Alison O'Leary
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Alison O'Leary

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I was born in London and spent my teenaged years in Hertfordshire where I spent large amounts of time reading novels, watching day time television programmes which seemed to involve middle-class women visiting each other's houses, and avoiding school. Failing to gain any qualifications in Science whatsoever, the dream of being a forensic scientist collided with reality when a careers teacher suggested that I might like to work in a department store. I don't think she meant Harrods. Later studying Law, I decided to teach rather than go into practice and spent many years working as a college lecturer teaching mainly Criminal Law to adults and young people. One of the key protagonists in Street Cat Blues is a rescue cat called Aubrey. I was asked recently whether there was a real Aubrey and, if so, how he had come to be named. The answer is yes, there was a real Aubrey and he was given his name because my husband, John, was reading John Aubrey’s Brief Lives at the time. Aubrey always said he was grateful not to have been called Brief. Aubrey came from a rescue centre and, just like his namesake in the book, was an inmate for longer than any of the other cats. He had been found wandering the streets and picked up by a helpful stranger, although once we got to know him we suspected that he was found before he was lost. Wherever he had been, he had certainly been well looked after. From the very first, he was affectionate and loving although it would be true to say that he never missed a food opportunity. The idea for the book came from John observing one day after watching Aubrey strolling about the garden, 'that cat always looks as though he's got a bit of admin to sort out'. Or, possibly, a crime to solve. I live on the south coast with my husband John and cat Archie. When not writing, I enjoy crosswords, reading crime fiction, walking by the sea, and drinking wine. Not necessarily in that order.
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