Author • Journalist • Speaker

For Susan Elkin, words have always been both a refuge and a calling. “I was in love with books from infancy,” she reflects — a passion that led her first into the classroom and later into a prolific writing career spanning more than three decades.

Susan taught English for 36 years, nurturing generations of young readers. After 25 years “at the chalk face”, she began writing about education, a side interest that quickly became her full‑time profession. Since then, she has written more than 5,000 articles for national newspapers and magazines, including The Daily Telegraph, The Times and the Daily Mail, and spent eleven years as Education Editor at The Stage. Alongside journalism, she has authored over 50 books: English textbooks, advice guides for teachers and actors, memoir, and now fiction.

Her latest book, Unheard Voices: Tales from the Margins of Literature, marks her fictional debut: “a celebration of a lifetime of reading,” she says. It follows acclaimed works such as The Alzheimer’s Diaries (2022), a moving account of her husband’s final years that has supported many readers in similar circumstances, and This Writing Business (2025), a candid look at her varied career.

Proudest moment

Among her many achievements, one moment stands out: standing in a Midlands prep school classroom as a teacher explained that an extract from Rebecca in Susan’s textbook had so captivated pupils that they begged for a full class set. “That,” she says, “was my proudest moment.”

Mission and Vision

Susan’s purpose is simple and expansive: “to connect with, entertain and maybe extend the horizons of as many people as I can.” Whether through journalism, books, or arts reviewing — her current focus includes theatre and classical music — she remains committed to enriching the cultural and intellectual lives of others.

How Sydenham shaped her

Susan credits Sydenham High with giving her “the best possible grounding”, especially in Latin. “Thanks, Miss Hibbert,” she adds. “Latin taught me how language works.” That early linguistic rigour became the foundation for everything that followed.

Advice for current pupils

Her message to aspiring writers is characteristically direct: “If you want to write successfully you should read, read, read — and then read some more. Keep it as wide as possible: chick lit, sci‑fi, classics, non‑fiction, children’s books, fantasy, murder mystery or anything else you fancy.”

Life today

Susan lives in South London with her tabby‑and‑white cat, Dave. She has two sons, four granddaughters, and still finds time to play violin in several amateur ensembles. And, of course, she continues to write — always with the same curiosity and love of language that first took root at Sydenham.

You can purchase Susan’s latest book in all good book stores and online at Amazon.

Click here for news of her launch.