Featured Author: Sue Robertson Danells
“You’re never too old to start something new.”
Some stories take root quietly, whispered inside us for years before we are finally brave enough to write them.
For Sue Robertson Danells, that whisper became a novel. Then a finished manuscript. Then a published book, at 71 years old.
A lifelong educator and writer of official reports, Sue spent decades helping children shape stories of their own. Yet fiction always felt like something meant for “other people.” Until one day, it didn’t.
She learned formatting. She asked questions. She figured out covers and publishing platforms. She kept going — for her story, for herself, and for her mother, who was 95 when Sue placed her finished book in her hands.
Today, Sue reminds us that courage doesn’t have a deadline, and creativity has no age limit.
📚 Book: The Long Game
Genre: Crime / British Detective Mystery
Where to read: Available on Amazon
The first in a gripping new crime series, The Long Game introduces Detective Inspector Maggie Dent, a determined investigator in a quiet English town where secrets run deep.
When a young woman is found dead in nearby woods, Maggie is drawn into a case that reaches far beyond the crime scene, threatening to fracture her own family in the process. Atmospheric, compelling, and perfect for fans of female-led police procedurals, this debut blends mystery, emotion, and classic British suspense.
🕯 Behind the Book
Sue’s writing journey began decades ago, after the loss of her father led her into deep family-history research.
One ancestor — a man who simply disappeared from the records — planted a seed in her imagination.
Curiosity became investigation.
Investigation became story.
Story became a novel.
And little by little, what once felt impossible became a reality printed in her hands.
📖 Excerpt from The Long Game
The squat was an old stone building, long left to nature’s wiles. It would have been a rather cosy place to live, but by the time he’d quite accidentally come across it, time had ravaged both exterior and interior. After World War Two, the land it sat on had been developed to provide housing for Londoners left homeless from the blitz. Evidence of once cultivated gardens were still visible if you looked hard enough. The remnants of a fence. Fruit trees dotted about. Daffodils and crocuses among the wild plants that had taken over. Temporary prefabs erected swiftly were now a distant memory. The entire area had become dense wood, concealing the cottage perfectly. He’d gradually repaired what was needed to make it suitable, and there were no visible paths through the trees and scrub, though he thought there must be local dog walkers who used it, but he’d never seen any, nor yet any people. To reach the cottage he took great care not to enter or exit by the same route each time. Everything necessary for his work was stored in the cottage. Every job he was given began and ended within its walls. He changed into something comfortable, found his phone and dialed. It was answered immediately though there was no audible response. “It’s done,” he said. “Any problems?” “No. Went well… always does.” “You need to move on this one.” “I’ll start when it suits me. Have to make sure everything’s in order.” He cut the call, returned the phone to its safe place, and relaxed.
More About Sue
Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0922GNCDF/about?ingress=0&visitId=ba648b31-dda9-4042-bd0c-e89c2a7f0c56
Newsletter: https://newsletter-oldcrowbooks.com
🌿 A quiet reminder from Sue
Sometimes the thing we dream of doing waits patiently for us.
Sometimes all we need is one brave moment to begin.
Sue’s journey is a beautiful testament to persistence, curiosity, and the belief that it’s never too late to do something bold for yourself.
💬 Want to support Sue?
Follow her, read her work, leave a review — and if you ever needed a sign that your own creative dreams are worth pursuing… let this be it.
