Claire McMillan is the author of Alchemy of a Blackbird, The Necklace and Gilded Age, which was inspired by Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth.
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 The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Boston Globe, Huffington Post, People Magazine, and NPR among other places.
She has been awarded residencies at VCCA as well as The Mount, Edith Wharton’s house in Lenox Massachusetts. Her work has been translated into Italian and Polish.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland has asked her to co-curate an exhibition based on Alchemy of a Blackbird that is set to open in January 2027. She was named the Cuyahoga County Public Library Writer in Residence for the 2017-2018 year. In 2024-2025 she will act as a mentor to two finalists in the Literary Cleveland Breakthrough Writers Residency.
She practiced law until 2003 and then received her MFA in creative writing from Bennington College. She grew up in Pasadena, California, and now lives on her husband’s family farm outside of Cleveland, Ohio with their two children.
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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