**LISTENER EPISODE**S10 Ep7 From Global Communications to Historical Fiction Author: Annie Garthwaite.

Annie Garthwaite loved history as a child.  She went to a comp in Hartlepool where in her words, if you got 3 CSE’s your name would go on the wall.  Annie then, would never have believed that one she’d day be an historical fiction author. But thanks to a love of reading shared from her mother and a wonderful history teacher, Annie decided this was what she really wanted to be in. Only in her twenties, she discovered it was much harder than she imagined, so she decided to set aside her dream until the age of 55.   The idea being she’d spend the next 3 decades earning enough money to retire and then she’d write the book she’d been planning. I mean what 20 something-year-old really keeps such a plan? Annie did.   I’ll let Annie tell you how, but her fascination with strong women in history and one in particular has been her driving force for so many years. Annie had been learning about Cecily Neville since the classroom, the mother of Richard III who had 12 children, played a key role in the War of the Roses and lived until she was 81 (in the 15th Century!) But her story had never been told.   The more Annie learned about Cecily, and the longer she sat in the boardrooms of her huge corporate Communications job, Annie realised life for women hadn’t changed nearly as much as she’d thought. Annie believes we must keep telling women’s stories to help bring the change we need. But Annie is also a strong, passionate woman and it’s an honour to share her story with you. You can find out more about Annie and Cecily at: https://www.anniegarthwaite.com/ And just in case you were wondering you can find out more about me and my books at elliebarkewrites.com (Thank you to my lovely listener Lesley Hannah who wanted a guest whose Next Chapter was in history. I hope you enjoy Annie’s conversation. And do remember if there’s any guest you’d like to hear from, please get in touch and I promise I’ll at least ask.)