Wrexham has a new author to celebrate this summer. Primary school teacher Rhi Steele has published her debut novel, and the story is close to her heart.
A Story Years in the Making
Rhi works as a primary school teacher in the area. Meanwhile, she lives in Wrexham with her husband, two children and their dog, Travis. Between teaching and family life, she found time to write a story very close to her heart. Writing, in fact, became a way for her to process her own experiences over several years.
Rhi has spoken openly about her struggles with mental health, anxiety and body image. Consequently, she wanted her debut to offer comfort and recognition to other readers. She hopes people feel a little less alone after reading her story. As a result, the book reflects years of quiet, personal reflection turned into fiction, rather than a rushed or hurried piece of writing.
Meet Tilly in The Weight of Living
The Weight of Living follows Tilly, whose marriage has collapsed. Then, she moves into the home of her childhood nemesis, Connor Wilson. Slowly, reluctant proximity turns into real connection. Meanwhile, Tilly confronts anxiety and body image struggles throughout the story, giving the novel an emotional honesty that readers have already responded to.
The book does not shy away from difficult subject matter. Instead, it approaches these themes with warmth and understanding, drawing directly on Rhi’s own lived experience. That balance, she hopes, is what will make the story resonate most with readers who recognise something of themselves in Tilly’s journey.
Cranthorpe Millner Publishers released the novel on 28 July 2026. It is also now available in paperback and eBook from Waterstones and Amazon, priced at £11.99. Local readers, therefore, now have a fresh name to look out for on the shelves. For a teacher who spent years writing quietly around a busy family life, the achievement marks the start of what she hopes will be a longer writing journey.
Rarely Straightforward
Publishing a first novel is rarely straightforward, especially while juggling a full-time teaching role. Rhi has said the process taught her as much about persistence as it did about storytelling. Nevertheless, she kept returning to the manuscript in the evenings and during school holidays. Slowly, she chipped away until the story finally felt ready to share.
Local bookshops and readers have already shown interest in supporting a homegrown author. Therefore, Wrexham residents keen to back local talent can pick up a copy from Waterstones or order online. Rhi has said she is looking forward to hearing what readers make of Tilly’s story, and to seeing where her writing takes her next.
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