“There’s plenty of time. You’ll be working for years and years so be prepared to take a few years to find the right career for you.”
Your Loughborough Story
Can you tell us about your memories of your time at Loughborough High school?
I came to LHS in Year 9 so missed the first years but everyone was very welcoming and I made some wonderful friends. I especially loved sixth form and having a common room to make tea and coffee in. I remember us all thinking we were ill because we kept going to the loo, but it was just the unaccustomed drinks at break! I also remember climbing out of the window of the Upper Sixth common room – just because it was a quicker route out! The summer balls were wonderful and, of course, hanging out at the barrier with the lads from the Grammar! I loved my history lessons with Mrs Armstrong and Miss Morris and have been delighted to see them both recently. Mrs Armstrong surprised and delighted me by turning up at one of my talks and it was brilliant to see her. French lessons with Mr Tomlin were also a highlight- I’ll never forget him telling us to call tests ‘daffodils’ because it made them less intimidating! Oh and of course, there were the tableaux… I was in the infamous grey tableau as Solomon, complete with full beard, and in the afternoon performance, I farted half way through. The effort not to laugh was immense for all of us and we collapsed in giggles the moment the curtains closed!!
What is your fondest memory from School?
My fondest memory must be the first ever comic relief, when we all dressed up and had our English lesson in the cupboard in what was then the new English block. We had a lovely young teacher and all crammed in under the eaves for our lesson – bonkers but good fun.
How did your time at Loughborough High School influence your life and career?
I got good results, which led me to Cambridge and a wonderful time there. My history lessons were formative and perhaps led me to writing historical fiction. And I met some wonderful friends.
What do you wish you had known when you were in Sixth Form?
There’s plenty of time. You’ll be working for years and years so be prepared to take a few years to find the right career for you.
How would you describe Loughborough High School in three words?
Friendly, fun, educational.
Are you still in touch with any of your school friends or teachers today?
I am. Recently we’ve all made a real effort to meet again, both via official reunions and unofficial get-togethers and it’s been brilliant to catch up with everyone and where they’ve got to in their lives.
Alumni Career Wisdom
What led you to choose your career path?
I always wanted to write. I wrote a Malory Towers style boarding school book aged about 10 and would tell stories to my siblings on long car journeys. I knew it wasn’t a ‘proper job’ though so after university I went into production management for Courtauld’s Textiles. I loved it but still hankered to write so when I got married and had kids I started writing short stories in the (very limited!) gaps between looking after them. My mum and stepmum both provided some care and slowly I started getting published. I was applying to agents with my first novel for years until I finally signed to one and then it was several more years before I was published by Pan Macmillan for my medieval fiction as Joanna Courtney. My editor there left to go to Bookouture, a digital-first company, and we kept in touch. She would always suggest I should write World war II fiction for her. I resisted as I didn’t think there was enough interest but it turns out there is still so much interest and in the end I found some niche, women’s stories that really grabbed me and I signed to them as Anna Stuart. Those books have gone from strength to strength and are now bestsellers in a number of countries.
Could you provide an outline of your job role?
I write novels! Simple. Actually, I research and then write novels. At the moment I’m writing 3 novels a year (1 medieval and 2 WW2) but that’s a bit much! It will be 2 a year once I complete my current contracts.
What are your career highlights?
My novel, The Midwife of Auschwitz, has been a bestseller in Britain, America, France, Spain and various other countries. I get so many lovely messages from readers in various languages saying how it spoke to them and I love that.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to current pupils thinking about entering a similar role to yourself?
Be prepared to take a lot of knock-backs. I was rejected many times before I secured a publishing contract and then went through years of earning very little money before my WW2 novels took off.
What job search tips would you give to pupils looking for a career in your industry?
Write a book, edit it ruthlessly and then submit to all the agents and publishers who are open for submissions (you can find them in the Writers and Artist’s Yearbook). Grab any positive feedback and keep submitting! Go to a few courses and networking groups if you’d like to, but don’t get sucked into constant ‘how to do it’ events. The best thing you can possibly do is write, write, write – and then submit!
What are the key skills you need for your job role/to work in your industry?
Creativity, literacy, an eye for a story, the to craft it, and endless determination and resilience to get it out there!
Final notes
What ambitions would you still like to realise?
I’d love to see one of my novels made into a film. There are some French film companies interested, so we’ll see…
Do you have any advice for current pupils/graduates who don’t know what to career path to follow?
Don’t fret! Get out there and do a few different jobs and live a little and it will become clear.
Do you have any hobbies that keep you busy in your spare time?
I have a dog who I like to walk, a husband, four kids and a granddaughter. They’re all grown up now (except the granddaughter, clearly!) and have largely left home so visiting them is fun. In between, my husband and I have a motorhome and love to travel. I can write on the road so we are getting more adventurous- we’ve just come home from a 2-month trip around Greece and the Balkans, combining research, writing and holiday. It’s wonderful.
Websites: joannacourtney.com and annastuartbooks.com
Instagram: @annastuartauthor