Marina Fiorato

Fiorato was born in Manchester,[1] with a Venetian father, but was raised in Langcliffe, North Yorkshire.

She studied history at Durham University, before specialising in the study of Shakespeare for a Master's at the University of Warwick.[2] On completing her degrees, she studied art and worked for a period as an illustrator and film reviewer.

Film and artwork

Fiorato co-produced and starred in the award-winning short film Devilwood (2006), and also appeared in The Wrong Blonde, An Ideal Husband (both 1999),[2] Maybe Baby (2000) and Tuesday (2008).[3] She also designed tour visuals for bands such as U2 and the Rolling Stones and for films including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.[2]

Publications

Fiorato's first novel, The Glassblower of Murano (2008), was written in bookshop coffee-shops so that she could research the Venetian setting. It was rejected by numerous publishers before being accepted by Beautiful Books Ltd. and becoming an international success.[4] Two years later, Fiorato's The Botticelli Secret (2010) earned a large advance.[5] Her other works also have an Italian theme or setting.

Fiorato is married to filmmaker Sacha Bennett[1] and they have two children.

• The Glassblower of Murano (Beautiful Books) (2008) ISBN 978-1-905636-24-2
• The Madonna of the Almonds (Beautiful Books) (2009)ISBN 978-1-905636-43-3
• The Botticelli Secret (Beautiful Books) (2010) ISBN 978-1-905636-80-8
• Daughter of Siena (John Murray) (2011) ISBN 978-1-84854-561-8 (US edition The Daughter of Siena, St. Martin's Griffin, ISBN 978-0-312-60958-0)
• The Venetian Contract (John Murray) (2012) ISBN 978-1-84854-561-8 (US edition The Venetian Bargain, St. Martin's Griffin, ISBN 978-1-250-04295-8)
• Beatrice and Benedick (St. Martin's Griffin) (2015) ISBN 9781250077134
• Crimson and Bone (2017)

• Official website