St Annasimone was the daughter of the King of Constantinople in the seventh century. Following the death of her father, she assumed the throne. Despite the riches and honour which she had as Queen, her heart longed for something greater. Her strong desire to live for the Lord forced her to leave the kingdom and run to the wilderness. After living in humiliation amongst the nuns of a convent, her holiness was revealed and so she escaped and lived the rest of her life as a hermit.
Her story is a great example of someone who denied themselves and followed the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. She loved reading the stories of the saints as a child, and so followed their example all her life. St Annasimone the Hermit Queen, told through the eyes of her spiritual father, will encourage young readers to seek God wholeheartedly and enjoy reading about the saints, as did she!