Student Work: Suzette Hussey

OCA Creative Writing tutor Rab Ferguson in conversation with student Suzette Hussey about the launch of her new book – The Orange Tree.

Firstly, please tell us about yourself, what you like to write about and create, and what you study at the OCA? 

As a young girl I moved a lot, until finally resettling in Jamaica at nine-years-old. One constant source of comfort through this confusing time was the stories of  Enid Blyton which my mum read to me at night.  As I grew, my love of reading grew and I soon moved on from Enid Blyton to The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. This love of mysteries carried forward to my adult life and I frequently have my head stuck in a psychological thriller.  However, every so often I reach for those familiar childhood stories as they remain a source of comfort.  

Eventually, I decided that I am going to become a writer, focusing on children’s books. I want to create books with strong characters that children of today can relate to, and stories they will find comfort in as I did as a child.  So, I registered with OCA and began my creative writing journey to become a published author. I love to write mystery stories with a supernatural element for the middle-grade reader and younger readers. In level two, I have created two strong characters, Becky and Maurice and hope to have their adventures published one day.

Please tell us about your story The Orange Tree, which is being published by Oxford University Press on 3rd March 2025.

The Orange Tree is the retelling of a Haitian Folktale and is a part of the Traditional Tales series published by Oxford University Press.  It is about a young girl, Rosaline who is fearful of her greedy housekeeper.  One day she runs away to the forest. After eating an orange, she falls asleep and wakes up to something magical.

The Orange Tree is part of a Oxford Reading Tree Traditional Tales, can you tell us more about this series, and if there are any other books in the series you are particularly excited for?

This series has a total of thirty-six books and encompasses the retelling of tales from around the world, written and illustrated by international authors and illustrators. The books focus on phonic progression from level one readers to level nine. The Orange Tree is for level eight readers. 

I am eager to read all the other stories in the series, each one being unique and from another part of the world is exciting.

How did you get involved in Oxford Reading Tree Traditional Tales?

At the end of the first level of the creative writing course at OCA, I signed up for a children’s book writing course to make sure this was the pathway I wanted to take.  It was a great course with a fabulous set of people and we stayed intouch. A couple of years later, I was contacted by one of the other students who is  now an editor in the international division at Oxford University Press.  She was looking for submissions from international authors for the Traditional Tales series. I sent in my submission and fast forward to today, my first published book is coming out!

Tell us about your interest in folklore, and how that influences your writing?

I love folklore as I am always fascinated with its origin and the notable influence that it has on the people of each specific region. After all, I do love a good mystery! I would say folklore has a huge influence on my writing as so many stories can be crafted from the beliefs.  Right now I am focused on the Caribbean region and there are some good horror stories there.  In fact, I have two novels in progress, influenced by folklore of this region.

Is this your first publication, and if so, how does it feel to have your writing published for the first time?

Yes, this is my first publication (but not my last) and I am both deeply honored to be published by Oxford University Press and excited to hold my very own book in my hands.

How has your course at the OCA influenced your writing? Did this support you in achieving this publication?

Although writing for an educational series is very different from creative writing, my course at OCA has impacted my work. It has given me the strong foundation and the confidence that I needed to achieve this milestone.

What’s the best thing about studying Creative Writing at the OCA?

Firstly, I have two amazing teachers for level two, Rab Ferguson for Writing for Children and Nina Milton for Writing for YA. Both are published authors and bring their own unique experience to their respective course. They are also very supportive when I get stuck and encourage me to move along.  

I also love the practical layout of the course and of course, its content. Being able to work whenever I want is also helpful, as I can schedule course work around my busy life.

What would you say to budding writers or artists considering studying at the OCA?

I think a strong foundation is prudent for a new writer. You need so much more than a good idea to get a story written. Enrolling at OCA will give you the start that you need in your new career path. 

Finally, where’s the best link if readers wanted to buy The Orange Tree?

The book is available from many online stores, including Waterstones. You can buy your copy here.