Jodi Picoult at Simply Books, Bramhall

Bramhall is the place to be as globally renowned author Jodi Picoult lands in the village to read from and chat about her latest novel, By Any Other Name.

Simply Books in the heart of Bramhall has been under new management since earlier this year and the team has been busy behind the scenes booking in guests to swing by and read, including some really big names – ticket sales for US author Jodi Picoult have, perhaps with no surprise, surpassed the size of the indie bookshop, speciality coffee shop and plush wine bar, so this event has now been relocated to a nearby church.* The event will include a reading and chat with host Jennifer Saint, followed by a chance for the audience to ask questions and then get their books signed and dedicated – the ticket price includes a copy of By Any Other Name.

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult has published 28 novels and short stories, including My Sister’s Keeper and Nineteen Minutes, with 40 million books sold worldwide and translated into 34 languages. Several of her novels have been adapted for television and film, including My Sister’s Keeper, which was directed by Nick Cassavetes and starred Cameron Diaz. Picoult is also a co-librettist for stage musicals and has written for DC Comics’ Wonder Woman. Her numerous accolades include the New England Bookseller Award for Fiction and a lifetime achievement award from the Romance Writers of America.

Her latest novel, By Any Other Name, intertwines the narratives of two women, centuries apart – one in Elizabethan England and the real author of Shakespeare’s plays (perhaps accounting for some of his more “proto-feminist” characters), the other a playwright in modern-day Manhattan – who are forced to hide their work behind another’s name in order to make their voices heard. Exploring themes including identity, this “sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire” asks what price each woman is willing to pay to see their work live on – even if it means they themselves will be forgotten.

​At this event, Picoult will share her insights into the creation of By Any Other Name, exploring the powerful themes within the novel and discussing her extensive research into Elizabethan England; Harper’s Bazaar says: ​”A blend of historical fiction and modern-day settings, the novel gives us timelines that intertwine and surprise. Picoult has done her research.” Picoult studied creative writing at Princeton University and earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard, and told The Guardian in 2020: “I’m never going to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, not going to win a National Book Award, never even going to be nominated. What you trade for that is sales and readership. And I would rather reach more people. It would be very nice to not be unfairly accused of being a bad writer, but hopefully if you do pick up one of my books, you will be quickly disabused of that notion.”

Talking to her about the new book will be Jennifer Saint, Visiting Research Fellow in the Classics Department at King’s College, London, whose Greek mythology-inspired novels Ariadne, Elektra and Atalanta, were all number-one Sunday Times bestsellers. Her debut was shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year in 2021 and was a Waterstones Book of the Month. Saint said of By Any Other Name: ​”Had me absolutely captivated. Jodi Picoult is a genius.”

*St Michael and All Angels Bramhall Parish Church, St Michaels Avenue, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 2PG