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Leodora

@leodora_

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Writer, actor. Author of THE EXES, a GMA and Grazia book club pick.
Repped @wme
[email protected] for PR enquiries
Rarely check inbox!

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Delighted THE EXES has been shortlisted for the McDermid Debut Award; with so many incredible new voices being published, it's a real honour.

Huge congratulations too to all the other authors shortlisted!

#debutnovel #thrillerbooks #authorsofinstagram #bookawards #bookish taken in Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate by @leodora_

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5 months ago

Got sent some fab snaps from the lovely @bookofthemonth team. Honestly, the expressions I'm pulling in some of these shots! Love that I can see the moment I discovered someone in the podcast audience was wearing a necklace with their partner's name on it, just as I'd said it was a no-no. Clearly, if there's one thing I am, it's expressive...

Too many great images to share them all, but particularly enjoyed the shock on my face when one of my agent pals surprised me at the live podcast recording. A very special day!

#theexes #books #blackgirlmagic #podcast #thrillerbooks taken in Manhattan, New York by @leodora_

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7 months ago

Found this photo from my 30th birthday and realised I never posted any of the pictures from that night. That was exactly four years ago, today. Funny to think about how much has happened since then -- I'm not sure if I'd even started writing The Exes at this point.

In the last year alone, I quit my day job, was on Good Morning America, went back to acting and got to travel to India for a literature festival. More than any of that, I think thirty-year-old me wouldn’t have believed how kind readers would be. Every message, every review and every hello at an event has meant more than I can say.

I’m so grateful, and I’m very proud of the woman in this photo for holding on to the dream. Looking forward to seeing what 34 brings 💜 by @leodora_

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7 days ago

Secrets, curses and the dark side of heartbreak. If that sounds like your kind of Saturday evening, come and find me at @edwomensficfest on Sat 24 October, where I’ll be talking to Oyinkan Braithwaite about all three (and about using female fury to tear up the usual thriller tropes).⁠
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Sharing a stage with the author of My Sister, the Serial Killer is quite something, so I’m very much looking forward to this one. We’re on at 5pm at Christ Church Morningside, and huge thanks to the festival team for having us. Tickets are linked at leodoradarlington.com/events 💜 by @leodora_

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Crime writers, it turns out, are ruthless at shuffleboard. Last Wednesday was London Calling, the get-together for London's crime and thriller writers, and only the second one so far.

At the last event, I put on a pretty poor show until somehow winning the final against M.J. Arlidge. This time I sat proudly at the top of the leaderboard for a good while (photo one, for the record) before Tim and Heather overtook me. Third place, and a lot of laughter. taken in Electric Shuffle King's Cross by @leodora_

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2 days ago

Excited to be speaking alongside Imani Thompson at the New Voices panel at Cheltenham Literature Festival @cheltfestivals this year. You can find us at The Hive this coming Sunday at 18:30pm. More information and how to buy tickets is at leodoradarlington.com/events ⁠
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#cheltenhamliteraturefestival #newvoices #debutauthor by @leodora_

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8 days ago

Crime Night at @henleylitfest did not disappoint, and neither did the sunset over the river beforehand. Huge thanks to @katherinegraingerdbe for hosting with such warmth, and to @jospainscreenwriter and @theandioshow for being such good company on stage (and off it).

Thank you to everyone who came out on a Monday night, and to the festival team for looking after us so well. Henley, you were a delight. by @leodora_

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9 days ago

Still buzzing from Sunday night at @bbbookfestival. An hour at the Barbican on secrets, suspicion and how to hide a twist in plain sight, with two brilliant writers beside me in Imani Thompson and @wordsbyyemi.

Huge thanks to @fee_mak for hosting so brilliantly, to the festival team for having me, and to everyone who came along and said hello at the signing afterwards. You made it such a good one 🙌🏾 by @leodora_

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9 days ago

Really looking forward to the Fresh Blood panel at Fatal Shore Crime Writing Night, as part of @shorehamwordfest! I'll be chatting with Penny Stephens, Iona Hepburn and M.K. Oliver about our debut novels, and what it's like being a new member of the Crime Writing Community. For more information and tickets, head to leodoradarlington.com/events ⁠
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#shorehamwordfest #fatalshore #crimewriters by @leodora_

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10 days ago

🗣📖 We are delighted to welcome Leodora Darlington to Murder One Fest 2026

🗓 Sunday October 18th at 5pm.

Book your tickets today at:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/on-a-dark-stormy-night-tickets-1998878333905

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The opening line of a book can be crucial to hook a reader. Catherine Ryan Howard (Buyer Beware), editor turned writer Leodora Darlington (The Exes) and T.M. Logan (The Weekend) talk to Brian McGilloway about how they come up with opening lines and those lines that have stopped them in their tracks.

This event features Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.

THE GREATEST by @leodora_

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10 days ago

So excited to be featured at @katherinegraingerdbe's Crime Night at @henleylitfest on Monday at 8pm! I'll be speaking alongside Jo Spain and Andi Osho about all things crime at the Gower Cottage Brownies Stage. For more information and tickets, head to leodoradarlington.com/events⁠
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#henleyliteraryfestival #crimethriller by @leodora_

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12 days ago

Had a fab time at Barnes Book Festival! Huge thanks to the organisers and @barnesbookshop for putting on such a great event.

Wonderful sharing the stage with the talented @ruksandbooks, who spoke so beautifully about It Comes In Waves. And masterful hosting from @meenalexander.

#bookworm #bookish #debutnovel #debutauthor #TheExes

Particular highlight was me and @ruksandbooks signing copies of our debut novels for each other! taken in Barnes Common by @leodora_

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13 days ago