Last week saw the launch of the paperback edition of Sally O’Reilly‘s historical novel, Dark Aemilia, with a special event at famous London bookshop Hatchards. Before signing copies of the novel, Sally took part in a Q&A with Myriad’s Marketing Manager, Eleanor Crawforth, discussing the story behind Dark Aemilia – a bold re-imagining of the life of poet Aemilia Lanyer and her relationship with Shakespeare. The Brighton launch took place on Thursday (30 April) at Waterstones. Dark Aemilia has already gathered fantastic reviews including in The New York Times (‘tantalising’) and Washington Post (‘wildly romantic’). Read a new essay by Sally for Bookanista, ‘The Mindful Writer’, in which she celebrates the benefits of creative writing as a life-enhacing process.

Earlier in April, Sally completed a writing residency at the prestigious Hedgebrook Retreat in Seattle, USA, before flying to Italy to mark the launch of the Italian edition of Dark Aemilia (LA DAMA NERA, Sonzogno). Hosted by the Bookish Supper Society, the Italian celebrations took place around Venice and the Veneto, incorporating locations from Dark Aemilia and culminating in a gala dinner at the stunning Villa Godi Malinverni in Lugo di Vicenza. See our Facebook page for photographs of the sun-soaked, Italian adventure!