Graham Sclater is an established scriptwriter and author who has published nine novels in various genres. He is descended from a family of nurserymen and horticulturalists which stretches as far back as the early 1700s. He has a wide experience in all things horticultural as well as a passion for orchids.

He left the family business and became a professional musician working for a number of years living and playing Hammond organ in various groups in Germany and Scandinavia during the sixties. He returned to England in the early seventies where he worked as a session musician in many of the top London studios, in Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia.

An accomplished songwriter and musician, Graham has been featured in arts and musical programmes and performed and recorded with many artists including Jimi Hendrix, Fats Domino, Ritchie Blackmore, James Taylor, Tommy Steele, Elton John, Christine (Perfect) McVie, Tommy Steele, Tony Ashton, and many more name musicians.

He travels widely researching his books and his first novel “Ticket to Ride”, set in Hamburg during the 1960s was published in 2006 and the revised version was re-published in 2012. His first children’s novel “We’re gonna be famous” was published in 2009, followed by his historical novel “Hatred is the key” in 2010. Thrillers, “Too big to cry” in spring 2013. “Love Shack” in 2015 and set in the East End of London and the Red-Light District of Amsterdam. “More than a woman” in July 2016 and his thriller “Cowboys and Angels” in October 2017 and 2020 “I Will Survive with his latest novel “Born to Run", published in 2022.

Many of his scripts have been optioned with producers and directors around the world.

For the past seven years, he has worked as an enrichment speaker on international cruise ships speaking on so many various and broad subjects as well as delivering sessions on researching family history and creative writing. As a result of those classes, he was asked by passengers to help them realise their dream, and “WRITE ON!” a beginner’s guide to writing was published in 2019.

Graham is a regular contributor to specialist magazines and can frequently be heard on the BBC and other terrestrial and web-based radio stations around the world talking about his passion for orchids and all aspects of gardening and horticulture as well as music, writing and reviewing his chosen Book of the month, presenting the A-Z of music and “Hits & Bits” where he tells the story behind the “hit” record.

Talks currently available:

Gardening, Specialist Horticulture, Interesting Flora, and Fauna and Places of Special Interest Around Europe and the Mediterranean - All Aspects of the Music Business, Famous authors: Ian Fleming, Agatha Christie, The many faces of James Bond, Bob Marley, and Diamonds are forever - Creative Writing, and many more.

Click here to visit Graham's website >> www.grahamsclater.com


(Click images for full size)

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CREATIVE WRITING SUBJECTS - that can be adjusted to suit the length of the cruise and sea days

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1. So you want to write a novel?

2. Where do I get my ideas?

3. Research your subject - even if it’s about your own life

4. How do I choose my characters & how do I write dialogue?

5. How do I create a backstory?

6. Creating a timeline - examples JK Rowling and GS

7. Finding the best time to write and setting time aside to do it

8. Methods to deal with writer's block

9. The editing process

10. Typesetting you work

11. Getting published and alternatives outlets

12. Copyright, and the difference between, traditional publishing, self-publishing, and vanity publishing

13. Promoting your book - writing the press release, promotional video production, and planning for radio interviews

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ENRICHMENT and DESTINATION TALKS

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1. AGATHA CHRISTIE - the early years and beyond.

2. The story of IAN FLEMING, the creator of James Bond.

3. ABBA - the early years and beyond.

4. The story of Bob Marley and how his hypnotic music reached the world.

5. My time living and working as a professional musician in Hamburg during the sixties. Yes, I was there!

6. How Hamburg and Liverpool changed the world of music forever - The story of the Beatles' early years in Hamburg.

7. Graham's sounds of the sixties.

8. Graham's sound of the seventies.

9. One hit wonders.

10. Songs from films that were incredibly succesful.

11. The record producers

12. The session musicians - the unsung heroes of so many hit records.

13. Probably the most difficult music quiz ever.

14 The mysterious world of the orchid.

15. The wonderful world of the tulip.

16. Exotic plants that can be grown in the UK (subject to location)

17. Propagation of plants, flowers, and bulbs

18. Gardens of the Mediterranean.

19. The Norwegian fjords.

20. Wild Norway.

21. An overview of Scandinavia and the Baltic.

22. A look at Gibraltar and its British traditions.

23. The many faces of James Bond.

24. Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

25. A guide to creative writing - Part One.

26. A guide to creative writing - Part Two.

PLUS - Individual talks on: Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen, Skagen, Stockholm, Tallin, The Canaries, Madeira, Mediterranean cities and ports.

NB I am constantly working on new talks and new subjects and can adapt any of the above to suit themed or specific cruise destinations

Graham is always in demand for his talks on Creative Writing and his life experiences, having been a professional musician in the 60s, which was the subject of his first book, “Ticket to Ride.”

Graham has given Enrichment talks on various subjects and creative writing sessions on cruise lines since 2017.

His talks are generally an hour long and are tailored to his audience. They are always well received, with most passengers attending all of his sessions.

We always ensure we have WORLDWIDE, cruise travel insurance.

The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.