She forged a path

For women marching

From the past

Into the dazzling present

With just the power

Of her forceful pen.

We lost another very special lady yesterday, in the form of Hilary Mantel. She was the first woman to win the Booker Prize twice, and she was so influential that she had many literary giants paying tribute to her when the news broke.

I love authors who really see their work as an artform and Mantel really appreciated the form of the historical novel. She seemed to enjoy the relationship between the past and the present.

And something that all historical novelists do, is to find another story underneath the story that we know. I particularly enjoy it when writers give marginalised characters a voice: women, slaves, disabled.

I hope that we learn to celebrate more of these women who are smart and interesting and forge a path for those that are following behind.

Much Love

Rachel xx