in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Australia. She is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, born and raised in Berkeley, California. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, Meredith holds a BA in Modern Literature. While working at a San Francisco startup, Meredith fulfilled a lifelong dream to write a novel, the result of which was The Dressmaker’s Dowry. Like the character Hannelore Schaeffer, Meredith is also the daughter of a European immigrant, who moved to California in search of a better life. Meredith lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, their infant daughter, English bulldog and elderly cat.
Boardwalk Summer
Martha Waters
Booklist. 114.15 (Apr. 1, 2018): p59.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
Boardwalk Summer. By Meredith Jaeger. June 2018.384p. Morrow, paper, $15.99 (9780062748065).
In Santa Cruz, California, in 1940, beauty queen Violet Harcourt dreams of motion-picture fame but struggles with an abusive husband and, as she later discovers, a dark side to Hollywood, beneath its glitz. Nearly seven decades later, single mother Marisol Cruz, working for the local history museum, discovers Violet's obituary and is determined to uncover her secrets, juggling her quest for answers with a new romance of her own. It quickly becomes clear that Violet and Mari are linked by their relationships with Maris late grandfather, though Jaeger (The Dressmaker's Dowry, 2017) deftly keeps the reader guessing at the exact significance of this connection until the final pages. The historical story line makes for more captivating reading than the contemporary narrative, and Maris Mexican American heritage is not quite developed, but Jaeger is a skilled storyteller, and readers will forgive the occasionally clunky dialogue for the sake of a page-turning story. Hand this to readers looking for a beach read with a bit of depth.--Martha Waters
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Waters, Martha. "Boardwalk Summer." Booklist, 1 Apr. 2018, p. 59. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A534956901/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=44b4b221. Accessed 18 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A534956901
The Dressmaker's Dowry
Carol Gladstein
Booklist. 113.7 (Dec. 1, 2016): p33.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
Full Text:
The Dressmaker's Dowry. By Meredith Jaeger. Feb. 2017.368p. Morrow, paper, $15.99 (9780062469830).
For young immigrant Hannelore Schaeffer, the promise of a new life in 1870s San Francisco has not been delivered. After her mother's death, Hanna takes on the responsibility of raising her siblings, avoiding her drunken father, and working long hours as a seamstress. Hanna dreams of a better life, and, with the encouragement of her friend Margaret and a borrowed green dress, she spends the evening in the company of the rich and powerful Lucas Havensworth. But when Margaret disappears, Hanna turns to Lucas for help and finds herself caught between the promise of a new life and the reality of the world she knows. In modern-day San Francisco, Sarah is fighting writer's block and struggling to fit in with her wealthy in-laws. When Sarah stumbles upon the story of Hanna and Margaret, she finds the inspiration to return to her journalistic roots and solve the mystery. Her discoveries will lead her back to the gritty streets of the Barbary Coast and into a world deeply foreign yet strangely familiar. Jaeger's debut sends readers quickly and completely into San Francisco's history. Hanna, Margaret, and Sarah are the perfect storytellers, young women determined to find their place in the world. This gripping read is a satisfying exploration of the timeless nature of love and resilience.--Carol Gladstein
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Gladstein, Carol. "The Dressmaker's Dowry." Booklist, 1 Dec. 2016, p. 33. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A474718827/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=3934ac3e. Accessed 18 Sept. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A474718827
Boardwalk Summer
By Meredith Jaeger
Find & buy on
Violet yearns to be a Hollywood actress in 1940. Even though she is married, she enters and wins the Miss California pageant in Santa Cruz, her home town on California’s northern coast. When her husband, Charles, finds out, he orders her to quit. Afraid of his brutality, she agrees. Weeks later, she can no longer take his abuse and sneaks off to Hollywood with the help of friends, including Ricky Cruz—but Charles drags her home. In 2007, Mari Cruz toils as a waitress but wants more. She has a history degree and knows all of Santa Cruz’s past, especially the amusement park on the boardwalk. Her beloved grandfather worked there as a stunt diver. A college one-night stand left her pregnant and derailed her aspirations. Her daughter’s father, Travis, the son of the town’s mayor, wants nothing to do with either of them.
Sorting through her grandfather’s keepsakes, she finds a picture of him with his arm around a beautiful woman. Listed as “Violet,” she is reported to have committed suicide. Mari volunteers for the local museum and is incensed to learn that the gazebo where her grandparents held their wedding reception is to be torn down to make room for modern condos funded by Travis; she decides to fight back.
Jaeger weaves an interesting story as Mari tries to solve the mystery of Violet’s death. Violet could have fled Charles by staying with the pageant, which offered a screen test. And “paparazzi” wasn’t a term in 1940. The novel showcases the contributions of the Latino population and the few resources available to a battered woman decades ago. The story appeals to me since I spent many summers in Santa Cruz. Except for the abuse scenes, it’s a light read with endearing characters.
Details
Publisher
William Morrow
Published
2018
Genre
Mystery/Crime
Period
Multi-Period
Century
20th Century
ISBN
(US) 9780062748065
Format
Paperback
Pages
384
Review
Appeared in
HNR Issue 85 (August 2018)
Reviewed by
Diane Scott Lewis
Review: The Dressmaker’s Dowry by Meredith Jaeger
By Becky on February 9, 2017
Why: I love historical fiction. That pretty much sums up my answer to why I read a majority of the books I do! However, I also have a love for the city of San Francisco. Not only do my brother, sister-in-law and adorable nephew live there, but the history is so rich and complicated! The idea of ladies in fancy gowns with rows of buttons strolling down cobblestone streets along the bay makes my little heart pitter patter! I even went back to my childhood and read about San Francisco for an early LQ review!
In the Barbary Coast, every day was a roll of the dice.
Story: The Dressmaker’s Dowry is actually the story of two women, told simultaneously. Sarah lives in present-day San Francisco in the midst of the tech boom, while Hanna works to provide for herself and her siblings in San Francisco’s rough 1870s. Sarah is drawn into Hanna’s story while researching the city’s past, and finds that the women have quite a bit in common. Not everyone is excited for Sarah’s discoveries to come to light, though. As she pieces together Hanna’s struggles of love and loss, Sarah’s own undoing may just be beginning.
Tree branches scratched against the windowpane. Moaning like a phantom train, the wind seemed to carry the hint of a scream.
Opinion: For a first novel, Meredith Jaeger does a superb job building out plot and characters while keeping the plot fast-paced and exciting. I may not have said that immediately upon finishing the book. However, the more I go back and digest the subplots, the minor characters, and the intricacies that Jaeger built in, the more impressed I am. There are the pieces that feel a bit too convenient or far fetched, but the paperback copy is an accessible 346 pages. It’s to be expected!
Quickly, on the note of accessibility, the language and tone vary between Sarah’s story and Hanna’s. Though Hanna’s has elements of speech reminiscent of the day, it is not cumbersome. This makes the back-and-forth transitions between stories much easier to digest. I was apprehensive of the point-of-view changes, but it truly does work for this novel!
The barkeep laughed. “No need to be polite round ‘ere, girl. This is Old Sydney Town, where the next fool you meet could stab you in the back.”
Recommendation: This book checked a lot of boxes for me. It has the element of romance, the air of mystery, and the history of classic literature. Being a quick, easier read, I think this would be great for young adult readers as well as adults. It does lean to the feminine end of the scale, but I would enjoy reading (and probably writing!) a good essay on the men in this book. In conclusion, I highly recommend The Dressmaker’s Dowry, but do caution that you may want to give yourself enough free time for binge reading! I’m excited for more works by Jaeger in the future!
No one could claim her here: not her mind or the product of her hands.
Journaling Prompts: (If you haven’t read any of my other reviews, I enjoy putting together a few questions about the book for those that have already read, or choose to read the book after viewing this post!)
Describe the similarities between Hanna and Sarah.
Describe the similarities between Lucas and Hunter.
Both Hanna and Sarah have hobbies that reflect their mothers. What are they?
How do the hobbies listed above work to depict alternate realities for the women?
What purpose does the story of Sarah’s friend Jen play? How does it embrace an overall theme to the book?
Why do you think that Margaret did not tell Hanna about the baby?
As always, does the ending of the book satisfy you? Why or why not? Are there lingering questions?
Special thanks to TLC Book Tours for the book in exchange for my honest review!
The Dressmaker’s Dowry
By Meredith Jaeger
Find & buy on
In her first novel, Meredith Jaeger links a present-day San Francisco career woman with two immigrant dressmakers from the mid-19th century. They are connected through the affluent Havensworth family, whose handsome sons play major roles in both stories.
Sarah Havensworth is the contemporary narrator. A journalist working on a novel, she has married into the Havensworth family but doesn’t feel like she belongs. In researching her novel, she uncovers newspaper accounts of the two missing dressmakers, which sets in motion her search for the truth of what happened to the young women. Her discoveries bring to life the unique character of post-Gold Rush San Francisco.
Hanna Schaeffer, the protagonist from 1867, is shown in the third person. Her adventures carry the main thrust of the plot as she desperately tries to find her missing friend and fellow seamstress, Margaret, an enigmatic young Irishwoman. Hanna’s search leads her to experience the lives of the Irish living and working dockside in San Francisco—and also to a romance with a man of undreamed-of wealth who is eager to share his life and lifestyle with her.
The characterizations of the Havensworth men are flat and formulaic, but the two heroines are well-realized. However, their contrasting viewpoints make the transitions between the two eras unnecessarily jarring. The author vividly presents the poverty of many immigrants in mid-Victorian San Francisco and the prejudices they faced. The novel has elements of romance in both the historical and modern stories and is a quick and easy read.
Details
Publisher
William Morrow
Published
2017
Period
Multi-Period
Century
19th Century
ISBN
(US) 9780062469830
Format
Paperback
Pages
346
Review
Appeared in
HNR Issue 79 (February 2017)
Reviewed by
Val Adolph
Review: Boardwalk Summer by Meredith Jaeger
21 June 2018 by Melissa
About the book, Boardwalk Summer
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (June 19, 2018)
In this new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Dressmaker’s Dowry, two young women two generations apart discover the joy and heartbreak of following their dreams. Aspiring Hollywood actress Violet makes a shocking choice in 1940, and seventy years later, Mari sets out to discover what happened on that long ago summer.
Santa Cruz, Summer 1940: When auburn-haired Violet Harcourt is crowned Miss California on the boardwalk of her hometown, she knows she is one step closer to her cherished dream: a Hollywood screen test. But Violet’s victory comes with a price—discord in her seemingly perfect marriage—and she grapples with how much more she is willing to pay.
Summer 2007: Single mother Marisol Cruz lives with her parents in the charming beach cottage that belonged to her grandfather, Ricardo, once a famed performer on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Drawn to the town’s local history and the quaint gazebo where her grandparents danced beneath the stars, Mari sells raffle tickets at the Beach Boardwalk Centennial Celebration, and meets Jason, a California transplant from Chicago.
When Mari discovers the obituary of Violet Harcourt, a beauty queen who died too young, she and Jason are sent on a journey together that will uncover her grandfather’s lifelong secret—his connection to Violet—a story of tragedy and courage that will forever transform them.
Buy, read, and discuss Boardwalk Summer:
HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
About Meredith Jaeger
Review: Boardwalk Summer by Meredith Jaeger
July 17, 2018 ~ The Lit Bitch
About a year ago, I read Meredith Jaeger’s book, THE DRESSMAKERS DOWRY, which was her debut novel. For a debut novel, it was good but needed a little more polish to shine.
When this book came up for review, not only was I in love with the cover, but I was eager to see in what ways her writing had grown.
The other reason I decided to review this novel was the location. As a teenager, I was fascinated by California beach culture. I loved the carefree, unstructured romanticism that made the west coast so appealing. It was like to ultimate endless summer so this book seemed to promise that little bit of magic that I makes me love the California coast.
Summer, 1940: When Violet Harcourt is crowned Miss Bathing Beauty in her hometown of Santa Cruz, she’s determined to see herself on the silver screen. But Violet’s pageant victory comes with a price—cracks appear in her seemingly perfect marriage…and she quickly discovers Hollywood is not the glittering escape she dreamed of. So she makes a shocking choice, leaving her name in headlines and creating a mystery surrounding her fate.
Summer, 2007: Single mother Marisol Cruz lives in a charming seaside cottage that belonged to her grandfather, Ricardo, once a famed performer on the Beach Boardwalk. Drawn to the local history of her town, Mari discovers her grandfather’s connection to a beauty queen who died too young. She embarks on a journey that uncovers his lifelong secret—Ricardo’s connection to Violet…a story of tragedy and courage that will forever transform her (summary from Goodreads).
The first thing that I noticed about this book was how much the writing style had improved. While the story was still on the lighter side for me, the writing wasn’t lazy or lackluster. It was fun to see how Jaeger has evolved as a writer. I was also pleased to see that she maintained the same standard for historical research that she did in her debut novel. The little nuances of the period were well thought out, vivid and were applied where needed.
The Santa Cruz boardwalk was so vividly portrayed in this book. Clearly the author loved this area and spent a lot of time recreating the feel of the boardwalk for this book. Well done and well researched.
As I mentioned, this book was a little on the lighter side, which was expected for me based on the cover. The cover has a brisk, laid back, summer feel which fit perfectly with the story. There are two different time periods in this book, the 1940’s and the early 2000’s. I liked both periods equally. They both felt balanced and the stories were seamlessly merged together.
There were a few too many coincidences but for the most part the story was believable and realistic—at least enough so that I kept on reading. Marisol and Violet were both intriguing characters and their stories were unique. Initially I found myself wondering how their stories were going to connect, because it seemed unlikely from the description. I was thrilled to seem them come together throughout the novel.
Overall this was a great, easy, beach read for me. There were lots of little elements that I thought worked well together in the book and the cover is a beauty! Jaeger did a great job at capturing the nostalgia and magic of California’s beach culture!
Review: The Dressmakers Dowry by Meredith Jaeger
February 21, 2017 ~ The Lit Bitch
A popular theme in historical fiction is dual storylines. Typically one is told in the present day and the other in the past.
In my latest novel up for review, The Dressmaker’s Dowry, this same theme makes an appearance.
San Francisco: 1876. Immigrant dressmakers Hannelore Schaeffer and Margaret O’Brien struggle to provide food for their siblings, while mending delicate clothing for the city’s most affluent ladies.
When wealthy Lucas Havensworth enters the shop, Hanna’s future is altered forever. With Margaret’s encouragement and the power of a borrowed green dress, Hanna dares to see herself as worthy of him. Then Margaret disappears, and Hanna turns to Lucas.
Braving the gritty streets of the Barbary Coast and daring to enter the mansions of Nob Hill, Hanna stumbles upon Margaret’s fate, forcing her to make a devastating decision…one that will echo through the generations.
San Francisco: Present Day. In her elegant Marina apartment overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, Sarah Havensworth struggles to complete the novel she quit her job for.
Afraid to tell her husband of her writer’s block, Sarah is also hiding a darker secret—one that has haunted her for 14 years. Then a news headline from 1876 sparks inspiration: Missing Dressmakers Believed to be Murdered.
Compelled to discover what happened to Hannelore and Margaret, Sarah returns to her roots as a journalist. Will her beautiful heirloom engagement ring uncover a connection to Hanna Schaeffer?
I often find that the dual storylines approach to historical fiction novels tend to work well and in this novel I think it was interesting and helped move the story along nicely. It gives the reader kind of the best of both worlds and often appeals to a wider audience and those who aren’t ‘all in’ when it comes to historical fiction.
For me though, there was something less polished about this novel and I can’t write put my finger on what it is. While it was a fast paced novel that I felt invested in, for some reason it fell a little flat. I think the modern story was what I struggled with the most.
I think the historical storyline was well researched and believable, but Sarah’s story just seemed too fictional and fabricated for me so I found myself less interested in what was happening with her and move invested in the historical story.
Could it be because I am a huge fan of historical fiction and would really just rather read pure historical fiction stories…..maybe. This novel had the potential to be very very good with a little refinement on the modern plot.
Now that said, it wasn’t a disappointing or unfavorable read by any means. It was well researched and the historical elements were engaging and interesting not to mention I loved Hanna and I wanted to know all about her and her love story etc. but when it came to Sarah, I just felt like her story wasn’t cut from the same cloth which made me lose interest in what was happening with her. It was clear to me that the author was much more invested in Hanna’s story and the historical parts of the novel, it felt like Sarah’s part was just added in for larger audience appeal and it just didn’t work for me.
I think this is a great start for the debate author, with a few tweaks and character development this author could be a shining star in the historical fiction world!
Challenge/Book Summary:
Book: The Dressmaker’s Dowry by Meredith Jaeger
Kindle Edition, 384 pages
Published February 7th 2017 by William Morrow Paperbacks
ASIN B01G1GD9WM
Review copy provided by: Author/Publisher in exchange for an honest review
This book counts toward: NA
Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 3 out of 5
Genre: Romance, historical fiction
Memorable lines/quotes: NA