The Writers of Wales Database

BARROW, SUE

Rhiwbina, Cardiff
Tel: 02920 691886 / 07960 862302
Email: rubysue52@hotmail.com
Website: http://suebarrow.com/page4.htm

Sue Barrow’s first novel for teens, Keeping Secrets was published by Gomer in 2006. Since then she has written local history books on Cardiff and the South Wales Valleys, for children aged 8 - 14. Sue describes the books in the Hometown History series as being a bit like the Horrible Histories but without the gory bits! Sue was born and brought up in Cardiff where she now lives with her husband and whichever of her five children who choose to drop in!

Reviews:
With respect to Keeping Secrets (Gomer 2006):

"…Sue Barrow has succeeded in writing a gem of a book about growing up, about finding out who you are, about your past and about your future. It is told sympathetically and deals well with the gamut of emotions and feelings that people go through as they realise that they are changing and adapting to their new selves…"
From www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council


Selected Publications:
Keeping Secrets (Gomer, 2006)
Hometown History of Cardiff (Hometown World, 2010)
Hometown History of the Welsh Valleys (Hometown World, 2010)



Keeping Secrets (Gomer, 2006)

At five feet eleven, and with frizzy ginger curls, Ceri Keeping is the tallest girl in her year group. She has great plans for her sixteenth birthday, but it seems that nothing will go right. It starts badly when her brothers arrange a cheesy phone call with breakfast-show host Jamie Carroll. It doesn’t get better when Dad announces that Ceri’s birthday meal at Giuseppi’s has to be postponed. To cap it all, the birthday card she really longs for - the one she has never received - is missing once again this year.

Ceri is adopted although she has never seen her adoption papers. Now she is determined to find her real mother - even if it means unearthing long-kept family secrets.

To purchase this title from gwales.com, please click on its front cover

 
Hometown History of Cardiff (Hometown World, 2010)

The Hometown Histories is a brand new series aimed at bringing local history alive for children aged 7 - 14. This book considers the history of Cardiff.

To purchase this title from amazon.co.uk, please click on its front cover



Hometown History of the Welsh Valleys (Hometown World, 2010)

The Hometown Histories is a brand new series aimed at bringing local history alive for children aged 7 - 14. This book considers the history of the South Wales valleys.

To purchase this title from Love Reading for Kids, please click on its front cover


 



 

Eligible Writers on Tour subjects offered:

1. Fiction writing - creative writing workshops
2. Local history books - talks and related activities

AGE RANGE: Fiction: 11-18 years; Non-fiction: 8-14 years