'In Succession Livi Michael engages meticulously with the diverse historical accounts of the Wars of the Roses, but she also invests intimate and poignant humanity into the personal tragedies of an era wrought with conflict and terror.' Elizabeth Fremantle, author of Queen's GambitBehind the bloody battle scenes of the Wars of the Roses lie the sinewy political skills of a remarkable pair of women.Margaret of Anjou...

'Fine, taut writing . . . packs an emotional punch' - The TimesMargaret Beaufort and Margaret of Anjou - two women who will stop at nothing to place their sons on the English throne.In exile in France with her young son Prince Edward, Margaret of Anjou at last gives up on promises of aid by King Louis and sets sail for England. There, she will return her husband Henry to the throne - and ensure young Edward will be its heir.Meanwhile, Margaret Beauf...

'She is the best of the modern chroniclers of these mediaeval wars . . . beautifully written, politically astute and full of insight into the moments when great history meets fragile human hearts.' The TimesMargaret Beaufort and Margaret of Anjou - two women who have fought to the bitter end to see their sons take the English throne.But with her son Edward killed in battle, and imprisoned herself, what next for Margaret of Anjou? And will Margaret Beaufort ...

Manchester 1849. Elizabeth Gaskell, newly famous author of Mary Barton, visits a young Irish prostitute in Manchester's New Bailey prison. The girl is about to be discharged onto the Manchester streets, where her old life of poverty and violence await her. Elizabeth is determined to help her, but few people will employ an ex-prostitute from prison. In desperation, Elizabeth writes to Charles Dickens for advice.Inspired by the real correspondence between Elizabeth Gaskell and Charle...

At the International Conference Centre in Geneva, Hannah Rossier, formerly Annie Price, comes face to face with Neville Weir, someone from her childhood whom she never expected, or wanted, to meet again. As Neville's reasons for attending the conference become clear, the dark waters of Hannah's past start to rise. Hannah is a psychotherapist, with a specialist interest in memory and how connections are made between past and present. She has reinvented herself successfully, moving from a sm...

A moving and powerful story about brother and sister, Joe and Annie, who flee from a pitiful existence as servants. They embark on a tough and perilous journey to Manchester in search of their mother who was forced to leave them at the workhouse when they were very young. Their future is tainted by the horrors of their past and as Annie is increasingly troubled by spirits, Joe is forced to make a tough decision. Driven by the lust for freedom, he sells Annie to a fair owner who plans to us...

The wolf was enormous. Its ravenous jaws were open wide, its eyes glared fire.When Sam’s aunt rescues a lost dog, Sam knows that something incredible is going to happen. Jenny the Jack Russell may be a stray, but she is no ordinary dog. Jenny is more special than Sam could ever imagine…But Jenny is in danger, and now Sam, Jenny and a gang of fellow runaways face an extraordinary journey. The sky wolves are on their trail, and they won't stop until the rest of the w...

'If you light a fire on Mabb's hill, she will come for you...'All Keri has ever wanted is to be part of the Magic. Now her brother Lu is dying. To save him she must bargain with the dangerous Faerie Queen Mabb, who exacts a terrible price.Will the Magic help Keri to save her brother - and herself?

At the International Conference Centre in Geneva, Hannah Rossier, formerly Annie Price, comes face to face with Neville Weir, someone from her childhood whom she never expected, or wanted, to meet again. As Neville’s reasons for attending the conference become clear, the dark waters of Hannah’s past start to rise. Hannah is a psychotherapist, with a specialist interest in memory and how connections are made between past and present. She has reinvented herself successfully, moving from a sm...

How do you write a novel?Practising novelists and teachers of creative writing reveal their working methods and offer practical advice. Subjects covered range from magic realism to characterisation, surrealism to historical fiction, via perspective, plot twists and avoiding being boring, among many others.This book is forcreative writing studentswriters and readers of novelsteachers of creative writingWith co...

In this edited collection of narrative-based, critically situated essays, each contributor explores how class has affected his/her personal and academic lives. The collection is divided into three sections: i) narratives that critique the meritocracy; ii) narratives that trace the effects of middle class cultural capital on relatively new academics from the working class, and; iii) narratives that explore the effects of class on longtime academics from the working class. The effect of the ...