Helen Stancey's latest novel, Relative Secrets, is published by Fairlight Books on 25 March 2021. In this beautifully told drama of family secrets, she once again picks through the everyday of life to uncover poetry, pain and ultimately love. Helen has previously written two novels, Words in 1983 and Common Ground in 1986, and a short

It might seem an odd thing for a leftie, Guardian-reading republican to do. I’d just written one historical novel about a member of the royal family only to find myself writing a second. The first book, The Prince of Mirrors, was about the ‘bad boy’ Prince Eddy, the Duke of Clarence. I’d written that novel because, despite the vas

Knowledge is power. Ideas matter. But communicating them in the age of populism and fake news is challenging. This may seem like a peculiarly contemporary problem, but as I was researching my historical novel, A Matter of Interpretation, it became obvious to me that not only was the struggle to maintain control over knowledge as old as th

Lynda Clark's debut novel, Beyond Kidding, was published on 31 October 2019 by Fairlight Books. This darkly humorous science fiction explores the catastrophic effects resulting from one man's lie and a missing child who was never meant to be found. Read this interview with Lynda to find out what inspired this novel. How did you start w

Elizabeth Mac Donald's debut novel, A Matter of Interpretation, is released on 5 September 2019 by Fairlight Books. An exploration into the life of Canon Michael Scot, a twelfth-century astrologer and personal physician to the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II, this novel takes the reader from the court in Palermo, to the Translation Scho

Gregory Baines is the Australian-based author of The Nail House, a novella released by Fairlight Books on 1 August 2019. Taking place in China, the novella focuses on Lindon, an Australian project manager, and Zhen, a Chinese real estate agent, as they meet and overcome cultural difference. Throughout the story, the image of the ‘nail

Edward Vass's debut novella, Milton in Purgatory, has been published by Fairlight Books on 1 August 2019. In this novellas we follow Milton, a 26-year-old unhappy with his job, during his last day on earth – he is hit by a car on his way to work. But this is just the beginning of his journey. Read this interview with Edward to find ou

Nial Giacomelli's debut novella, The Therapist, was published by Fairlight Books on 1 August 2019. Nial spent his childhood between England and the US before settling in Hampshire, where he lives with his wife and two children. His novella, which originated as a science-fiction short story, deals with loss and its consequences on the peo