I write books for all ages, for young children to teenage and adults. I have also written a book on writing - Writing for Children - for both aspiring and newly published authors.
While I spend quite a lot of time visiting libraries, schools and festivals talking about my books and running creative writing workshops, I do manage to find time to write, too!
You can download the free story: Hamish McHaggis and the Aberlady Gala Mystery.
Delighted to announce the publication of my latest book by @Discoverkelpies idea for all history buffs but especially for
7-10 year olds. Includes maps, timelines, family trees, Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobite Risings, and so much more.
The exciting story of brother and sister, Rob and Aggie, and their Highland Jacobite family.
A few photos – Mslexicon conference weekend in Leeds July 2019
Chatting to the lovely Thérèse Coen; Kirsty from Fox Lane Books ( with my latest book Dangerous Lives of the Jacobites for sale for the first time!); Delivering my IKIGAI workshop – finding creative fulfilment – workshop on Friday afternoon; the great Mslexicon team ,who worked so hard all weekend to make it such a success; the venue, Devonshire Hall in Leeds, and the very entertaining Sophie Hannah.
https://mslexia.co.uk/mslexicon/
Mslexicon is a house party like no other. 12-14th July 2019 (Leeds)
Part brainstorm, part bootcamp, part celebration, it is a chance to nurture your writing craft and career with the help of leading agents, authors, tutors and mentors, all hand-picked for the depth of their knowledge and their commitment to supporting women writers. A great weekend event for writers. Talks, mini courses, workshops, panels and 1-2-1s with full weekend tickets, and single day tickets now available.
On Saturday morning 13th July,(10am – 12.15pm )
I’ll be giving a talk for children’s writers: Writing for Middle Grade and YA (Young Adult) Followed by a Panel event with agents Julia Churchill and Thérèse Coen about current trends in publishing for this age range.
(more details below)
——————————-1-2-1s ————————
Want to ask that burning question? There are still some spaces in my 1-2-1’s between 12-1 pm
more info on this link. https://mslexia.co.uk/mslexicon/sessions/one-to-ones/
————————Mini Courses ————————
There are three mini courses ( 3 hrs) on Friday afternoon.
I will be leading a mini course to help you Find Creative Fulfilment though finding your IKIGAI ; and how it can help you gain an insight into why you write and how your creative work can mesh with the rest of your life.
MINI-COURSE: LINDA STRACHAN – Find creative fulfilment with Ikigai
https://mslexia.co.uk/mslexicon/sessions/friday/
——————–More info ———————————
.SATURDAY (10am – 12.15pm TALK AND PANEL Writing for Middle Grade & YA (Young Adult)
TALK: Writing for children: Middle Grade and (YA)
We are very privileged to offer this talk by Linda Strachan, who is the award-winning author of over 70 books for children, and also the author of the seminal handbook Writing for Children. Linda’s extensive experience of writing for children aged from 8 to 18 makes her the perfect person to speak on this topic. She will discuss the wide variety of ways to approach older children, exploring the possibilities, the joy and the challenges in writing Middle Grade and Young Adult books.
PANEL: Publishing trends : Middle Grade and YA with Julia Churchill & Thérèse Coen.
PANEL: Fantasy and magic realism, diverse voices and settings, gritty contemporary plots with hard-hitting messages, classic stories re conceived for a modern audience… What are the current trends in Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction at the moment – and what’s on the horizon for the future? Find out what’s on the wish lists of two specialist agents working in this field.
Mslexicon 2019 is for writers of creative prose: novels and short fiction, memoir and biography, and all types of narrative non-fiction. The programme has been designed to foster creativity and provide you with the skills and confidence you need to achieve your writing goals.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
It has already been a busy start to the new year and looks like it is going to get even busier.
I’m working with Spittal Primary school in South Lanarkshire , and the P5/6 class primarily, on a residency with as part of the Scottish Book Trust Author Residencies.
https://www.thebookseller.com/news/scottish-book-trust-announces-author-residencies-865406
I have a few other school visits planned but not too many as I am in the middle of a couple of books, one that almost finished but more about that soon.
I’ve also been working on a
new and much updated edition of my writing handbook on Writing for Children. It is hard to believe it was published over ten years ago. So much has changed in the world of publishing and there are so many lovely new books out that it really needed updating. This is the previous cover and the new one will look very different and the new edition will be substantially different inside, too, with a completely new section on writing for YA (Young Adults) and much more on middle grade that seems to encompass a wide range of age and ability.
Doing the research for this book means that I am reading lots of new books, and revisiting a few of my favorites since it is not always about what it new since children growing up are a new audience all the time.
Self publishing has also changed a lot in the last 10 years and there are also a lot more enthusiasm to show diversity of all kinds in books both fiction and non fiction, and a lot more on mindfulness and mental health.
The section on ‘now you are published’ will also be updated with more on school visits, events, promotion and all the other aspects of being a published writer.
Lots to keep me busy!
