Blog Tour Interview with Alison Huntingford, Author of Beyond the Dark Oceans

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

A family united, a family divided… In 1906, the Huntingford family leaves England behind, crossing dark oceans in search of hope and opportunity in a new land. Canada promises a fresh start but for the eldest son, Georgy, it also brings hardship, responsibility, and a future shaped by forces far beyond his control.

I'm pleased to welcome author Alison Huntingford to The Writing Desk:

Tell us about your latest book.

My latest book is called Beyond the Dark Oceans and is based on a true tale from my own family history. In 1906, the Huntingford family leaves England for a hopeful new life in Canada, but for eldest son Georgy, the promise of opportunity quickly becomes a test of endurance, responsibility, and fate. As he comes of age amid the hardships of immigrant life, the outbreak of the First World War pulls him back across the ocean and into a world forever changed by loss and sacrifice.

When Georgy’s brother disappears in the chaos of war, grief and uncertainty fracture the family he is fighting to hold together. Reunited with his cousin Nellie, Georgy finds solace in a love as powerful as it is forbidden—one that offers hope in the darkest of times while threatening to tear his family apart.

What is your preferred writing routine?

I am terrible! I don’t have a strict routine but have to wait until I am inspired. Sometimes I may go for weeks without writing a thing, and then write frantically every day at any time, even in the middle of the night. (I have learnt to write in the dark, though it is often hard to decipher it the next morning!) Sometimes I am inspired whilst I am driving and I have to pull over and scribble it down before I forget it.  I always write the first draft by hand with pen and paper, then type it up and amend/edit it as I go.

What advice do you have for new writers?

My advice for new writers is to just try it and see what happens! A book I found very useful and inspiring whilst I was starting out was Steven King’s book ‘On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft’ where he says there is no right or wrong. Use everything at your disposal and experiment. Be bold, be brave and believe in yourself! I would say the same, just go for it. Why not start with a short story? If you have a supportive local writers’ group then this helps. I run the South Hams Authors Network where we come together to share ideas and opportunities to promote and publish our work. This has helped inspire many local writers to continue, even though it is not a creative writing group.

What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books?

I find I raise most awareness by going out and doing talks at local venues, such as libraries, bookshops, WIs and literary festivals. I love talking to people about my work and find my enthusiasm raises awareness better than anything. I passionately believe in my stories because they are based on real people and real events, and I think this is something readers can relate to. The person-to-person approach is very important.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research.

The most unexpected thing I discovered whilst doing my research was the fact that when people emigrated they were often sent to quarantine facilities when they arrived in Canada. I was quite shocked by the harshness of the conditions that immigrants were placed in, the genders being separated, the disinfectant procedures and the frequent medical examinations, with very little privacy.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing?

The hardest scene in this novel to write was the one where Georgy tells his love Nellie, that she must forget about him, as he is going overseas to war and may not return. He is thinking of her happiness and wants her to be free to love again, even though he loves her. Both characters are crying as this happens and so was I as I wrote it! I wanted to make it delicate and sympathetic without being melo-dramatic, and it is hard to get the touch just right, but I feel pleased with this scene. I think I managed to do what I intended.

What are you planning to write next? 

I’m not sure, but I am researching another area of my family history and will see if it throws up any interesting stories. I also write occasional short stories on an eco-fantasy theme! I only write when I am inspired by a story, never for purely commercial reasons.

Alison Huntingford

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About the Author

Alison Huntingford is a writer with a deep passion for family history and storytelling. With a background rooted in the rich traditions of the Huntingford family, Alison seeks to honour the stories passed down through generations. She is the author of a successful series of works that explore historical and personal narratives. She is an only child of two only children and so has always felt a distinct lack of family. This has inspired her work. After an upheaval in her personal life, Alison achieved a degree in humanities with literature through the Open University which helped to give her a new start. A teaching career followed which then led naturally to writing. She is now retired from full-time work, but busier than ever. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their pets, listening to music, going to the cinema, and gardening on her allotment. She also runs the South Hams Authors Network, a local writers collective based in South Devon. Find out more at https://alisonhuntingford.com  anf find Alison on  Twitter / X ,  Facebook and Bluesky @alisonhuntingford.bsky.social