Anna Best

Anna Best, aka Aunt Grizelda, is Yorkshire born and bred, which has spoiled her for living anywhere else (although she’s tried a couple of times.) She became addicted to stories at an early age, and began telling her own, sitting on the teacher’s knee at Carr Green Junior and Infants’ School. (Miss Mitchell had exceptionally comfy knees for which Anna remains grateful.)

By taking English literature at Lancaster University, she sneakily combined study with enjoyment, and having gained her degree, taught English. For many years her free time was spent singing in bands, and writing songs - a useful apprenticeship in how to write rhyme and metre and wear daft clothes.

A visit to the Yorkshire Moors in 2013 resulted in a chance meeting with Aunt Grizelda, and since then the demi mortal has channelled her grimly funny verse through Anna’s pen, resulting in three volumes of ghoulish, gleefully grisly rhymes.

Anna has one grown up daughter, three grandchildren, and lives in Calderdale, West Yorkshire with her husband and saluki rescue dog, Curious Iris.