From an early age, Louise Allen was adopted into a family who from the beginning said they didn’t want her. Louise absolutely believes, that like smiling, 'being creative' helps us feel grounded and happy.

Louise has made art all her life. She has an innate and human need to make, to experiment and see what happens. A documentary was recently made about her life 'It started here'. Her first book Thrown Away Child reveals the abuse and neglect she and a fellow adopted child suffered at the hands of their adopted mother Barbara. This led to the bestselling series Thrown Away Children where Louise is inspired by the stories of children in the care system.

Louise now draws on her experience to write a new series of ‘How to’ books about adoption, fostering and parenting. How to Adopt a Child is the unvarnished truth about adoption.
Ten years ago, Louise and her family became a fostering family. They have looked after over twenty children, some have stayed long term.