Sue Wallace-Shaddad was born and brought up in Suffolk and now lives there. She is married to a Sudanese academic and has a daughter (a singer-songwriter) and a son (a games designer).
Sue has an MA in Writing Poetry from Newcastle University with the Poetry School London. She is Secretary of Suffolk Poetry Society, organises poetry events and reads her own poetry regularly in venues around Suffolk. She runs a poetry evening ‘Chez Nous’ at the Green Room Cafe Ipswich, every few months. Sue is digital writer in residence for Causley Trust’s ‘The Maker’ blog. She enjoys attending major poetry festivals such as StAnza, Ledbury and Poetry in Aldeburgh as well as the Festival of Suffolk Poetry. She read at ‘Poetry in Aldeburgh’ in 2020 and Big Lit in 2022. Sue ran a workshop on ‘ Unpacking a Sense of Place’ at ‘Poetry in Aldeburgh’ 2022.
Sue ‘s publication ‘ Sleeping Under Clouds’ was published in early April 2023 by Clayhanger Press. Her poems respond to the work of artist Sula Rubens R.W.S. (images are also featured) on the theme of kinship, journeying, nuture, memories of the past, uncertainty about the future. See Sue’s blog page which has an earlier video of Sue and Sula talking about their collaboration.
Sue’s debut pamphlet, ‘ A City Waking Up’, published by Dempsey and Windle in October 2020, features poems about the people, language and customs of Sudan. Copies can be bought from Dempsey and Windle https://www.dempseyandwindle.com/wallaceshaddad.html, from booksellers or by contacting Sue on this site. Sue also self-published a pamphlet ‘ A Working Life’ in 2014. This reflects aspects of her career with the British Council 1974 – 2014 which took her all over the world promoting UK education and culture.
Sue was shortlisted for the Plough Prize 2021, commended in the Crabbe Poetry Competition 2021 and shortlisted for the Maytree Press Three Trees Portfolio Award in 2021, longlisted in 2022. She has had poems published by London Grip, ARTEMISpoetry, Poetry Scotland, The High Window, The Ekphrastic Review, Ink Sweat and Tears, Poetry Space, Fenland Poetry Journal, Finished Creatures and The French Literary Review among others and in various magazines and local anthologies. She writes poetry reviews regularly which are listed in the review section of this site.
Sue observes and reflects, captures moments in both her own life and the lives of others, painting pictures with her words. She has a particular interest in ekphrasis and is a great-granddaughter of the distinguished Scottish painter and Glasgow Boy, James Paterson. Sue has just completed her first full collection ‘A Family of Portraits’ and is seeking a publisher. This mainly ekphrastic collection focuses on the changing role of women 1870 – 1950 through the lens of portraiture. It features women artists in her family as well other women artists. She has an ongoing collaboration with the artist Sula Rubens R.W.S. (see blog for information)
To contact Sue, fill in the contact box on this site and Sue will get your email! Sue’s Twitter handle is @Sue_SWS. She posts photographs (mainly of nature) on Instagram. Instagram: @suewallaceshaddad. She is also on Facebook (poetry friends group).
Poetry, Photography and Reviews 