Stories rooted in history, folklore and place –
where ordinary lives meet extraordinary times.

(I’m currently reinvigorating this website, so please bear with me through the changes!)

Historical fiction, fantasy and historical fantasy inspired by England’s Forest of Dean, the River Severn, and the landscapes of Australia.

The stories

The Wise Women series
Following generations of women in one family battling prejudice and betrayal to win their places in their world.
“Vivid world building, angst and more. I was hooked.” Reader Review

Keepers series
Three tales of finding – and keeping – love, set against the rapidly changing landscape of post World War II Australia.
“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and reflect on what love is. What resilience is. And be glad you took the ride.” Reader Review

Guardians of the Forest
Fantasy for young and old inspired by the real life battle to save England’s forests.
“Gripping fast-paced fantasy drama takes both children and children at heart on a suspenseful ride.” Reader Review

Short Story Collections
Dragon Gift – award winning stories inspired by legend, myths and fairy tales
Who can believe in Witches? – more award winning stories, this time inspired by history.

Where history becomes story

Forest of Dean and River Severn History, Folklore and Myth
This part of the world is rich with heritage and history, with ongoing institutions and traditions dating back 800 years. And then there is legend and myth, such as that of the River Severn which the Romans named Sabrina, and deemed a goddess. A rich seam for an historical writer and drawn on heavily in The Wise Women series and many of my short stories. It was more recent history which inspired The Guardians series.

Herbal Lore and Healing Traditions
The Forest, fields and the River Severn itself are a rich resource for (legal only please) foraging – mostly these days for eating, but medicinal and beauty uses are not unknown. Wise men and women, or cunning folk as they were often known, have existed for centuries across England, and it was the true story of one such Forest woman which inspired River Witch.

Women’s lives through War and Change
Both world wars saw huge changes in society, especially for women, with opportunities for protagonists such as Rose in The Gift of Belonging to test herself in the often terrifying and horrific unknown of The Great War. Explore the real life challenges she faced in these posts.

Australian history and growing up there
Post World War II heralded more change. In Australia this meant a huge influx of people from England and many other European countries, invited there to help build the nation’s future, including its infrastructure. The Keepers series is set against this background, inspired in part by my own family lore.

About me

I write stories inspired by real places, forgotten histories, and the enduring power of folklore.

The Landscapes that Inspire my Writing