Ann Purser is a British author, well-known for her mystery and general fiction novels. She currently resides in a small and attractive village located in the East Midlands. The village, which still has a shop, garage, pub, and church, serves as the inspiration for many of her novels. Purser draws inspiration from her daily life in the village, often observing and listening to the world around her as she goes about her shopping.
Before becoming a successful author, Purser had a number of different careers, including journalism and art gallery proprietorship. She worked as a columnist for SHE magazine for six years and ran her own art gallery in a 400-year-old barn behind her house. These experiences gave her unique insights into the characters and relationships of her customers, which she would later use to sharpen her writer's skills and weave plots around strangers. Additionally, her time working in a village school and participating in the church choir and Women's Guild provided even more material for her stories.
Purser is perhaps best known for her mystery novels, which have gained a reputation for transporting readers to rural British villages where life is not always as sweet and innocent as it seems. She has written several series, including the Round Ringford, Lois Meade, and Ivy Beasley series. Each series is set in a different village and features a new cast of characters, although there are often recurring themes and issues that are common to all rural villages. Purser's ability to create vivid and engaging settings and characters has earned her a devoted following among readers of mystery fiction.
In addition to her mystery novels, Purser has also written general fiction and non-fiction books. She has a particular interest in the history of popular entertainment in the first forty years of the twentieth century, and has written a lighthearted book on the subject for schools. She has also written a book for parents of handicapped children, drawing on her own experiences as the mother of a daughter with cerebral palsy. Despite her many accomplishments, Purser remains humble and dedicated to her craft, setting aside mornings for writing and spending the rest of the day participating in the life of her village. She is never bored and continues to find inspiration for her stories in the world around her.