It takes a special person to endure a crushing political defeat then return to the spotlight to improve the system for others. But that’s exactly what American lawyer, entrepreneur and politician Stacey Abrams did in 2018, when she lost a hard-fought gubernatorial race in Georgia by just 55,000 votes. Determined to fight voter suppression, Abrams helped mobilise voters in unprecedented numbers in the 2020 election, paving the way for Joe Biden’s presidency with a historic Democratic victory in Georgia.
What many people don’t know about Abrams, though, is that she’s also an award-winning novelist. Under her nom de plume Selena Montgomery, she’s authored eight romance novels and two non-fiction books. Now, she’s publishing fiction under her own name for the first time. Tonight, Abrams will be discussing her debut thriller While Justice Sleeps – the story of a young legal clerk in Washington DC who’s mysteriously given power of attorney over the life of a Supreme Court justice – with fellow New York Times bestselling novelist Karin Slaughter, in a virtual event hosted by Fane. Seeing as the TV rights for While Justice Sleeps have already been snapped up, this is your opportunity to get the inside scoop. 26 May, 7.30pm; £10