ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Elwiss Joyce, Historical Fiction Author

A Lifelong Passion

Rachel may have come to writing historical fiction later in life, but her love of history, storytelling, and the forgotten voices of women has been lifelong. She writes meticulously researched, immersive fiction that brings overlooked heroines out of the shadows and into the light.

Her fascination with the past began early. At six years old, she was already inventing tales about medieval women in castles, inspired by her treasured Ladybird books and other picture-rich stories that transported her to another time. By the time she discovered Katherine by Anya Seton as a teenager, she knew the joy and escape that only great historical fiction can bring.

Rachel’s two grown-up children still tease her (fondly) about childhoods spent being “dragged” around castles, archaeological sites, and historical re-enactments. For Rachel, history and imagination have always gone hand in hand.

There was, however, a long gap between the stories of her childhood and her decision to write her own novel. The spark came when she discovered the remarkable true story of Nicola de la Haye—the first female sheriff of England, who defended Lincoln Castle against a French invasion and became known as “the woman who saved England.” Rachel knew she had found her heroine, and a story she was destined to tell.

Rachel lives in the UK, where she continues to explore the lives of women who shaped history but were left out of its pages.

Lady of Lincoln is her debut novel, the first book in her Nicola de la Haye Series, with sequels to follow.

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