Well, actually, it's about me - Shelagh! 

It all started when I was a child and my father used to tell us Sneezwood stories when we were on holiday. I can't recall exactly what they were but I remember all the characters and that my brother Keith and our childhood friends were included in the stories and we loved them.

 Many years later, in my 50's, my partner Steve and I started to go and stay in a holiday cottage in Embleton, Northumberland. It was such a wonderful place that it all came back to me and I decided to write some stories of my own. The grandchildren really enjoyed them and Steve said that I should try and get them published. So I sent some off but of course, they all came back. I was disheartened but still kept writing.

Now, every story has a sad part and so it was with me. My beloved Steve died suddenly leaving me lost and having to move house and so on. I found a temporary job working for a friend in a Copy Shop. He taught me all about printing and making booklets and I began to realise it would be possible to publish the books myself. I kept meaning to get down to it but I was always busy. Eventually the job came to an end and after that I caught pneumonia. That turned out to be a good thing because I was too ill to do anything and all I could manage was to sit down at the computer!

I had no idea how to go about it but eventually I learnt how to design and build a website.

The next stage was the illustrations. I had done 'A' level Art but that was many years ago and I didn't think I was good enough, so I thought I would have to pay someone to do the artwork. Well, it was so expensive! I was broke of course so I decided to have a go myself - it's amazing what you can do when you have to and with a little practice!

By now my little house was a mess so I converted a bedroom into an office. Bit by bit I bought the equipment I would need and I eventually got to the stage where I had 5 books ready. All I then needed was to launch the website and for this I needed some help. Luckily, I met a man who was developing the website for our local club and he kindly offered to help me with mine.

So here we are at last!

I wrote the stories, personalise them on the computer, print them and make them into special books. You see them advertised in shops that I have visited or on the website. When you order one I make it especially for you, post it to you and sit back at home happily thinking of you enjoying it with your children.

 My family live in Australia and my Grandchildren love the stories and can't wait to find another one arrive through their letterbox. I am also a Swimming Teacher and maybe that helps me know the kind of things that children like and that make them laugh. They certainly make me laugh!

So if you have any comments, write to me - Shelagh - there is only me here, only me to blame, although eventually I think I will need someone else to help!

Shelagh Smith