My name is Alisa. I live in London and since childhood I have projected myself into imaginary worlds to escape the boredom and experience an altogether more exhilarating existence. 

Whilst at college and university, I used this trait to escape the pressure of revision and exams and often had my short stories chosen and performed by the drama department as part of their projects.

When I left university I started work as a translator (yes I speak several languages) but this soon became mundane and the pressure of work left me little time to pursue my love of writing. It was only when I went to Hampstead Heath for the first time many years ago with a group of friends for a picnic that my aspirations came back. 

Hampstead Heath is such a magical and beautiful place that I wanted to write again and use its landscape in my story (this being the luscious greenery that surrounds the palace in my story if you have not read the book yet) I now visit Hampstead Heath almost weekly regardless of the seasons.

I also listened to different genres of music to inspire me when building characters and events in the book. For example, classical music helped me describe the palace and its royal family.