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Booker-shortlisted and universally acclaimed, Maggie Shipstead's Great Circle deftly interweaves the stories of a formidable twentieth-century aviatrix and a self-destructive contemporary Hollywood star into an immersive novel of the power of female ambition and courage. In this exclusive piece, Maggie reflects on how the narrative came together from disparate strands of real-life experience.

“Great Circle” was a departure for Shipstead, whose 2012 debut, “Seating Arrangements,” had all the “bells and smells” of High WASP: A wealthy brood tries not to unravel during their eldest daughter’s wedding on Cape Cod. The “perfect summer romp” (per the Washington Post) and winner of an L.A. Times Book Prize for first fiction seemed to seal Shipstead’s reputation as an impeccable craftswoman of upmarket beach reads. The plaque at the base read: “I was destined to be a wanderer.” Shipstead didn’t start “Great Circle” until two years after seeing the statue, once she was settled in Los Angeles. Get the latest news, events and more from the Los Angeles Times Book Club, and help us get L.A. reading and talking.

Resources for Book Clubs. GREAT CIRCLE by Maggie Shipstead - Book Trailer. Watch on. Credit: PA Media/David Parry. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize - New York Times Bestseller.