Hattie Williams - Bitter Sweet. (In conversation with Leena Norms)

Another debut author here at The Heath Bookshop! Hattie Williams will be coming to talk about her first novel, Bitter Sweet, and if that's not exciting enough, she'll be in conversation with returning author, the brilliant Leena Norms! 

Hattie and Leena will talk for about an hour followed by audience questions and a book signing.

Hattie Williams left education in her teens to pursue a career as a musician. She has toured Europe extensively, made three studio albums, and worked as a composer with her tracks still regularly featured on TV and streaming services across the world. In her mid-twenties she found herself working in publishing quite by accident, and an admin temping job turned into a twelve-year career in which she worked with some of the biggest authors in the world. Hattie lives in east London. Bitter Sweet is her debut novel.

Bitter Sweet

Charlie is twenty-three, single and the new publicity assistant at the independent London publishing house Winden & Shane. Richard Aveling is fifty-six, married and the author that has defined his generation. 
Charlie has long idolised the charming, illustrious writer, who also represents a link to her late mother, who loved his work. But as they embark on an illicit and all-consuming affair, Charlie is forced to hide the relationship from everyone she cares about. 
And when the success of Richard's latest book launches him to a new level of fame where all anonymity is lost, she realises she might just be in too deep... 

A thought-provoking exploration of a relationship founded in power, control and silence, Bitter Sweet will appeal to fans of Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason and Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors.

'Beautifully crafted, with aftershocks of conscience that will leave you processing for hours with others who’ve read it.’ JODI PICOULT

'Hattie's writing on early-20s friendships and their enmeshed intensity, was so convincing. I enjoyed it so much' MARIAN KEYES

'I inhaled this novel. Utterly believable, immersive and heartfelt. I loved it' JENNIE GODFREY

'Raw and beautiful and true. Hattie Williams writes so honestly on love and loss that it hurts' ABIGAIL DEAN

'Thrilling, compulsive and utterly addictive' KIRSTY CAPES

Leena Norms

Leena Norms is a writer, YouTuber and podcaster from the Midlands, UK. Her YouTube channel has amassed over 23 million videos with her weekly video essays and imperfect thought experiments to help viewers live a more shrewd and spirited life. She is the presenter and producer of the podcast No Books on a Dead Planet, where she explores climate writing and our capacity for positive panic. She was named BookTuber of the Year by London Book Fair and an official YouTube Creator for Change for her online campaigning.

Her first poetry collection, Bargain Bin Rom-Com, was published by Burning Eye Books in 2021.

@leenanorms

Half Arse Human: 

Leena Norms is a half-arser. A shave-one-legger. A rinse-the-plates-and-tell-herself-any-residual-dirt-will-improve-her-immune-system-er. And yet, she is determined to live better, build a career, strengthen her relationships, be good to her body, sort out her wardrobe, find meaningful hobbies, act on her ethics, and live a full, passionate, varied life.

And it’s possible. Half-Arse Human will show you to harness the power of considered chaos and upgrade the parts of your life that really matter, without expending more than you have to give. Trying to be superhuman is out – being a half-arse human is in. Find out why living a life of slap-dash isn’t as shameful as it seems; in fact, it might be the key to living the life you’ve always wanted. In a world of high-flyers, let’s at least get you in the air.

As always, we look forward to seeing you. 

Catherine & Claire