THE SHOW WOMAN

A marvellous tale of a gang of brave and brilliant women touring the country in the first all-women circus … The Show Woman will both uplift and break your heart - there’s romance, real camaraderie and heaps of sawdust atmosphere, while the betrayals, tragedies, and truths uncovered will make your stomach flip. Cowing has given us a cast of characters you will really care about * Scotsman *Suspenseful, authentic, sexy and uplifting. Beautiful writing plunges the reader into the showgrounds of Edwardian Scotland, sights, sounds, smells and all – Erin KellySequins and spite collide in this gorgeous novel … A tale of dazzle and determination […] Cowing is sure-footed on the tempestuous dynamics of their friendships and the dark secrets that drive their ambition * Daily Mail *An utterly electric debut! I wanted to run away with this all-woman circus. An enthralling, dynamic tale that will stay with me for a very long time – C.J. CookeSuspenseful, authentic, sexy and uplifting. Beautiful writing plunges the reader into the showgrounds of Edwardian Scotland, sights, sounds, smells and all – Erin KellyGorgeously written, with twists and turns worthy of a circus trapeze – Jennie GodfreyBeautifully crafted, fast-paced and compelling … easily the debut of the year so far! – Mike GayleAbsolutely loved soaking up the atmosphere of the circus and fairground in The Show Woman. There’s hardship and excitement and mystery and joy in this novel, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages – Sarah L. BrooksA very special debut – Jenny ColganA fascinating read. Full of twists and turns as unexpected as they are thrilling. I was gripped by the strong female characters, spellbound by the dangers, but moved to tears by the bonds of love. Richly detailed, this story will beguile you and carry you away to a rarely glimpsed world of dark secrets and powerful emotions – Kate FurnivallAn entrancing story of chosen family, sisterhood and freedom. I was so wrapped up in the lives of these women, revealed in prose so visceral and alive I felt immediately transported to its history. Take your seat and get lost in its wonders – Wiz WhartonWonderfully heartfelt and compelling – Joanna MillerWhat an irresistible and original premise! I loved reading every word … The Show Woman is as enthralling as the spectacular circus act that Emma so beautifully describes – Fiza Saeed McLynnSet in Edwardian Scotland, The Show Woman is a wonderfully told story that mixes adventures, romance, crimes, and feisty women, all against the backdrop of a circus run by women. Gripping, heartbreaking, compelling, I genuinely could not put it down – Naomi KelseyDazzling … like all the very best historical fiction it has characters who are alive and real and brings the past to glorious life, with a page-turning plot that meant I could not put it down – Kate FosterBeautifully written, engaging plot and thoroughly researched * STYLIST *A joy to read, so beautifully written, evoking the rich and often overlooked story of the travelling fairs of Edwardian-era Scotland – Sean LuskCompulsive, heartbreaking * Clare Leslie Hall, author of million-copy-bestselling Broken Country *

Emma Cowing is an award-winning journalist and writer. She has written for a wide number of publications including The Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday, Guardian Weekend Magazine, Spectator and Scotsman.

Emma is a former Feature Writer of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards, and two-time Interviewer of the Year. She holds an Ochberg Fellowship in Journalism and Trauma at Columbia Journalism School in New York, for her work covering the war in Afghanistan, and its aftermath.

Emma was shortlisted for the 2023 Cheshire Novel Prize, and longlisted for the 2023 Bath Novel Award and Blue Pencil First Novel Award. The Show Woman is her first novel.