Sue Hampton is an ex-teacher who was inspired to write by the stories of Michael Morpurgo, because she witnessed their emotional power over young readers. Like him, she aims to write deep, compelling novels that will make people think and feel - and like him, she has many adult fans. Now a full-time author, Sue visits schools of all kinds and works with young people of all ages. Many of her passions can be detected in her novels, which are all different, (some historical, one futuristic, one magical and funny) but have in common themes like love, courage, freedom and our right to be different. Sue herself looks a little different from most women because she has alopecia, having lost all her hair in 1981. Since then she's worn a wig, but in recent years, having written THE WATERHOUSE GIRL about a girl with alopecia, she's been going bareheaded and feeling strangely liberated even though it isn't easy. As a result of a feature in The Big Issue, Sue has met several young people who have lost their hair and done an interview for a girls' magazine in Australia. Sue also lectures on the importance of fiction in school. Describe Sue in three adjectives? Passionate, individual and idealistic. Describe her novels in three adjectives? Powerful, "beautifully written" (says Michael Morpurgo of THE WATERHOUSE GIRL) and challenging.
