Guest Post - Q&A
With Rosemary Griggs
To continue the celebration of Women’s History Month I am delighted to welcome Rosemary Griggs to The Tudor Notebook.
Tell us a little about yourself
After a long and demanding career in the Civil Service I envisioned a leisurely retirement, pottering in my garden, taking nice holidays and winding down. But it soon became clear that wouldn’t be enough for me. While volunteering with the National Trust, I became interested in Tudor fashion and costume. I started to research and make sixteenth century clothes. That introduced me to many unexpected aspects of Tudor life. Then, when searching for a character from Devon’s past I could portray in my Tudor finery, I came across Katherine Champernowne, mother of Sir Walter Raleigh. She has changed my life. I now have a new career as an author and also as a speaker at events all over the west of England.
What inspired your interest in history?
A truly wonderful teacher at primary school sparked my lifelong passion for history. Unfortunately, when I arrived at grammar school, they put me into the science stream. I had to give history up as an academic subject, yet my fascination with the lives of people from the past never waned. In my teens I devoured the books of authors like Jean Plaidy and Anya Seton. Throughout my career, I enjoyed reading both historical fiction and non-fiction biographies.
When did you start writing and what was the influence behind you taking that step?
I’ve written in one form or another all my life, but never attempted fiction before. I began writing Katherine’s story a few years ago. We hear a lot about men of Tudor and Elizabethan Devon — men like Drake, Hawkins, Grenville, and Sir Walter himself. But I realised no one talked about the women. That was when I knew I had to tell Katherine’s story.
Can you tell us a bit about your books?
My first historical fiction novel, A Woman of Noble Wit, inspired by Katherine’s life, was published in 2021. It is the first in my Daughters of Devon series. The second came out in March 2024, and a third is on the way, due for publication in July 2025.
How do you go about your research?
I think my whole life has become one long research adventure, and I have to confess I love it. Skills honed during my time in the Civil Service have stood me in good stead. Desk research — extensive reading and searching archive catalogues online — is the starting point. However, wherever possible, I like to study original documents. The focus of my research is the Champernowne family, who have left a wonderful cache of papers to help me unpick the details of their lives. I spend a lot of time poring over ancient papers in the Devon Archives at South West Heritage Trust. My palaeography skills are improving, but how I wish I’d paid more attention during Latin classes at school! In addition, I’ve visited the National Archives at Kew, and have a research visit to Hatfield House planned. I love exploring old buildings and make a point of visiting the places I’m writing about. My costume work is also invaluable. As Dame Hilary Mantel said, to bring the past to life for readers, you need to ‘inhabit their world’. Walking in their shoes in the places they knew gives me unique insights into the lives of the women whose stories I tell.
What is the best thing about what you do?
Meeting so many lovely people at my events.
What is the worst/hardest thing?
Finding time for friends and family, my garden, and to sleep!
Can you tell us your most memorable moment relating to your writing career?
Opening the box when the first copies of A Woman of Noble Wit arrived was a pretty special moment. Oh, and reaching number one spot in the USA Kindle charts for Historical Biographical Fiction last year was amazing.
What is your most recent book?
The second book in my Daughters of Devon series, The Dartington Bride, hit the bookshops at the end of March 2024. Here’s the blurb.
1571, and the beautiful, headstrong daughter of a French Count marries the son of the Vice Admiral of the Fleet of the West in. Queen Elizabeth’s chapel at Greenwich. It sounds like a marriage made in heaven …
Roberda’s father, the Count of Montgomery, is a prominent Huguenot leader in the French Wars of Religion. When her formidable mother follows him into battle, she takes all her children with her.
After a traumatic childhood in war-torn France, Roberda arrives in England full of hope for her wedding. But her ambitious bridegroom, Gawen, has little interest in taking a wife.
Received with suspicion by the servants at her new home, Dartington Hall in Devon, Roberda works hard to prove herself as mistress of the household and to be a good wife. But there are some who will never accept her as a true daughter of Devon.
The third in the series is currently with my editor and will be out at the end of July. Titled, Mistress of Dartington Hall, it follows the Champernownes of Dartington through the time of the Spanish Armada.
Are you working on anything at the moment?
I’m thrilled to have recently signed a contract with PenSword Books to write a non-fiction biography of the best known, but perhaps the least understood, member of the Champernowne family. She’s another Katherine Champernowne and is better known as ‘Kat Ashley’, governess to Queen Elizabeth I. My research is almost complete and we are targeting publication in 2026.
What do you think is a common misconception about being an author?
I don’t think many people appreciate the hours of dedication that go into researching and writing a book, usually for a slim financial reward. And that’s just the start. Whether you’re an Indie author or with a traditional publisher, the best person to promote your work is you. It’s hard work, but enormously rewarding when you get a five star review or someone takes the trouble to write to you and say they’ve enjoyed your book.
Are there other eras of history you have an interest in? If so which and would you expand your current writing to include it?
I’m happy in the sixteenth century at present. It’s such a fascinating time when religious, political and social changes affected everyone, and I have a line of women begging to have their stories told. If I’m ever ready to move on, it will either be the time of the English Civil War, or perhaps Victorian rural Northamptonshire, where my family came from.
What piece of advice would you give someone wishing to start writing?
Tell your own story in your own voice and don’t give up!
Where can people find you?
I am sure we can all agree that was a fabulous interview! Thank you so much to Rosemary for joining us.
Personally, I am thrilled to hear that Rosemary is working on a non-fiction book on Kat Ashley and look forward to hearing more about it!
What an excellent interview! Oddly enough, researching a Stuart-era London merchant family just this week led me to the members of Champernowne family that Daphne du Maurier was particularly interested in (The House on the Strand). I'm looking forward to Rosemary's forthcoming books! And that red dress she made! (How?!) Sigh...
Awesome interview! Going to check out her books right now!