To Set My Feet A-Dancing

Decrease the fat before it decreases you." Too funny. Not to mention the questionable house of residence, that may or not have been a bordello. This has something for everyone's palate, to laugh about and with. Written with an undertone of humor and a twist of irony, it's a great period piece.

Catherine (The Golden Thread)

Alison - I just have to let you know how much I enjoyed your work. First off I was attracted by the cover and the story!
It’s not just another ho hum memoir – you write in such an ingenious way about the magnificence of life, living and death. This is a marvelous story about why people live and how. You provide your reader with outstanding descriptions of looks, feelings, and mood so that I felt I was really there, living in their skin. I felt as if I knew all the characters and was close friends with all of them. I am convinced that anyone who reads this book will fall in love with the gentle rhythm of the flowing sentences. Anyone who reads this will be more than satisfied. This novel definitely deserves a whirl on my shelf. I hope it appears on more shelves and starts moving up the charts.
Best to you.
:)

Highly evocative of those days which I can remember only too well...and with great nostalgia! You've done a masterful job of connecting your personal story to the backdrop of the times...the incidental song lyrics woven into the text in just the right places is a really smart touch...this should appeal to a wide audience and I wish you every success with it
Best wishes
Stewart

Allie, I love this even more than your other book. It is charming and enjoyable. You have created the time and place so well, I feel I am there, really. You have so much in this book but it flows along without being bogged down with facts. My mother would love this - she'd love your other book too though! Really great stuff, and a pleasure to shelve. Good luck with this!
Annabelle
(Adelaide Short)

Hello Alison-

Book- To Set my feet a- dancing-

Read all six chapters posted, and found them memorable.
Like you descriptive style of life as was then, in West Croydon. England. You captured the post- war time very well.
Your book will be of interest to social historians as it conjures up the smells and sounds of the time.

tom bye
book- from hugs to kisses-
please glance at mine- you might enjoy chapter 12- Germans bomb inner city-

Hello Alison--
To set my feet a- dancing'
Read all six chapters and thoroughly enjoyed this post war nostalgia trip.
this book of yours will be of great value to social historians in years to come.
The tales of long gone, by-gone days are always interesting to read, in fact, just
my type of book; it's full of delightful humour and not to mention those street games.
it's very readable and written in a straight forward style.
I definitely rate this book very highly, it has my stars rating with pleasure.
tom bye
book- from hugs to kisses;
i would like you to read my book, it's somewhat similar. about a boy growing up in the war years; in Dublin in the 40s , please oblige, thanks

Charming book.

Happy to back this.
Cheers,
JBC

Even at such a tender age, I began to realise that life treading the boards was full of highs and lows. What a great line to have in your opening. I had to pop in to say that much. I look forward to reading this and will comment afterward. All of your books look interesting.
More later,
John B Campbell

A wonderful memoir, that took me back in time with you I attended The Miss Grist Dance Academy for Young Girls, she wouldn’t get away with that nowadays. Your book conjured up long lost memories of Knock down Ginger, Jacks and Jubly orange juice that you could freeze into a pyramid shape. By the way I was at a rock gig last Christmas and Paul Young came on and sang little white bull, some of my friends were surprised I knew the words as they had never heard of it. This is a lovely piece of nostalgia to hand on to your family and I bet you really enjoyed writing it.
Sue
Knowing Liam Riley

A wonderful memoir, that took me back in time with you I attended The Miss Grist Dance Academy for Young Girls, she wouldn’t get away with that nowadays. Your book conjured up long lost memories of Knock down Ginger, Jacks and Jubly orange juice that you could freeze into a pyramid shape. By the way I was at a rock gig last Christmas and Paul Young came on and sang little white bull, some of my friends were surprised I knew the words as they had never heard of it. This is a lovely piece of nostalgia to hand on to your family and I bet you really enjoyed writing it.
Sue
Knowing Liam Riley

A real trip down memory lane. My clothes were homemade too. At the time I didn't appreciate this and always longed for something bought in a proper shop. The end of rationing you chose some chews I remember a Mars bar cut into 5 pieces to share between us. I too went without supervision out to the park and remember the hard ground if you fell from the monkey bars. Thank you for letting your characters take me on this emotional journey. Backed, Anne

A captivating story.....backed with pleasure. Here supporting my friend DP Walker and would be much obliged if you's take a look at his book "Five Dares".

Mrdog

Highly evocative of those days which I can remember only too well...and with great nostalgia! You've done a masterful job of connecting your personal story to the backdrop of the times...the incidental song lyrics woven into the text in just the right places is a really smart touch...this should appeal to a wide audience and I wish you every success with it
Best wishes
Stewart

Highly evocative of those days which I can remember only too well...and with great nostalgia! You've done a masterful job of connecting your personal story to the backdrop of the times...the incidental song lyrics woven into the text in just the right places is a really smart touch...this should appeal to a wide audience and I wish you every success with it
Best wishes
Stewart

Alison - I just have to let you know how much I enjoyed your work. First off I was attracted by the cover and the story!
It’s not just another ho hum memoir – you write in such an ingenious way about the magnificence of life, living and death. This is a marvelous story about why people live and how. You provide your reader with outstanding descriptions of looks, feelings, and mood so that I felt I was really there, living in their skin. I felt as if I knew all the characters and was close friends with all of them. I am convinced that anyone who reads this book will fall in love with the gentle rhythm of the flowing sentences. Anyone who reads this will be more than satisfied. This novel definitely deserves a whirl on my shelf. I hope it appears on more shelves and starts moving up the charts.
Best to you.
:)

Dear Alison, I love non-fiction, history, & biography. :) Your story is a good read because you create interest by having details which make me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm backing your book. :) Please take a moment to BACK my TWO Books, ... "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" ... and the UNEDITED version? ... "Tell Me True Love Stories"
Thanks, Susie :)

Decrease the fat before it decreases you." Too funny. Not to mention the questionable house of residence, that may or not have been a bordello. This has something for everyone's palate, to laugh about and with. Written with an undertone of humor and a twist of irony, it's a great period piece.

Catherine (The Golden Thread)

Hi Alison,
BACKED
Thanks for a sentimental trip back to simpler times.
I was drawn to your novel by its title, one of Perry Como's hit songs. Of course including the words steam trains in your pitch did hurt.
I wasn't disappointed. I truly enjoyed the first three chapters.
If forced to offer a nit-pick I would like to see more dialogue.
Best of Luck,
Ray

Backed.

Jesse - Savant

Nostaligic romp for me - I was born 5 years after the war so it's very recognisable for me. I actually enjoyed this more than your uneasy rider story as I think you settled into your writing style straight away and we all settled in for a cosy 'chat' and reminisce. Just occasionally, I felt you could perhaps re-work/re-order to keep within a theme or make the entries more cohesive; eg. the chapter 'Clickers and carpenter' - possibly, this is too much 'stream of consciousness' and would benefit from re-structuring within this and across other chapters? I think this is very promising though and there is a market I'm sure for such memoirs, so shelved, Carolyn.

A good nostalgic read, interesting pitch and great cover.
Shelved.
Kati Jane (Little Book of Unhip)

I have to back this. I have played the 'Oxton 'All too... a lovely memoir. I can hear it being read on Woman's Hour - best of luck
Tina

I'm backing this for pure sentiment.
i was born in South Norwood!
And I'm pretty sure you and I are about the same age.
I'm reading on to see what else we have in common. Don't be suprised if there's an OMG edit addition to this .
Thank you. I've been on a glorious trip down memory lane.

The story of our childhoods, a world as completely foreign, now, as the Middle ages. I remember coming across a couple of my friends huddled under the stairs going down to the basement of our apartment building, looking at 'dirty' pictures of Elvis performing. You brought the whole time back to me.

so well written I had to go back tot he pitch to see if it was fiction or a memoir.

This is a book that will be treasured by your offspring!

backed.

(Nigel Hotton - Fatal Disclosure)

What a pleasant read this has been......and everyone likes it. I think what you might do,if you consider re-editing it and looking for high quality rather than just fun, would be to look more closely at some of your descriptions. What do we really remember best? Is it sights, or( more likely) tastes, smells and textures. When you went beyond the pictorial ( or the picturesque?) your descriptions became at once more concrete and immediate. Anyway, this goes on my shelf whilst I go off to read you Uneasy Rider... DB

As Biographys go this is hardly recognisable as non fiction. I mean that in a good way. Its interesting and thoughtfully written. Also, its on my shelf.

Alison, it will come as no surprise to learn that I identified with and liked this a lot. Very good descriptive writing that really puts the reader right there with you (fancy sharing a stage with Roy Hudd - fame indeed!) I believe there is a real market for this type of writing at present, whilst all of us baby-boomers are edging slowly toward retirement and beyond. This should be a lot higher in the charts than it is.

Philip (Steady Past Your Granny's)

Hi Alison
This is lovely so far, its a real step back in time. I also love your book cover. I have this backed already. Well done and the best of luck with it.
Leigh Fallon
The Carrier of the Mark

Alison
Fabulous book cover.....I read your other book, so thought I'd stop by....

I jumped to Chapter 4.
Made a few notes.....

A few words I thought you could edit out :-

probably
that
and
up
up
were
and
and.......................

Also I thought :-

We had gone............better to say......We went
Had a knack of taking.................better to say............took

It's easy to concentrate on the first 3 chapters to the point of feeling like eating it instead of reading it, and forget all about the back end.....

A very nostalgic read, which brought some memories floating into my head.....I enjoyed this....best of luck,,,,backed.

This is lovely stuff I adored it. Biograph is always my favorite genre anyway and this is excellcent. Backed with pleasure.
BADD

This book will definitely be my guilty secret. Even now I'm meant to be repaying the people who have kindly taken the time to look at mine. The memories are an absolute delight and I so equate them with my own. I wonder if Miss Phipps of the YMCA, Leicester knew Miss Joan?

'Multiplication'? Oh yes! And 'Little White Bull'. As for men 'exposing' themselves - my mum had the pleasure on the tube once and told him in a v loud voice to 'put it away'. The stuff of legends.

A few nitpicks: Tommy Steel = Steele; Cliff Richards = Richard; Mitchum Common = Mitcham (unless it's a different place to the S London one).

Will come back, both for pleasure and for inspiration for my novel (if that's OK with you!).

Shelved.

Angela

Hi Alison, This was very nostalgic and enjoyable! I kept noticing the similarities of the time I was in too although you’re on the other “side” which says something about communications then. And I liked your contrasting that era with the present. The school for the music hall performances gave an array of detail and anecdote – a scenario that feels unique to the place and the director of the school. I’d like to read more as the musical times will be songs and musicians that I know better. Richly narrated! Shelved – Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

I'm always a sucker for historicals, so I had to read this one. I've only read a chapter, but I have to agree with Annabelle it's charming and enjoyable. I've really enjoyed reading part of it. Good luck. Backed with pleasure. :)

Just dipped in for a quick look, and will be back to comment when I have read further - looks fascinating - brings back a lot of memories for me! Best, Grant

Lovely, should have backed this before my TSR went into free fall.
No time like the present

Hi Alison. These are great reminiscences. I was a teenager during the time you cover, and your stuff brought back many happy memories. Best of luck with it Eric

TO SET MY FEET a-DANCING (Alison Somerville)
First person narrative description of life in England starting several years after the termination of the second world war. Of interest to those who would wish to write a story based on this period, but had not experienced it. Historical fiction is designated as fifty years in the past, so this fits the criterion.
The "Little did we know's" might be expunged.
Could be the basis of a publishable memoir, but editors would probably expect it to be "lived in" rather than recorded in near-diary format.
mch

Alison I have backed your book because it has all the ingredients that I love; family history, nostalgia and Roy Hudd! What more could one ask for.
Sheila

The MAINSTAY
Another Time Another Place

Allie, I love this even more than your other book. It is charming and enjoyable. You have created the time and place so well, I feel I am there, really. You have so much in this book but it flows along without being bogged down with facts. My mother would love this - she'd love your other book too though! Really great stuff, and a pleasure to shelve. Good luck with this!
Annabelle
(Adelaide Short)

Hello Ali,

Loved the projectile vomit and the descriptions of the house. It's charming and delightful book with lots of insight and retropect.

On my shelf.

Joanna

Joanna

Hello Ali,

Loved the projectile vomit and the descriptions of the house. It's cahrming and delightful book with lots of insight and retropect.

On my shelf.

Joanna

Joanna

An absorbing and chatty memoir that really gives a flavour of a now-gone era - the customs, characters, culture and geography of a specific time and place very much before political correctness (including reminiscences of the two up and coming Roys!)

I think a whole generation (my parents') would recognise themselves and enjoy this - but that generational divide didn't stop me from reading on with interest. Very accessible writing.

Al

Alison,
What a wonderful family story. I have often thought, "I may not be one to keep a journal, but I hope my descendents will know me from the things I write. You have done both here, a delightful family story that chronicles history and memories. So different from your other one, and so a testament of your versatile writing skills. Well done. Putting on the shelf.

Jeff

Alison I love this, I love this, love this!!! Thank you for putting it on here. It is on my WL and as soon as I have room it is going on my shelf!! Perhaps you would like to take a peep at mine; The Mainstay, a family saga-type novel set in the late forties.
All the best Sheila

Just read your opening chapter - I really enjoy your sense of humour... in spite of all the books availale on this site I have only meet a few that I would want at home - so far both yours would be in my book case will carry on reading if your carry on writing Marion

I really enjoyed reading this. I did not know what to expect from a non celebrity autobiography but the chapters I have read are full of buzz and life and are utterly readable. Very nostalgic. Iremeber prancing round the playground singing Little White Bull! I am putting this on my watchlist and will come back and read some more soon.

Hi Alison,

Maza from unpops, I've watchlisted your books and will return asap!

Hello Alison I finally got around to reading your chapters. They were brilliant, although very different to mine.
I would definitely read the whole book. It flows very well and brings memories flooding back of how things were! Well done! I thought what I read was great. And worthy of a wider market. There will be lots of people out there who will be able to relate to it. They will want to read it. If it isn't a book you should make it one. I have found in my experience of the self publishing market that there are lots of ordinary people who love these real books. You just have to find your public.

Joys Jottings. (The Homesie Kids)

PS. Would you be my friend as I haven't got any!

Hi HallyAlly,
Yes we're on the same time-frame wavelength. Thank you for your comments on "Theatrical Artichokes". I've dived into your 1st chapter and will "stick my chewing gum on my bed post overnight" to remind me to read on.

My first reaction is its TOO factual.

Your narrative voice needs to hook and guide the reader to a place he/she has not been before. I'm going to read on and will comment again but as I live in "Mr. Mandela's Rainbow Nation", and our board band speed seems to be affected with Uncle Bob's cholera epedemic I may only get back to it after the festive season.

I'd love to hear a story about any factional/fictional characters that enrolled on the slimmimg course. Sir Cess has been on one and it involved an indulgence in Zen macrobiotic rice. I wish you well.

Hi Alison
Finaly got around to reading a bit of your book. Its so funny what a small world it is. I love the style of your writing. Its tells the story as it was. I look forward to reading more.
Joys Jottings.

I've just read a couple of chapters and really want to read more. Will pop it on my watch list and report back when I've had chance to complete it. V. v. nostalgic to someone who also did a lot of am-dram.

AJK - you are too kind! But much your comments are appreciated. I loved that series Ballet Shoes - I read the book a few times when I was little. And yes it is me on the cover - a moment of fame. Oh and yes I do still dance.
I feel that I've only just started with this one, though have been at it on and off for a while now, but thanks to Authonomy my enthusiasm is back. Alison