Author Helen McCabe grew up in Dunhampstead, lived in Droitwich and taught at the high school until arthritis forced her to retire early. In 1995, her first full-length novel, Two for a Lie, about the 19th century Princess Caraboo, gained critical acclaim.

She has since written more than 30 novels in various genres, including historical, romance, horror, thriller and crime, including an historical account of the Droitwich salt industry called Ravens Mill. Her story The Price Of Beauty is also set in Droitwich and is about warring salt barons.