Welcome to my site!

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!

Latest News:

Spring catch up!

It’s been an incredibly busy spring this year with lots of visits to schools so I thought it was time to catch up and look back at some of the places I’ve been.

In April I had a great day at the ARGYLE HOUSE SCHOOL in Sunderland doing writing workshops with years 5 and 6 – talking about building characters and developing stories from them. I was also speaking about Greyfriars Bobby, a favourite story of mine.

Later in the day I was speaking to years 7,8 & 9 about SPIDER and DEAD BOY TALKING

We looked at the research I had done for the books and explored the characters. We also looked at the different people involved in bringing a book from idea to final publication.

There was also time for book signing afterwards.

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Wigtown Spring Events THIS WEEKEND

for Tinies, Teens and Writers

I’ll be there this weekend so why not come along whatever age you are!
Wigtown Spring Weekend Events –
For teenagers and those interested in writing for them..…….
SATURDAY 30th April 3pm-4pm County Buildings (£3)
Linda Strachan talks about her latest book DEAD BOY TALKING, and her award-winning novel SPIDER.
…
and on the SUNDAY 1st May for the younger ones……
11am-12noon County Buildings
HAMISH McHAGGIS stories (age 4-10, £3)

To book tickets please contact 01988 403222.

New Zealand School Tour blogs

On my blog BOOKWORDS you read the latest of six blogs about my recent tour of schools in New Zealand.

With the support of the New Zealand Book Council in February this year I visited 9 schools in North Island, a mixture of primary and secondary schools, in four different locations.

I will soon be blogging about the final event on that trip which was a talk I gave in Sydney, Australia. to the SCWBI writers so check back again and find out more about the great writers I met there.