The Brunswick: Media Kit
Release Date
May 19, 2026
One-line summary:
When a woman in small-town Georgia offers to house Jewish refugee children in her family’s old hotel, she must confront the choices her own parents made in order to finally feel worthy of love herself.
Medium summary:
When a woman in small-town Georgia offers to house Jewish refugee children in her family’s old hotel, she must confront the choices her own parents made in order to finally feel worthy of love herself. Inspired by real people and events, THE BRUNSWICK is a fresh spin on historical fiction set in both Norcross, Georgia and Austria in the months preceding World War II.
Back of the Book Blurb:
In 1939 Georgia, far removed from the war brewing overseas, Cora Cain’s world feels small—and shrinking. There, she runs The Brunswick, her family’s once-grand hotel, which is now struggling as the town’s general store. When Thomas Watkins arrives seeking work and solace after his mother’s death, a connection sparks between them. Through Thomas, Cora glimpses a life beyond obligation and her war hero father’s unpredictable moods.
But everything changes when Cora’s asked to turn The Brunswick into a sanctuary for Jewish refugee children fleeing Nazi persecution. As Cora and Thomas prepare for the children’s arrival, they struggle to confront their pasts—and the prejudice of their neighbors—as their fragile hope is put to the test.
Meanwhile in Vienna, ten-year-old Charlotte is offered refuge in America. But even with the horrors she sees around her, Charlotte wonders how her parents could possibly send her away.
As war’s shadow begins to reach small-town Georgia, each person must face what love demands and decide what they must hold on to and of what they must let go.
Inspired by true events, Callie Murray weaves a sweeping and heartfelt tale of courage, romance, and the extraordinary choices that define us.
“A delight, and a beautiful bit of art.”
-Allen Levi, Theo of Golden
“A brilliantly executed debut.”
-Lisa Wingate, Before We Were Yours
The Brunswick on Goodreads (add as Want to Read)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242745680-the-brunswick
Preorder Links
Local bookstore Freckles & Co. (pickup only, includes bonus) | Bookshop.org | Direct from Publisher (best deal) | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Endorsements
“The horror of war, the beauty of hope, and the power of human connection combine in Callie Murray’s brilliantly executed debut. The Brunswick’s characters rise from the page, compelling and entirely real, as does the Brunswick itself. This is a story readers will devour and book clubs will discuss late into the night. –Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Shelterwood and Before We Were Yours
“A delight, and a beautiful bit of art.” –Allen Levi, New York Times bestselling author of Theo of Golden
“I loved the sense of place, the relationships between the characters, and the emotional depth of the story that never sacrificed on propulsion in the plot. This is historical fiction that feels different: it’s a story and perspective I’ve not read before and the themes are timeless and ripe for discussion. This one has stayed with me.” –Sherri Puzey, VP Marketing, Zibby Media
The Why
As my husband and I were introduced to the world of foster care, I began to consider the healing love from a wider community that often fills the gaps when parents are unable—something we had experienced to a degree ourselves.
I wanted to move the hearts of others towards that healing (and how that might overflow into supporting vulnerable children through foster care or adoption), and I knew that nothing could move a heart quite like a good book.
So, inspired by true people and events, I wrote THE BRUNSWICK with the character-driven interiority and banter I enjoy about modern-day rom-coms but with the immersive details and timeless themes I love in historical fiction. I hope this is a book that will resonate with book clubs and spread by word-of-mouth for years to come for the emotional journeys taken by both its characters and its readers. –Callie Murray
Book Club Landing Page
https://www.calliemurray.com/book-club
Launch Team Landing Page
https://www.calliemurray.com/book
Publicist Contact Information
Karen Steele
ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com
W: (616) 676-9185 x 100
Author Bio
Callie Murray is an entrepreneur and debut author whose work has been covered in The TODAY Show and The New York Times. Her historical fiction novel THE BRUNSWICK, blurbed "a beautiful bit of art" by Allen Levi and "a brilliantly executed debut" by Lisa Wingate, tackles lesser known events preceding WWII. She lives in Norcross, Ga with her husband and seven children—four who joined recently through the honor of adoption—where they are probably hosting a potluck right now.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calliemurray/
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/authorcalliemurray
Website: https://www.calliemurray.com/
Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/60618861.Callie_Murray
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