Greening

Joanna, a Fleet Street journalist, chances upon the journal of the mysterious Anna Leigh. She is moved by Anna's compelling confessional about her life-changing encounter with Julian of Norwich - an extraordinary woman from another age, who risked death at the stake to write a secret manuscript revealing the truth entrusted to her.

Joanna becomes captivated by Julian, remembering her own neglected ambition to pursue the truth at all costs. But Julian is from an alien world - can Joanna believe her promise that pain and suffering can lead to peace and happiness? Anna has the answer, but Joanna can find no trace of her.

Joanna's conscience is tested and she is put in danger when confronted by a terrible choice. Does she save her career by smearing a whistle-blower who has exposed a government scandal in which her lover may be implicated? Dare she risk all she holds dear to capture the greatest treasure of all?

Margaret Coles is a writer, journalist and broadcaster. She was a television and radio reporter and presenter at the BBC, where she worked on the flagship news programme Today, The World At One, PM, Woman's Hour and Newsnight. At the World Service she presented current affairs, science and arts programmes. Subsequently she was for several years a business columnist at The Sunday Times.
Margaret now writes for the theatre, her first love, where she began her career as an actress.
Her stage plays include Senghenydd, the story of Britain's biggest mining disaster, first performed at the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, and The Queen's Fool - about a young Elizabeth I and her woman fool - co-written with Susan Evans and first performed at the Lilian Baylis Theatre, Sadler's Wells. She also has a media consultancy, lectures journalism students, gives talks at conferences and business clubs and runs creative writing and storytelling workshops.
Margaret's leisure hours are occupied by family, friends, theatre, choral singing, hill walking, reading and enjoying her garden.