All about Allison
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I absolutely love writing! I enjoy writing about my experiences, and I take pleasure in sharing my knowledge and expertise. Writing gives me a chance to indulge my passion for caring for animals, growing fruit and vegetables and generally enjoying life in the countryside.
Life and career
At the age of six months, she moved, with her parents and older sister to Singapore, where her father was stationed in the Royal Marines. The family remained in Singapore for almost two years before returning to West Yorkshire, where Allison attended school before embarking on a career as a Personal Assistant for a firm of solicitors, where she learned how to type and take shorthand. Allison’s early career also saw her work for a firm of Stockbrokers before she married Mark at the age of twenty-one.
Three years later, their first son, Sam, was born, followed by David in 1993, and Allison found her career changed enormously after the birth of her children. Initially a stay-at-home mum, Allison wanted to contribute to the family’s finances whilst remaining with her children, so she embarked on a career as a childminder, working with her mother in a converted building in the garden of her home.
Fifteen years later, when her mother decided to retire, Allison started looking for her own nursery, and finally, in 2010, she purchased a 57-place children’s nursery and found herself employing over twenty staff. Her business empire expanded, and after five years, she owned a small nursery chain comprising five settings across Yorkshire, employing over 50 staff.
In 2013, Allison and her youngest son, David, set up a training company, teaching predominantly childcare, although the company has since expanded and now offers a variety of courses. Four years later, a second training company was set up specialising in continued professional development.
In 2022, Allison retired from the nursery industry and now works part-time with her son in their training companies, in addition to running a smallholding with her husband. In her spare time, Allison enjoys writing novels and practical books.
Allison and Mark have been married for thirty-six years and live with their four dogs and a variety of animals in Holmfirth. In addition to their two sons, they also have two beautiful granddaughters.
My current projects
My latest novel
From a very young age, I have always wanted to write a novel. The inspiration for Live or Die, my debut story, came about when I purchased a holiday cottage in early 2023. The cottage is set deep in the Snowdonia countryside and surrounded by thick, dense forest. The first time I set eyes on the cottage, in the middle of winter, I knew it was perfect, and after one visit, I put in an offer. My idea for Live or Die was almost instantaneous; spending time in the tranquil Welsh countryside simply sparked my imagination, and I had written my first novel in less than three months!
Smallholding handbook
Running a smallholding is something that quite simply crept up on me. The unplanned transition has always interested me due to my love of animals; however, the reality of caring for animals every day is much more challenging than the dream!
Whilst summers can be enjoyable with the long days and warm nights spent in the paddocks grooming and really getting to know the animals, the winter months are the complete opposite when it is a race against time to get the animals housed, fed and watered before the sun goes down, often battling the elements and this is when the absolute determination comes in.
This book will take the reader through the highs and lows of owning and being responsible for animals of different shapes, sizes and characters and provide practical help and advice on everything related to running a smallholding for pleasure.
Country living diaries
In addition to my passion for animals, I also love interior design, and I have taken immense pleasure in transforming my current homes, a barn conversion in the Yorkshire countryside and a remote cottage in Snowdonia. Both properties have been a challenge!
I moved into my main home in Yorkshire in 2020 during Covid and set about completely renovating the house. Whilst I knew the property was in need of updating, I had no idea how much work was required until I started uncovering problems like leaking toilets, inadequate heating system, rats in the kitchen and many more nightmares! My Welsh idyll in the forest proved a similar problem with water running down the interior walls and a leaking roof.
Championing self-sufficiancy
I believe that many people, particularly after the pandemic, have started to re-assess their lifestyles with the focus now very much on a healthy work-life balance, and that is how I personally became interested in growing fruit and vegetables.
Although I have always enjoyed gardening, it wasn’t until I was in the position of owning land that I was able to pursue this passion on a larger scale. I now have a small orchard with apple, pear, cherry, plum and greengages, along with soft fruits and an area of raised beds used for growing a variety of vegetables which feed our family and provide treats for our animals!