Sonia Velton

Sonia Velton is represented by Juliet Mushens

 

Sonia Velton has been a solicitor in Hong Kong, a Robert Schuman Scholar in Luxembourg and spent eight years being a full-time Mum of three in Dubai. She now lives in Kent.

Her debut novel, Blackberry and Wild Rose, about the Huguenot silk weavers of 18th century Spitalfields, was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Prize, longlisted for HWA debut crown and has been optioned for film.

Sonia’s second book, The Image of Her, is a contemporary literary thriller about two women, Stella and Connie, whose lives come together in a way that is both chilling and awe inspiring. It was published by Quercus in July 2021.

Her third novel, The Nightingale’s Castle, sold at auction to Little, Brown in the UK and is based on the real life story of Hungarian Countess Erzsébet Báthory (1560-1614), who is rumoured to have been a serial killer. It was published in May 2024.

Rights Sold:

Blackberry and Wild Rose: Quercus (UK), Blackstone (US), Mozaik (Croatia), Livre de Poche (France), Goldmann (Germany), Laguna (Serbia), and Emu Films (Film.)

The Image of Her: Quercus (UK)

The Nightingale’s Castle: Abacus/Little Brown (UK), HarperCollins (US), Libri (Hungary), Albatros (Slovakia).

Praise for Blackberry and Wild Rose:

‘A sumptuous and moving debut. Velton weaves her tale with the threads of betrayal, thwarted dreams and good intentions gone awry’ — Laura Purcell, author of The Silent Companions

‘Richly immersive, with a plot as finely detailed as Spitalfields silk’ — Stacey Halls, author of The Familiars

‘An utterly absorbing novel that draws you into a fascinating and often sinister world. I loved it.’ — Elly Griffiths

‘Beautiful inside and out. A richly imagined and brilliantly twisty tale of secrets, silk weaving and betrayal based on the true story of master silk designer Anna Maria Garthwaite’ — Anna Mazzola

‘Velton gives [her characters] genuine depth in a moving story of love, secrets and betrayal’ — Sunday Times

‘This exquisitely evocative novel will appeal to fans of The Miniaturist’ — Sarra Manning, Red

‘A rich, rollicking read’ — Sunday Express

‘I absolutely loved it, and read it in one sitting, unable to put it down - the story was rich and compelling, the writing sensuous and sensitive. We were there with the silk weavers in Spitalfields, in the jacquard of their lives, their loves, their losses. Poignant and stunning.’ — Mary Chamberlain, author of The Dressmaker of Dachau

‘With a richly detailed evocation of the era, including the shockingly grim life of the poor and the repression of women, this assured and multi-layered historical novel weaves its own magical spell’ — Fabulous magazine

‘Romance and revenge, hypocrisy and hardship play out against a vividly researched backdrop’ — S magazine