Think of these posts as rabbit holes – tidbits of information I stumbled on that led me somewhere unexpected. These stories are too good not to share, even if the women involved aren’t wearing tiaras. For example, when I found a reference to a vampire princess in 18th century Bohemia, I dropped what I was doing to figure out whether it was full of scheisse or a story worth telling. All these stories are jaw-dropping, heartbreaking, hilarious, or all of the above. I hope you enjoy them.

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Princess Ka‘iulani of Hawai‘i: Part 2

Continue the story of Princess Ka‘iulani of Hawai‘i as she leaves her country to go to school in England. How do you learn to be a queen? And what do you do when your destiny seems out of reach, over 7,000 miles away?

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Irina Yusupova vs. MGM

What does it cost to blur the line between truth and fiction? A lot, as MGM found out. This is the story of a movie and a libel lawsuit – maybe the only one ever won with a murder confession. Its star? Princess Irina Yusupova. Find out what this quiet, soft-spoken woman did that had her lawyer later calling her “an advocate’s dream.”

Vector graphic of a golden tiara with pearls

The Girl in the Tiara: Four Royal Tales of Tragedy & Triumph - Your free PDF, a gift for signing up for my mailing list

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