Susan Brocker

ABOUT

In Brief

Susan Brocker writes fiction and non-fiction for both the trade and educational markets. She has published over 50 books spanning a range of topics, including the natural world, social history, conservation and animals. Brocker’s first novel was Restless Spirit, set in Waiouru, against the background of the fight to save the Kaimanawa horses. This was followed by Saving Sam in 2009, Brave Bess and the ANZAC Horses, and Dreams of Warriors in 2010.

In Detail

Susan Brocker (born in 1961) writes fiction and non-fiction for both the trade and educational markets. She has worked in the writing and publishing industry since finishing her BA in History at the University of Waikato and in 1997 she became a full-time writer.

Brocker’s first publication, What am I? (1994), was published while she was an in-house writer and editor at Shortland Publications. She has since published over 50 books in the educational market  that span a range of fictional and non-fiction topics, including the natural world, social history, conservation and animals.

Although she has written numerous children’s books for the educational market, Brocker says ‘my major achievement has been writing novels for older children about subjects close to my own heart, trying to bring history alive in them.'

Brocker’s first novel is Restless Spirit (HarperCollins, 2007), described as ‘an exciting adventure story with rich detail and a genuinely moving conclusion.’ (Magpies, Vol. 22 No. 2 May 2007 NZ, p.7). The story is set in Waiouru and is based on the fight to save wild Kaimanawa horses.

Brocker's second novel Saving Sam (HarperCollins, 2009) is the story of Ben, a troubled young teenager struggling to find his place in the world, and the damaged dog he befriends. NZ Herald calls it 'A gentle tale of learning to trust and love again that builds to a suspenseful finish', while the Wanganui Chronicle says 'This is by far the best book for young people I have read in a very long time... This book is hard to put down and still harder to forget.' Saving Sam was listed as a 2010 Storylines Notable Young Adult Fiction Book.

Brave Bess and the Anzac Horses (HarperCollins, 2010) is the true story of the sole surviving horse of over 10,000 that were taken to the battlefields during the first world war to serve mainly with the Mounted Rifles Brigade in the Middle East.

Dreams of Warriors (HarperCollins, 2010) is set in Featherston during World War Two and is the tale of a determined and brave teenager named Bella, who holds in her hands the fate of her family’s dreams.


Brocker lives in Tauranga.

For more information about this author visit the New Zealand Book Council  or her website at www.susanbrocker.com