Stephanie’s gothic fantasies

Sceptre Books made a conscious effort to defy the recession last night with a deliberately decadent launch party for Stephanie Theobald's new gothic fantasy novel A Partial Indulgence. Taking over the classy Artesian Bar in west London's Langham Hotel were burlesque showgirl Immodesty Blaize (above with the author), editor-at-large of Harper's Bazaar Kim Hersov and Theobald's partner and fellow novelist Jake Arnott.