Writer Livi back on the battlefield

LIVI MICHAEL: latest book

A celebrated local novelist has published her 18th book.

Livi Michael’s latest title, “Rebellion” is the sequel to “Succession” last year; the novels tell the story of the Wars of the Roses.

In her 27-year writing career, Livi, from Diggle, has written 12 books for children and six for adults, and has won several awards.

Living in Saddleworth has been a big influence on her writing career, she says: “‘Whispering Road’, my fourth novel for adults, was set here. And my second book, ‘Inheritance’, moved between this area, Mossley and Stalybridge.

“Four more children’s novels, about Frank the Hamster, were set with a terraced street in Oldham in mind.”

The Wars of the Roses novels began when Livi was in Manchester Cathedral, looking up at the ceiling believed to be donated by Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry VII. ‘Rebellion’ tells the story from the Battle of Towton (1461) to the Battle of Tewkesbury (1471), and the fall of the House of Lancaster.

Her previous book, “Succession”, tells the story of the fall of the House of Lancaster and the rise of the Tudors. It is also the story of Margaret Beaufort’s gradual rise to power.