The Surgeon's Daughter

“History comes to life in the dramatic account of Nora Beady’s ascension in the medical world of Bologna…The depiction of women earning their place amongst the medical community and the every day concerns of young professionals will appeal to lovers of historical fiction, and the dash of passion and yearning will appeal to romantics.” – Booklist“I tore through Audrey Blake’s The Surgeon’s Daughter without pause. This richly detailed, expertly paced saga of the only female student attending a prestigious medical school in Italy brought into crystal focus the many obstacles a nineteenth century woman faced - at either end of the scalpel. In Nora Beady Blake has created a truly captivating heroine, for then and for now.” – Sally Cabot Gunning, author of The Widow’s War and Painting the Light“This is an intense, suspenseful, and insightful read about the challenges both women and doctors faced in the 19th century…Our heroine rises to the challenge with courage and determination.” – Historical Novel Society

AUDREY BLAKE has a split personality because she is the creative alter ego of Regina Sirois and Jaima Fixsen, two authors who met online in a survivor-style writing contest. They live 1500 miles apart, but both are prairie girls—Jaima hails from Alberta, Canada, and Regina from the wheatfields of Kansas. Both are addicted to history, words, and stories of redoubtable women, and agree that their friendship, better and longer-lasting than any other prize, is proof that good things happen in this random, crazy universe.