Rachel Grosvenor is a British writer, editor, and writing coach. She holds a PhD, MA, and BA in Creative Writing. Her debut novel, The Finery (2023), explores themes of totalitarianism and resistance in a dystopian society. In addition to her book, she has published poetry and short stories in various reviews and anthologies.
Rachel Grosvenor was born in Birmingham. She pursued her interest in writing through formal education, eventually obtaining a PhD. In addition to her academic qualifications, she trained as a Certified Professional Life Coach to combine her literary knowledge with coaching skills.
She said, “When I decided to use my PhD, MA, and BA in Creative Writing to help others, I knew it would take more than this knowledge to be a coach.”
During her PhD studies, Rachel worked two jobs, earning business excellence awards and total marks in lecturing observations. She completed her PhD with minor revisions in four years. She attributes her success to maintaining a writing routine, noting, “If you don’t write, nothing will change.” This philosophy guided her while working on The Finery, which she began before the pandemic.
In 2020, while in lockdown in New Zealand, Rachel focused on developing The Finery. She stayed in a rented garden shed outside Christchurch, providing the solitude and inspiration to create the novel’s setting, Finer Bay. The story follows Professor Wendowleen Cripcot as she navigates life under a repressive government. While in Wellington, Rachel volunteered at Katherine Mansfield’s house, where she edited the manuscript.
Rachel describes her writing process as flexible, emphasising that writing daily does not work for everyone. “Write, because if you don’t, nothing will change,” she advises.
The Finery received positive feedback for its imaginative narrative and social commentary. Author Joe Bedford praised it: "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.”
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