About Me

I’m Linsey Parkinson (née Heald). I’m a freelance writer, editor and web designer (WordPress) with over 30 years of marketing and communications experience in arts, sport and local government. I also deliver marketing strategy and web design to a wide variety of clients.

Why Chin Up Duck? It’s simply a reminder to myself that there’s lots of joy to be had in work, so I work with clients I like and for causes I believe in. 

As well the freelancing, I work part-time in Chorlton Bookshop (I always wanted to be a bookseller!) and love to meet customers and jangle about good books.  I also live part-time on a narrowboat (which may become a floating bookshop one day….).

I was formerly Managing Editor at Open Up Magazines, two independent titles for South Manchester (Chorlton and Didsbury).  The magazines unapologetically championed and celebrated local people, vibrant neighbourhoods and independent business. I also work on umbrella promotion of independent small business, ‘shop local’ and destination campaigns, as well as  promotion for health, wellbeing and heritage projects.

I design and production-manage two academic journals in print and e-book form –  Manchester Memoirs for Manchester Literary & Philosophical Society and The Gaskell Journal for the Gaskell Society. I also typeset books.

Before freelancing, I was Marketing Manager for Manchester City Council. I led a team working on public information, internal communication and major event campaigns. Prior to that, I won several national awards for my marketing work for public libraries and was part of the marketing team at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games. Going back even further, I helped establish, and then ran, the city’s hugely successful Irish Festival (1996-2000) and worked on City of Drama, an international theatre festival.

I love the freedom freelancing brings and like to learn something new on every job. I also love Italy, European crime fiction (especially detectives with ‘issues’) and ducks of all persuasions. 

I believe that work should be rewarding and fun. If your project is both of those things, then I’m in. Any added narrowboatery would be a bonus, but not essential. 

You can read my CV on LinkedIn