A success story!

Guinevere Glasfurd who runs Words & Women’s Twitter feed has had some wonderful news. Lisa Highton of Two Roads publishers has acquired the UK rights to Guin’s debut novel The Words In My Hands.

Set in the 17th century Dutch Republic the novel tells the story of Helena Jans van der Strom, a Dutch servant girl, her relationship with René Descartes and their daughter – a story hidden at the time, and almost entirely lost from history since. 

Highton says: “Helena is one of the most fully-formed and believable characters I’ve come across in some time – a true feminist protagonist and woman in love. Her determination to educate herself and her joy in words and writing is a thing of wonder and heroism. From the little that is on record of Helena’s life Guinevere has fashioned an inspiring and moving story of an extraordinary woman.” 

Two Roads will publish The Words In My Hands in hardback in early 2016. 

Guinevere Glasfurd was awarded a place on Writers' Centre Norwich Escalator programme in 2012. She has an MA in Creative Writing (Distinction), and her short fiction has been published in Mslexia, The Scotsman and in an anthology from the National Galleries of Scotland. She received a grant from Arts Council England to write and research The Words in My Hand and recently won TLC's Pen Factor Award.