Join us at Paperchain to hear Karen Brooks, author of The Extraordinary Florence Stoker, in conversation with Bron Swasbrick

From a bestselling, award-winning author comes a compellingly realised story of an enigmatic figure, the beautiful 19th century muse and brilliant social powerhouse, Florence Stoker, whose life, in spite of her many gifts, was overshadowed by one of the most abiding and terrifying of contemporary culture's monsters, the vampire Dracula - her own husband's creation.

Dublin, 1878. When the witty and beautiful Florence Balcombe marries up-and-coming theatre impresario and putative novelist Bram Stoker, and her dazzling literary salons make her the darling of the literary, theatre and art worlds in London, no-one is surprised. So what if she came from humble beginnings and her prior engagement to Oscar Wilde was inexplicably broken off, she was always exceptional. Besides, none of that matters now she moves in exalted circles and Bram is managing the Lyceum for Henry Irving, the leading actor of his generation.

But appearances can be deceptive. Bram is in thrall to the tyrannical narcissist Henry, who is draining the life from him, and his distance from his marriage bed is noticeable. Dear friend Oscar is in court for gross indecency and Florence is afraid - for her family, of the secret she keeps and of the visions of a monstrous fanged demon that haunts her by day and night.

But Florence will fight for her family and rid herself of the threats - both real and phantom - that plague her, even if it threatens her own sanity.

After all, no ordinary monster can confound the extraordinary Florence Stoker.

Karen Brooks is the author of seventeen books, an academic of more than twenty years' experience, a newspaper columnist and social commentator, and has appeared regularly on national TV and radio. Before turning to academia, she was an army officer for five years, and prior to that dabbled in acting.

She lives in Hobart, Tasmania, in a beautiful stone house with its own marvellous history. When she's not writing, she's helping her husband Stephen in his brewstillery, Captain Bligh's, or cooking for family and friends, travelling, cuddling and walking her dog, Bounty, or curled up with a great book and dreaming of more stories.

Bron Swasbrick is a lifelong booklover, reader, and reviewer, who has been talking about books online for about a decade and gets especially excited about Australian writers and their stories. You can find Bron discussing her latest and most favourite reads on Instagram @bookishbron and on her website BookishBron.com.

This event is free but as space is limited please book to secure your place.

Contact the host of Karen Brooks at Paperchain