Sue Thomson

Sue started out shaping young minds as a maths and computer science teacher before diving headfirst into the world of educational research. Her first major writing was her PhD thesis in mathematics education, and for the next 25 years she built an international reputation in the field, leading large-scale studies that mapped Australian students’ achievements in maths, science, and reading. Her name is behind countless reports—but now, she’s turned the page and applied her research talents to the world of fiction.

A passionate genealogist, Sue has spent decades chasing down family mysteries and uncovering forgotten histories. Retirement has finally given her the time to indulge in this lifelong obsession, and to write Fighting the Shadows, based on the life of her fourth great-grandmother. She lives in the shadows of the Dandenong Ranges in Melbourne with her partner Michael and their slightly mad West Highland Terrier, Georgie—while their rampaging grandchildren frequently storm in, ensuring life is anything but quiet.