Daughters of the King with Kerry Chaput

On this episode we speak to Kerry Chaput, the author of the historical fiction novel Daughter of the King. Kerry has done tons of research about the late 17th-century practice of young French girls moving to French Canada as “daughters of the king” (filles du roi) to marry settlers. Over 800 girls and women moved to the French colony between 1663-1673, with King Louis XIV as their official sponsor. These girls came from all walks of life and faced both unique privileges and challenges by enlisting as daughters of the king. Kerry talks about their lives as well as the lives of the indigenous people the settlers encountered. She also gives us a glimpse into the world of her novel, which revolves around a young Protestant girl who converts to Catholicism and moves to Canada in order to survive. We hope you find this story as fascinating and exciting as we did! Stay tuned at the end for a sneak peak of her upcoming novel, Chasing Eleanor, about First Lady, civil rights activist, and all-around baddie Eleanor Roosevelt!