It is clear from reading this thoroughly researched and engaging book, St Leonard’s Forest, West Sussex: A Landscape History, that Maggie has a deep interest in and love of the Sussex landscape, particularly forests. When she came to live in Horsham in the year 2000, Maggie was keen to know more about this lovely forest on her doorstep, so she began taking evening classes at the University of Sussex for a BA in Landscape Studies. When she retired from her work as a Probation Officer and Practice Teacher, she continued studying for a part-time doctorate under the supervision of Professor Brian Short, and produced her thesis in 2014.
Maggie discovered that hers was the first in depth study of St Leonard’s Forest and so felt her research, together with the information she had unearthed about the forest, should be more widely available; hence her initial determination to produce an interesting local history book about St Leonard’s Forest. She also wanted to show off her new retirement interests: writing poetry and botanical painting, a somewhat quirky but beautiful addition to any book. In the meantime, she was approached by Amberley Publications to write a book in their series on secret towns, so Secret Horsham was published in 2019 and is available locally and online.
Luckily, Maggie found Author’s Pen, new local publishers, through her attendance at Lesley Hart’s creative writing evening class at Collyer’s, Horsham. With their help and support her forest book, St Leonard’s Forest, West Sussex: A Landscape History will be published on 14th December 2020 and will be available from retailers on the 9th of January. The e-book will be published on 11th January 2021 (see below for details of both books). Maggie hopes St Leonard’s Forest, West Sussex: A Landscape History will be of interest to all those who look at the forest and wonder who owned the forest? Was it a royal forest? Who lived around and about, and how did they make their living? It will certainly be of interest to family historians particularly in the villages of Colgate and Lower Beeding. Ultimately, there is encouragement to get to know the forest by the footpaths that were so nearly closed at the beginning of the 20th century, and to give thanks to those locals who protested and won the day. To walk through the forest and appreciate the history, the legends, and get that restorative feeling that can only come from the sight and smell of pine, beech, oak and birch.
To find out more about Maggie and her writing, visit her website: www.maggieweirwilson.co.uk
To speak to Author’s Pen about visits and talks by Maggie, please contact: authorspen@outlook.com
St Leonard’s Forest: A Landscape History, Paperback
ISBN: 9781838343606 – publishes 14.12.20, available from retailers 09.01.21
St Leonard’s Forest: A Landscape History, e-book
ISBN: 9781838343613 – publishes 11.01.21
Having attended Lesley Hart’s Creative Writing course at Collyer’s in Horsham, I was delighted to discover Lesley had started to edit and publish books under the name of Author’s Pen. She took on the editing of my rather dense and well-referenced local history book on St Leonard’s Forest and saw it through to publication. She has since managed the marketing, and has been hugely energetic and encouraging in organising a book launch, increasing media presence and tracking reviews. I am sure I could not have sold as many copies, or had such confidence in my work without Lesley’s support and positive energy. Thanks Lesley!