About Me

Hello, welcome to my Blog.

My Blog is a place for my thoughts and photos, along with articles, stories, and work in progress. You will find stories from 2009 through 2025. I occasionally offer writing workshops. Information about the next informal writing sessions is here.

Since leaving the bustle of a traditional career, I have blended journalism with research and storytelling. I graduated with a History B.A. Hons from Warwick University and trained to become a lawyer by studying law at the University of Birmingham. Law was not for me, mostly because my mind constantly flits into creativity. 

I was in a cult from four to twenty-eight, so some of my writing is about the experience and challenge of high control.

Studying law was not wasted, as the need to understand and, at times, be analytical has served me well.

Writing and connecting excites me and I continue to research and study. I am so happy for online courses where I have studied everything from small holding management, digital story telling, plant based eating and more.

I was fortunate to work in the community use of technology in the early days of the web.
My professional journey includes positions at IBM, Ecosaurus, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Community Development Foundation, where I managed international projects. I also worked as a consultant for Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO). My work took me to many difficult places across the world, in particular Russia and Sierra Leone, which added to my appreciation for people and their stories.

During lockdown, I enjoyed nurturing my tomato plants and going deeper with my writing. I contribute to environmental magazines, such as ECO123 primarily focusing on interviews and I blog about life in Portugal. My heart opens when I explore literature, gardening, history and festivals. I write occasionally about Community for the Portugal Resident.

I share my life with, Jim Hall, who plays tennis and manages our compost heap. Since moving to Portugal permanently in 2008, (Jim has had the house since 1995), we have settled in our home overlooking the Asseca Valley, just 8 kilometers from Tavira in the deep south. We have about two acres of land, 30 solar panels, a dry garden and a vegetable space. As we start 2025, I am beginning to plant a food forest garden with the help of my friend Christof.

The Eastern Algarve is rich in culture and provides lots of moments of intrigue and pleasure for writing and writers.

I’ve recently completed a novel titled ‘Return Visit,’ which is set to be published in 2025. This work delves into themes of high control and healing through the journey of a music-loving widow.

Currently, I’m also crafting another novel centered around a cat named Bastet, or Blue Eyes. Through animals, insects and plants I am exploring how we understand myth and story as a way of solving our separation from nature. I also write poetry when inspired by a tree or an owl or even a clay pot. My latest poems were prompted by a visit to Ireland.

My heritage is English and Irish. My recent visit to Ireland helped me integrate the stories of famine and identity, which in turn created collage and more words.

In my writing and art, I try to weave in elements of reflection, colour, discord, recovery, and moments of joy.

Contact information

Email sue@suehall.net

Threads: Sue Hall Community Works

BlueSky: Sue Hall Community Works

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