Eleanor Herman is a New York Times bestselling author of three books that examine the historical intersection of women,power, and royalty. She discovered Peggielene Bartels, Nana Amuah Afenyi VI, in February 2009 at a Ghanaian Embassy reception and
knew she had just found a living subject for her next book. Eleanor traveled with the king to Otuam in September and spent a month chronicling the trials, tribulations, challenges, and victories of the lady king.
Her article All the King’s Men, focusing on Nana’s efforts to stem corruption in the town, was the cover story of the Washington Post Magazine on March 14, 2010. In April, Eleanor and Nana sold the book rights of King Peggy to the Doubleday Division of Random House, for publication in January 2012.
Eleanor has donated part of her proceeds from the book contract to building a pure water bore hole in central Otuam, so the kids don’t have to walk so far before school carrying water. She is also sponsoring the education of two young fatherless children.
