CREATIVE spark

with AUTHOR, LUCY NOGUERA

At what stage in your life did you first move to Ealing?

I’ve lived in Ealing for many years now, even before I was married and had children I moved here for my first teaching job which was at Christ Church Junior School on Ealing Broadway

If you were telling someone about Ealing who had never visited, how would you describe it?

It’s a great place to live, lots of parks and with everything you need close by! It also has tubes to get into central London easily and Heathrow is 25 mins away

Do you have a favourite watering hole?

I go to Coffee shops more often than pubs, and Ealing is brilliant for those The Court of Miracles on Northfields Avenue has the best coffee in Ealing for sure

If I had to choose a pub, then I would say The Foresters or The Plough

Where have you had your best Ealing meal?

Tapelia also on Northfields Avenue That’s our go-to family favourite

Is there a part of Ealing that you find particularly inspirational or where you find peace?

I love Walpole and Lammas parks as I have spent so much time in them with my family and my dogs over the years so they are full of memories too

Tell us what you ' re up to and what's next for you.

My first children’s book Swop The SatsumaSized Secret came out in 2021 and my picture book Herman Needs A Home in 2022, since then I have visited over 100 schools to talk about being an author, my books and to encourage reading for pleasure

The visits are either virtually or in person and I have absolutely loved them all I make sure my books have layers, so they can be read and used in different ways They always include a theme which can be explored in more detail For instance, Swop introduces sign language as there is a deaf character and Herman has a central theme of the effects of plastic pollution on the environment - whilst also being an adventure story about hermit crabs

The second Swop book in the series – Swop The Daring Dinosaur Detective – is coming out this Summer It’s another 7+ chapter book, very readable and Dyslexia friendly in terms of layout and font It’s set on a school trip in The Natural History Museum which is my favourite museum in London

I am currently planning my school workshops and talks ready for this launch and look forward to building relationships with more local schools over the coming year Ealing is very lucky as it has so many amazing schools!