We’re delighted to see 'The Marchesa' by Sarah Dunant included in The Times’ round-up of the year’s most notable historical fiction, selected by Antonia Senior. Narrated by the ghost of Isabella d’Este – the formidable marchioness of Mantua and a great patron of the arts — Dunant’s novel paints a vivid portrait of Renaissance Italy, weaving together politics, love and the masterpieces Isabella collected. A brilliant recognition for a book that brings history ferociously, and beautifully, to life.

The themes explored in the book - from tech addiction, big tech corporate ethics, misinformation and deepfakes, to AI’s impact on jobs and the human condition - are far more topical and less speculative than the author would like them to be. He started writing in the summer of 2023, as AI rapidly shifted from a technological curiosity to the single most influential force in our world economy.

As self-published authors, we’re free to promote our own books at our own pace. But the autonomy also raises gruelling questions about how to connect with potential readers. After writing a novel in solitude, the thought of marketing it to the world at large can be overwhelming.