Sue Pickford Cheung

My first overseas author trip took me to Beijing and Shanghai, thanks to organisers Authors Abroad. A schedule like this is not for the faint-hearted, especially with jet lag. But I thank my 20 years in the London advertising industry for my ability to tough these kinds of things out. I have to say, it was made easier by the staff and students who were the most welcoming you could ever meet.

In between sessions, I had free rein of art departments, browsed books, chatted with loads of interesting folk and oh, I can’t forget the food! I was even invited to make dumplings one evening – you can’t get fresher than that. Outside of school time, I walked the Beijing hutongs, met with online friends for the first time in real life and even squeezed in a geeky Maglev ride (the fastest train on earth).

HUGE thanks to everyone, especially all the brilliantly funny and creative kids I had at my events. What a great adventure!