SCBWI FACES Serena Lacey-Brown
Serena Lacey-Brown is a freelance journalist and writer who has spent more than 25 years writing for children’s magazines and newspapers, and interviewing celebrities and children’s authors. She is currently editing a middle-grade manuscript and lives in London with her husband, two daughters, cat, dog and tortoise. She loves the beach and Christmas, but not Christmas on the beach. You can find her on X, Instagram and TikTok.
What do you write?
I write anything I can! I’m currently working my way through the fifth draft of a MG manuscript, I’ve dabbled with picture book texts, and I have a bit of an itch to try a chapter book series next.
Do you have a ‘day job’ as well as volunteering and writing?
My day job also involves writing! I’ve been a journalist for more years than I can count, mostly writing for youth/children’s publications. I started my career at the now defunct Smash Hits magazine where I spent seven incredible years interviewing popstars, followed by 17 years (gulp) at the children’s newspaper First News. During my time at First News I interviewed lots of children’s authors, who really inspired me to finally piece together some of the many scenes, ideas and characters I’ve jotted down over the years. I’m currently freelancing while I try to knock my MG manuscript into shape.
Describe your writing space.
My writing space is my home office, which was recently redecorated to reflect my love of the sea. It has blue walls, a comfy sofa which is great to curl up and read on, plus floor to ceiling bookshelves, which house my ever-growing collection of children’s books. I’ve recently bought myself a vitamin D/ daylight lamp because I really hate the winter months and I hope it’ll give me that little boost of energy I need to be productive at this time of year.
How long have you been a SCBWI volunteer?
I’m a very new volunteer to the SCBWI, but I have been an avid reader for the last year. It was only when I started freelancing, and taking my own writing seriously, that I started to look at the resources and communities out there for children’s writers. I love getting Words & Pictures in my inbox, and I’m thrilled that my name and writing will be included in it.
Describe the main tasks of your role as a SCBWI volunteer.
At the moment I’m still finding my feet and learning how things work. I’ve pitched some ideas to the editor for one off features, the first of which ran in January, and some regular strands that hopefully I can take on moving forward.
Do you do any other volunteering?
I’m the co-chair of the PTA at my children’s school, which can be a lot of work, especially when we have events to run. When my daughter started primary school the current PTA had just disbanded, so some friends and I stepped in to start a new one. In the past three years we have raised over £10K each year for the school, which has helped to fund new playground equipment, books and a portable boom box so the children can have lunchtime discos in the playground.
Has volunteering influenced your writing in any way?
Not so far, although I am only just starting.
What are the advantages of being a volunteer?
I think it’s just being part of a community of people who all feel so passionate about children’s books. I find the more I talk and read about writing, the more inspired I am to work on my own projects.
How many hours per week do you spend volunteering?
With both the school volunteering I do, and during my first month as a contributor to SCBWI I would say maybe 1-2 hours a week. The school volunteering takes up a lot more time in the run up to events.
Do the boundaries between volunteering get blurred or do you have clearly demarcated writing/volunteering times/space?
I am trying to be very focussed with my own writing at the moment, I’ve set myself some deadlines and I’m trying very hard to meet them as I hope to start querying agents in the next few months. If I know I have a piece that is due in as a volunteer, or as a freelancer, I’ll set side a specific time for that and make sure I stick to it. It’s very easy to get carried away with my own work and before I know it, it’s time to pick the kids up from school!
Favourite children’s book?
As I child I was obsessed with Enid Blyton’s Folk of the Faraway Tree series and I’ve just re-read them with my daughter. More modern books I have loved include The Last Bear by Hannah Gold, which made me sob on a sun lounger, and I have to admit to being a bit of a Potterhead and have re-read the Harry Potter series at least 10 times.
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| Writing from a sun lounger - Serena's favourite place to write! |
Anne Boyère is one of Words & Pictures' Feature Editors. You can find her on Instagram.
Find their work at www.fourfooteleven.com. Contact illustrators@britishscbwi.org
Tita Berredo is the Illustrator Coordinator of SCBWI British Isles and the Art Director of Words & Pictures.
Follow her on Instagram, X and www.titaberredo.com or contact her at illuscoordinator@britishscbwi.org
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