Author Event | Fiza Saeed McLynn & Kate Kemp

Join us for a special literary evening at Chapter 34 Bookshop in Shoreham-by-Sea as we welcome two exciting new voices in fiction: Fiza Saeed McLynn, author of The Midnight Carousel, and Kate Kemp, author of The Grapevine.

In this intimate event, Fiza and Kate will be in speaking to us about their captivating debut novels, sharing insights into their creative journeys, writing processes, and the stories behind their books. Expect thoughtful discussion, lively anecdotes, and a chance to delve into the minds of two authors at the beginning of their literary careers.

Whether you're a seasoned reader or an aspiring writer, this promises to be an inspiring evening of books, ideas, and community.

The Midnight Carousel

Water for Elephants meets Moulin Rouge, it’s a spellbinding tale about an enchanted carousel linked to a series of unfathomable disappearances in a darkly glittering story of grief, obsession, revenge and enduring love. Paris, 1900. Carousel-maker Gilbert works tirelessly to nish his masterpiece in time for the city’s Grand Exhibition. But Gilbert is struggling in the wake of his wife and son’s tragic deaths, and as he nalises his creation, a dangerous idea forms in his mind.

Paris, 1900
Carousel-maker Gilbert works tirelessly to finish his masterpiece in time for the city's Exposition Universelle. But Gilbert is struggling in the wake of his wife and son's tragic deaths, and as he finalises his creation, a dangerous idea forms in his mind...

Chicago, 1920
Having come to America for a fresh start, when Maisie unearths a neglected carousel, she seizes the chance for a new destiny. But een years ago, the carousel was linked to people inexplicably disappearing into thin air – and now history has begun to repeat itself. Only one person can help Maisie: Laurent Bisset, the Parisian detective assigned to the original investigation. But neither he nor Maisie suspect that this encounter will change both of their lives forever... Sweeping, suspenseful and set against the beautiful backdrop of a fairground that will put you under its spell, this is the perfect read for fans of Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman.

Fiza Saeed McLynn read history at Oxford University and had a brief career in nance before spending the next 12 years helping the bereaved as part of her work as a complementary therapist. e Midnight Carousel is her debut novel and is heavily inspired by her career helping the bereaved, and her own experiences with complex grief.

The Grapevine

Australia, 1979.
It’s the height of summer and on a quiet suburban cul-de-sac a housewife is scrubbing the yellow and white chequered tiles of her bathroom floor. But all is not as it seems. For one thing, it’s 3 a.m. For another, she is trying desperately to remove all traces of blood before they stain. Her husband seems remarkably calm, considering their neighbour has just been murdered.

As the sun rises on Warrah Place, news of Antonio Marietti’s death spreads like wildfire, gossip is exchanged in whispers and suspicion mounts. Twelve-year-old Tammy launches her own investigation, determined to find out what happened, but she is not the only one whose well-meaning efforts uncover more mysteries than they solve. There are secrets behind every closed door in the neighbourhood – and the identity of the murderer is only one of them...

Richly atmospheric and simmering with tension, The Grapevine is an acutely observed debut novel about prejudice and suspicion, the hidden lives of women, and how the ties that bind a community can also threaten to break it.

Kate Kemp is an Australian writer living in the UK. She trained as an occupational therapist and then as a systemic psychotherapist, and has worked with families and individuals in mental health services in both Australia and the UK. In 2021, she won the Stylist Prize for Feminist Fiction and the Yeovil Literary Prize. The Grapevine is her first novel.

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7pm-7.50pm Interview

7.50pm break for drinks

8pm-.8.45pm Q&A

End 9pm