The Author
Always researching. Always writing.
I love the process of research. I love archival research – following a thread through the archive, uncovering voices that have been quiet for centuries, and piecing together the human stories behind the documents. It’s such a privilege to do this work.
Writing is where that work comes alive for me, transforming fragments into narratives that engages with modern readers. It’s amazing how seventeenth century history resonates with our world today.
My Research Interests
The Lived Experience of the Seventeenth Century
I explore how ordinary people navigated upheaval, belief, and daily life during one of the most turbulent centuries in British history. My work focuses on the emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of lived experience.
- Personal writings, testimonies, and archival fragments
- Community, identity, and everyday resilience
- How individuals made sense of conflict and change
Belief, Dissent, and Radical Thought
I study the ideas and movements that challenged authority and reshaped the cultural landscape of the early modern world. My research traces how radical beliefs emerged, spread, and transformed lives.
- Religious and political dissent
- Radical communities and visionary thinkers
- The social impact of belief and spiritual experience
The British Civil Wars / Wars of the Three Kingdoms and Their Aftermath
My published work examines the human consequences of the Civil Wars, from trauma and displacement to the rebuilding of social and emotional worlds in their wake.
- War, memory, and psychological impact
- Post‑war communities and reconstruction
- How conflict reshaped everyday life
Early Quaker History
I explore the emergence of early Quakerism within the wider landscape of seventeenth‑century radical thought, focusing on the people, ideas, and social worlds that shaped the movement. My work highlights the lived experience of early Friends and their impact on British religious and cultural history.
- Origins, growth, and diversity of early Quaker communities
- Radical belief, spiritual experience, and challenges to authority
- Quaker voices in the context of Civil War, dissent, and social change
What kind of projects am I looking for?
I’m always excited to hear about projects that bring history to wider audiences. These projects can include festivals, podcasts, media collaborations, or research‑driven storytelling. If you’re working on something that explores the past in a fresh, engaging way, I’d love to know more.
- Public‑history events and festivals
- Podcast interviews and media features
- Research‑based writing and narrative history projects
Current Projects
Zealous
Zealous, published in 2025, uncovers the fierce, often unsettling world of seventeenth‑century dissent, bringing the early Quakers and the aftermath of the Civil Wars to vivid, human life.
- Explores belief, trauma, and radical community in a time of upheaval
- Draws on intimate archival sources and lived experience
- Continues to spark conversations across podcasts, festivals, and public‑history platforms – hooray!
The Making of Mission: Impossible (1996)
Oh, you weren’t expecting that!
I’m co‑authoring a behind‑the‑scenes history of Mission: Impossible (1996) with the brilliant Michael Beddoes. This book explores how this landmark film was created, shaped, and transformed into a modern action classic.
- Draws on interviews, production archives, and industry research
- Reveals the creative tensions and innovations behind the film
- Situates Mission: Impossible within the wider story of 1990s cinema
THE NEXT BOOK
So my next book hasn’t been formally announced yet, but I can say this:
- It tells the story of gender, authority, and violence in England and the Colonies in the seventeenth century.
That’s it! That’s all you’re getting until my publisher gives the green light!