Maria Donovan

Spring seems the perfect time for my story ‘Narcissus’ to make its appearance, just one of the fourteen offerings in Botanical Short Stories, edited by Emma Timpany. Out today, 4 April 2024!

Published by The History Press with illustrations by Sarah Jane Humphrey, the anthology ‘celebrates the deep connection that exists between people and plants in fourteen short stories as varied, diverse, and global as the botanical world itself’.

The official launch takes place on Thursday 2 May 2024 at 6pm with free entry at the Falmouth Bookseller, as part of the Wayward Book Festival. I know that the amazing Diana Powell has a launch clash as her new novel The Sisters of Cynvael is being celebrated on the same day, but Emma and Sarah will be there to talk about the anthology and other contributors (including myself) might be present – to be confirmed!

Copies of our beautiful hardback anthology, priced £14.99, will be available on the night. Otherwise you can order from your favourite bookshop and all the usual places.

If you would like a copy signed by me please get in touch by email or via the Contact page.

In case you’re wondering what kind of story ‘Narcissus’ might be, here’s an extract from a review in Hortus:

‘Maria Donovan’s “Narcissus” unfolds in a Dutch bulb factory. Here, we are introduced to the itchy and arduous work that goes into packing the thousands of daffodil, tulip and hyacinth bulbs which are shipped to the UK, and we glimpse some of the human stories that might be found there.’

While ‘Narcissus’ is a fictional story, I’ve drawn on real experiences of that working environment and on what it’s like to be an immigrant, trying to make new connections.

Happy reading!