Allie Sommerville was born in Croydon, Surrey but now lives and writes on an Island off of the South Coast of England.
Ambitions of becoming a nurse and/or ballerina wore off by the time she was a teenager, but during her student days, she was always praised for her writing skills.
Allie became obsessed with the books of the English author Laurie Lee, and his work, 'As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning' eventually led to a trip round Spain in a campervan, following in his footsteps. The 'van wasn't as reliable as she and her husband had hoped, and with Allie becoming more nervous and paranoid as their journey progressed, she realised she wasn't cut-out for adventure!
Allie became a student of Art History in 2000, and despite the tribulations of their Spanish trip, she and her husband toured Italy and France. More adventures ensued, which convinced Allie that she ought to write a book about them - both as a useful insight into 'life on the road' and also to realise her other long-time ambition of becoming an author.
Uneasy Rider - Confessions of a Reluctant Traveller is a humorous take on independent travel, which anyone, whether or not interested in travel, will enjoy.
Don't expect glowing prose about how wonderful everywhere is - it is not a guidebook!
Coming soon: A journey aroung mainland GB in the same old 'unrealiable' campervan.
Allie's memoir, now a KINDLE download, is a nostalgic trip through an English post-war childhood.
'To Set My Feet A-Dancing' is wistful and light-hearted, looking back to a time when children were allowed play in the park until dark, clothes were home made and owning a car meant you were rich.
Allie firstly draws upon her time as a young amateur dancer. Appearing with her older sister at various venues in shows arranged by their eccentric dancing teacher made a lasting impression on her, though not always for the right reasons!
Amongst other subjects, she looks at schooldays, Christmas's past and seaside holidays in an age of innocence.
The memoir ends with the history of two ordinary families, tracing their lives back to the 1800s.
Please visit Allie's travel website:
www.campervantraveller.weebly.com
