Susan is a Lancashire lass from a working class background. She grew up in Wigan and now lives in Skelmersdale. She writes historical mysteries inspired by northern people, places and events.

Titles: Gracie Fairshaw and the Mysterious Guest, Gracie Fairshaw and the Trouble at the Tower, Kintana and the Captain’s Curse, Gracie Fairshaw and the Missing Reel and Wrong Tracks. All published by Fox and Ink Books/UCLan Publishing.

She also works as a library information assistant.

Her previous career was in heritage and wildlife education. She worked at Norton Priory Museum for 12 years, most recently as learning manager. She has also worked at Tatton Park, Quarry Bank Mill, Rufford Old Hall, Catalyst Science Discovery Centre and Blackpool Zoo!

Her first career was journalist and sub-editor. She worked for Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Weekly newspapers for 10 years.

She was the first person in my family to go to university thanks to a grant (and student loans). She studied Journalism, film & broadcasting in Cardiff. She is currently studying an MA in Creative Writing.

She began writing her first children’s novel in 2000. An extract was longlisted for the Writers & Artist’s 100th edition novel writing competition. A revised version became Kintana and the Captain’s Curse (Fox and Ink Books/UCLan Publishing.)

Her third (unpublished) children’s book was selected for the SCBWI BI Undiscovered Voices 2016 anthology.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.

Gracie Fairshaw and the Trouble at the Tower was longlisted in the Historical Association’s Young Quills Award.

Susan is a member of the Society of Authors, National Association of Writers in Education and the Crime Writers’ Association. She was awarded an SOA Author’s Foundation Grant for Wrong Tracks.