I’ll be out and about next month, doing some bookshop and festival events for The Dollmaker here in Scotland and down in the West Country. In fact you could almost say I’ll be following in Andrew’s footsteps! If you’re in the area and would like to find out more about how the novel came to be written, together with themes of fairy tales, the dark fantastic and the importance of landscape in fiction, do come along. There will be readings and Q&As, and of course a chance to get your copy signed and personalised. Hope to see you on the road.

WEDNESDAY MAY 8TH: GOLDEN HARE BOOKS, STOCKBRIDGE, EDINBURGH 6:30PM

In Edinburgh I will be in conversation with Kirsty Logan, whose magical second novel The Gloaming has just been released in paperback. We’ll be discussing our approaches to writing, as well as the continuing role of fairytales in contemporary fiction and what makes these stories endure, even as they shift and change to fit the times. We’re lucky enough to be hosted by Golden Hare Books as part of their Feminist Books Fortnight.

TUESDAY MAY 14TH: HUNTING RAVEN BOOKS, FROME 7PM

With Andrew’s journey very much in mind, what better place to kick off the West Country tour than the town that inspired one of his stopping places?

WEDNESDAY MAY 15TH: WATERSTONES, TRURO 7PM

Truro is the town Bramber Winters grew up in, where her love of dolls began. Come and join us at Waterstones for more discussion of The Dollmaker and its West Country roots.

THURSDAY MAY 16TH: FOWEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL 4PM

I am a guest at one of the most popular and long running West Country literary festivals – The Dollmaker meets Daphne Du Maurier!

TUESDAY MAY 21ST: PRINT POINT, ROTHESAY, ISLE OF BUTE 7PM

And it’s back home to the island, where Kirsty Logan and I will be reprising our Everyday Fairytales event with more readings and discussion.