Sue Pickford Cheung

I’ve been shortlisted for quite a few awards since Chinglish was launched, and in each one I’ve been side-by-side with some real award heavyweights. But this particular one was a surprise because it’s a BIGGIE, supported by Books Are My Bag run by The Booksellers Association who support independent book shops in UK & Ireland. I’ve not won anything yet and may never, but right now it doesn’t bother me, because being on this list alone is a high achievement.

For someone who struggled at school, I’m living proof that you don’t have to be an exceptional academic to be able to write a book. Just plain self-belief, a bit of hard graft and the right people around, is enough to get you where you want in life.