In January 2026, Poole of Light took part in a blog tour, bringing together reviewers, bloggers, and readers to explore the novel’s themes of ambition, memory and the rise of early cinema.

In my essay – “From Foyer to Flicker: How Cinemas Enchanted Audiences Before the Lights Went Down” – I explore the spellbinding atmosphere of early 20th-century picture houses, where the experience of cinema began long before the film itself.

In my essay – “When the Lights Came On: Cinema, Class, and the Stories We Cling To” – I explore how early 20th-century cinemas offered working-class communities more than entertainment: they were crucibles of hope and shared identity.