Editing Maria McCann (section)

==Biography==
McCann was born in [[Liverpool]] in 1956 and worked as a lecturer in English at Strode College, Street, Somerset since 1985,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/maria-mccann/|title=Maria McCann|work=fantasticfiction.co.uk|access-date=23 December 2016}}</ref> until starting work with Arden.

Her first novel, ''As Meat Loves Salt'', was released in 2001.  The story focuses on the relationship of two men, Jacob Cullen and Christopher Ferris, and is set during the [[English Civil War]].   They desert their posts in [[Oliver Cromwell|Cromwell]]’s [[New Model Army]] to establish a farming commune in the countryside. The novel was well received by critics including [[Orange Prize]] winner [[Lionel Shriver]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2010/11/22/130976180/a-steamy-soldier-affair-in-as-meat-loves-salt|title=A Soldier's Steamy Affair: 'Meat Loves Salt'|work=[[NPR]]|access-date=23 December 2016}}</ref>

McCann also contributed a short story titled ''Minimal'' to the anthology ''New Writing 12'' published by the [[British Council]] in 2005.

Her second novel, ''The Wilding'', was published in February 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15391386|title=Cider and apples|date=28 January 2010|access-date=23 December 2016|newspaper=[[The Economist]]}}</ref> Set in England in the 1670s, it is the story of a young cider-presser, Jonathan Dymond, his dark family secrets, and the young beggar woman he tries to help.  It was long-listed for the [[Orange Prize]].

''Ace, King, Knave'', her third novel, was published in 2013. It is set in London of the 1760s. It tells an interwoven tale of a recently married gentlewoman of some means, Sophia, her controlling but often absent and mysterious husband Mr Zedland, Titus the black slave he gives her as a wedding present, and Betsy-Ann an ex-prostitute. The dialogue makes extensive use of [[Thieves' Cant]] and a glossary is provided.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/nov/15/ace-king-knave-maria-mccann-review|title=Ace, King, Knave by Maria McCann – review|access-date=10 May 2019|work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>