Joanne Clague is the author of historical saga fiction set in nineteenth century Yorkshire. Born and raised in Sheffield, Joanne rediscovered her passion for the city, for its past and its people, during research for her debut novel The Ragged Valley. Two sequels followed – The Girl at Change Alley and The Watchman’s Widow.

Joanne’s second historical saga trilogy is based around The House of Help for Friendless Girls, a real institution in Victorian Sheffield. All three titles in this series – The House of Hope, The Lightfingered Lass and The Rebel Daughter – are out now.

She lives in the Isle of Man with her family and Labrador dogs in the beautiful coastal village of Laxey. She had a career in print, radio and broadcast journalism before turning to novel writing. When she’s not writing, Joanne enjoys walking Piper and Mini in the Manx countryside, playing with her grand-daughter and chasing wild billy goats out of the garden.