Suzy Davies

Posted On August 22, 2019

What lead you to write?

I’ve always enjoyed writing. I started writing as a child because I came from a dual language family and was fascinated by language. I started writing professionally in 2014.

Was there a particular person that influenced you to pursue writing?

A very early influence was my English teacher at school, Mrs. Pontefract, who told me I had a talent for writing. Many people have encouraged me recently.

What is your preferred genre to write?

Children’s books, without any doubt. It’s such fun,and very rewarding.

What is your favorite genre to read?

I like to read books which are well-written. I am drawn to books with compelling characters. I like to read books written in my own genres, but I think it’s important to read widely.

What are your favorite activities or hobbies outside of work/writing?

I like going to the beach, and visiting nearby lakes in Florida. I love music and enjoy live concerts/gigs. I enjoy going to coffee shops and restaurants.

Who is your favorite author and what do you enjoy about their writing style?

For prose, I love the work of A.A. Milne. I love the whimsical style and home-spun philosophy. For poetry, I admire the work of Dr.Seuss for its humor, and I like Walter De La Mare’s poems – his writing paints wonderful pictures in your mind’s eye.

What is one major struggle you have with writing?

Rewriting can sometimes be tedious, but it is necessary. You have to do as many rewrites as it takes. I am a bit of a perfectionist.

Out of all of your stories, which one did you most enjoy writing?

“The Cave” was the most exciting and challenging. But all of my books were fun to write! “Luna The Moon Pig” made me laugh because it was based on a real life piggy who came into my back yard and hid, and Sheila Graber really captured the personality of the little piggy in her cartoon-style illustrations.

 What projects are you currently working on?

I’ve just completed my second book of children’s poems, another collaboration with artist Laurie Shanholtzer, which follows our first children’s bedtime book,“Sleepy Animals.” Now, I’m immersed in writing a re imagining of a famous fairy tale. It is being illustrated by Michele Bourke, whose first sold painting was bought by Billy Ocean.

What has been one of your strongest inspirations for a story?

When I wrote “Snugs The Snow Bear” I wanted to get kids interested in wildlife, help them understand global warming and its impact on the environment, and get children involved in taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint.

Do you place any of your life experiences into your stories?

All the time!

If you had enough money to travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

There are many countries I would like to visit or see again. My list is long, and includes my native Great Britain, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Japan, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Malta, Germany and Thailand.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Believe in yourself.

What is your dream car?

A  car that has good engineering,  which is “green” and “safe” – maybe a Volvo or Subaru.

What part of your writing is the most complimented?

People like the characterization.

What part of your writing, do you feel, needs strengthening?

I can’t think of anything specific. Perhaps I need to write more cleanly on the first drafts so I don’t have to do so many revisions and rewrites.

What is your favorite mixed drink?

I don’t like mixed drinks. I prefer coffee to alcohol, but do enjoy the occasional glass of wine or champagne.

What is one of your most cherished items in your writing space?

A little toy snow bear.

What is one thing in anything you’ve read that stood out to you? (Could be meaning or even just sentence structure.)

“You are a child of The Universe … no less than the trees and the stars …” The lyrical simplicity of the words and their meaning moves me.

What advice would you give to someone trying to start building their platform and market their work?

Be prepared for a lot of hard work. Be yourself. Cultivate genuine people around you.

What is your favorite food?

Cheese salad.

What is your favorite show/movie?

My favorite TV show is “The Voice.” My favorite show is the musical, “Cats.”

Twitter: https://twitter.com/birdwriter7

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/473767.Suzy_Davies

Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/Suzy-Davies/e/B00N51OYAI/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1