Melodie Winawer is the author of The Scribe of Siena (2017), which was praised by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews, and was declared a “Must Read Book” by the New York Post. She also contributed to We All Fall Down: Stories of Plague and Resilience, an anthology of short stories by nine historical fiction writers. A physician-scientist and associate professor of neurology at Columbia University, Winawer has published more than 50 scientific articles. In Anticipation: A Novel (Gallery Books), Helen, a widowed overworked scientist and single parent to 9-year-old son Alexander, desperately needs an escape. So when Alexander proposes a trip to Greece, Helen quickly agrees. After spending several days exploring the tourist-filled streets, they stumble upon the ancient city of Mystras and are instantly drawn to it. Its only resident is Elias, a mysterious tour guide. As it turns out, in 1237, Elias’ mother promised his eternal service to the Profitis Ilias in Mystras in exchange for surviving a terrible illness. But during his 800 years of labor, he’s had one constant enemy: the noble Lusignan family. They are cursed by a deadly disease and a prophecy hints that Elias’ blood is their only hope for a cure. Now the last Lusignan is desperate to avert his family’s fate and Elias unwittingly puts Helen and her young son in danger.
