Allie Cresswell was born in Stockport, UK and began writing fiction as soon as she could hold a pencil. She gained a BA in English Literature at Birmingham University and an MA at Queen Mary College, London. She has been a print-buyer, a pub landlady, a book-keeper, run a B & B and a group of boutique holiday cottages. Nowadays Allie writes full time having retired from teaching literature to lifelong learners. She has two grown-up children, one granddaughter and two grandsons, is married to Tim and lives in Cumbria.