Author Spotlight with Ally Parkes

*This post contains affiliate links*

Hi, I’m Ally and I am married with 2 young children. I live in to the north of London, UK. I am an Occupational Therapist in the NHS and have just published my first book, No longer me, which is available on Amazon now in both ebook and paperback format.

As I sit writing this blog post I’m almost 70% of the way through No Longer Me and I can honestly say it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. The story pulls you in and has you experience everything alongside the main character, Chloe Richards. Chloe is an inspirational young lady who faces everything that is thrown her way. She’s close to my own age and I found myself trying to put myself in her shoes. Needless to say, I found myself needing a box of tissues. Despite the heaviness of the story, Ally tells it so perfectly.

Ally, I know you wrote this story to help others going through something similar.

Ally, you are a very brave, strong and inspirational woman.

1. Ally, would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself and No Longer Me?

No longer me is a fictional tale, but is life-inspired by my own story. It follows the life of 27-year-old Chloe Richards and what happens when she receives a sudden and shock diagnosis bringing her plans and dreams to an abrupt halt. The story follows Chloe on her unexpected journey and details how she triumphs over adversity.

2. Your book is life-inspired, did this make it difficult to write certain scenes?

I started writing before the idea of turning it into a book came about. I sat and wrote the hardest bits that I had experienced and yes I did shed a few tears, but I found it so therapeutic to put the words onto paper, so it gave me the motivation to keep doing it.

3. What inspired you to put your story out there?

I started writing only for me, but then when I realised how helpful it was for me, I thought that maybe this would help others too. Also, a few friends that had been through it with me, read bits and had no idea about some of what I had been through, so I then realised it might be a good way to raise awareness too.

4. I know you mentioned in an interview that you did with J L Rothstein that you’re already planning your second book. Can you tell us anything about it?

So, at the moment I am focussing on marketing No longer me, but I did have an idea of a 2^nd story. I do not wish for any more life dramas of my own to use as creative inspiration, but I have an idea that uses the experiences I have had at work to write a story of the impact of another health-related issue but it is in it’s very early stages at the moment.

5. What will you do differently when writing your second book?

With a 2^nd book, I would definitely plan and outline more before starting. With No longer me, I had the story in my head (as it was mine mostly) so I didn’t need to do that so much, but with a completely new and made up tale, I would want to plan it more from the outset.

6. How do you juggle work around your family life and work?

I do feel like a juggler most days, balancing the kids and my NHS work. But, my kids are at school so on my off-days, when the house is quiet, that’s when I do my writing and try to ignore the housework!

7. If you could change one thing about the process of writing your first book, what would it be?

Now I have completed the process, I think the hardest part is the marketing and getting the your book known in a very big wide world.

8. Where’s your favourite place to write?

I write mainly at home, generally with a cup of tea next to me! I love the idea of staying in a little seafront cottage on my own with views of the sea beyond my laptop, but until my kids are older and have left home, that will never happen haha!

9. How has social media influenced/ affected your writing?

Social media has been great for getting support from the writing community. People who are able to advise on things I don’t know and who understand the highs/lows of this whole process. There are some great indie authors. I don’t know about my writing, but it has certainly opened up a whole world of reading for me, which I would never have known about otherwise.

You can find Ally on Twitter.

Author Spotlight with Ally Parkes