BookFest Best Historical Novel of 2023

Frank Baillargeon is an award-winning author and graduate of the University of Rochester’s American History Honors Program. A lifelong student of 19th-century America, he writes richly detailed historical fiction that explores ambition, resilience, political power, immigration, social change, and the often-unacknowledged influence of women who helped shape the nation from behind the scenes.

His acclaimed Ambitions trilogy — The Life and Love of John and Susannah Morrissey — follows the extraordinary rise of Irish immigrant John Morrissey: boxer, gambler, political power broker, congressman, and founder of modern Saratoga racing. At the heart of the series stands Susannah Morrissey, whose intelligence, emotional strength, and social instincts become the force guiding one of the most remarkable partnerships of the mid-19th century.

Blending meticulous historical research with cinematic storytelling, Baillargeon brings to life the streets of Five Points New York, the gambling halls of lower Manhattan, the battlefields of political corruption, and the elegant rise of Saratoga Springs during America’s explosive transformation in the 19th century.

Before turning full time to writing, Baillargeon spent decades in executive leadership and consulting within the photographic industry. He lives in Idaho with his wife Pat and remains committed to preserving overlooked American stories that still echo powerfully today.

Frank Baillargeon