I’m a published commercial fiction author. I write short stories, novels and novellas. I’m currently working on my first non-fiction book, a guide to writing novels, as Alison May. I also write fun, modern, inclusive romcoms as Ally Sinclair, and darker stories as Juliet Bell (in collaboration with Janet Gover).

I won the RNA’s Elizabeth Goudge Trophy in 2012, and have been shortlisted in the RoNAs and the Love Stories Awards.

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, an experienced creative writing tutor, and I’m a former Chairperson 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, Boldwood, Legend Press and Headline and with writers who have successfully published their work independently. I also offer structural editing services to authors self-publishing in commercial or popular fiction genres.

Along with Jeevani Charika and Janet Gover I offer tutoring and mentoring through Fiction Tutors. We also run the Debut Author Club – a low cost virtual subscription club for early career authors, aimed at demystifying the publishing industry.