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Barbara Henderson

All of the information on this page has been provided by the author. If you need an author to have specialist skills, experience or knowledge please ask for more information about this ahead of booking them for an event. Please note that Scottish Book Trust cannot carry out Disclosure checks on Live Literature authors for most events. It is the responsibility of the person organising the event to carry out the appropriate Disclosure checks.
Contact: [email protected]
Local authority: Highland
Languages: English
Barbara Henderson's headshot

Barbara Henderson is an award-winning author of Scottish historical and eco-fiction for children, and of the memoir Scottish by Inclination. Her children's novels Fir for Luck (Highland Clearances), Punch (Victorian Scotland), Wilderness Wars (eco-thriller). Black Water (smuggling novella featuring Robert Burns), The Siege of Caerlaverock (castles, Scottish Wars of Independence), The Chessmen Thief (Vikings, Lewis Chessmen) and The Reluctant Rebel (Jacobites) are already widely used in Scottish schools. The Siege of the Caerlaverock won a Young Quills Award from the Historical Association.


Barbara is a qualified English and Drama teacher with extensive experience from P3-S6 and loves to deliver lively and interactive school visits to schools all over Scotland. She offers specific author events and drama workshops for each of her books, but is also happy to focus on creative writing, puppetry or using historical research in stories. Most of her work is with upper primary or secondary schools.

"For 'This is how much I enjoyed the visit' you got 5 stars from everyone. Thanks again. All said 'It was fun and I really enjoyed it'" - Maria Finnegan, Pairc School

"All in all, a fantastic experience for us as a whole school. We were all engaged and inspired. Her energy, helpfulness and flexibility was so evident. Lots of pupils reflected on becoming an author when they were older. Who knows what the impact of today might bring in the future!" - Muriel Murray, Lochardil Primary School

Local authorities will visit

Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Argyll and Bute; Clackmannanshire; Dumfries and Galloway; Dundee; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; Edinburgh City; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow City; Highland; Inverclyde; Midlothian; Moray; Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles); North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders; Shetland; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian

Events will deliver

Chairing events; Mentoring; Panel event; Performance; Professional development, CLPL or CPD; Reading; Residency; Talk; Workshop

Audience will work with

Adult learners; Outdoor learning; Reluctant readers; Young people with additional support needs (under 18) (ASN/SEN)

Topics of work

Activism & protest; Adventure; Childhood; Class & society; Coasts, seas & oceans; Contemporary fiction; Editing & editing your own work; Environment & climate; Family; Friendship; Historical fiction; History; Island communities; Nature; Publishing & getting published

Age groups published for

Children; Teens

Age groups will work with

6-8; 9-11; 12-14; 15-18; 18+

Audience size

0-10; 11-30; 31-100; 100-500; 500+