Susan offers talks and workshops for adults and children
Susan has delivered sessions for Blackpool High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ), Community Rail Lancashire, Clitheroe Castle, Haworth Art Gallery, Castle Park Arts Centre, Frodsham, Healthy Arts (Haigh Hall), National Literacy Trust’s Blackpool Hub, Northern YA Lit Fest, Smithdown Lit Fest, Barnsley Library, Bolton Libraries, Chorley Libraries, Halton Libraries, Manchester Libraries, Oldham Libraries, Stockton-on-Tees Libraries, Wigan Libraries and schools across the north west of England.
The Secret of Abney Hall talk
A 40 minute talk and readings (Using powerpoint slides) + 20 minute Q&A
Did you know following her infamous 11-day disappearance the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie sought sanctuary at her sister’s mansion, Abney Hall, in Cheadle near Manchester.
Discover how real events inspired author Susan Brownrigg’s debut mystery novel for adults The Secret of Abney Hall.
Ideal for book clubs, libraries and societies.
Susan offers in-person and virtual visits for schools
40 minute talk + 20 minute Q&A
OR
One writing workshop : £150
Half day visit (one talk + one writing workshop
OR
Two workshops : £300
Full day visit (One hour talk + two writing workshops
OR
Three workshops: £400
Virtual visits : 30 minute talk PLUS 10 mins Q&A - £50
All fees are as recommended by the Society of Authors
Wrong Tracks: Full Steam Ahead!
Step back in time with children’s book author Susan Brownrigg and discover how real life people, places and stories inspire her writing.
Susan’s new book – Wrong Tracks is inspired by a competition to find a fast, reliable steam locomotive to run on the brand new Liverpool & Manchester Rail Way in 1829.
Susan will explain how a real boy – Edward Entwistle, from Tyldesley, Lancashire – and the famous father and son inventors George and Robert Stephenson from Newcastle Upon Tyne – were the spark which prompted her book. She will also explain why the new railways which are being celebrated in their 200th anniversary in 2025 – changed life for ordinary folk and why the North was so important in their development.
Children will be able to handle replica paper materials from the Rainhill Trials, have a sniff of a steam train smell cube and learn about the different steam engines that competed at the Rainhill Trials.
40 minute interactive talk with reading PLUS 20 minute Q&A.
£150
A chance to try on 1820’s early railway-era clothing as worn by Edward and Prudence!
Custom-made for Susan by Iron Bridge Museums
How to Become an Author
Assembly Talk (One hour. Whole school.) £150 + travel expenses
Susan shares how it took her over 20 years and several books to become a published author. Focuses on resilience.
40 minute interactive talk PLUS 20 minute Q&A.
Gracie Fairshaw mysteries
(One hour. KS2+) £150
Susan explains how real Blackpool events and places inspired her Gracie books. She talks about why representation matters in children's books and how her family and working-class background influenced her writing. Susan also reveals how she brought the 1930s to life by exploring Blackpool's seaside heritage in person, just like Gracie. (Includes smell cubes, talking tin sounds and costume activities.) Susan can include history themes from either Mysterious Guest (Blackpool Illuminations and Audrey Mosson, Railway Queen) or Trouble at the Tower (Blackpool Tower, Toys from the past, and/or 1930s Christmas) or Missing Reel (Winter Gardens, cinema history.)
40 minute interactive talk PLUS 20 minute Q&A
Susan has worked in heritage and wildlife education for 12 years,including 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.
Susan has delivered a series of author talks + Q&As and workshops at North West schools and family events at libraries.
Susan is also qualified journalist.
She worked as a reporter and sub-editor for over ten years, at Liverpool Daily Post & Echo Weekly newspapers.
Workshops for KS2
Map out a mystery
£150
A fun hour-long WRITING workshop using magnifying glasses and historic local maps to plot out a mystery short story.
Hold the Front Page
£150
A fun hour-long WRITING workshop using old newspapers to create a newspaper front page. Discover the amazing story of Audrey Mosson - the 15-year-old Blackpool Girl who switched on the Blackpool Illuminations in 1935.
Super storyboards!
£150
A fun hour-long workshop showing how to use movie storyboarding techniques to plot the key moments in a short story.
Susan is DBS checked and has public liability insurance.
All visits can include book sales/signings. Book sales will usually be provided by local independent bookseller and arranged by Susan.
Overnight accommodation where required is an additional cost.
Travel expenses where required calculated at 55p per mile