About Olivia Ryan

I live near Chelmsford in Essex, with my husband and one remaining cat, Charlie, who spends most of his life asleep, much of it on my lap while I’m writing! During the course of my life I’ve tried out various towns and villages in Essex and think the county gets a bad press – it has a lot to recommend it and we’re not all white-stiletto wearing bimbos!

I went to an all-girls’ grammar school in Romford, where English was the only subject I excelled in – and by that time I was already writing mini-books about teenage romances, which were fortunately only ever read by my friends.

My husband and I met when we were teenagers, married young, and have survived to tell the tale – having produced three lovely daughters along the way. They are my greatest accomplishment.

I worked for most of my life as a medical secretary, at hospitals in Romford, Billericay and Broomfield, Chelmsford, and I’m now a full-time writer.

I began my published writing career during the 1980s, with children’s stories written under my real name – SHEILA NORTON. In the 1990s I won two first prizes in short story competitions, and went on to have about 100 short stories published in women’s magazines.

In 2002, after years of trying, I finally had my first novel The Trouble With Ally published by Piatkus, and went on to have four more books published by them under my own name, before beginning to write under the pseudonym of Olivia Ryan for the publication of the Tales From series.

I still write short stories for the women’s magazine market under the name of Sheila Norton and you can find out more about my original five novels at sheilanorton.co.uk. I also write a blog, Olivia’s Oracle, which you might like to check out at oliviaryanblogspot

I am happy to give talks about writing to writers’ groups and other organisations in the Essex area: please get in touch with me via the Contact Olivia page if you are interested.

When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, music, walking, swimming, and spending time with my family and friends. My favourite things are: the sea, sunshine, plain chocolate, real ale, Shakespeare, and most rock music. My real dislikes are: Fish, sports, horses, coffee, jazz, and being cold!