Cradle of Thorns

Josephine Cox (1938–2020) was born in Blackburn, one of ten children. At the age of 16, Josephine met and married her husband Ken, and had two sons. When the boys started school, she decided to go to college and eventually gained a place at Cambridge University. She was unable to take this up as it would have meant living away from home, but she went into teaching – and started to write her first full-length novel. She won the Superwoman of Great Britain Award, for which her family had secretly entered her, at the same time as her novel was accepted for publication. She then became a #1 bestselling author with more than 60 books to her name. Since her death, a number of her books have been co-written by British author Gilly Middleton, including Daddy's Girl, A Time to Remember, A Daughter's Return, The Letter, Two Sisters and A Daughter's Secret.

Sherry Baines has narrated over 75 audiobooks for the UK and USA. Her British TV appearances include Ralph & Katie, The A Word, Call the Midwife, Casualty and Doctors. On The English stage, she has worked with Alan Ayckbourn, Improbable Theatre, Hull Truck and in London‘s West End in The Mousetrap, as well as in rep and on tour around the UK. Her films include Testimony and the Bollywood film Jungle Cry. She is also a qualified executive coach and works with corporate clients on impact and presentation skills and effective communication.