Diary
I’ve signed a new book contract!
Of all the ‘pinch-me’ moments of the last year, this one is probably the most exciting. I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I’ve signed a contract to write another two books to be published in 2022 and 2023! The first novel has a working title of To Lillie, From...
read moreThe Amazing Female Pilots in The Paris Secret
Imagine being asked to fly an open-cockpit aeroplane, totally exposed to all the elements, for four hours to Scotland in winter in minus thirty degrees wind-chill. I don’t know that I would survive such a trip. But the female pilots in The Paris Secret survived...
read moreThe Connection Between Dior and Australia in The Paris Secret
Here's the next instalment in my video series about the research behind The Paris Secret, the writing of the book and way I've used real life events and people in the story. Australians Were the First in the World to See Dior's Gowns You've probably all picked up on...
read moreIntroducing Catherine Dior, A Character in The Paris Secret
Introducing Catherine Dior ... I expect most people have heard of Catherine's brother, Christian Dior. But how many people have heard of Catherine Dior? Catherine worked for the French Resistance during WWII. She was arrested by the Nazis and deported to Ravensbrück,...
read moreGetting My Hands on a Dior Gown
The Books Starts With ... The Paris Secret opens with my contemporary protagonist, Kat Jourdan, finding a wardrobe full of sixty-five Christian Dior gowns hiding in her grandmother's abandoned cottage in Cornwall. Kat's a fashion conservator, so she knows exactly what...
read moreThe French Photographer Wins!
I was absolutely thrilled to learn, about a month ago, that THE FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHER (or THE PARIS ORPHAN as it's known in North America) had been shortlisted for the RNA's Goldsboro Books Historical Novel Award for 2020. I was even more thrilled – and incredibly...
read moreMy Favourite Books of 2019
I'm going to confess what's missing from my list right from the outset - there are no Australian authors on my list of favourite reads of 2019. I don't know how that happened and it probably means I missed some good ones somehow. I read plenty of Australian fiction...
read moreTHE PARIS SECRET Cover Reveal!
I'm so excited to reveal the cover for my next book, THE PARIS SECRET! This will be published in Australia on 31 March 2020 and this is the Australian cover. THE PARIS SECRET will also be published in the US in September 2020 and in the UK in late 2020. I'll reveal...
read moreLots of New Natasha Lester International Translations Out Now
It's been a big week for international news! The Czech translation of The Paris Seamstress, or Pařížská švadlena has just been published. I quite like my new Czech name, Natasha Lesterová! You can find out more about that edition here. The Italian translation of The...
read moreTHE PARIS ORPHAN is a New York Times Bestseller!
I was absolutely stunned and thrilled this week to learn that THE PARIS ORPHAN hit the New York Times Bestseller list! We reached No. 14 on the list, which is a dream come true. I can't believe it! Huge thanks to every wonderful reader in North America who has bought,...
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