Mayo author returns for hometown book signing
A touch of scandal, society and Regency romance will arrive in Swinford on Tuesday, May 19, when local writer Chele Crawley returns to her hometown for a literary evening celebrating her debut best-selling novel, Lady Dixon’s Niece.
This captivating historical romance, which explores the price of securing social mobility and love in Regency England, made headlines in mid-April when it stormed to No. 1 on Amazon Ireland, just 24 hours after its release.
“Reaching number one was the stuff of dreams, particularly as a self-published author,” says the Park Road native. “Lady Dixon’s Niece has had a great start, and I owe that entirely to every person who went out, supported me as a writer, and bought it.
“So, in a way, this literary evening in The Novel Bean is more of a celebration of Lady Dixon's Niece itself, and the success it has had over the past few weeks. It's an opportunity to raise a glass to it, engage with readers, and personally sign books that people at home have already bought or wish to buy on the night.”
The event will feature an in-conversation event with The Novel Bean owner, Cathal Kelly, an audience Q&A, author-reading, and book-signing. The gathering offers attendees a chance to hear excerpts from the novel, learn about the inspiration behind the story, and meet the author in an intimate and welcoming setting.
“I have been blown away by the level of support and well-wishes that people from Swinford have extended to me since the book was released a few weeks ago,” said Chele. “It’s been so lovely and a testament to how Swinford people encourage, support and champion their own. I can’t wait to meet familiar and new faces alike and hear what people think of the novel."
The novel follows Annaliese Schmidt, who happily trades her modest agrarian life in North Devon for the sophistication of high society on the assumption that it will be her ticket to social mobility. However, Annaliese soon learns that the path to society comes at the cost of her moral compass.
Masquerading under a cloak of deception at the behest of her aunt, Annaliese must navigate challenging social conventions, fend off the unwanted advances of a saccharine-tongued neighbourhood creep, and quell the whims of a cunning blackmailer who threatens to expose her secret. In a game of cat and mouse, can Annaliese keep up the pretence? Particularly when the greatest challenge comes from within – her conscience. When Annaliese finds herself falling for the kind and unassuming son of a baron, she is forced to confront the emotional toll of her deception.
The reading, Q&A and book signing takes place in The Novel Bean, Swinford, at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19.
Lady Dixon’s Niece is available in The Novel Bean, Swinford, Castle Books, Castlebar, Mayobooks.ie, Bookstand, Ballina, and in both paperback and Kindle format from Amazon.