Susie Capel Gutch

Susie has loved stories since childhood and has been mad about books ever since she learned to read.

Born and raised in Surrey, Susie spent six years at boarding school in Malvern. She then went to Bristol University where she studied English, Drama and History of Art. They have been her favourite subjects ever since.

Following their marriage in 1971, Susie and her husband Richard moved to South Yorkshire where she spent a year doing a post-graduate teaching course at West Bretton [now the home of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.] This was followed by two years teaching English at a Sheffield Comprehensive. After the birth of their first son in 1974, the family moved to Chiswick where their second son was born. They lived there for many years, and Susie taught at various schools in West London. She ended up as a form teacher for 7-8 yr olds, where you have to be prepared to teach everything! It is a good age-range to teach, she says, because they are interested in all kinds of things and have lots of energy. Susie wrote and directed plays for her classes to perform.

When her husband retired, they moved to the Isle of Wight where they live ‘a stone’s throw from the sea’. Being retired is great, because it means more time to enjoy their grandchildren – and for writing. Susie has written about her mother’s family history, as well as poems and short stories. With her family, Susie enjoys travelling [when permitted] and has a particular love of Italy. Venice is a city she has visited many times, and it holds a special fascination. This is the setting for the Mermaids’ story.

Other interests and hobbies include birdwatching and messing about in a small boat on the river.

Susie Gutch is represented by Arabella Stein — to work with Susie please email Arabella