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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

In the ITV studio with news presenter Sangeeta Bha

In the ITV studio with news presenter Sangeeta Bhabra who wanted to know about my experience of being British Chinese.

I used to think I was the worst person to ask about this, cos the way I was brought up made me about as Chinese as Toad-in-the-hole. I didn’t read or write Chinese and hardly spoke it. And the only way I knew what Chinese New Year zodiac animal it was every year, was by watching Blue Peter. In fact, I felt totally English - but somehow was still a sitting duck for brainless moron racists. I couldn’t win.

Anyway, I wrote about my confusion in a part memoir. Then readers got in touch and it turned out almost every immigrant kid was just as screwed up as I was!

So I’m over the crippling shame of putting myself out there. I know it’ll help those who feel different in ANY way, if I go on telly and say, “There is no normal, you’ll be miserable trying to fit in, so just be yourself- it’ll be fine. Trust me.”

Ps. that’s a rare photo of us on a family day out, in the background. I say rare cos my parents only took Christmas Day off from working in their Chinese takeaway. My bro found this pic. I can’t remember it being taken.

Pps. The other pic is an illustration I did that features in my book. It’s a typical family dinner time scene in the takeaway kitchen.

Ppps. Maybe I should add- Gung he fat choi!

Chat airs end Feb on ITV. More to come.

#itvnews #authorinterview #britishchinese #immigrantstories #belongingandidentity

My first visit as official EmpathyLab ambassador…

“Sue came to talk to Year 8 and 9 about how culture has inspired her writing. Sue told us about the highs and lows of growing up between two cultures with warmth and humour and explained how her experiences have found their way into the stories she tells. She encouraged them not to look at whatever makes them feel different as a problem, but as an individual strength that can kick start a creative journey.”

George Kirk,Librarian
Bacup & Rawtenstall grammar school, Lancashire

I don’t show up to point out all the nasty stuff going on in the world, but to show how simple it is to respect one another (usually starting with self questioning) and come up with solutions that don’t involve resistance, fear or hatred.

Massive thanks to George, who like everyone who organises these events, always go far beyond what I expect - and the students were fantastic 🙌

@empathylabuk @andersenpress #authorvisit #schoolevents #connection #peaceandlove #ambassador

EmpathyLab asked if I wanted to be an Ambassador t

EmpathyLab asked if I wanted to be an Ambassador this year and I was like, “Yeaah, why not?” I’m already talking to school kids about being nice to each other, so why not double down - especially now, when the world’s gone mad.

So here I am with 8 other big hearts signed up to do our bit - showing next generations how rich it is to learn about others by chatting, sharing and reading (scroll for latest Empathy book list).

See you out and about! 💛

@empathylabuk
#ReadForEmpathy #EmpathyEducation #GoAllIn #teamwork

Back at the publishers today for next stage of my

Back at the publishers today for next stage of my new novel.

Writing’s hard for me, sometimes painful - maybe it’s meant to be, I dunno?
People get this impression that writers must read a lot, but I don’t and when I do it takes an age. So I say don’t be put off by that myth and that you can read whatever you want at whatever speed you like. It’s not an intellectual sport.

The first draft of my novel was accepted with hardly any changes so you see, you can come from any background, academic or not, and come out with a good story.

The trick is to write what’s true to you, without trying to mould yourself or your work into something you think people/the market might like. People sense and like realness. Or (and I’ve seen this so many times), without shaping your book around how much dosh you could make out of it - sure way to fail.

Just tell it how it is raw form, and see what happens from there.

@andersenpress @thecatchpoles #writertips #bereal #bebrave #anybackground #tellityourway

Speaking as an old school advertising art director

Speaking as an old school advertising art director of 20 years, this is one of the best concepts I’ve seen for a long time in this age of marketing dross.

👏 @waterstones #traitors #mashup #bookmarketing #geniusidea

My little boy is 35 today…hold on, what the?!

My little boy is 35 today…hold on, what the?!

This is us circa 1995, on one of our foraging expeditions on a bright September day in the County Durham countryside.

We’d pick delicious ceps, puffballs the size of footballs, and tie a penknife to a stick to chop down oyster mushrooms high up on old trees. We didn’t need lunch cos we’d snack on wild blackberries, apples and cobnuts as we went.

Every now and then we’d stop to watch a hovering kestrel, figure out what plant or insect we’d found using our guidebooks, or carefully lift up a rock or log to have a nose under - we found a nest of voles once!

Then we’d go home and make ‘eggy bread’ with the puffball, drizzled with honey on top, and plan our next adventure together.

Ah them days were magic, but it doesn’t end there. Cos now I’ve got a grandkid - we can do it all over again 💛

#happybirthday @rhianwilkinson #naturelovers #mam #son #foragingteam

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