Pomp and Circumstances

An avid reader who adored her poet and storyteller father, Sue Hampton shared with her brother Dave a vivid world of the imagination, becoming Robin Hood in the garden and creating new worlds where her toys could play. Having earned a First Class degree from London University (B.Ed hons) with English as her main subject, she taught at two primary schools in Newham and then at Dulwich College before becoming a mum – during this career break she ran a business from home, cooking and freezing veggie and vegan meals. She still loves baking. Returning to teaching in Herts after a twelve year gap, Sue made sure her primary school classrooms were colourful and creative places where Story Time was sacrosanct. In the work of Michael Morpurgo in particular she found an emotional power which inspired her to become an author and when her first novel, SPIRIT AND FIRE, was published by Pegasus in 2007, he reviewed it as “enthralling… a powerfully written debut that lingers long.” He has also praised her story of a girl who, like Sue herself, has alopecia, called THE WATERHOUSE GIRL: “beautifully written.” Sue’s other titles for young readers include both historical and futuristic stories, fantasy, adventures, mystery and humour. She attended her first awards ceremony in March when her deep crossover novel TRACES was runner-up in The People’s Book [...]