Literary Lunch – Suzanne Shearing

July’s Literary Lunch with Suzanne Shearing

We’re delighted to welcome Suzanne Shearing as our guest author for July’s Literary Lunch! Join us on Tuesday, 29th July 2025, from 12:15 pm to 2:15 pm at The Old Bull Inn, Royston, for an afternoon of conversation and good company.

Suzanne will be in conversation with Sarah Harrison, discussing her debut novel Two Old Ladies and a Secret Child – a heartwarming and suspenseful story about courage, friendship, and doing the right thing, no matter the odds.

Suzanne Shearing

Suzanne Shearing is a retired journalist, stage school founder and filmmaker. She began her career as a cub reporter on the Welwyn Hatfield Times, later writing news, features and a local column for both regional and national newspapers.

In 1995, Suzanne followed her love of theatre and film, training at drama school before opening a part-time stage school in Hertfordshire. It quickly grew into the county’s most successful of its kind, with 300 students and 14 teachers across drama, dance and singing.

In retirement, she turned to screenwriting and has since produced two feature films – No Smoke and Archie – both distributed internationally, along with a short film, Nobody’s Child. No Smoke was an official selection at the Marbella International Film Festival.

Two Old Ladies and a Secret Child is her debut novel – something she never imagined achieving, especially after years of keeping her writing short and snappy as a journalist!

Suzanne now lives in rural Hertfordshire with her dogs, Rusty and Geordie. She’s currently working on her next novel, having discovered fiction is far more fun than facts.

Book Synopsis

When a lonely pensioner opens her door to find a baby abandoned on the doorstep, she’s thrown into the heart of a royal scandal. The child isn’t just lost – it’s the secret, illegitimate offspring of a royal family member.

As the press and authorities scramble to uncover the truth, a dangerous man named Charles begins his own search, one that has nothing to do with love or justice. With his threats closing in, the old lady and her sharp-witted best friend make a life-changing decision: to flee the country and protect the child at all costs.

Suddenly on the run in a foreign land, with no plan and even less money, the two women must rely on courage, friendship and quick thinking to outwit their pursuers and keep the baby safe.

Warm, suspenseful and full of heart, Two Old Ladies and a Secret Child is an uplifting tale of unlikely heroes, second chances, and what it really means to do the right thing.

Why Suzanne Shearing is the Perfect Guest for Home-Start

Suzanne’s warm, witty storytelling and rich life experience make her a wonderful guest author for Home-Start’s Literary Lunch. Her debut novel, Two Old Ladies and a Secret Child, explores themes of unexpected friendship, protection, and doing the right thing – echoing Home-Start’s mission to support families through life’s challenges. Suzanne’s journey from journalist to novelist later in life brings inspiration and encouragement, aligning beautifully with our values of resilience, care, and community.

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