About Susan
I'm a Lancashire lass. I grew up in Wigan and now live in Skelmersdale. I love to visit Blackpool as often as possible!
I am the author of Gracie Fairshaw and the Mysterious Guest, Gracie Fairshaw and the Trouble at the Tower, Kintana and the Captain's Curse and Gracie Fairshaw and the Missing Reel.
I also work as a library information assistant.
My previous career was in heritage and wildlife education. I worked at Norton Priory Museum for 12 years, most recently as learning manager. I have also worked at Tatton Park, Quarry Bank Mill, Rufford Old Hall, Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Blackpool Zoo!
My first career was journalist and sub-editor. I worked for Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Weekly newspapers for 10 years!
I was the first person in my family to go to university thanks to a grant (and student loans). I studied Journalism, film & broadcasting in Cardiff.
I began writing my first children's novel in 2000. It was a time travel adventure! An extract was longlisted for the Writers & Artist's 100th edition novel writing competition.
My third (unpublished) children's book was selected for the SCBWI BI Undiscovered Voices 2016 anthology. The opening extract from that book also won the Margaret Carey Scholarship for fiction 2015.
As a Lancashire lass I am often inspired by northern working-class history.
My childhood and family history play a central role in the choices I make when creating characters.
My dad was a milkman, and my mum did a host of jobs around looking after me and my sister including working in a fish and chip shop!
I have borrowed names from my grandparents and great aunts and uncles as they were the same generation as my detective series heroine Gracie Fairshaw – and my great grandfather, Edward Hill, motivated me to write about a main character who has limb difference as he had to have his lower left arm amputated after getting shrapnel in it at the Battle of Arras in WW1.
My great grandfather is pictured in this family photograph (left) with me (bottom right) when I was ten-years-old.