Welcome to my website! I am Ali Oxtoby and I have spent my life writing a little bit of everything. Specifically children's stories, poems, plays, scripts and picture books. Each work is created with passion (as that is what writing is for me) and thus each work contains a little bit of myself; a fragment of my soul pressed into the words themselves.

If asked I will describe my style as 'quirky' but the outcome I want more than anything is to make people feel happy. To smile and laugh and have something positive to take away from the experience even on the occasions when the subject matter is infused with a deep sadness. Happiness can be difficult to grasp at times but never the less we should always seek it.

Outside of writing but still within the realm of artistic pursuit I enjoy dancing and cutting sheets of felt into pieces which are then stuck together to make art. I use images of this felt art on the front of my greetings cards which contain a poem to suit the image inside them.

There are examples of my work below. Please contact me (my email is at the bottom of the page) if you would like to know anymore about my writing or are interested in the work listed here.

THE HUG

Hugs have always been important to me though growing up they were treated by others in my family as deeply suspicious. This poem (presented within the card) was inspired by my attempts to convert my family to embracing hugs and if you have had a similar experience perhaps it will speak to you too.

The front of the card is adorned with my own artwork of people who may or may not be entirely fictitious. Any similarity to any person living or dead could be coincidental.

HEART TO HEART

This is my first collection of poems. I hope you enjoy them, especially the ones that speak to you. I had to learn to be 'bold and brave and bigger than I feel' (5' 3½") in order to perform them in front of an audience.

I hope this book will inspire you to be just as brave, whatever your dream.

If you are interested in more details about this book or any of my cards please use the email address at the bottom of the page to get in touch.