Historical novelist Marina Fiorato, author of the bestselling The Glassblower of Murano, has moved to John Murray Publishers with her next two books. The first, Daughter of Siena, set around the colourful and dramatic spectacle of the Palio horse race, will be published in summer 2011.

Acquiring editor Kate Parkin said: ‘It is a great pleasure to welcome Marina Fiorato to John Murray. This is a real team acquisition – everyone here has read Marina’s backlist and is very excited to be part of her future.’