Susanna M. Newstead has always been captivated by history, with a particular fascination for the era of King John (1199-1216). This interest began in her childhood when she penned historical stories that so engrossed her teachers that they eagerly awaited each subsequent instalment.The genesis of her Savernake Forest Series can be traced back over four decades. In her twenties, as a student of speech therapy, she embarked on this literary journey, initially committing her words to a small orange notebook in an age before computers. Unfortunately, the demands of life, including the need to cover the mortgage, took precedence, and her literary pursuits gradually waned. At the same time, her creative energies found expression in other forms such as painting and embroidery.Her professional path eventually led her into the realm of dementia research in Oxford, a challenging and often sombre field. In search of distraction from the emotional rigours of her work, she delved into historical murder mysteries and discovered a genuine fondness for them. This discovery planted the seed of an idea: why not try her hand at crafting such stories herself?Later on, she faced a serious illness that forced her into early retirement. With ample time on her hands, she unearthed the long-neglected orange notebook and resurrected "Belvoir's Promise" as the first murder mystery set in Savernake Forest, nestled within the Marlborough Downs of Wiltshire. Extensive research consumed much of her time, one book led to another, and thus, the Savernake Novels were born.Today, Susanna resides quietly in a cozy Northamptonshire town, accompanied by her husband and a wire fox terrier named Tabor. Together with Tabor, she undertakes regular expeditions into the woods and delves into extensive research on the nearby town of Marlborough, which was cherished by King John and received its charter from him in 1204. While Tabor explores the terrain, she diligently crafts plots involving sinister murders.
