Thanks Chris for inviting me over to meet your readers today….

My name is Sue Wickstead and I am an author and write children’s picture story books.

I always loved listening to stories and would often make up stories for my toys, but never thought I would write a book. I wanted to teach, like my Aunt Vera, which I did.

I have now written fourteen story books and a bus colouring book (which has information on real Playbus projects). I also have a few more books planned and ready to write. Many of my stories link to my time as a play-worker on a Playbus, as well as to my teaching career.

I have also written a few stories about my younger brother and his imaginative play.

I left full-time teaching in 2011 and was asked to write a book about the real Playbus.

What was the Playbus?

The Playbus was a mobile project which was used in the local community for summer play-schemes as well as children’s groups.

I became involved in running and promoting the charity, helping to raise much needed funding.

My children attended the playgroup which was based on the bus.

I joke that I have three children: a boy; a girl; and a bus; the bus really captured my imagination as well as my heart.

The bus journey

I became involved as a parent helper; I painted the bus; learnt to drive the bus; helped in the playgroup and other groups; helped raise funds and set up new groups; joined the management committee; helped promote the bus; then became the project coordinator.

It really did get into my heart.

I had also kept lots of photographs of the bus and its many activities which were used as displays highlighting the work, the potential and the support the bus could offer.

I left the bus when my husband was diagnosed with cancer and was asked to help out and teach in the local school.

I left full-time teaching due to problems in the school and was asked to write the bus story. The book, Bewbush Playbus, was published in 2012.

Self-publishing

Having written this book, I continued to teach and took on the role of occasional supply/cover teacher. I loved visiting lots of different schools and was able to talk about the Playbus; which was now no longer in operation. I could also show photographs of the bus, these were included in the book.

On my many visits I met so many people, now grown up, who held very fond memories of their time on the Playbus.

The children always asked me, ‘what was a Playbus?’ and how it was different from an ordinary bus?

This led me to tell the children a story about what the bus did, which in turn ended up being written as a fictional tale.

It was the illustrations that led me to self-publishing my stories. I was asked what sort of illustrations I would like and that gave me something to think about. Well, what would you choose?

I had originally drawn a storyboard with my own illustrations but although the children liked them, I wanted a more professional approach.

The story related to a real bus, and I wanted the images to reflect this. I found an excellent company, Artful Doodlers, and they not only drew the illustrations, but dealt with the layout as well as some of the final editing.

The first story book was published in 2014. ‘Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus’.

I have I continued to stay with the company and the illustrations always receive positive comments.

From here I was asked to write other stories, this has now ended up with seven bus story books, and a bus colouring book as well as stories relating to my teaching and play-work.

A new book is planned for 2024.

I also add a bit of history to the back of the story books as I find that adults and children are always fascinated to know that the bus was indeed a real Playbus.

All of the books have a bus in them somewhere, which was quite tricky to include in the Christmas story book.

Nanny and Alexander

I still do the occasional teaching day but now enjoy spending time with my young grandson.

We love reading books (some of my own), and playing. Alexander is included in Barty Barton’s tale.

I hope to write a few adventures about our playtime fun, but I do at least write about our playdays on my website blog.

Over the last four years Nanny and Alexander have enjoyed quite a few play adventures. With a new granddaughter I hopes the playtime will continue.

Lego

I have always had a passion for Lego and I buy and sell old sets. I have built various models including play houses for my grandson. Who know maybe he will follow Nanny and become a Lego builder too one day?

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