Sue Lancaster - Children's Author and Editor
- litkidsmagazine
- 9 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Sue Lancaster is a children’s author living in Southwest London with her husband Tom, and their two girls, Tabitha and Polly. Sue has had two rhyming picture books published in the past year and her children’s poetry features widely in kidlit magazines. She is also the founder and editor of The Toy magazine.
1. What did you like to write and read as a kid?
I absolutely loved reading and writing as a kid. I was quite a prolific poem writer and entered loads of local competitions (and sometimes even won!). One of my earliest winning poems was called ‘If I Was a Boy’ and I always joke with my husband that this must have been the inspiration for Beyonce’s much later hit "If I Were a Boy"! I used to love story books too, devouring the likes of Enid Blyton, Judy Blume, and R.L. Stine.
2. Why did you begin writing? Was it because of a person or something else?
I have always written in some form or other, but I started writing with the aim of getting published after my two girls were born. I read lots of different picture books to them when they were little, and there were a few we went back to again and again because they were just so good. I thought to myself, that’s what I want to do – create stories that children want to revisit nightly because they are so magical and well written.
3. What’s your favorite genre to write?
I love writing rhyming picture books. I have recently had two published by small presses:
Supermoon was released by Tielmour Press in November 2024 and Outside the Box came out in May 2025 with HB Publishing House. I have also written some rhyming board books through write-for-hire projects. I like writing children’s poems too and have my poetry featured in various kidlit journals, both online and in print.
4. Would you and your main character get along?
Yes, I would definitely get on with the main characters in my two recent picture books.
Supermoon is very kind and protective of Earth and all its creatures, and Fennel the fox is
empathetic and full of self-determination – all great qualities for children’s characters to have.
5. Do you prefer ebooks, printed books, or audiobooks most of the time?
Definitely printed books. There is something special about holding an actual book in your hands versus reading it on a screen. This was part of my inspiration for setting up a printed children’s magazine called The Toy, which is on its seventh edition. So many poetry resources are now online that I wanted to create something solid and lasting for children to enjoy.
6. If you could pick a single fruit to create a story/artwork/picture around, what would it be?
I would pick a peach, as that is my daughter’s middle name. Whenever I come across a piece of clothing or accessory that’s peach-themed, I often can’t resist buying it! In fact, an image of a peach featured on the front cover of The Toy magazine’s food edition!
7. What do you like to do to inspire yourself when you have a block?
I always find that going for a walk or a jog helps inspire me. I am lucky to live very close to a leafy-green part of the River Thames in London. When I’m immersed in the outside world, my mind begins to wander, and my thoughts become clearer. I have often worked through a niggly problem while I am jogging along the river.
8. Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favorite?
I need to be in the quiet while I’m writing, or I become too distracted, but I do like to listen to music while I’m walking or running. Some of my current favorites are Chappel Roan’s "Pink Pony Club", Lola Young’s "Messy", Doechii’s "Anxiety" and Billie Eilish’s "Birds of a Feather."
9. Have pets ever gotten in the way of your writing?
Not gotten in the way, but pets have always been a source of inspiration for me! In particular, a little green budgie called Buddy who was very much a part of our family until recently. I have a poem called Our Buddy featured in Parakeet Magazine; the first rhyming picture book manuscript that I ever wrote was about a budgie going on a big adventure; and the front cover of The Toy magazine’s pets edition features a glorious green... yep, you guessed it - budgie!
10. If you could travel anywhere in the world to do your work, where would you go?
I’ve become rather fascinated with Northern Lights lately, so I’d love to travel somewhere far north where I’d get to see them in their full spectacular glory. I think being in such a magical setting would definitely inspire lots of new stories and poems!
11. Where do you get your ideas from?
I look forward to participating in Tara Lazar’s Storystorm at the start of each year, as it means I’m ‘tuned-in’ to looking for ideas (and actively writing them down) for an entire month. Then I have a list to dip into throughout the year. That’s not to say I don’t get ideas the rest of the year - from a tiny snail crossing a busy path, to a huge supermoon illuminating the night sky - story ideas can strike at any time, and in any place.
Sue, thank you for the fantastic writing advice and the glimpse into your journey as an author! Please follow Sue on social media and find her book, Supermoon, listed in our Bookshop! Keep shining!
Twitter/X: https://x.com/WritesSue
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