Warm stories that make family reading easy, featuring Sukie: Queen of Cats — helping children feel they belong.
About Jan
Author, consultant and Nonna who believes stories help children feel safe and loved.
My Journey
In 2006, my family and I left New Zealand for a new life in Scotland. Since then, my work has taken me from Aberdeen to Orkney, to Dumfries and across England — yet my roots remain firmly planted in Orkney. The Orkney Islands feel like my homeland, but older, quieter, and filled with stories. The Orcadian culture shares the same spirit as the Māori oral traditions I grew up with: voices passed from one generation to the next, guiding us toward who we are and who we might become.
Our little cottage reminds me daily of the fortunate life and career I enjoy. Just before the COVID pandemic, Sukie entered our lives and quietly chose us. Through those long months when we were cutoff from Orkney and living in Dumfries, she brought joy, mischief and comfort into our home. She is the bright thread that kept and still keeps our family connected across miles and seas.
Why I write
Writing has always woven through my career, but in 2024 it took on a new direction when I became a volunteer judge for the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. Reading the wonderful stories of children from across the Commonwealth — full of courage, imagination and hope — reminded me how powerful storytelling can be.
Their words create a strong voice that encouraged me to bring my own ideas to life. And so, Sukie Queen of Cats was born: a series that celebrates belonging, kindness, bravery, connection and the families we build along the way.
My first book is now nearly ready to meet the world. I have also created some mini stories, some I have read on my YouTube channel and others I have published on this site for members. I’m grateful for every step that brought me here.
My background
Before becoming a children’s author, I spent many years working in the local government, heath sector and community services. I originally trained as an accountant with a Masters of Business Administration. I quickly discovered my heart belonged in work that supported families and improved wellbeing. This led me to complete a Master of Public Health, postgraduate studies, and had the opportunity to mark some of the undergraduate work, while also working in senior roles across the health sector.
I pursued these qualifications not for titles, bit to genuinely understand people — and ensuring that my medical colleagues knew I understood their world. My mother was one of the the first Māori midwives to qualify in New Zealand, in the 1950s and from her I learned the value of compassion, cultural understanding and listening deeply. Those lessons underpin both my professional life and my writing today.
Stories became the bridge between my past and my purpose. They help children feel seen, safe and confident — and that is why I write.
What matters to me
I believe in kindness, belonging, community and the quiet courage found in everyday life.
I believe families reading together creates connections and memories that last a lifetime.
And I believe that stories — even the gentle ones — can help children feel safe in a big world.
I hope Sukie’s adventures bring warmth and joy to your family, just as she has to mine
Thanks you for visiting
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You can find me on social media links in the footer but look at the blogs and if you are keen to obtain for free some of the resources I have on this site become a member.