Beginner’s Pluck: 'Milly McCarthy' series author Leona Forde 

Leona Forde made stories up 'in her head' for her daughter and then wrote them in writing classes during lockdown 

Leona Forde is the author of the 'Milly McCarthy' series of books, the second 'Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster' was published this year

A bookish child, Leona was fascinated by history.

“But I wanted to be a fashion designer. As the youngest of five, with hand me down clothes, I was always adding a sash, or crafting clothes to make them mine.”