A few weeks ago I ran a giveaway for the paperback of A Thousand Ships. We asked everyone entering to share a story about a woman who inspired them. There were hundreds of people celebrating the unfamous extraordinary women in their lives, & they were too good not to share here.

Lynsey’s mum: She went to college and then uni later in life. She had both me and my brother really young and missed out on her 20s to find herself and her career. She started her academic journey while we were teenagers. Despite holding down a full-time job, a house on her own

and two rebellious teens she managed to push herself and now has a Masters degree and a BSc. I had my daughter at 24 and before she turned one I became a single mum in a job that made me depressed and feeling hopeless. I told myself if my mum can return to education later in life

and against the odds then its never too late. Now after 3 years at college I am due to start an MA in Classical Archaeology and Greek at the University of Edinburgh this September. My mum has been incredibly supportive and has always encouraged me to be independent and

strong willed. I hope to teach this to my daughter now too (she starts primary school this year so we are both sorting our school bags ).