#katashley
LightNews LightNews
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
My author copies have arrived!

#newbook #biography #katashley #elizabethi
August 12, 2026 at 8:40 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
A huge thank you to the Friends of Newton Abbot Museum for giving me such a warm reception yesterday evening.

Here I am wearing a russet nightgown as I introduce The Real Kat Ashley.

#historytalks #bookevent #katashley #newbiography
September 25, 2026 at 11:52 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
Just out in Notes from Devon’s Tudor Time Traveller —I’m celebrating book events in Devon and sharing a lovely review of my biography of Queen Elizabeth I’s Governess

rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/celebratin...

#bookreview #bookevents #devon #katashley
September 26, 2026 at 10:33 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
Today I’m playing with slides for my talks later this week. Quite a rogues gallery here! A few more adjustments needed.

#historytalks #bookevents #booklaunch #katashley #queenelizabeth’sgoverness
September 21, 2026 at 11:09 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
In this week’s substack article I’m sharing details of my research visit to the archives at Hatfield in 2025.

rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/they-all-s...

#researchtrip #katashley #elizabethi
September 20, 2026 at 10:10 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
Happy Book Launch Day to me!!

Queen ElizabethI’s Governess : The Real Kat Ashley is officially out today.

Visit Notes from Devon’s Tudor Timetraveller on Substack to find out more.

rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/its-public...

#elizabethi #katashley #newbiography #womeninhistory #booklaunch
August 30, 2026 at 8:52 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
🎉Happy Friday everyone! 🎉

I’m celebrating today. Editing is complete and my book about Katherine Astley (aka Kat Ashley) is taking shape.

We’re working towards publication this summer @penswordbooks

#katashley #queenelizabethsgoverness #womeninhistory #tudor
February 13, 2026 at 9:55 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
The King’s Chapel of the Savoy, in London is the last surviving building of a hospital founded by Henry VIl in 1512 for the 'poore and needye’.

I visited in 2025 while researching Kat Ashley, who died #otd 18 July 1565.

#SteepleSaturday #katashley
July 18, 2026 at 5:00 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
I’m thrilled to reveal the stunning jacket the clever people at Pen and Sword Books have designed for my forthcoming book about the woman known to fans of Tudor history as ‘Kat Ashley’.

#history #elizabethan #womeninhistory #katashley
October 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
I’ve been spending a lot of time with this intriguing woman today.

The first page proofs are in!

Hoping to pick up my needle again soon.

#mybook #katashley #queenelizabethsgoverness #proofreading
February 27, 2026 at 6:04 PM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
Many people know her as Kat Ashley. I prefer to call her ‘Kate’.

Find out why and read more about the remarkable woman who meant so much to Elizabeth 1 in this substack post.

rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/the-end-of...

@penswordbooks

#katashley #katherinechampernowne
#elizabeth1 #newbook
July 18, 2026 at 11:18 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
#histficmay

Day 4–do you write in any other genres?

I’m dipping my toe into non - fiction waters with Queen Elizabeth’s Governess.

#history #Tudor #elizabeth1 #katashley #books
May 5, 2025 at 6:47 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
This week’s Substack, inspired by my recent visit to Sherborne .

#sirwalterraleigh #elizabethi #katashley #sherborne

substack.com/@rosemarygri...
Fortunes Fold
Kat Ashley’s nephew, Sir Walter Raleigh, and his home at Sherborne
substack.com
July 11, 2026 at 6:07 PM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
Today in Notes from Devon’s Tudor Time Traveller you can read more about an amazing Tudor purse that probably belonged to Cardinal Wolsey.

rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/researchin...

#seatondelavalhall #katashley #cardinalwolsey #purse #tudor
September 5, 2026 at 12:49 PM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
Find out more about the inspiration for my latest Tudor creation

#tudor #elizabeth1 #katashley #tidorcostume #trsearch

substack.com/@rosemarygri...
‘She had but a russet nightgown’. Kat Ashley in the Tower of London, 24 February 1549.
How a tiny detail can change the narrative of events
substack.com
June 13, 2026 at 3:38 PM
enortonhistory.bsky.social
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of Queen Elizabeth I’s Governess by @ragriggsauthor.bsky.social My comments below…

@penandswordbooks.bsky.social #katherineashley #katashley #elizabethi #tudor #tudors
June 18, 2026 at 8:54 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
William Cecil and Kate Astley both had Elizabeth 1’s best interests at heart. But did they always agree?

New on Substack

rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/kate-astle...

#elizabethii #katashley
August 23, 2026 at 5:06 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
#histficmay

Day30.

Next historical fiction book on my ‘tbr ‘pile?

As I scour the historical record for Kat Ashley, I’m also exploring how she’s been portrayed in fiction. Margaret Irwin and revisiting Jean Plaidy next

#HistoricalFiction
#katashley
June 1, 2025 at 8:58 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
#OTD 8 September 1596 died Sir John Gilbert,

nephew of Kate Astley (Kat Ashley), elder brother of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and half brother of Sir Walter Raleigh.

Read more

rosemarygriggs.co.uk/blog/48/

#devonhistory #gilbertfamily #elizabethan #katashley
September 8, 2026 at 8:29 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
#otd, 10th September 1549, Sir Anthony Denny, Kate Astley’s brother-in-law, died.

Read about the important part he played in Elizabeth I’s early years.
in my book,

@penswordbooks

rosemarygriggs.co.uk/books/

#tudor #elizabethi #katashley
September 10, 2026 at 8:32 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
A recent visit to Holy Trinity Church, last resting place of Willuam Shakespeare and also of Kate Astley’s great-nephew, George Carew, Earl of Totnes .

rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/a-visit-to...

#holytrinitystratforduponavon #shakespeare #earloftotnes #stratforduponavon #katashley
A visit to Holy Trinity Church, Stratford on Avon
Renewing my acquaintance with George Carew, a Devon man who probably knew William Shakespeare
rosemarygriggs.substack.com
August 15, 2026 at 10:54 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
Prequels? Maybe one day! But for my next project I’m setting aside all pre-conceptions and assumptions and going back to the source material to find the real Kat Ashley.

#katashley #elizabethI #biography
May 26, 2025 at 11:13 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
#otd died a woman who was arguably more important than anyone else during the early life of Queen Elizabeth 1.

Discover the real Kat Ashley in my forthcoming biography @penswordbooks

www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Queen-Elizab...

amzn.eu/d/0fI604aI

#elizabeth1 #katashley #biography
July 18, 2026 at 4:50 AM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
#OTD , 1 August 1596, John Astley, Master of the Jewel Office died.

For twenty years of his long life he was married to Kat Ashley.

#katashley #elizabeth1 #johnastley #onthisday

rosemarygriggs.substack.com/p/john-astle...
John Astley, Elizabeth I’s Master of the Jewel Office (c.1507- 1 August 1596)
The quiet man at Kat Ashley’s side for twenty years
rosemarygriggs.substack.com
August 1, 2026 at 12:17 PM
ragriggsauthor.bsky.social
Publication day is only a month away. In the meantime you can read about Finding the Real Kat Ashley in my guest post for @penswordbooks

www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/blog/finding...

Available for pre-order now.

#newbook #womeninhistory #katashley #elizabeth1 #biography
Finding the Real Kat Astley - Pen & Sword Blog
Author guest post by Rosemary Griggs. I have devoted ten years to scouring the archives, looking for traces of one Devon family, the Champernownes. From their
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
July 30, 2026 at 4:57 PM