Stephanie Dray biography

Interview

In this letter to readers, Stephanie Dray outlines the inspiration for her novel Becoming Madam Secretary.

Dear Reader,

This novel is not just the product of over a year of intensive research; it's also a culmination of a lifetime steeped in storytelling and a deep fascination with American history.

Unlike the heroine of this novel, my family's roots in America are relatively recent. My ancestors came to this country in the early 20th century, fleeing poverty and persecution in Europe. They were new additions to the "American experiment," a nation still figuring itself out.

They were survivors who found opportunity here, but they struggled, too. My grandparents, who came of age during the Great Depression, told stories that were both inspiring and heartbreaking. They spoke of hunting frogs and foraging wild mushrooms to survive. But their tales also had darker chapters; my grandfather lost his older brother in a desperate attempt to steal coal from a passing train to keep the family warm during those harsh winters.

The frugality my grandparents developed during those dark days stuck around. When I was a kid, my grandmother was always on the hunt for a bargain at garage sales. As the oldest grandchild, I found myself in the backseat of her lime green Ford Fairlane, with the mission of entertaining...