Grandmother bucks literary myth with nomination for writing award

A 70-year-old grandmother and former executive has made the shortlist of a major literary prize for her debut novel.

Anne Youngson, who retired from business where she worked for the likes of Land Rover, said that she was exploding myths about writers, being neither “gorgeous and 25” or writing “from misery”.

Her debut novel, Meet Me At The Museum, has now been shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards 2018.

She described herself as far from a “shrinking violet”, 0 Anne Youngson has been shortlisted at the age of 70

having become successful in the man’s world of the motor industry,

Ms Youngson said it was fear of disappointment that kept her silent for so long.

Writing had always been a “hobby” for the former executive, who did not want to ruin her enjoyment of it with potentially failed ambitions of publication.

Ms Youngson, of Oxford, said: “There is a sort of myth that you can’t get published unless you’re gorgeous and 25, which I clearly challenge.

“I’ve had a very fortunate life. I also explode the myth that you have to write out of misery or that you need to have a terrible relationship with your parents or a major tragedy.”

Ms Youngson, who prefers the traditional method of writing long-hand before typing up her work, is studying for a PHD in creative writing.