Susan is an author and the Creative Director of an award-winning publishing company. At last count, she has written over 40 books for adults and children.

In the early part of her career, she was an international litigation lawyer living and working in Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines. After going back to University for further study, she changed career path and became an academic and writer.

Now based near Edinburgh, Susan holds two undergraduate degrees and one postgraduate degree, and is planning to embark upon further postgraduate research in coming years – once/if she has the time!

She has been a regular on local tea-time TV - having been one of the guests invited to sit on the sofa being interviewed about the events of the day - and has had her own day-time talk show on local radio. She is involved in the Edinburgh Fringe each year and holds a post with a national theatrical organisation which requires her to evaluate performances around the country.

Most importantly, Susan is an experienced cruise ship speaker and tutor. She approaches each contract with a combination of seriousness and enthusiasm as she is well aware that her audience is on holiday – an energy of light-hearted joy has to be brought to interesting historical and cultural subjects!

In addition to delivering talks and lectures in theatre spaces, Susan is also accustomed to delivering workshops on creative writing and drama in smaller rooms to groups of approximately 30 passengers. This is something close to her heart, particularly as two of her past workshop attendees went on to self-publish their own novels!

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EXAMPLES OF TALKS:

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SEASONAL - JANUARY

ROBERT BURNS AT SEA ~ THE REMARKABLE LIFE AND TIMES OF ROBERT BURNS ~ A DAYTIME BURNS SUPPER

This is a celebration of the life and works of Robert Burns, in the run up to Burns Night which takes place all around the world on 25th January every year. The daytime Burns 'Supper' can be delivered as a lecture on the Big Day itself - following the traditional running order which includes includes the piping in of the haggis, a bespoke written 'Toast tae the cruise ship lassies' and a 'Reply by the cruise ship lassies'. The 'Supper' can be put into context by a lecture the previous day on The Remarkable Life and Times of Robert Burns. A great way to join in the world's celebrations!

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SEASONAL - CHRISTMAS

IT'S PANTOMIME TIME!

This is a celebration of the uniquely bonkers, wildly anarchic British phenomenon of pantomime. Vitally important to theatres around the country, panto has been drawing crowds for centuries, and it's going from strength to strength, its audience numbers increasing year after year. There's even a hope that pantomime will be awarded UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status, right up there with Chinese shadow puppetry and Argentinian tango. Do we all love panto? Oh no, we don't! Oh yes, we do!

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SCANDINAVIA

GOING VIKING!
An introduction to the dark history of those fearsome ancient raiders, those people who have become known as Vikings. What did they set out to achieve? How did they go about it? And perhaps most important of all, WHY did they make the life choices they did?

THE FEARSOME VIKINGS OF NORWAY
The Norwegian Vikings were the Masters of the Sea, the first to invent the longship - the vessel which played such an important part in history. The Norwegians were the most brutal of all Viking societies and as they sailed West into the Atlantic Ocean and South-West towards Ireland, their story took a very dark turn ...

THE MIGHTY VIKINGS OF DENMARK
The Vikings of Denmark were ambitious, organised and mounted raids on the largest scale. This is fascinating, when you consider that the starting point in popular culture when discussing the Vikings, both in terms of chronology and in terms of how they came to be viewed, is that they were violent, lawless savages who burst into the history books out of nowhere. Well, history is rarely that straightforward, as we’ll see!

SHETLAND, THE ISLAND OF FIRE - WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF VIKINGS
The ancient Norse influence can be seen all over Shetland today. Here the Viking Spirit thrives. From the tradition of Up Helly Aa (hang on, is it all it seems?), to the well preserved archaeological sites scattered throughout the isles, to the language of Shetlandic - a combination of Scots dialect and Norse - the Viking legacy is evident everywhere.

CARIBBEAN

HIDDEN HISTORY - THE LOST VOICES OF THE CARIBBEAN, IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Long lost love poems have surfaced relatively recently which were written by women who were transported to Barbados, often against their will. Written to the sweethearts they were forced to leave behind, these poems were published in the Barbados Gazette and give an intriguing, evocative insight into a little-known aspect of Caribbean history.

HIDDEN CARIBBEAN CONNECTIONS - HOW A CARIBBEAN ISLAND INSPIRED ONE OF THE GREATEST LOVE POEMS OF ALL TIME
Robert Burns wrote ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ for his great love, the-one-that-got-away, Agnes Maclehose before she left to go to Jamaica, to reunite (disastrously, as it turned out) with her estranged husband. A fascinating story, accompanied by a musical rendition of the beautiful poem set to song.

CALYPSO - THE MUSIC OF THE CARIBBEAN
A chance to listen to some hypnotic pieces of music and an entertaining, lively discussion of calypso, often called the poor man’s newspaper in times when literacy was not widespread. The music of the Caribbean is just bursting full of history and meaning.

THE PILOTS OF THE CARIBBEAN
Tales of the fighting men and women who left their countries to fight for Britain in WW1 and WW11 are seldom told. The story of the Caribbean in wartime is an inspiring one.

SOUTH EAST ASIA

JAPAN - A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TOKYO SALARYMAN
How does a salaryman (or woman) live and work in downtown Tokyo? Life in one of the world’s most densely populated cities is not for the faint-hearted, starting with the morning commute when guards are employed to cram, push and squeeze travellers into overcrowded rail carriages. Susan lived in Tokyo for three years and experienced first-hand the unique challenges of negotiating daily life in this truly amazing city.

HONG KONG - A CITY SHAPED BY FENG SHUI
Also called Chinese geomancy, feng shui is an ancient practice which claims to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment. Fundamentally, it aims to direct the flow of Qi or cosmic current to bring about the very best results. Hong Kong’s environment is said to have naturally good feng shui, thanks to the presence of mountains and water, but how can feng shui be seen at work throughout the area in its buildings, in its few open spaces, in the ways in which people live?

INDONESIA'S ANCIENT ART OF SHADOW PUPPETRY
The shadow puppets of Indoneia are called Wayang Kulit. Wayang in local Bahasa means ‘shadow’ and refers to the entire gamut of shadow plays in Indonesia. However, they are not just for entertainment. They mean so much more, forming part of the daily routines and of the religious and social fabric of the country.

HISTORY OF SINGAPORE
Legend has it that in the 14th century a Sumatran Prince spotted a wild beast upon landing upon an island after a thunderstorm. He was later told it was a lion, thus the name for Singapore came from the Malay words ‘Singa’ for lion and ‘Pura’ for city. This small city-state is one of the youngest nations in the world yet it has become one of its most successful.

UK

SCOTLAND

THE TRADITIONS OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES
Susan’s father was a two-time amateur Scottish heavy weight champion. He was the only mixed race amateur Highland athlete of his time. She spent her young life watching her Dad toss the caber and knows almost everything there is to know about the Highland Games circuit in Scotland – where every meet has its own events and quirks.

EDINBURGH - THE FESTIVAL CITY
Edinburgh is a city like no other. From the haunted vaults deep below the Old Town to the high ramparts of the Castle from where the one o’ clock gun is fired, from the grandeur of Holyrood Palace to the shady scenes from Trainspotting, from the peak of Arthur’s Seat to the shores of Portobello, Edinburgh has it all!

NEOLITHIC VILLAGES - SKARA BRAE
Located in Orkney, consisting of eight clustered houses, Skara Brae was occupied from roughly 3180BC to 2500BC. It is Europe’s most complete Neolithic village and it gives us a rare insight into a lost world.

BURNS AROUND THE WORLD
Robert Burns lived a life stranger than fiction. He was an extraordinary, controversial character who packed several lifetimes’ worth of experiences into his 37 years spent on this earth. His influence still reverberates all around the world. But why? What makes us still sing his song, Auld Lang Syne every Hogmanay? Why is the celebration of Burns Night more popular than ever? Why does he continue to fascinate us?

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GENERAL INTEREST

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FROM SILENT TO SILVER: UNVEILING THE EARLY STARS OF CINEMA
Let's embark upon a captivating journey through the golden age of cinema. We'll delve into the lives and legacies of the pioneering stars who illuminated the silver screen in its early days. This is a discussion of their timeless charm, groundbreaking achievements, and the intriguing stories behind their iconic personas.

THE ROLE OF MUSIC IN FILM: ENHANCING THE CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE
We will delve into the significance of film scores and soundtracks in creating memorable movie moments. The collaborative artistry of composers and filmmakers has given us many memorable moments in our lifetimes. This is a chance to listen together and put each piece of extraordinary music into context.

‘I HAVE A DREAM’: GREAT SPEECHES THAT INSPIRED CHANGE
Prepare to be moved to tears (of inspiration! of joy!) as iconic speeches which still echo across generations are unveiled. From Martin Luther King to Winston Churchill, great orators have made great speeches which have gone on to leave an indelible mark on the fabric of society.

‘A BOY NAMED SUE': GREAT STORYTELLING SONGS
The fusion of music and storytelling can be a powerful combination, transporting us, as listeners, to a very different world. This is a chance to listen to inspiring narratives woven into the melodies of iconic musicians such as David Bowie, Simon and Garfunkel and Johnny Cash.

POETRY: HOW IT SPEAKS TO OUR HEARTS
Poetry is all around us – it sings to us when we switch on the radio, it features in our children’s stories, it even sells to us! Why is poetry so powerful? Why is it that words of poetry can move us so much? This is a chance to look at famous verses we all know and love, and question why they have become part of our culture.

LEGENDS OF THE STAGE UNVEILED: AN EXPLORATION OF GREAT THEATRE ACTORS
Theatre has been attracting audiences for thousands of years, with its roots in ancient civilizations. From Shakespeare to pantomime, there are and have been stage legends in our world who have brought joy to thousands through live performance. Let's explore some of the brilliance and eccentricities that define these theatrical luminaries.

THE ART OF THE COMEDY MONOLOGUE:
This is a deep dive into the hilarious ways in which comedic monologues have been crafted and delivered, exploring the structure, timing and wit behind famous comedic material which has delighted us throughout the years. Exploring stand-up comedy, theatre and film, this is a chance to watch and listen to much-loved entertainers such as Ronnie Corbett, Kenneth Williams and Victoria Wood.

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CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS

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CREATIVE WRITING AT SEA? WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?

• The aim of a creative writing session at sea is to create an environment in which cruisers feel free to have fun and make friends. The freedom of the sea often affords us an opportunity to let our imaginations run wild, which can be a beautiful and very exciting thing! Even if cruisers haven’t picked up a pen and set it to paper for years, Susan’s friendly relaxed creative writing sessions will give them the confidence to throw caution to those salty winds and give it a go.

HOW WOULD A TYPICAL CREATIVE WRITING SESSION FLOW?

• Fun ice-breaking exercise
• Freewriting exercise to clear the mind and get the creative juices flowing
• Group exercise of the day
• Reading aloud - who wants to share?

EXAMPLES OF CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS:

PICK A PHOTO - CREATE A COLOURFUL CHARACTER
From the photos laid out, pick a character and make him or her come to life. Deep dark secrets? Surprising talents? Burning ambitions? A life full of adventure? Or not? Anything is possible!

POETRY
Let’s listen to some recordings of very different poems – which will be your favourite? Comedy? Romance? Adventure? Let’s have a go at writing some poetry of our own. Let the freedom of being at sea be our inspiration.

HEADLINE NEWS - READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Truth can often seem stranger than fiction. From the newspaper cuttings laid out, pick one and use it as a prompt for writing a short piece which grabs the reader’s attention from the get-go – just like a newspaper article.

TRAVEL WRITING
Sometimes the most interesting travel articles focus on personal experience, on details, on the unusual. Let’s write about one of our destinations in unexpected quirky ways.

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DRAMA WORKSHOPS

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DRAMA AT SEA? WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?

• The aim of a drama session at sea is to create an environment in which cruisers feel free to have fun and make friends. Although cruisers will be encouraged to be creative and use their voices, it will always be emphasised that there will be no pressure to perform or even to speak. It will always be an option to quietly sit out the exercises and simply watch. These sessions are aimed at being inclusive and fun for everyone!

HOW WOULD A TYPICAL DRAMA SESSION FLOW?

• Fun ice-breaking exercise
• Freewriting exercise to clear the mind and get the creative juices flowing
• Fun group warm-up exercise
• Reading aloud – together
• Improvisation – in groups
• Ta dah! A chance to perform – but only if you want to!

EXAMPLES OF DRAMA WORKSHOPS:

IMPROVISATION
An improvisation workshop? A great way to start getting our confidence up and getting to know one another!

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY ...
Let’s work with props to find out where they are going to take us!

BODY LANGUAGE
It’s said that over 60% of what we communicate is nonverbal. Let's explore what messages our body language is giving out.

FROM PAGE TO STAGE
It's fascinating to discover how the same words can be given a variety of different meanings, just by the ways they are said. Let’s take a closer look.

CRUISE & MARITIME – Creative Writing Tutor

2019

• PANAMA CANAL & CARIBBEAN ISLES
• NORWEGIAN FJORDS
• ICELAND & NORTHERN LIGHTS

2020 – Creative Writing Tutor

• Contracted to be resident Creative Writing Tutor aboard the WORLD CRUISE and commissioned to work with passengers to create a book of the journey for the ship’s library – cancelled because of the pandemic

FRED OLSEN – Destination Lecturer

2023

• SCANDINAVIA’S ISLANDS AND CAPITALS
• SCANDINAVIA’S VIKING HERITAGE

AMBASSADOR – Destination Lecturer

2024

• WORLD CRUISE SECTOR – Capetown to Rio de Janeiro (contract - April 2024)