Laura Meloni Bywaters was born in Rome. 

She grew up there when the rest of the world was rediscovering this iconic metropolis with its style, red vespas and coffee bars. 

Laura went on to attend Rome University where she got a First Class degree. She worked as a teacher and researcher and during a research trip to London met an Englisman. They married and had a daughter. 

Laura worked in the English school system as a teacher and an examiner.

She met the other half of the award-winning pair Sarah Onions when their daughters made friends at school when they were 5. 

The writing started when Sarah had the story of the unlucky boy in her head and Laura helped her research his background. They started to write just out of interest and with no clear aim at that stage but soon inspiration struck. 

Laura invited Sarah to join their book club so they became familiar with each other’s literary interests and tastes. 

Laura’s favourite authors are Elena Ferrante and Margaret Atwood but she also has a soft spot for Andrea Camilleri and his Inspector Montalbano stories. When not travelling with her husband, Laura spends some of her spare time cooking Italian food for him and friends. They have been married for 45 years and they have an allotment garden  where they grow Italian seeds Laura brings back from trips home. Their daughter is now grown up with a husband of her own but still speaking in fluent Italian which she has used in her career. 

So – this continental family is now behind an international novel set in London –  One Year One Night published by Red Chair Press. And the Roman in the title? Perhaps you can work it out?

One Year One Night by SL Roman can be bought in the U.S. at: https://bookshop.org

Or in the UK at Amazon.co.uk

And it’s on sale at the Regency bookshop in Surbiton, London.