Allison Bottke

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[Click here for Allison's German Bio]

When Allison Bottke's life changed, it wasn't merely another bend in the journey. It was a brake-locking, tire-screaming U-turn in the middle of a fast moving highway in order to head in a completely opposite direction. Affectionately known as the "God Allows U-Turns Poster Girl," Allison's story is one of triumph over tragedy. A frequent guest on radio and TV programs around the country, the 700 Club featured her life story in what has become one of their highest rated programs ever, and she has appeared on the covers of such national magazines as Writer's Digest, BOND, Obesity Health (OH), The Christian Communicator and Christian Women Online (CWO).

As the Founder, Allison heads up God Allows U-Turns, an international outreach that includes books, tracts, logo merchandise, a line of greeting cards, a speaking ministry, and a foundation. The cornerstone of God Allows U-Turns is an inspirational book series many are calling "the next Chicken Soup." The God Allows U-Turns book series is available around the world with over a dozen books in the U-Turns "brand" currently available for adults, kids and youth. Allison's first novel in the "hip-lit" genre, "A Stitch in Time" premiered in 2006, as well as a new non-fiction book, "I Can't Do It All," based on the lies women believe being co-written with Tracie Peterson and Dianne O'Brian. Her second novel, One Little Secret, was released in August 2007. With her move to fiction, Allison has defined the genre of "Contemporary women's fiction-with-an-attitude!" Her next non-fiction book, "Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children," released February 2008. Allison speaks and teaches at conferences and writer's events around the country, often attending as an Acquisitions Editor for books in the God Allows U-Turns true short story compilation book series.

Allison has become an advocate for empowering and inspiring Baby Boomer Women around the world via her new web site, Boomer Babes Rock!

 

 

Kevin and Allison are now Grandpa and Grandma Bottke! Lucianna May Bottke entered the world on Thursday, March 24, 2005. Proud parents are Kermit and Jennifer Bottke, our son and his wife.

 

 

 

More About Allison

Allison was born in Akron, Ohio in July of 1955. Of German, Polish and Austrian decent, she is the middle child with an older sister living in Ohio and a younger brother living in Nevada. Her parents are both deceased. Along with her birth state, she has lived in California, Arizona, Minnesota and now Texas.

Married in 1995, Allison and Kevin met as a result of a letter Kevin sent to her in Arizona after reading an article she wrote in a Christian Singles Magazine. He proposed in church and they were married seven months after their first correspondence. Between them they have four children; Christopher, Mandy, Kermit, and Kyle. Allison and her husband have recently relocated to a suburb of Dallas, Texas.

Before moving to Minnesota, Allison made her primary living as a professional fund-raiser for non-profit organizations, and her secondary living as a freelance writer. Over the years her work has appeared in such magazines as Ladies Home Journal, Woman's World, Cosmopolitan, and many others. She has appeared as a guest on such television talk shows as AM Los Angeles, Northwest Afternoon and Pittsburgh Today. While she enjoys writing nonfiction stories with a Christian focus, her primary love is writing for the stage and screen. Several of her plays were produced on Southern California stages and she is presently completing a romantic comedy screenplay.

Many of you may recognize Allison as one of the country's first full-figure fashion models. Signed with the prestigious Wilhelmina Agency in the early 1980's, she was introduced to the public first with her association with BBW Magazine (Big Beautiful Woman) and then working with such designers as Gloria Vanderbilt and Alfred Angelo as the model they personally chose to introduce their plus size clothing lines on daytime television programs and in commercials. As the sole full-figure print model for Levi-Strauss, Pendleton Knitwear, Teddy of California, Sasson Jeans and many others, her photographs appeared in print media both nationally and internationally for years.

Levi-Strauss	Pendleton Knitwear	Sasson Jeans

An international entertainment company optioned the rights to her life story for a made-for-television movie, a life story you may recognize from Allison's writing and public appearances over the years. In fact, it is her personal life-changing testimony that opened the door for The GOD ALLOWS U-TURNS Project to be born.

Allison's Weight Loss Surgery

Allison lost 120 pounds with Gastric Bypass Surgery. Discover the secrets of weight loss surgery from one who has been through it. Her E-Book, The TRUTH About Weight Loss Surgery, will walk you through all the questions, roadblocks, and obstacles that stand between you and a brand-new, slimmer body.

Like you, author Allison found diet and exercise programs didn't work. But she didn't let that stop her from finding the weight loss solution that worked for her. Neither should you.

Click here to read more about Allison's weight loss surgery.

Allison Speaks

If you're looking for a vibrant speaker who will captivate audiences of all ages, sizes and backgrounds with a mesmerizing tale of hope and healing, your search is over.

Allison will be launching SANITY an international support group network in 2008. She will also be speaking on SETTING BOUNDARIES WITH YOUR ADULT CHILDREN in 2008-2009.

Writing from firsthand experience, Allison Bottke identifies the lies that kept her, and ultimately her adult son in bondage-and how she overcame them. Additional real life stories from other parents are woven through the text. Most important...six concrete steps to hope and healing are the key elements of this landmark book.

Addressing a worldwide epidemic, this important and compassionate new book from the creator of the successful God Allows U-Turns series will help parents and grandparents of the countless adult children who continue to make life painful for their loved ones.

Find out more about having Allison speak at your event, click here.