A conversation between best-selling author Annie Garthwaite and historian Dr Nicola Tallis on Annie's latest novel The King's Mother

Four mothers fight for their sons as the Wars of the Roses rage.

With energy and ambition, The King’s Mother takes us from the Wars of the Roses to the dawn of the Tudor age – and tells the story of those era-defining wars through the eyes of four women who shaped and suffered them: Cecily Neville, King’s Mother; Marguerite of Anjou, deposed Queen, Elizabeth Woodville, betrayed wife; Margaret Beaufort – mother to an exiled son

In conversation with Nicola and reading from The King’s Mother Annie will describe all that these women did and were driven to do to win the crown for their sons and become King’s Mother themselves. “This,” she says, “is a story of mothers and sons; of maternal ferocity and female ambition – and of all the terrors that families can inflict upon themselves.”

And, by focusing on what these women wanted, suffered, knew and did, The King’s Mother gives us a fresh take on some of English history’s most enduring mysteries: Was Edward IV’s marriage bigamous and his children bastards? Why did he order the execution of his brother George, years after forgiving his treason? And did Richard III murder his brother’s children, the Princes in the Tower? The women were there – and they know the truth.

Cecily, was named a ‘top pick' by The Times and Sunday Times and a 'Best Book of 2021' by independent bookshops and Waterstones. It has recently been optioned for television.

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Annie Garthwaite is the author of the highly-acclaimed Cecily. She grew up in a working-class community in the north-east of England before embarking on a thirty-year international business career. In 2017 she returned to her first love – books – and began writing the story of a life-long fascination: Cecily Neville. The King’s Mother is her second novel.

Dr Nicola Tallis is a historian, author, speaker and biographer of – amongst other great ladies – Margaret Beaufort. Her latest book, Young Elizabeth, became an instant best-seller on publication. She has previously lectured at the University of Winchester and worked with Historic Royal Palaces and the National Trust. She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Copies of The King’s Mother and Young Elizabeth will be on sale and Annie and Nicola will be happy to sign them.