Farnham-based, award-winning children’s author Ally Sherrick hosted a launch event for her latest book, Rebel Heart, at Waterstones Farnham last week.

The event celebrated the release of her new children’s novel, a thrilling historical adventure set during the English Civil War.

Children's author Ally Sherrick with competition winners Josie Gregory, Florence Wakely, and Lily-Jane Sharp from William Cobbett Primary School.
Children's author Ally Sherrick with competition winners Josie Gregory, Florence Wakely, and Lily-Jane Sharp from William Cobbett Primary School. (Hugo Berger/Tindle)

The story follows Merriweather Pryce, the daughter of a nobleman fighting for King Charles I, as she embarks on a perilous quest to save her family home from Oliver Cromwell’s army. Along the way, she encounters enemy soldiers, turncoats, and spies, making for a gripping tale of courage and survival.

Speaking to her guests at Waterstones, Ally explained why she chose this turbulent period in history as the backdrop for her novel.

English Civil War re-enactors Michael Barnes, Samantha Barnes and Phil Davies of the Lord Hoptons Regiment.
English Civil War re-enactors Michael Barnes, Samantha Barnes and Phil Davies of the Lord Hoptons Regiment. (Hugo Berger/Tindle)

“The English Civil War is quite a complicated period. I did it for A-level and I didn’t really enjoy them, I have to say. But it is a really exciting and dangerous time in our history,” she said.

Adding to the historical atmosphere, the event featured civil war re-enactors from Alton’s Lord Hopton’s Regiment, who attended in full regalia.

Some of Farnham author Ally Sherrick's books on display in Waterstones.
Some of Farnham author Ally Sherrick's books on display in Waterstones. (Hugo Berger/Tindle)

Farnham has strong ties to the civil war, with the castle coming under seige in 1643, while King Charles I spent his final night in the town in December 1648, before being taken to London for trial and execution.

As part of the evening’s festivities, Ally presented awards to students from William Cobbett Primary School in Farnham, who had taken part in a creative writing competition she had organised. The challenge was to write stories set at Farnham Castle during its siege in the English Civil War.

Farnham author Ally Sherrick reads from her latest book Rebel Heart at a book launch in Waterstones.
Farnham author Ally Sherrick reads from her latest book Rebel Heart at a book launch in Waterstones. (Hugo Berger/Tindle)

The overall winner was nine-year-old Lily-Jane Sharp, while Josie Gregory, 11, and Florence Wakely, 10, were joint runners-up.

Ally Sherrick is well known for her historical fiction. One of her previous books, Black Powder, which tells the story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot, won the Historical Association Young Quills Competition in 2017.

Rebel Heart is published by Chicken House Books.