Book Bans in 1915? The Story Behind It | The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when book bans aren’t just headlines — but federal law?In this episode, I’m chatting with historical fiction author Shelley Noble about The Sisters of Book Row, a novel set in 1915 New York during the height of the Comstock censorship laws. We talk about rare bookstores, banned poetry, Margaret Sanger, and why 100-year-old history feels… uncomfortably familiar today. If you care about protecting books, women’s voices, and literary legacy — this one will stay with you.We also dive into Shelley’s unexpected path to publishing (spoiler: it started with a dare), why she left mysteries for historical women’s fiction, and her favorite historical mystery comfort reads.⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Shelley’s journey from dancer to published mystery author[03:00] Writing historical mysteries vs. women’s fiction[06:30] Discovering the Tiffany Girls & shifting genres[07:45] The Comstock Laws explained[09:30] Margaret Sanger and censorship in 1915[11:00] The Sisters of Book Row premise[14:30] Book banning today vs. 1915[18:30] Research process & using primary sources[22:00] Historical mystery & romantic suspense recommendations📚 Books Mentioned The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble — Historical Women’s Fiction | Bookstore Drama | Women’s RightsThis Rough Magic by Mary Stewart — Romantic Suspense | Classic MysteryThe Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley — Time Slip Romance | Historical FictionCrocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters — Historical Mystery | Victorian Egypt | HumorJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!