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Author of Chinglish

The Blossom Awards

I'm an EmpathyLab trained author!

Hello

I'm Sue Pickford Cheung, a multi-award winning author and illustrator of books for young people of all ages

Mug and pens

12 years ago my first picture book was published a

12 years ago my first picture book was published and I went back to my old infant school in Nottinghamshire to read it to the kids.

The school was called William Lilly and I was there from 1975-1977 (silver jubilee year) - when I stepped inside, I was instantly back in time. These are my most vivid memories:

-spending days sculpting a plasticine horse head
-being astounded at cutting the wool threads and fluffing them into pom poms
-batiking fish scales for a giant fish mural
-winning sports day (say whaat?)
-waiting for Santa to turn up and when he didn’t, being told he’d got stuck in a chimney (I’m still distraught)
-those disgusting warm milk drinks at break time
-my teachers Miss Wright and Miss Pond who I was certain were actual angels

Infant school is deffo the best time of our lives cos we’re allowed to be messy, magical and creative- then we grow up and everything becomes boring rules 😂. I wonder where my classmates are now? If any of you are out there, let me know!

#school #days #great #memories #creative #play #art #craft #nottingham #childrensbook #read #author #illustrator #visit

Me and hubby outside our cottage….dream on! 😂

Me and hubby outside our cottage….dream on! 😂

We’re actually @the_pig_hotels Studland celebrating Dave getting his Brazilian Ju-Jitsu purple belt (any excuse for a day off).
And if you don’t know what BJJ is, it’s like chess but with strangling. I should know, I’ve been his long suffering crash-test dummy for years, so the least he can do is take me out for pop n chips.

Seriously though, if you’re ever down Dorset way, it’s worth passing by this spot for a bite and stunning views.
Also - saw my first comma butterfly of the year 💛

#dorset #coast #UK #summer #outdoors #lunch #nature #walks #views #sea #sun #summer #chill

Cheung album cover shot! 🤟 From left to right:

Cheung album cover shot! 🤟

From left to right: lil sis Moe likes rock and kawaii, lil bro Rich likes thrash and daschunds, big bro John likes indie and metaphysics and me, who likes punk and kittens.

#family #album #shot #photo #brother #sister #gang #united #together #good #times #roll

For all of you who have read my book ‘Chinglish’ and don’t believe my dad used to give our pet goats piggy backs in the garden of our Chinese takeaway in Coventry.

Pictured here is my cute lil sis looking on in absolute awe and confusion, while I stand back to capture this magnifcently mad yet typically commonplace Cheung family moment.

Ps. No goats harmed during the making of this photo (they got Jammy Dodgers as compensation)

#1980s #confused #awesome #childhood #chinese #takeaway #coventry #UK #pet #goats #kids #dad #right #laugh #animal #photography #neveradullmoment

I was pleased to see ‘These Rights Are Your Righ

I was pleased to see ‘These Rights Are Your Rights’ well stocked at Northumberland Schools Library Service.

Written by Nicky Parker for Amnesty International, preface by Angelina Jolie, artwork proudly by me 💚

@nlandsls @nicky_parker11 @amnestyuk @andersenpress #children #school #library #resource #global #human #rights #education #kindness #connection #empathy

I’M DONE! I’ve handed in final draft for Ching

I’M DONE!
I’ve handed in final draft for Chinglish sequel - yesss!

I started back in Dec 2021, so it’s taken 3 and half years to complete - about the same as Chinglish.

These books were bloody hard to write. No, I didn’t have to tell the world and their dog about my problems. I didn’t even want to write Chinglish to start with. But my agent said it might help people (swipe to see some), and ultimately it ended up helping me, cos I saved loads of dosh on therapy.

Chinglish, a creative biography set in 1980s Coventry, covers my teens from 13 to 16. But the sequel, 16 to 18, reveals a whole new set of challenges after I leave home. Cos this period was so bleak, I thought that turning it into a graphic novel might help me swerve having to feel too much. It didn’t work (swipe to see early attempts).

It was only when I repeatedly sat down to face my demons that truth started to seep like a freshly picked scab. There was no other option but to use the same format as before; brutally honest raw diary entries, with signature humour to dull the pain.

There’s still a way to go before publishing - need to sell the bugger first. Then more edits and illustrating. But what I want at the end of the day, is for this story to be out there, showing how life’s dead ends don’t have to be that.

#chinglish #novel #sequel #final #draft #writers #life #comingofage #identity #story #1980s #Midlands #London

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