About Me

I don't remember ever wanting to be a writer when I grew up. I just liked to read! So imagine my surprise when long after my first few books were published my mother unearthed my old elementary school report cards, and I read these comments by my 5th and 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Hall:

"Suzy has a good command of the English language and a flair for creative writing.... I hope she will continue to do creative writing as I and the students have especially enjoyed her talents in this area."

I grew up in Eugene, Oregon, and went to college at the University of Oregon, where I graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's in library science. My husband and I moved to Renton, Washington (near Seattle), just after I finished college.

I didn't start writing children's books until after I'd been a librarian for ten years, and had children of my own. My husband, Mark, is principal trombonist for the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra. We have two adult children, and a toy fox terrier named Toby.

By the way, there are TWO Suzanne Williams who write for children. My books are all fiction, but Suzanne Morgan Williams (who lives in Reno, Nevada), writes mostly nonfiction.

F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

When did you start writing children's books?

I liked to write as a child, but I never thought about trying to get published until I was in my thirties. My first book, which is still in print, was a picture book called "Mommy Doesn't Know My Name." It was published in 1990.

Where do you live?

I've lived in Renton, Washington since 1976. (I moved from Oregon to Washington as soon as I graduated from college.)

How many brothers and sisters do you have?

I have an older brother and two younger sisters.

Did you have any pets when you were a kid?

My family had a dog named Sniffer when I was quite young. He was a medium-sized mutt. Later, we had a white and black cock-a-poo named Tuffy; (he looked like a small sheepdog), and a calico cat named Patches. We also had pairs of mallard ducks from time-to-time. My dad was a nurseryman, and the ducks helped keep down the population of slugs and bugs on the plants he sold. Unfortunately, they sometimes also nibbled on the plants!

Do you have any pets now?

Yes, one dog. Toby is a toy fox terrier.
He was born on January 31, 2003.

How do you get ideas for stories?

A lot of my earliest stories got their start in real life. My children would say or do something funny, and I'd find a way to work what they'd said or done into a story--as part of what a character said or did.. My daughter at age two saying "I'm not a pumpkin, I'm Emily," in response to my calling her that "pet" name, led me to write my very first book: Mommy Doesn't Know My Name. Of course, I add and change events as needed to make a satisfying story. One of the fun things about writing fiction is that you can change what really happened to what you WISH had happened! Things going on around me, what I remember from my own childhood, ideas I get from reading books and watching movies, and my personal philosophy of life also influence the things I put into my stories.

How long does it take you to complete a book?

I honestly don't know because I've never kept track of the amount of time I spend on any one story. It may take me only a few days to get down the first draft of a picture book text, but then I'll usually work on it off-and-on over a period of months, getting feedback, then writing successive drafts.

How many books have you written?

That's a tricky question. I've written far more stories than have ever been published. Many of my early stories and even some stories that I write today will never be published. I consider them practice. But of all the stories I've written so far, 27 have been published to date.

Of all the books you've written, which is your favorite?

Humpf. I don't play favorites with my books. It would be like asking parents, "Who's your favorite child?" How could they answer? (Unless you don't have any siblings!) All of my books are near and dear to my heart for different reasons. The truth is, my favorite book is always the one I happen to be working on at the time. Seeing a book develop and take shape is the fun part for me. By the time a book is actually published I've moved on to a "new" favorite.

Did you have any role models as a child and who were they?

Role models? Well, Nancy Drew for one. She was so brave! My parents influenced me the most, of course. They modeled the joys of reading because they were readers themselves. They also read aloud to me and my three siblings, and made sure there were lots of books in our home. I don't know very many writers who weren't READERS first.

Do you have any advice for kids who want to write or illustrate?

Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Draw, draw, draw. Be passionate about your subject. Make it something you CARE about. Experiment with different kinds of writing and different styles of art. Have fun. If you to want to get published, try sending things to magazines that publish work by kids. First read the magazines to get an idea of the quality of work in them. Don't be discouraged if your work is rejected. Get honest feedback from friends you trust, and try to make your work better. Practice and perseverance pay off! See also: My Favorite Writing Tips

What are your hobbies?

READING, journal writing, playing soprano recorder, step-aerobic exercise, walking, hiking, travel, doing stuff with family and friends.

What are you currently working on?

To find out about my books-in-progress, go to My Books.