DR SANJIDA O'CONNELL

Hi,

Welcome to my website! You can find out more information about my novels, non-fiction books, journalism and presenting here.

On the Diary page you'll find out what I'm up to and tips for writing. Comments welcome!

All the best,

Sanjida



There are signed copies of Sugar Island available at Waterstones, The Galleries, Broadmead, and Waterstones, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol.

The Bristol Evening Post have just run an interview with me. You can read it here.


BBC Bristol interviewed me. You can listen again here.


My latest non-fiction book, Chimpanzee: The Making of the Film, has just been published by Disney in the states.


Set in the heart of the African rainforest, Chimpanzee tells the tale of a newborn chimp, named Oscar, whose mother is taken away by a rival group. Left alone with no one to care for him, Oscar's time should be up, but in a heartwarming twist, the leader of his group, a powerful male named Freddie, adopts the youngster.

Chimpanzee is a gripping and deeply moving tale and this beautiful jacketed gift book makes a fascinating companion to the film, taking readers behind the scenes, with stunning photographs of African flora and fauna.

Pre-order from Amazon


My most recent novel, Sugar Island, published by John Murray, is out in paperback now.


Emily Harris, a glamorous young English actress, arrives in America in 1859. There she meets and falls in love with a charming Southern gentleman. It is only after they are married that she realises he has been keeping a terrible secret from her.

Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, this is a story of love and loss in a time of chaos.


"Since you left I see you everywhere, on the stairs, on the veranda. Sometimes I catch a glimpse of you through the reeds. I come across you on horseback in the woods, I see you standing on the beach looking out to sea. I have always loved you."

 

"A Gone with the Wind style historical epic," Simon Mayo

"Gripping, entertaining and entirely on the side of the angels," The Times

"A twisted version of paradise," The Oxford Times

 

Simon Mayo chose Sugar Island for his Book Club on Radio 2.

Read an interview with me in the Yorkshire Post


Order from Amazon


Watch Sanjida talking about her previous novel, The Naked Name of Love, on Youtube and listen on Radio 4's Open Book