Publication Date: February 5, 2026
Born the bastard daughter of an aristocrat, Jane Avril became the most famous dancer at the most famous dance hall in the world during the “Gay 90’s” in Paris: the Moulin Rouge. Beautiful, intelligent, and fiercely independent, she earned a place among the most famous artists, writers, and entertainers of her day, including Henri Toulouse Lautrec, who immortalized her in his paintings and posters. Immerse yourself in the turbulent and fascinating life of a Belle Epoque legend as she struggles out of poverty into the limelight, learning how to live and love as Queen of La Danse.
When looking at the development of modern dance, one name seems to be missing.
That’s one of the reasons author M.L. Malcolm provides for writing Jane Avril: The Muse of the Moulin Rouge. Leveraging Avril’s own memoirs, as well as other historical documentation, the story sheds light on the woman who created a unique style while dancing solo to waltzes.
Although the turn-of-the-century story unfolds in first person, the vivid writing depicts a girl born into poverty who jets her way into becoming the most famous dancer at The Moulin Rouge.
Underneath the glitz and glamour lies an independent woman whose life features a number of bumps, especially when it comes to love. The images included in the story reinforce Jane’s connections to artists such as Henri Toulouse Lautrec.
Jane Avril: The Muse of the Moulin Rouge offers insight into a woman known as a Belle Époque legend.
M.L. Malcolm loves readers! She has visited with over a hundred book clubs all over the country, and is happy to use Zoom or whatever technology is available to connect when a personal visit isn’t possible. She’s also a history geek, so she loves reading and writing historical fiction.
She began her professional career as an attorney in Atlanta, Georgia. After practicing law for three years, M.L. determined that “she and the law were not meant for each other,” and is now a self-described “recovering attorney.”
As part of her recovery strategy, M.L. yielded to her entrepreneurial inclinations and took over a struggling travel agency. She ran the business successfully for several years before selling it to a larger company, then retired from the labor force to spend more time with her children and pursue her life-long ambition to become a writer. She has also amassed an impressive hat collection (and yes, she does wear them).
M.L. has won several awards, including recognition in the prestigious Lorian Hemingway International Short Story Competition, and a silver medal from ForeWord magazine for Best Historical Fiction Book of the Year. “Heart of Lies” was chosen by the American Booksellers Association as an “Indie Pick” and a “Recommended Book Club Read” selection, and M.L. was selected by Target Stores as an “Author to Watch”. She has also worked as a free-lance journalist for newspapers and magazines in Washington, DC and Los Angeles.
She and her family currently live in Washington, DC. M.L. is her nickname. Her full name is Mary Lee Malcolm
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