 Gilroy did not enter full-time schooling until she was 12, this was influenced by her grandmother.Sally Louisa James, Gilroy's grandmother thought Gilroy would be able to learn more from life, if she had life different life experiences and more freedom, typically not something someone could gain from primary school.Gilroy was heavily influenced by her grandmother in all her aspects of life, she found inspiration from her grandmother's stories in her own writings.