Sally Gardner and Francis Spufford chaired by Suzi Feay

Two award-winning novelists Sally Gardner and Francis Spufford talk about their latest works, The Bride Stone, the story of a late 18th-century marriage of convenience, and Nonesuch, the story of an ambitious woman who must thwart an occult plot.

Gardner’s debut novel, I Coriander, won the Nestle Gold Award. She is also author of The Weather Woman and a writer of children’s books, including the Carnegie Medal-winning Maggot Moon. In her latest, The Bride Stone, Duval Harrington returns from prison in France to find Muchmore in chaos and his despicable father dead. His father has left him the estate with one stipulation – he must be married or lose everything. With hours remaining, Duval is prepared to walk away until he stumbles on a wife sale. He is horrified by what he sees until his eyes light on the intriguing figure of Edmée. He bids for Edmée and marries her. This is only the beginning of his troubles as Edmée is not who she says she is.

Spufford was a celebrated author of non-fiction before writing his first novel, Golden Hill, winner of the Costa award for a first novel, the Desmond Elliott Prize and the Ondaatje Prize. Light Perpetual won the Encore Award and was longlisted for the Booker. Nonesuch opens in 1939 when Iris Hawkins is drawn into a reality where time bends and spirits can be summoned. The Nazi planes soon start flying overhead but Iris finds she has more to contend with than the Blitz. A fascist fanatic with a gun in her hand is travelling between past and present and across the tiny screens of early television. Only Iris can stop her changing the course of history.

Discussions are chaired by reviewer for the FT Suzi Feay.