Meet Alison Longstaff Alison Smith
Longstaff grew up
in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania - a small community northeast
of Philadelphia.
Alison rediscovered her passion for writing years later upon working her way through Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way. The Cliffside Chapel series came to her in a flash one Spring day, and Alison's life has never been the same. |
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"It is as if I have an inner world alive with friends and adventures. Writing about Cliffside feels as if I am visiting dear, courageous friends. I simply write down all the things they say and do.
"Sue, Jon, and Tanny are very real to me. Tanny practically is me in some ways, though she is far more bubbly and confident than I was at her age. I am looking forward to telling her story and meeting her hero in book two, as soon as I can find the time...."
Alison and her husband of 21 years
are still recovering from the stresses and adjustments of two international moves.
They are re-settling in Canada, having decided to return after a two-year
stay in Pennsylvania. Alison loves living in Canada,
and is happy to have returned "home."
"There are many subtle differences between the Canadian and American cultures.
I have had a lot of fun celebrating those things that are uniquely Canadian,
playing with Canadian stereotypes, and adding
Canadian inside jokes to my stories. Canadians are a delightful people with a wonderful
sense of humour."
The Longstaffs have three children. Their teen-age son has a high-functioning form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome.
Alison took
Canadian citizenship in February, 2002.
Alison's resume Contact Alison
(updated Sept. 2006)