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Bryony Allen

Bryony Allen

About

Bryony was born in Enfield but spent most of her youth growing up in the North East of the UK near to Hartlepool before moving southwards again. She now lives in the remote wilds of Suffolk with her husband, four children and two dogs and cats where she is also a teacher.

She has always enjoyed writing, ever since she was a child and can't remember a time where she hasn't wanted a book in her hand. Following sixth form she took a degree in English and Drama at Roehampton University and gained a 2:1 honours and was then successfully offered a job for the East Anglian Daily Times in Ipswich as a junior reporter. Reluctantly she had to turn the offer down due to personal circumstances. Instead, she ended up doing a PGCE at the Cambridge University Homerton College and then embarked out in a new direction and a career in teaching. Bryony jokes, “If the situation had been different, I'd have been in print much quicker!”.


The seeds of her debut novel, "Mystery, Deceit and a School Inspector" actually began back in 2001, however it got put on a back burner for a few years as domestic life and work took over. She says, “I got my inspiration for it from work, and my school at the time had also just undergone an Ofsted inspection. I just started thinking, What would happen if...and it went on from there. Obviously none of the characters are real people! I just took some of the more obvious character traits of people I know or knew, whether at work, socially or just by reputation, then blew them up to bigger proportions. When I come up with an idea, I try to visualise it as if it is happening on a screen. Then I write down what I see and feel, as well as what I want other people to see and feel. Usually, I try to picture characters in a certain setting and think about how they would react.”


She says, “Getting published with Pneuma Springs was a real boost and that has given me the springboard to do much more of what I really love doing, writing! (with plenty of reading thrown in for good measure of course)”. She now also writes to appeal to the teenage mind.

“It's a constant juggle balancing writing and book promotion with work and home life but it's something that's a real passion for me now so I always try to find the time to write from somewhere. I also have a very supportive family so that helps a bit too". Bryony's second work,  a novel for the Young Adult genre titled OTOLI was published by Pneuma Springs in the spring of 2011. It has received some superb reviews and was also entered in the 'The People's Book Prize spring 2012 collection'. Her next book also for the Young Adult genre 'The Assembly Room' is due out with Pneuma Springs during Autumn 2012. Bryony has plenty more ideas for the adult and teenage reader, so watch this space, as the saying goes!

Vital Temptations: A Heart's Betrayal

Vital Temptations: A Heart's Betrayal

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Description

<p>Dr. Bethany McNeal is living her dream as a pediatric resident in one of the most sought-after medical centers in Seattle. Beautiful and intelligent, she’s missing only one thing—love, which she put on hold to focus on her career after ending a tumultuous relationship. Everything changes when she meets Dr. Brent Anderson, a charming and handsome fellow resident. Despite her reservations, Bethany falls for Brent—hard. When she learns Brent is married several months into their relationship, she immediately breaks it off. After graduating residency and going their separate ways, Bethany tries to move on with another man—real estate broker and personal trainer Charles Blakely. But just when things get serious with Charles, she realizes she’s still in love with Brent, and she finds herself caught between the two men, facing a series of difficult decisions and harrowing events that will change her life forever. Will she be able to recover from the vital temptations that turned her perfect life upside down?</p>

Story Behind The Book

For years I've passed an old creepy looking building that sits off the roadside on the way to visit my mother in the village of Hitcham, Suffolk. Everytime I went by it I always got the feeling the place could have some kind of story to tell. In any case I let my imagination run wild and combined this my creative side to come up with the novel. I have always been fascinated with ghosts, the paranormal and the local history on my door step. The result was the 'The Assembly Room'. I hope readers enjoy the story which is 'simply out of this world!'

Media Links

In touch with Stowmarket magazine feature

🔗 http://bit.ly/RtnlFg

↗

East Anglian Daily Times Feature and Interview

🔗 www.pneumasprings.co.uk/Bryony%20Allen%20EADT%20feature%20Oct%202012.pdf

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Reviews

<div><strong style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Amazon reviews so far</span></strong></div> <div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="font-size:small;" width="90%"> <div style="margin-left:.5em;"> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span style="margin-right:5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_4_0" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;background-image:url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide._V146303782_.png);width:65px;height:13px;background-position:-43px 0px;" title="4.0 out of 5 stars"><span>4.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><strong>Spooky yet entertaining.</strong>, 22 Nov 2012</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pdp/profile/A1GWJC9XZOL53R/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="color:#004b91;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Zed</span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1GWJC9XZOL53R/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview" style="color:#004b91;">See all my reviews</a></div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="font-size:x-small;margin-bottom:.5em;"><span class="crVerifiedStripe"><strong class="h3color tiny" style="color:#e47911;margin-right:.5em;">Amazon Verified Purchase</strong><span class="tiny verifyWhatsThis">(<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/community-help/amazon-verified-purchase" style="color:#004b91;">What is this?</a>)</span></span></div> <div class="tiny" style="font-size:x-small;margin-bottom:.5em;"><strong><span class="h3color tiny" style="color:#e47911;">This review is from: </span>The Assembly Room (Kindle Edition)</strong></div> I won this book in a giveaway and finished reading it in a day! I liked the use of witch trials in the current era...and it was spooky enough to make me shudder. I look forward to more books by Bryony Allen.</div> </td> </tr></tbody></table></div> <div> </div> <div><img alt="4.0 out of 5 stars" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/common/customer-reviews/stars-4-0._V192197091_.gif" /></div> <div> </div> <div><strong style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;">A book practicially written for me</strong><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;">,</span><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;"> </span>9 Oct 2012</div> <div> <div style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pdp/profile/A233NV0FCEYUE4/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp" style="color:#004b91;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Miss A. J. Clarke &quot;Alannah&quot;</span></a> (UK) - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A233NV0FCEYUE4/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview" style="color:#004b91;">See all my reviews</a><br /><span class="cmtySprite s_BadgeRealName" style="margin:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;background-image:url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/common/sprites/sprite-communities._V164809277_.png);width:57px;height:13px;background-position:0px -390px;"><span>(REAL NAME)</span></span>   </div> </div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> </div> <div class="tiny" style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:x-small;line-height:normal;margin-bottom:.5em;"><strong><span class="h3color tiny" style="color:#e47911;">This review is from: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Assembly-Room-ebook/dp/B009EVJ20U/ref=cm_cr_pr_orig_subj" style="color:#004b91;">The Assembly Room (Kindle Edition)</a></strong></div> <span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;">*Free book from the author in exchange for honest review*</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;">I have always been fascinated by the study of witchcraft and the witchcraft trials for years now which is why I was really excited to find out about this book.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;">After finishing this book, I realized that it nothing like how I thought it would be, which can be a good thing. Because I knew quite a bit about witchcraft trials, I thought that the book was well written and well researched. I loved the idea of going into Merryn's dreams where she was experiencing first-hand what had happened to these witches. It was so descriptive I was able to picture it in my head while I was reading.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:small;line-height:normal;">However, I should stress one thing, I have studied witchcraft briefly but to anyone who hasn't, don't be afraid to pick up the book, you do not any knowledge prior to reading this book simply because the author Byrony Allen has done such a wonderful job with the writing that you won't be left confused. I loved the characters and how they were portrayed, I really felt for the poor victims who had been accused of witchcraft in the novel in what I can only describe as hysteria in a country full of chaos. I only wish the book were longer. Allen is becoming one of my favourite authors and I hope I can read more from her.</span></div> <div> </div> <div> <div style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#ffff00;"><strong style="color:#bfbf00;">****  </strong></div> <div style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#111111;"><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>4 Star</strong> review from Angie at the <strong>YA Novelties review team</strong></span></div> <div style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#111111;"> </div> <div style="font-family:verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#111111;"> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:small;">What would you usually get when you move into a crummy old house? <em>The Assembly Room </em>of course, which comes with a package of dark, gory mystery neatly wrapped in a beautifully written story. </span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:small;">We start off with Merryn's family moving into the disgustingly rotting house that Merryn's father inherited from an insane late uncle. Right off the bat, we know that we're in for a disturbing past because really, all horror stories begin with someone doing something stupid in the past like 300 years ago. In this case, Merryn is reliving all of these moments in the past that are haunting the future, her present. </span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:small;">Watching the present and the past intertwine to create a spellbinding tale just caused me to love this book. Although I am usually not a big fan of horror, <em>The Assembly Room </em>possesses something that lurks beneath the pages that drew me. Bryony Allen excels in seamlessly splitting the story between the present and the past. The witch trials provide a vindictive history behind the haunting events in the book. Let's just say that Bryony Allen has an extraordinary gift with storytelling. </span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:small;">My only concern with <em>The Assembly Room</em> was the point of view. Most books have a consistent narration from first-person and third-person. However, this book had an interesting characteristic of incorporating the thoughts of all of the characters present in scene in the same chapter. Like, Merynne would be talking about how embarrassed she felt about her feelings for Jamie, while in the next paragraph, Jamie would be thinking the same thing. I didn't really dislike it, but it just felt a little out of place.</span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:small;"><em>The Assembly Room</em> is a amazingly written story of the past and present intermingling. The depth of many of the characters that face terrible luck due to the past is realistic and perfectly portrayed. This book is definitely one of my favorite surprises of this year. I totally did not expect to enjoy <em>The Assembly Room</em> as much as I did. </span></span><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-size:small;"><em>The Assembly Room </em>is a must read for all horror readers because honestly, it's an story that packs a punch and tantalizes one's reading palette.</span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;">Elise And Her Books - 4 Star Video Review of The Assembly Room</div> <div class="separator" style="color:#333333;font-family:Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;clear:both;"><a>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXElUOAWEy0</a></div> </div> <div style="background-color:#ffffff;color:#111111;"><a> </a></div> </div> <p></p>