About Me

I’m a published commercial fiction author. I write short stories, novels and novellas. My sixth novel as Alison May, All That Was Lost, is out now. I won the RNA’s Elizabeth Goudge Trophy in 2012, and have been shortlisted in the RoNAs and the Love Stories Awards. I’m represented by Julia Silk at Kingsford Campbell literary agency.

I was born and raised in North Yorkshire, but now live in Worcester with one husband, no kids and no pets. There were goldfish once. That ended badly.

I’ve studied History and Creative Writing, and worked as a waitress, a shop assistant, a learning adviser, an advice centre manager, and a freelance trainer, before settling on ‘making up stories’ as an entirely acceptable grown-up career plan.

I’m also a qualified teacher in adult education, a member of the Society of Authors, and an experienced creative writing tutor, and I’m currently Chairwoman of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. As a tutor, I’ve worked with authors who have gone on to be published with Avon, Head of Zeus, Bookouture, Legend Press and Headline and with writers who have successfully published their work independently.

I also write as Juliet Bell, in collaboration with Janet Gover.