An Evening with Sara Sheridan in Edinburgh

Join Waterstones West End and Hodder for the paperback launch of Sara Sheridan's gorgeous novel, The Fair Botanists, described by the Sunday Times as "an evocative, enjoyable portrait of 1820's Edinburgh."

This event has been created in partnership with Edinburgh Gin. During the event you'll sample two gins that celebrate Edinburgh Gin's connection to the Royal Botanic Garden and hear the story behind each gin from Brand Ambassador Philip Kingscott.

Sara will be in conversation with BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett, chatting about the novel, taking audience questions, and signing books.

About The Fair Botanists:

Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches?

It's the summer of 1822 and Edinburgh is abuzz with rumours of King George IV's impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a different kind of excitement has gripped the city. In the newly-installed Botanic Garden, the Agave Americana plant looks set to flower - an event that only occurs once every few decades.

When newly widowed Elizabeth arrives in Edinburgh to live with her late husband's aunt Clementina, she's determined to put her unhappy past in London behind her. As she settles into her new home, she becomes fascinated by the beautiful Botanic Garden which borders the grand house and offers her services as an artist to record the rare plant's impending bloom. In this pursuit, she meets Belle Brodie, a vivacious young woman with a passion for botany and the lucrative, dark art of perfume creation.

Belle is determined to keep both her real identity and the reason for her interest the Garden secret from her new friend. But as Elizabeth and Belle are about to discover, secrets don't last long in this Enlightenment city . . .

And when they are revealed, they can carry the greatest of consequences . . .

Host or Publisher Waterstones Sauchiehall St