Rebecca F. John Knihy

Rebecca John describes her journey towards becoming a botanical painter

A feminist reimagining of the story of Fantine, the much-loved character from Victor Hugos classic novel Les Miserables, its many dramatisations and the musical. Publishing on Victor Hugos birthday. From prize-winning author of the Costa Awards shortlisted title The Haunting of Henry Twist.

Praise for Rebecca F. John: 'These stories come from a deep, soul-like place of vitality, warmth and beauty... a prodigious writer of great intelligence and talent Roshi Fernando

Vulcana is a fictional telling of the real story of Victorian 'strongwoman' Kate Williams (born 1874) starting when she runs away from home at 16 to travel with the love her life, William Roberts. They perform in music halls as Atlas and Vulcana -the climax of their act is that Kate can lift William over her head. She and William present themselves to the public as brother and sister as they travel the world because William is already married, and William's wife brings up Kate's children on her own. How long can this secret be kept? Kate is driven by love: for William, for her children, for performing, and for life, and Rebecca's gorgeous, immersive writing fits perfectly this brave, unconventional woman and her amazing story.

When Francis House enlists in the British Army in 1907, at the tender age of fifteen years and three months, he is not thinking about war. He imagines he simply wants to earn his stripes - to ease his traumatised father's Boer War memories, or perhaps to please his favourite sister, Lily, with whom he has always dreamt of adventure. But he soon discovers that simply becoming a soldier is not enough and, against the advice of his sergeant, he determines to seek out a real fight. Wading ashore at Gallipoli seven years later, Francis thinks he might just have found the site of his greatest opportunity

One year on from the day the shadows shifted - showing people their truest selves rather than just their shapes - best friends Teddy, Betsy and Effie plan to risk all and watch the winter sun rise over Copperwell, in defiance of the Shadow Order. But then the three shocked friends witness an event that sends them on a perilous voyage of discovery.