Leodora Darlington is publishing director at Orion, founder of Owned Voices, and debut author of The Exes.

After initially beginning a career in education, Leodora has worked in publishing for several years, named a Bookseller Rising Star in 2021. She has published bestselling commercial fiction across commercial genres, including book club fiction, women’s fiction and romance, but has a particular interest in crime, thrillers, mystery and suspense novels.

When it comes to her publishing, Leodora loves to blend creativity and science, which has enabled her to both grow established bestsellers and also create new success stories. Previous authors she has worked with include: Angela Marsons, D. S. Butler, Frances Mensah Williams, J. A. Corrigan, J. R. Ellis, Kathryn Croft, Lucy Goacher, M.M. Chouinard, Matt Brolly, Shalini Boland, and Steph Broadribb. Current authors include Tasha Coryell, Mandasue Heller, and M.J. Arlidge.

In 2021, Leodora launched the Owned Voices Novel Award. Shortlisted authors and winners have since gone on to receive representation from established agents at agencies such as Curtis Brown. Owned Voices aims to help writers from under-represented backgrounds who would one day like to see their novels in print develop both their writing talent and their understanding of the publishing industry.

Leodora also received a distinction for her Masters in Creative Writing from Brunel University in 2020, where her teachers included Benjamin Zepheniah and Will Self. The Exes is her debut novel.