Shelley E Parker biography

Shelley E. Parker was born on 5th December 1971 in Whiston Hospital, Merseyside.  She is a proud Sagittarian and Liverpool F.C supporter.

English was always her favourite subject at school and she graduated with a degree in English Language and Literature, before receiving a Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Education from The University of Liverpool.

After spending time in America, she returned to England and it was in a flat in Southampton (on Archer's Road, to be precise), that the seeds for the Allapatria books were sown.
However, it was whilst Shelley was re-training to become a Doctor that the story really took hold.  On 10th June 2003, at approximately 11.00am, Peekin the Defardian Elf, complete with three-piece tweed suit, stormed into her head, demanding to be heard.  Three months' later, the book was complete and was published in June 2005.

'Return to Allapatria' was W.H. Smith Welsh book of the month for August 2005 and the distribution centre's number one best-selling English language children's book in Wales for July and August 2005.

'Return to Allapatria' is the first book in a series of four. The sequel is complete and Shelley is currently working on the third book in the series. The books draw heavily on the landscape surrounding Bala, North Wales and the little road leading to Peekin's cottage in Allapatria actually does exist.
Approximately one year after 'Return to Allapatria' was finished, Shelley realised that she had subconsciously based elements of Dr Xavier Nuttall's physical appearance on British actor, Mark Strong.

Shelley E. Parker lives in the North West of England.
www.allapatria.com