A Betting Woman: A Novel of Madame Moustache
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"Walsh (Becoming Bonnie) hits the jackpot with an impressive fictionalization of the life of Eleanor Dumont." — Publishers Weekly
"A fabulously entertaining story about a remarkable woman..." — Historical Novel Society "A rollicking ride of a story.” — New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis "An enjoyable search-for-identity tale with a strong female protagonist." - Kirkus Walsh’s snappy voice, innate sense of pacing, and skillful narration make for a rollicking good read. A Betting Woman is a winner!” - USA Today bestselling author Heather Webb "Bold, pioneering, romantic, and intriguing.” - bestselling author Camille Di Maio Born Simone Jules, reinvented as Eleanor Dumont, and largely remembered as Madame Moustache, A Betting Woman is a historical novel inspired by the tumultuous life, times, and loves of America’s first professional croupier of modern-day blackjack, bringing to life an intrepid and entrepreneurial real-life woman who lived on her own terms.
When her whole family dies in a fire, young Simone Jules flees her grief and travels west to reinvent herself in burgeoning San Francisco. Down to her last dollar and facing some unsavory options, Simone quick-wits her way to a gambling table where she begins to deal vingt-et-un - modern-day blackjack. Word travels fast among of this French-speaking, card-playing novelty, and she begins to build a new life for herself. A gripping and endearing tale, A Betting Woman is a Molly's Game for lovers of the American West. Fans of Thelma Adams, Therese Anne Fowler, and Marie Benedict will root for the quick-witted, charming, and self-sufficient Eleanor as she paves her way in a man’s world and into the pages of history. (Add on Goodreads). Available Now
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Praise for A Betting Woman
“A riveting tale based on a real-life woman who traversed the Wild West in the 1800s, dealing cards to gold-seekers and demanding respect on her own terms. From high society New Orleans to the dusty saloons of California, Walsh’s latest heroine is a seductive risk-taker who doesn’t suffer fools. A rollicking ride of a story.” — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue
“Engaging and empathetic, Eleanor Dumont's adventures provide a compelling picture of how women created lives for themselves in the hardscrabble boomtowns of the American West.” — Elise Hooper, author of The Other Alcott and Learning to See
"Based on a true story, a historical novel that focuses on an unconventional young woman who introduces the game of twenty-one to mid-19th century San Francisco during the California Gold Rush... The beginning of a unique Western adventure, with an indomitable female protagonist who repeatedly finds herself rising out of the ashes... An enjoyable search-for-identity tale with a strong female protagonist." - Kirkus
"Walsh has written a fast-paced, original tale of the Gold Rush, complete with gun and gambling, bar brawls and boomtown. Highlighting the life of Madame Dumont, mother of Blackjack and the queen of fresh starts, A Betting Woman is a Wild West adventure featuring an ambitious, gutsy, independent woman as its driving force." - Amy Poeppel, author of Small Admissions, Limelight, and Musical Chairs
"A Betting Woman is an engrossing story, very well done and hard to put down. Hopefully, it will reach beyond historical fiction audiences and into enthusiasts of women's literature who look for powerful voices, experiences, descriptions, and growth in their novels. It's very highly recommended reading." - Midwest Book Review
“When Eleanor Dumont’s family perishes in a fire in downtown New Orleans, she cuts her ties to the city and leaves on the next steamboat to anywhere. Soon she embarks on a wild adventure that ultimately leads to her renowned nickname—Madame Moustache—and a legend is born. A clever and cunning heroine, Madame Moustache outwits the best card shark in the west, makes her own fortune, and does it all with enough panache to impress nearly every saloon-goer she’s ever met. Walsh’s snappy voice, innate sense of pacing, and skillful narration make for a rollicking good read. A Betting Woman is a winner!” - Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of The Next Ship Home
"A Betting Woman is a fascinating read that expertly weaves sparse fact and imaginative fiction into a story that introduces readers to a little-known but remarkable woman. Bold, pioneering, romantic, and intriguing, this novel will delight historical fiction fans and all who love a good tale about the strength and resilience of women.” - Camille Di Maio, bestselling author of The Memory of Us, Before the Rain Falls, The Way of Beauty, The Beautiful Strangers, and The First Emma
"From its enticing cover to the turn of the last page, this novel is engrossing. Alongside other historical women way ahead of their time, Simone Jules was the first female professional croupier...Many memorable characters come and go, but what stands out is Simone’s autonomy, her self-reliance, her freedom to go where she likes and do what she likes. A fabulously entertaining story about a remarkable woman who just wanted to be herself." - Historical Novel Society
"Walsh (Becoming Bonnie) hits the jackpot with an impressive fictionalization of the life of Eleanor Dumont (formerly Simone Jules)... Walsh weaves emotion and suspense with historical details of a woman persevering in the face of inequality as she finds a way to earn a living. Readers will relish Walsh’s fully developed portrait." - Publishers Weekly
"A Betting Woman: A Novel of Madame Moustache by Jenni. L Walsh is a historical novel firmly rooted in reality and the persona of the mysterious Eleanor Dumont...Through a name change, to Eleanor Dumont and then the unfortunate soubriquet of Madame Moustache, she spreads her game, her French mystique, and her unique brand of feminine wiles, all alone in a man’s world of rough and ready miners...Author Jenni L. Walsh has done a superb job of retaining the historical integrity of Eleanor Dumont while also creating an extremely readable and exciting adventure...This is an outstanding book, beautifully written, with excitement and intrigue on every page. I loved this book and can highly recommend it to lovers of history, strong women, and romance." - Readers' Favorite, Five Stars
“Engaging and empathetic, Eleanor Dumont's adventures provide a compelling picture of how women created lives for themselves in the hardscrabble boomtowns of the American West.” — Elise Hooper, author of The Other Alcott and Learning to See
"Based on a true story, a historical novel that focuses on an unconventional young woman who introduces the game of twenty-one to mid-19th century San Francisco during the California Gold Rush... The beginning of a unique Western adventure, with an indomitable female protagonist who repeatedly finds herself rising out of the ashes... An enjoyable search-for-identity tale with a strong female protagonist." - Kirkus
"Walsh has written a fast-paced, original tale of the Gold Rush, complete with gun and gambling, bar brawls and boomtown. Highlighting the life of Madame Dumont, mother of Blackjack and the queen of fresh starts, A Betting Woman is a Wild West adventure featuring an ambitious, gutsy, independent woman as its driving force." - Amy Poeppel, author of Small Admissions, Limelight, and Musical Chairs
"A Betting Woman is an engrossing story, very well done and hard to put down. Hopefully, it will reach beyond historical fiction audiences and into enthusiasts of women's literature who look for powerful voices, experiences, descriptions, and growth in their novels. It's very highly recommended reading." - Midwest Book Review
“When Eleanor Dumont’s family perishes in a fire in downtown New Orleans, she cuts her ties to the city and leaves on the next steamboat to anywhere. Soon she embarks on a wild adventure that ultimately leads to her renowned nickname—Madame Moustache—and a legend is born. A clever and cunning heroine, Madame Moustache outwits the best card shark in the west, makes her own fortune, and does it all with enough panache to impress nearly every saloon-goer she’s ever met. Walsh’s snappy voice, innate sense of pacing, and skillful narration make for a rollicking good read. A Betting Woman is a winner!” - Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of The Next Ship Home
"A Betting Woman is a fascinating read that expertly weaves sparse fact and imaginative fiction into a story that introduces readers to a little-known but remarkable woman. Bold, pioneering, romantic, and intriguing, this novel will delight historical fiction fans and all who love a good tale about the strength and resilience of women.” - Camille Di Maio, bestselling author of The Memory of Us, Before the Rain Falls, The Way of Beauty, The Beautiful Strangers, and The First Emma
"From its enticing cover to the turn of the last page, this novel is engrossing. Alongside other historical women way ahead of their time, Simone Jules was the first female professional croupier...Many memorable characters come and go, but what stands out is Simone’s autonomy, her self-reliance, her freedom to go where she likes and do what she likes. A fabulously entertaining story about a remarkable woman who just wanted to be herself." - Historical Novel Society
"Walsh (Becoming Bonnie) hits the jackpot with an impressive fictionalization of the life of Eleanor Dumont (formerly Simone Jules)... Walsh weaves emotion and suspense with historical details of a woman persevering in the face of inequality as she finds a way to earn a living. Readers will relish Walsh’s fully developed portrait." - Publishers Weekly
"A Betting Woman: A Novel of Madame Moustache by Jenni. L Walsh is a historical novel firmly rooted in reality and the persona of the mysterious Eleanor Dumont...Through a name change, to Eleanor Dumont and then the unfortunate soubriquet of Madame Moustache, she spreads her game, her French mystique, and her unique brand of feminine wiles, all alone in a man’s world of rough and ready miners...Author Jenni L. Walsh has done a superb job of retaining the historical integrity of Eleanor Dumont while also creating an extremely readable and exciting adventure...This is an outstanding book, beautifully written, with excitement and intrigue on every page. I loved this book and can highly recommend it to lovers of history, strong women, and romance." - Readers' Favorite, Five Stars
Inspiration behind A Betting Woman
My interest in Eleanor Dumont’s story bloomed as I began researching the women of the California gold rush. It wasn’t long before I came upon a name unknown to me, Madame Moustache. As it turned out, Madame Moustache was the sobriquet for Eleanor Dumont, who was born as Simone Jules, and who had popularized vingt-et-un, now known as blackjack.
The presence of three names for a single woman intrigued me. I wondered how one name bled into the next and how life winded to a nickname—one I didn’t initially find particularly endearing—that Eleanor lived with for over a decade. I wondered if she endured the moniker for all those years or if she was accepting of the name, which was spat at her after taking a man’s last dime during a game of vingt-et-un and offering him a glass of milk, Eleanor having been claimed to have said, "Any man silly enough to lose his last cent to a woman deserves a milk diet.”
In all the anecdotes I found of Eleanor, she was warmhearted, quick-witted, business savvy, courageous, and tenacious. The attributes led me to believe that perhaps Eleanor didn’t tolerate the nickname but instead embraced it. After that, there was no stopping me from telling her story.
The presence of three names for a single woman intrigued me. I wondered how one name bled into the next and how life winded to a nickname—one I didn’t initially find particularly endearing—that Eleanor lived with for over a decade. I wondered if she endured the moniker for all those years or if she was accepting of the name, which was spat at her after taking a man’s last dime during a game of vingt-et-un and offering him a glass of milk, Eleanor having been claimed to have said, "Any man silly enough to lose his last cent to a woman deserves a milk diet.”
In all the anecdotes I found of Eleanor, she was warmhearted, quick-witted, business savvy, courageous, and tenacious. The attributes led me to believe that perhaps Eleanor didn’t tolerate the nickname but instead embraced it. After that, there was no stopping me from telling her story.
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