Inside the Mind - Sue Wickstead

I have published sixteen children's books to date, with a new book due out in October 2025. I never intended to write children’s books; that sort of came about by chance. I wanted to teach, which I did. At college, I wrote poetry and had a few published in the college magazines. While teaching, I would often write with the children or for the children, modelling examples of poetry, etc. We might also create a shared write together. ‘A Spooky Tale’ was written with my class following a class trip around our neighbourhood.

My latest book, 'A Ticket to Ride’, is a collection of stories and verse. A ticket to ride is a book to be read and shared with the children. With animals and friends who hop on and off the bus as it travels through lands near and far, on special days and everyday afternoons. Meet everything from cats and elephants to one very celebratory bee, telling jokes and adding their opinions along the way. This collection of light-hearted poems and stories is ideal for a cosy afternoon with children and adults alike.

The ideas and characters for my stories started with a Playbus. When my children were little, they attended a play project on a double-decker bus, and I became involved in the management and fundraising for the project. It was such a special and unique place for children to play. As a teacher, I supported its work and saw that it could offer much more than a preschool project. To help promote the work of the bus, I put up displays of photographs and information, which showed and highlighted the unique work a Playbus could undertake.

I don't have a regular time to write my ideas. I attend various writing groups and write down my thoughts as I go. Some of thses ideas develop. I have a list of ideas I work on developing as I go. Often an idea just comes along and I go with the flow.

Being an indie author I am able to write as and when I want and when I'm inspired, no pressure. I have ownership of my work and have been lucky to work with an illustration agency who listened to my ideas. The bus was a real bus and I wanted the illustrations to reflect this. The illustrations are always praised and compliment the story very well.

My biggest challenge was overcoming my initial doubt as to whether it could be done. I have been pleased with the many responses. It has certainly brought back good memories. Getting the book out there and seen is always a publicity and promotion challenge.

I like to write my ideas out in long hand and then revisit and adapt as I write them up.

There are many writing groups and agencies that can help or advise. But most of all believe in yourself.

I attend events and local schools when I can. Bookshop signings and visits to libraries.

I have lots of ideas in the process of development but sometimes an idea comes along and takes over. My on-going book is a book called 'The Weather Witch'. It is a story I have told many times to children I have visited and this story has grown and grown. I also have other bus stories in various stages of development.