Organisations

• British Association for American Studies, British Association for Victorian Studies, Society of Authors
• Egypt Exploration Society

Details

WOMEN WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE – TALKS AND WORKSHOPS

TRAILBLAZING WOMEN – INSPIRING STORIES

I love introducing audiences to the inspiring stories of remarkable women who people my books.

Teaching and Talking

I received my PhD from Purdue University in the United States in 1989. My last teaching post was as a Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England, Bristol. I've also taught in the US and in Egypt, in writing programmes at Goucher College, and community colleges on Long Island. My first full-time position in America was as an Assistant Professor in the English Department at Central Washington University.

Since retiring from full-time employment in 2008, I've given all my time to writing and giving illustrated live talks about inspiring women.

Each of these adventurous women made a difference in her society. Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, ruled a kingdom, personally fought Vikings in battle, and founded towns in the Midlands: Warwick, Tamworth, Stafford, Shrewsbury ... The black American Civil War spy Mary Richards, posing as an illiterate slave in the home of rebel president Jefferson Davis, gathered valuable military intelligence that helped the Union win the war. Writer and traveller Amelia Edwards made ground-breaking contributions to the cause of Egyptology, while campaigning for votes for women. Each, in her own way, defied traditional expectations of her, and changed her world for the better.

I build my talks around Powerpoint slides based on the books, giving a narrative thread that helps keep the audience (and me!) entertained and focused.

Interviews

A few years ago I gave several interviews to local BBC radio stations, mainly about Founder, Fighter, Saxon Queen: Aethelflaed Lady of the Mercians.

Workshops

Besides the presentations to large audiences, I also offer small-group workshops on "Writing the Life" – on practical skills involved in writing biography and memoir. Topics covered include: choosing a subject; exploring resources; interviewing; crafting the story; and, for some groups, copyright issues and finding a publisher.

For details of past public talks and interviews, see the list below

Feedback from my talks

"Many thanks for your wonderful lecture this evening. I found it a fantastic overview of Amelia’s life and legacy." (Carl Graves, Director, Egypt Exploration Society.)

"We have received really nice feedback. Everyone enjoyed your presentation. The interest was evident from the stimulating question and answer session." (David Biggs, Chairman, Tamworth Civic Society.)

"My sister Susan and I were among your audience last night for the talk about Amelia Edwards. Thank you for an interesting presentation...the time passed quickly and easily, evidence of enjoyment." (Alan Boyle, Leannta Publishing.)

"Congratulations on a brilliant talk.  You were one of the best speakers ever on the programme and I have been attending them for years." (Professor Marie Mulvey-Roberts, University of the West of England.) 

"Wonderful lecture!" (William Joy, Director of the Peggy Joy Egyptology Library, Michigan.)

Travelling to speak

I have travelled widely in the UK to share presentations and conversations about the subjects of my books. When not living in Stroud, I spend part of each year in Egypt. If invited to travel to speak, in the Middle East or elsewhere in the world, I would be delighted to do so. Though I prefer face-to-face talks with a live gathering, I also can give presentations on Zoom. (For online talks, please contact me to discuss details.)

Fees

Negotiable - but usually £50 for a one-hour session (plus travel expenses, and any overnight accommodation).

Talks and presentations

'Writing the Life', interactive workshop on writing biography and memoir, Glossop Book Fest, October 19, 2024.

Online lecture to the Library Company of Philadelphia (the annual Charlotte Cushman lecture) October 8, 2024.

PowerPoint presentation and Discussion, She Spied for Freedom, with Stroud Good Companions, Stroud, April 3, 2024.

Presentation on She Spied for Freedom, Gloucester Women's Institute, Churchdown, March 3, 2024.

“Amelia B. Edwards: the Novelist Revisited”, British Association for Victorian Studies conference, September 1, 2023.

Participation in online panel discussion, “Unpacking Amelia”, sponsored by the Egypt Exploration Society, March 8,  2022.

“From Avon to Nile”, Zoom presentation on Amelia Edwards. Sponsored by Bristol Museums and University of the West of England, September 16, 2021.

Talk on Aethelflaed's lost daughter Aelfwynn. Tamworth Civic Society, December 2018.

Presentation based on Founder, Fighter, Saxon Queen, at the Lady of Mercia Festival, Stafford, August 18-19, 2018. 

Two illustrated talks about Aethelflaed at Tamworth Aethelfest, July 14, 2018.

Talk with PowerPoint slides on Aethelflaed and Founder, Fighter, Saxon Queen, at Gloucester Cathedral's Wordfest, July 6, 2018. 

Interviews with BBC Radio Gloucester, Radio Shropshire, Radio Leicester, 2018.

Scheduled for 2025

PowerPoint talks about She Spied for Freedom at Women's Institutes around Gloucestershire:

Tetbury (April 14),  Avening (May 8), Micheldean(June 25), Forthampton (October 14)

 Nailsworth  about Amelia Edwards (July 14)

Photos

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