Jennifer, tell us about your new book, Uprising. Set during the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381, Uprising, Book One of the Fitzjohn Duology, follows Blanche, a healer with second sight whose intelligence, resilience, and quiet determination place her at the center of one of England’s greatest historical mysteries. Publishing on September 1, 2026, this historical fiction story is akin to Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet or Philippa Gregory’s The Lady of the Rivers, but features a neurodivergent protagonist and steamy romance.
As the mom of two neurodivergent kids and a medieval enthusiast with articles in Vanity Fair, The Tudor Times, History Hit, and others, I’ve always wondered what life might have been like for neurodivergent people in the past. Contrary to the common assumption that those who were “different” in past centuries had only negative experiences, I wondered: what if an individual’s exceptional gifts helped them survive, changing their life positively and even altering history itself? The Fitzjohn duology explores the idea that neurodivergent people have always been part of society and have contributed in important ways, challenging the argument that autism is a new phenomenon. I focused my research on neurodivergent adult females, and during the process, I began to realize how my own neurodivergence has shaped my life. I’ve spent decades thinking my sensory sensitivities and other differences were failings. But writing Fitzjohn helped me realize I just feel the world differently than some others.
What are you most excited about with the launch of Uprising? There is a lot to be excited (and overwhelmed) about, but the thing that brings me the most joy is introducing Blanche Fitzjohn to the world. Blanche was a real person: the eldest, illegitimate daughter of the infamous John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster. History buffs will know that Lancaster’s children, including his illegitimate ones, were famous for overthrowing and killing their cousin Richard II, eventually bringing about the Wars of the Roses—the bloody civil war upon which Game of Thrones is based. But even though her half-siblings are major historical figures, history knows nothing about Blanche. Toward the end of Uprising‘s long publication journey, I started to wonder if Blanche’s story would ever be published. But what made me do one last rewrite, what induced me to send yet another batch of queries, was the memory of the real Blanche Fitzjohn. Her name has been virtually unspoken for over six hundred years, and it’s time for that to change.
We don’t know what Blanche was really like, and never will. In the fourteenth century, Blanche’s parents didn’t even record her birth date—no one did for girls—much less did historians record women’s activities. But, through my book, readers will know Blanche existed. Because of this gender-based gap in historical records, the goal of my writing is always to shed light on the experiences of women, particularly those who were different. As I said when I thanked Blanche in the book’s acknowledgements: “Imagining what might have transpired in your life has changed my own forever. You’ve existed in my brain for years now, and I have a feeling you’re not going away any time soon.” If even one person knows more about a forgotten female historical figure because of my books, I’m a happy writer.
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? As an avid runner, I’m a big fan of the Marblehead Rail Trail. I run it at least five times a week, year round. My longest run on this particular trail was 50 miles (Yes, I ran the Marblehead length 20 times in one day). We’re so fortunate to have a safe and beautiful foot and bike path right in our backyards, and I’m grateful to the town and its citizens for maintaining it.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? As mentioned above, I’m an ultramarathon runner. Although I’m not particularly fast, something about running soothes me, and I do a lot of my story planning and conceptualization on the trails. The longest race I’ve finished was 100 miles, which I’ve done twice. To answer people’s most common questions right off the bat: no, I don’t stop to sleep or rest while racing (100-mile races typically take me 28 to 30 hours), yes, I do eat while running (I take in 250 calories an hour), and yes, I use the bathroom in the woods.
Also, my first career was as an opera singer. Singing is actually what brought my husband and me to Marblehead, as he started working as the tenor section leader at Old North Church over 20 years ago while we were in Boston completing our master’s degrees—mine at New England Conservatory. We loved the town so much that we ended up buying a home here 14 years ago.
More Information
J.E. Rizzo, Historical Fiction Author
Book: Uprising
[email protected]
JenniferRizzo.com
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