“Wry wit and boundless imagination.”

– Waterstones 

4.5/5
Goodreads

4.5/5

5/5
Waterstones

5/5

4.4/5
AbeBooks

4.4/5

The Finery

Featured in The Guardian’s best recent sci-fi, fantasy and horror round-up!

Tyranny is in the air in the city of Finer Bay, and Professor Wendowleen Cripcot would like to be left alone, thank you very much. The memories of the last one hundred years are quite enough to be getting on with, if only these young upstarts from the government body, The Finery, would stop trying to control her every move. With the eyes of a dictator upon her, there are not many places to hide…but Wendowleen has never been one to back down from a fight (just ask her pet wolf), and insurrection is brewing underground.

With wry humour and boundless imagination — Waterstones

This debut from an experienced writing coach and mentor is reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and is sure to be a hit with fans of fantasy and political and feminist fiction.

The Finery

Featured in The Guardian’s best recent sci-fi, fantasy and horror round-up!

Tyranny is in the air in the city of Finer Bay, and Professor Wendowleen Cripcot would like to be left alone, thank you very much. The memories of the last one hundred years are quite enough to be getting on with, if only these young upstarts from the government body, The Finery, would stop trying to control her every move. With the eyes of a dictator upon her, there are not many places to hide…but Wendowleen has never been one to back down from a fight (just ask her pet wolf), and insurrection is brewing underground.

With wry humour and boundless imagination — Waterstones

This debut from an experienced writing coach and mentor is reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and is sure to be a hit with fans of fantasy and political and feminist fiction.

The Finery

Featured in The Guardian’s best recent sci-fi, fantasy and horror round-up!

Tyranny is in the air in the city of Finer Bay, and Professor Wendowleen Cripcot would like to be left alone, thank you very much. The memories of the last one hundred years are quite enough to be getting on with, if only these young upstarts from the government body, The Finery, would stop trying to control her every move. With the eyes of a dictator upon her, there are not many places to hide…but Wendowleen has never been one to back down from a fight (just ask her pet wolf), and insurrection is brewing underground.

With wry humour and boundless imagination — Waterstones

This debut from an experienced writing coach and mentor is reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and is sure to be a hit with fans of fantasy and political and feminist fiction.

The Finery by Rachel Grosvenor

Tyranny is in the air in the city of Finer Bay, and Professor Wendowleen Cripcot would like to be left alone, thank you very much. The memories of the last one hundred years are quite enough to be getting on with, if only these young upstarts from the government body, The Finery, would stop trying to control her every move. With the eyes of a dictator upon her, there are not many places to hide…but Wendowleen has never been one to back down from a fight (just ask her pet wolf), and insurrection is brewing underground.

” With wry humour and vicious imagination, Grosvenor’s debut compels us not to allow her nightmarish fantasy of a totalitarian police state to become reality .” – Joe Bedford, Author of ‘A Bad Decade for Good People’, Parthian Books

This debut from an experienced writing coach and mentor is reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and is sure to be a hit with fans of fantasy and political and feminist fiction.

Order your copy

Available now 

Author Biography:

Rachel Grosvenor is a writer from Birmingham, UK, with a PhD, MA and BA in Creative Writing. With a passion for telling fantastical tales, Rachel has written poetry and short stories for reviews and anthologies worldwide.

When she’s not writing, she spends her time editing, coaching, and wondering what’s for elevenses.

Work that I've done

Short stories, novels, poetry – I’m a fan of writing it all.

Take a moment to see what I’ve had published, what I’m currently writing, and how I work with other writers too. 

Upcoming Publications

Sonam – TBC 2024– Short Story (Chronicles of Kathaldi)

Researching Reality for Fantasy Writing – TBC 2024 – The Literary Consultancy

Witchborne – 01/09/25 – Fly on the Wall Press 

I am writing two books at the moment:

Where the Crows Die

Kansas, 1880. Home to a woman you do not want to meet. 

The Dedworth Shame

A fantasy novel companion to The Birth of Ida, currently in its third draft. 

Novels

The Finery – Out Now!

About The Finery:

Tyranny is in the air in the city of Finer Bay, and Professor Wendowleen Cripcot would like to be left alone, thank you very much. The memories of the last one hundred years are quite enough to be getting on with, if only these young upstarts from the government body, The Finery, would stop trying to control her every move. With the eyes of a dictator upon her, there are not many places to hide…but Wendowleen has never been one to back down from a fight (just ask her pet wolf), and insurrection is brewing underground.

“The elderly heroine and her wolf make a refreshing change in this whimsical, gently satirical fantasy debut about how easily a police state might evolve.” – Lisa Tuttle, The Guardian

“With wry humour and vicious imagination, Grosvenor’s debut compels us not to allow her nightmarish fantasy of a totalitarian police state to become reality.” – Joe Bedford, Author of ‘A Bad Decade for Good People’, Parthian Books

“Wry wit and boundless imagination.” – Waterstones 

“The story is, despite the dark undertones and authoritarian themes, an entertaining read. Those looking for a dystopian tale that won’t leave you depressed at the end, look no further!” Dean Cook, Waterstones 

Featured in The Guardian’s best recent sci-fi, fantasy and horror round-up!

 You can order your copy here!

The Birth of Ida – Out Now!

About The Birth of Ida:

‘You believe in ghost stories? You afraid of ghosts when there’s snakes and men tryin’ to kill you?’

Ousted from her homestead, Ida Vale quickly learns that the only way to survive as a lone traveller is to disguise herself as a man. Unsuspecting farmer Colt is the perfect target, who just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, looking roughly the right size.

On the run as ‘Colton John’ the bounty hunter, Ida ventures into the unforgiving wilderness of The Nameless Stretch. Drawn towards a witch’s house by the whisperings of the Derelict Woods, she discovers that the land is cursed: here, the murdered return to haunt their assailants.

And to her shock, Ida is being haunted by someone she loves. She’s not a murderer, like her brother. So who is it watching her every move?

Meanwhile, Colt sets into motion a series of events that he hopes will end in one of two ways: Ida Vale at his door, dead or alive. But in The Nameless Stretch, you can’t escape your demons — and Ida soon learns she has far more to fear from the living than the dead.

You can order your copy here!

Witchborne

Coming 01/09/25 – Pre-order here!

In medieval Locklear, Agnes harbours a dangerous secret—she can touch fire without being burned. As war rages beyond the town and whispers of witchcraft echo through its streets, Agnes navigates arranged marriages, rivals’ schemes, and the threat of the hangman’s noose.

When a desperate bargain with a local widow goes awry, Agnes’s world erupts in flames—she is accused of witchcraft. In a society that fears female power, can Agnes find the strength to forge her own destiny?

The Second Space

The Second Space is an 80,000 word novel that presents the place of women in a patriarchal society, exploring themes such as sexuality, reclamation of space, and the power of physical objects.

It follows the story of a woman who escapes from the prospect of marriage and works to discover her self-identity, forging meaningful relationships with other women. The novel is set in modern day London, specifically East London.

If you are interested in reading The Second Space, please get in touch.

 

Poetry

What of the Woman – 11/02/2021 
A poem published in The Raconteur Review: Fourth Issue

Renewed – 03/11/2020 
A poem published in The Auroras & Blossoms PoArtMo Anthology: 2020 Edition

The Silent Mountains – 18/08/2020
A poem published by digital literary magazine The Trouvaille Review.

New Home – 14/08/2020
A poem published by digital literary magazine Calm Down Magazine.

Nightfall and Imaginary Arguments – 01/08/2020
Two poems published by digital magazine Impspired.

To Create – 01/08/2020
A poem published by American literary journal Synchronized Chaos.

The Seasons of Ivy – 28/07/2020
A poem published by digital literary journal Spillwords Press.


Short Stories

I love writing short stories. You can read some of them here:

A Pleasant Ride16/07/2023Horror story published in West by Black Hare Press

Princess Robyn and the Dragon – 28/03/2021
A children’s short story published by digital publishing house Storyberries. Audio version also available.

The Meeting – 10/01/2021 – Podcast
Reading of a short story published by digital publishing house Bandit Fiction.

Home – 18/12/2020 -A short story published by digital literary magazine Fragmented Voices.

Life with Prawn – 24/10/2020
A short story published by digital literary magazine Fiction Kitchen Berlin.

The Preservation of Time – 02/09/2020
A short story published by digital magazine Impspired.

The Letter – 05/08/2020
A children’s short story published by digital publishing house Storyberries.

Circumstance – 26/07/2020
A short story/Drabble published by digital publishing house The Drabble.

The Meeting – 29/05/2020
A short story published by digital publishing house Bandit Fiction. This story also features on their first podcast, read by Rachel.

The Anxiety Within – 31/07/2015
A short story published by Creative Anxiety Zine.

You – 12/07/2012
A short story published by Cadaverine Magazine.

Professional Writing

Below are some of the articles and poetry I have written for professional services.

Characters Over the Age of Forty – 17/07/2024 – Medium.com

On Making Writing a Process – 25/08/2023 – Books By Women.Org

An article on making writing a process.

The Joys and Pitfalls of Studying Creative Writing – 14/08/23 – Writing IE

An article about studying Creative Writing and finding my niche. 

Dolgellau: A Writer’s Home – 11/07/23

An article about living in North Wales, and how it inspires me. 

On Being a Writer – 18/08/2020

A blog style article published by digital publisher Bandit Fiction.

Uncovering Our Familiar Folklore Through Ballads and Old Tales – 11/01/2020 

An article published by Mookychick Magazine, detailing the folklore of Laos and the UK.

Bridget Ferrers Poem for Baddesley Clinton – 01/07/2018 – A poem commissioned by Baddesley Clinton, of the National Trust, displayed in the Blue Bedroom for their 2018/19 programme ‘Women and Power’. This poem is now part of the permanent collection.

Midlands Feminists Prepare to Ignite New Campaigns – 01/07/2014 – An article published by UK Feminista, about their ‘Feminista UK Summer Workshop’.

Birminghome – 01/05/2013 – An article published by the Birmingham Architecture festival, about Rachel’s connection with Birmingham.

rachel grosvenor editor writing Coach