Susan Brocker has written many books for older children, both fiction and non-fiction. She has a history degree from the University of Waikato and her great love of social history  is reflected in her books. She also has a close affinity with and love of animals which shines through in her writing.
In 2007, HarperCollins published her first novel, Restless Spirit, an adventure story about a race to save a wild Kaimanawa stallion. This was followed in 2009 by Saving Sam, inspired by her faithful German shepherd, Layla, and in 2010 by Brave Bess and the ANZAC Horses, the true story of a remarkable New Zealand war horse that served in the Middle East with the Mounted Rifles Brigade during World War One.
Later books have included Dreams of Warriors, a story is about a teenage girl battling to save the family farm while her father is away fighting during World War Two; The Wolf in the Wardrobe, a quirky adventure about a 13-year-old-boy who rescues a wolf from the clutches of a crazy clown; and The Drover’s Quest, set in the 1860s gold mining era.
Susan’s novel, 1914: Riding into War was the first in the Kiwis at War series published by Scholastic NZ. Riding into War is the story of young Billy Bowman whose wartime experience with the mounted riflemen in World War One is not the big adventure he anticipated.
In 2019, Scholastic NZ published the first book in a picture book series Susan is writing on true historical New Zealand animals. The first book is about Bess, New Zealand’s famous war horse. The second book, Friday the Rebel Dog, is about the loyal companion of infamous sheep stealer, James Mackenzie. The third book, Mrs Chippy the Cat, is the story of a tomcat who was the loyal companion to the crew on Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 expedition to the Antarctic.
In 2022, the fourth book in the series, Pelorus Jack the Dolphin Guide, all about the legendary Risso’s dolphin, entered the bookshops and Scholastic NZ published Susan’s novel for older children, Ice, an action-packed adventure set in the wilds of southern New Zealand. A troubled boy and his rescue dog discover a ghastly secret buried beneath the mountains.
In 2023, Scholastic NZ published Caged, a novel for older children about Sam, a 14-year-old girl from a homeless family who must face her own fears to defy a dangerous criminal and rescue dogs from an inhumane backyard breeder.
2024 saw the release of Susan’s picture book about the true life-story of an amazing New Zealand conservation dog called Watson the Detective Dog.
Early this year, Scholastic NZ published Susan’s junior novel Eye of the Dragon, a moving adventure story about a teenage boy and the injured dragon he befriends. Soon after, Susan’s picture book, Tomboy the Headstrong Horse, galloped into the bookstores. This is the true story of a remarkable woman who rode her strong-willed horse across the Southern Alps in 1866.
Susan lives with her husband and many pets in a lovely old villa on a small farm near Tauranga.