We’re delighted to be joined by author Harriet Mercer for the online launch of Gargoyles, her debut work of non-fiction. A stunning blend of poetic memoir and essays, Gargoyles explores the effects of illness, grief, love, and loss, but is also about the power of memory, which both haunts and enriches. She will be in conversation with bestselling author Jen Campbell.

Six weeks after her fortieth birthday, Harriet is struck by a rare and life-threatening illness. What follows is a long, painful and arduous stay at Charing Cross Hospital. From the first day in Critical Care, whenever Harriet tries to sleep, the backs of her eyes come alive with soul-sucking gargoyles; she remains awake for the entire six weeks. Such wakefulness produces its own hallucinations: the gargoyles become metaphors for lurking demons, fear of death, her relationship with her late father, and her dream of having a family.

Mercer’s work asks us to celebrate that which is in front of us, not taking our lives and health for granted. Sometimes, this means we have to learn to live with gargoyles.

The author will be in conversation with bestselling author Jen Campbell. The event will take place online with both authors joining us from their homes via Crowdcast.

Harriet Mercer lives in London. Since graduating from the University of Wales, Lampeter, in English Literature several decades ago, she has taught English language, and worked in jewellery. Belatedly, she completed an MA in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, winning the University of London Creative Writing Prize. Gargoyles is her first book.

Jen Campbell is a bestselling author and award-winning poet. Her latest books include The Beginning of the World in the Middle of the Night and The Girl Aquarium. You can also find her online, reviewing books and talking about the history of fairy tales, and the representation of disability and disfigurement: www.jen-campbell.co.uk

There are two ticket options for this event. You can purchase a ticket which includes a signed bookplate edition of Gargoyles. These will be hand-wrapped and posted out in the days following the event. The second ticket option includes a £3 voucher that can be redeemed against any item on The Portobello Bookshop website – including Gargoyles. The £3 voucher is valid for one week following the event.

Accessibility: Captions for this event will be available to access after the live event.