Claire McMillan is the author of Alchemy of a Blackbird, The Necklace, and Gilded Age. Claire is currently co-curating an exhibition with the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland based on her newest book, Alchemy of a Blackbird, set to open in April 2027. In 2024-2025 she mentored two finalists in Literary Cleveland’s Breakthrough Writers Residency, and she served as Cuyahoga County Public Library’s 2017-2018 Writer-in-Residence. She’s also a Trustee Emeritus of The Mount, Edith Wharton’s home in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Alchemy of a Blackbird was named a Best Book of 2023 by BookRiot and received starred reviews in Publisher’s Weekly and Library Journal. Her books have been reviewed in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Boston Globe, People Magazine, and NPR among other places. She has been awarded residencies at VCCA as well as The Mount, and her work has been translated into Italian and Polish. A native of Pasadena, California, she practiced law in San Francisco for six years before moving to Cleveland, Ohio. As well as a JD, she holds an MFA in creative writing from Bennington College.
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Loved your book. Thank you for reminding us what is valuable in life. You did Wharton proud.
I’m re-reading your book in anticipation of your upcoming release. Guilted Age is just as nice the second time around!
Many thanks! I hope you’ll enjoy the Necklace too.
Claire darling,
Congrats on the publication of your second novel! Always think of you and your intellect quite fondly. So good that both are shared through your writing.
Courage,
M.
Hi Claire,
I was late at Lakewood Public Library to talk about book, due to work. Just wanted to express that I liked the book as I found jewelry in a sack of crown royal 10 years after my mother died.
Sorry I missed you.
Andrea Christoff
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Oh Claire! I am reading Alchemy of a Blackbird, and only have a few pages left until I am done reading this magnificent book. I don’t want it to end! How you weave words together … so powerful, meaningful, insightful. I haven’t been engaged with a book like this in a long time. (and I’m a book addict!) Thank you for your creativity and talents. May you continue bursting with with imparting knowledge through your writing. Fondly, Diana in southwest Florida