Catherine lives in Shropshire with two cats, several chickens, and three Icelandic horses. Catherine has always loved telling stories and has never stopped believing that she can talk to animals. So when she began to write her stories down, they had animals at their heart. A graduate of the prestigious Golden Egg Academy, Catherine published her first novel, Little Viking Horse, in October 2021. Little Viking Horse is based on the character of Catherine’s Icelandic horse, Fleygur, her detailed observations of her horses, and the horse-human interactions she has witnessed, which, sadly, are not always positive. Inspired by Black Beauty, Catherine hopes that Little Viking Horse will promote greater understanding and empathy towards horses, and hopefully people too! Catherine’s second book, The Badger Resistance Army, was published in June 2025. Badgers are an iconic but often controversial animal. In The Badger Resistance Army, Catherine explores the threat to our wild habitats through the eyes of a badger, lives her fantasy of being able to talk to animals, and imagines a world where space is made for all to live. Other Viking horse adventures and stories from the perspective of animals are taking shape in Catherine’s daydreams and notebooks. As well as writing… Catherine also enjoys supporting others in their personal development and leadership, and occasionally undertakes individual coaching or public speaking to facilitate this. She is an unconventional leader with a reputation for authenticity and resilience. Widowed suddenly in 2016, Catherine has also written and spoken about living through grief, anxiety, and loss of confidence. Before deciding to talk more with her animals and write stories, Catherine was a CEO in the Probation Service, where she was known for using her passion, personal experience, storytelling, and a bit of humour to inspire others. Catherine is a contributing author to Street Smart Awareness and Inquiry in Action, a partner in designing and delivering Amara Collaboration‘s online training, Building Resilience in Leadership, and The Power of Storytelling in Leadership. She has also co-designed and facilitated transformational leadership development retreats. Catherine is currently a Non-Executive Director in the NHS, a Family Carer, and a Parish Councillor.