Old Queenswoodian Joanna Hickson enjoyed a twenty-five year career at the BBC, presenting and producing News and Arts programmes for TV and radio. Having also previously written a children's book Rebellion at Orford Castle, she now writes adult historical fiction full-time. Joanna developed a great love for history after watching Shakespeare plays at school.

The Lady of the Ravens is Joanna’s most recent book and tells the story Giovanna who, upon moving to her mother’s adopted country, becomes Joan Vaux. Unlike her English rose contemporaries with their fair complexions and golden hair, Joan has olive skin and dark features – black brows over ebony eyes and hair the colour of a raven’s wing…

Working as a servant of the Tudor court, privy to the deepest and darkest secrets of her queen, Joan must cautiously navigate the conspiratorial milieu of the Tower.

Through Joan’s eyes, the reader inhabits the squalid streets of Tudor London and the glamorous court of a monarchy in crisis.

Would you like to try your hand at writing historical fiction? If so, you may wish to watch Joanna's video below as she shares her writing tips.