Cardiff 1899. All Nansi knows is that her mother disappeared on the day she was fished out of Cardiff docks. She can’t remember anything else. Now, with no family to turn to, she works for Sid at the Empire Theatre, sometimes legally, sometimes thieving to order, trying to earn enough money to hire a detective to find her mother.

Everything changes when Constance and Violet join the theatre company. Nansi is forced to be part of Violet’s crooked psychic act. But when Constance recognises her, Nansi’s world is turned upside down forever. She is soon on the run for her life. Can she save her mother? Can she save herself?

In Gaslight, Eloise Williams has created a wild, desperate world, with an unforgettable cast of characters. Nansi is a brave, complex heroine who will break your heart and make you cheer. ‘It’s hard to drown when you are as good at swimming as I am...’

Eloise Williams grew up in Llantrisant, Wales. She now lives in Saundersfoot, very close to the beach where she walks her dog Watson Jones. Eloise worked in the theatre in wardrobe, then studied drama. After working for over 10 years as an actress, she studied for a Masters in Creative Writing at Swansea University.

Elen’s Island was published in 2015 by Firefly Press and was Highly Commended for the Tir na n’Og Awards 2016. Her middle grade novel Seaglass was runner-up in the Wells Literature Festival Children’s Novel competition 2016. Eloise is an ambassador for Bullies Out.

Follow Eloise on Twitter @Eloisejwilliams and find out more at www.eloisewilliams.com.

Firefly Press is a new children’s and YA publisher based in Cardiff and Aberystwyth. Set up in 2013, Firefly publishes fiction for five to 19-year-olds.

www.fireflypress.co.uk @fireflypress.

Gaslight was published this month and is priced £6.99.

• Author Eloise Williams will be holding a book signing at Tenby Bookshop, in Tudor Square, tomorrow (Saturday) between 11 am and 2 pm.