Sparking Stories

Free Creative Taster Workshops for 50 + 

This workshop will provide an introduction to writing historical fiction for children. 

Participants will be given an opportunity to create their own story idea using historical newspapers as a prompt. 

Find plot ideas from real events and explore how this can help you develop your characters and setting. 

Susan will give examples of how she used the same technique to create her debut children’s book Gracie Fairshaw and the Mysterious Guest 

10 am until 1 pm

BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE HERE: https://tizft0sjhe0.typeform.com/to/wl9wnpTt 

Susan Brownrigg Bio: 

Susan is a children’s book author. Her historical adventures are aimed at ages 9+.  

Gracie Fairshaw and the Missing Reel (2020) Gracie Fairshaw and the Trouble at the Tower (2021) Gracie Fairshaw and the Missing Reel (2024) form a mystery series set in 1930s Blackpool inspired by real events and places. Kintana and the Captain’s Curse (2020) is a treasure hunt adventure set in Madagascar, 1733, inspired by endangered and extinct animals and the golden age of piracy. 

Her next contracted book is Wrong Tracks a historical mystery inspired by Stephenson’s Rocket, the Rainhill Trials (1829) and the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway. 

All Susan’s books are published by UCLan Publishing, an award-winning independent publisher based at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston. 

Susan has delivered numerous workshops, talks and events including a HAZ funded project for Blackpool. She has worked in partnership with Bolton Libraries, Wigan Libraries, Halton Libraries, Sefton Libraries and Barnsley Libraries. She has delivered events for Smithdown Litfest, NYA Lit Fest and was recently a close up reader for an online event with Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival. 

Susan currently also works as a library information assistant for Halton Libraries. 

Prior to June 2021, Susan worked in heritage and wildlife education for 12 years, including several years as Learning Manager at Norton Priory Museum in Runcorn. 

Susan has also worked at Quarry Bank Mill, Tatton Park and Catalyst Science Centre delivering education sessions and living history.  She also spent a summer season as an education assistant at Blackpool Zoo where she worked alongside ring-tailed lemurs, giant tortoises and Madagascan hissing cockroaches! 

Susan has delivered a range of EYFS, KS1 & KS2 school sessions onsite and as outreach as well as a planning and delivering a host of family friendly events and workshops for these roles.  

She has also delivered adult outreach for Men’s Recharge, Age UK and Wellbeing Enterprises (Norton Priory) and assisted with delivery of Blue Room art sessions in collaboration with Bluecoat, Liverpool. 

Susan is also qualified journalist. She worked as a reporter and sub-editor (section head) for over ten years, at Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Weekly newspapers.