Queen of the Court: Celebrating Jenni Walsh and Her Fascinating Novel on Alice Marble
At Club & Court, we are thrilled to spotlight an extraordinary woman in our latest "Queen of the Court" segment: local author Jenni Walsh. Recently, Jenni visited our office to discuss her captivating historical fiction novel that shines a light on the incredible life of Alice Marble, a tennis legend who was much more than just a player.
Jenni's journey to writing about Alice Marble began during her quest to find her next historical female character. While researching, she stumbled upon Alice Marble, only to discover that many of her tennis friends had never heard of this remarkable figure. Jenni was astounded. Alice Marble was not only a top tennis player but also a World War II spy and a writer for Wonder Woman comics. With such an extraordinary life, Jenni knew Alice would be the perfect character for her next novel.
Through her research, Jenni uncovered fascinating anecdotes about Alice's life. For instance, did you know that Alice once called Charlie Chaplin a cheat on the tennis court? Or that she shared a close friendship with Carole Lombard, who provided inspiration during Alice's toughest times? After a tragic car crash left Carole disfigured, she wrote Alice a letter encouraging her to make a comeback, reminding her that if she could overcome her struggles, so could Alice.
Interestingly, Alice’s espionage activities were only possible because of her tennis prowess, which allowed her to remain undercover. During her exhibition matches in Switzerland, Alice cleverly lured her ex-lover into revealing secrets about Nazi money hidden in his safe. Her daring exploits took her deep into enemy territory, showcasing her bravery and intelligence.
Jenni shared her own journey as a writer, which began after a decade in advertising. While her husband was in graduate school, he challenged her to write a novel. With a background in marketing, she found that crafting product ads seamlessly transitioned into developing characters and narratives. After several attempts with fantasy novels, Jenni finally found her niche in historical fiction, producing works that blend fact and fiction into what she describes as "fictional memoirs."
When she’s not writing or researching, Jenni is an avid reader, devouring historical fiction and mystery novels. Her nightstand is currently occupied by an early release from Joy Calloway, and she looks forward to diving into Agatha Christie’s "And Then There Were None." Some of her favorite authors include Fiona Davis, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Marie Benedict, who have paved the way in women's historical fiction.
Fitness is also a part of Jenni's routine; she rides her Peloton every morning, with favorite instructors Ally Love and Hannah Corbin. Her writing journey has been largely self-taught, enriched by her involvement with the Tall Poppies Writers group, where she collaborates and promotes her work with fellow authors.
We're excited to announce that Jenni will be back for a girls' night/book club event soon, where we can dive deeper into her works and discuss the captivating world of historical fiction. Her upcoming novel, "Sonora," inspired by the character from "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken," is set to release in October 2025, and we can't wait to read it!
A fun coincidence: Jenni’s book "Ace, Marvel, Spy" was released on my birthday, January 14th. As someone who has also been intrigued by Alice Marble, I encourage you to check out our blog post from 2023 about her incredible life here.
Join us in celebrating Jenni Walsh and the remarkable story of Alice Marble—a true queen of the court! Shop "Ace, Marvel, Spy" here.