I was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, in the UK, as Ann Menham. (I became Anna when living in Italy and Alcott when I married my second husband) I have always had the travel bug, and after living in Blackpool and London, eventually moved overseas. I lived in Italy, Spain, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Canada and the US. I returned to Cornwall in the UK for five years but couldn’t handle the cold weather, so after a few months in Greece, now reside in Portugal with my feline companion Pumpkin.

I earned my AA degree in journalism from Long Beach College, CA, which, while not the path I initially pursued as a career, provided a solid foundation for my writing journey. During this time, I had the opportunity to contribute articles to various magazines. However, it was during my residence in Fowey, Cornwall, UK, that my passion for storytelling truly flourished. I delved into conducting interviews with local celebrities, which enabled me to share the captivating stories of prominent community figures. Additionally, during my time in Fowey, my short stories found a monthly home in the pages of the Fowey News.

Several years ago, I embarked on the creative journey of writing a novel. This endeavor has been marked by a series of challenges, including critical feedback, extensive plot revisions, and rigorous editing. The culmination of these efforts occurred in 2023 when I successfully completed it. Now, the next chapter of my journey begins as I explore avenues of self-publishing.

Meanwhile, I enjoy encouraging others and sharing the knowledge I've acquired through trial and error. I'm happy to help anyone struggling to get their story on paper (or laptop) or just have a friendly chat about their projects. Writing and publishing can be an expensive process.

I had to add this photo as it captures my beloved canine companion, the one and only dog I ever had. Despite facing cancer and later developing diabetes during his lifetime, he defied the odds and lived until the impressive age of 16 years.