Author and speaker
Welcome to my website where you can find out more about me, my research, my talks and my writing.
I write historical novels that transport readers to sixteenth century Devon to be inspired by women who must balance duty and love in turbulent times…….
….and I bring the past to life, often appearing as Katherine, the subject of my first novel, in talks all over the county and beyond……
…and I make and wear historical clothing. It’s a great way to connect the people of today with those who went before. Interpreting the past helps us to understand our own time and look towards the future.
Through my research I’ve discovered a cast of fascinating characters and an intriguing network of families whose influence stretched far beyond the west country. I love telling their stories.
I hope you enjoy exploring my website which I update regularly. Feel free to contact me with any comments or questions and do sign up for my newsletter to keep in touch.
A Woman of Noble Wit
Coming Sept. 28, 2021Few women of her time lived to see their name in print. But Katherine was no ordinary woman. She was Sir Walter Raleigh’s mother, and she inspired her sons to follow their dreams.
As the daughter of a Devon family with close connections to the glittering court of King Henry VIII, Katherine’s duty is clear. Still a girl, she starts a new life at Greenway Court on the River Dart. She settles into the life of a dutiful wife and mother until a chance shipboard encounter with a handsome privateer, turns her world upside down.…..
Learn More
The Challenge of Creating an Elizabethan Ruff
May 02, 2021No item of clothing more clearly signals the Elizabethan age than the ruff. The wearers, men and women alike, hold …
Finding inspiration - Luppitt Church East Devon - June 2019
April 27, 2021On a warm June day the sheep graze in the green pastures around the sleepy little village of Luppitt in …
Pandemic - spare a thought for those who went before.
April 21, 2021A new disease is sweeping through continental Europe at alarming speed, felling all in its path. …
"To Weave the Fabric of a Life" by Rosemary Griggs
May 06, 2021News reaches Devon - the fate of Queen Anne Boleyn
May 03, 2021The night before the wedding
May 03, 2021 | A Woman of Noble WitRosemary as Katherine Champernowne at the Fairlynch Museum
May 24, 2021