PANDORA

This novel is a loose reinterpretation of the Greek myth of Pandora's Box, set in the antiquity scene of Georgian London.

London, 1799. Seventeen-year-old Dora Blake is an aspiring jewellery designer who lives with her uncle in what used to be her parents' famed shop of antiquities. When a mysterious Greek vase is delivered to the shop, Dora is intrigued by her uncle's secretive behaviour and enlists the help of Edward Lawrence, a young man seeking acceptance into the Society of Antiquities. Edward sees the ancient vase as key to unlocking his longed-for fortune. Dora sees it as her chance to restore her parents' shop to its former glory, and to escape her uncle.

But what Edward discovers about the vase has Dora questioning everything she has ever known - why is her uncle so keen to keep the ancient vase a secret? And what does it have to do with her parents' tragic death all those years before? As Dora starts to realise, some secrets are left hidden, and some boxes are locked, for a reason.

PANDORA deals with themes of secrets and deception, creativity and freedom, obsession and redemption. It will appeal to readers who like reading group novels, historical fiction and also those who enjoyed novels such as The Song of Achilles and The Silence of the Girls. Susan's next novel will be another reading group historical novel, set in Georgian London inspired by real events.

Susan Stokes-Chapman was born in 1985 and grew up in Lichfield, Staffordshire. She studied for four years at Aberystwyth University, graduating with a BA in Education & English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing. She works in Higher Education and currently lives in the West Midlands. Find her on Instagram and Twitter under the handle @SStokesChapman. Her website can be viewed at www.susanstokeschapman.com