Allison Shaw grew up in the land of kudzu, cotton, and collard greens, better known as rural Mississippi. As a child, she was best known for her accomplishments in bareback pony riding, feral cat taming, and cow midwifery. At the appropriate age, she strapped on heels to attend college and travel the world. Since then, she has settled down in her home state, traded in her heels for somewhat trendy flats, and spends most of her time perfecting the art of dog, cat, and child wrangling.