Franzeska G. Ewart

Franzeska G. Ewart is a children’s writer, but has written books for all ages. Let the Shadows Speak (Trentham, 1998) is aimed at teachers looking for new ways to develop children’s language, while her book, A Heart for Ruby (Walker Books), is for tinies. Most of her books, however, are for 8-10 year-olds. Franzeska has just written a title for Barrington Stoke with the help of 200 Midlothian children – an experience she very much enjoyed! After graduating in Zoology and working as a Research Assistant at Glasgow College of Technology, she taught English as a Second Language in a Glasgow primary school. In 1993 she did a teacher exchange to Pakistan, where she introduced shadow theatre to a number of schools and colleges in Karachi. On her return, she left formal teaching to develop shadow theatre’s potential for language development, concentrating particularly on helping people with communication difficulties. In 2007 she took her shadow theatre to Bangkok, and was moved and delighted by the response of the locals. Franzeska relocated to the village of Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, which has two lochs, a river, and a bird reserve. She lives part-time with her partner Adam, and full-time with her two cats Lily and The Woozle.