Alison Jones
Alison lives in the Scottish Highlands, where she enjoys her job as a vet. She fell in love with fantasy books at an early age, and always dreamed of writing her own. When she’s not tending cows, sheep, dogs, horses, and even the odd reindeer, she enjoys long walks with her border collie, and playing the local sport, shinty. All reading and writing must be performed in the company of her very cuddly, and highly demanding, cat.
What made you enter the Cheshire Novel Prize Kids?
I entered the CNP last year with this novel and was really impressed by the depth, detail and care that was put into my feedback. Writing has been such a constant learning process, and the advice that I’ve received has been invaluable in editing my novel; from the small, seemingly inconsequential details, to even just knowing where to start!
What did it feel like when you were LL and then SL?
I think I was in a state of shock for both of these moments, but the SL one stands out particularly. I had really convinced myself that this was unattainable and that the LL was as far as I’d go. I was on a ferry to the Outer Hebrides at the time and had to stop myself from shrieking and causing a scene. The rest of the journey passed in a bit of a blur. It’s so wonderful to have such validation – from both readers and judges.
What was the reaction from those around you/family and friends?
Everyone has been so supportive and excited; it’s been lovely. My partner (and writing sounding board) particularly knows how much this means to me, and how much it will improve my confidence.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
I knew that I wanted to write a book centred on siblings. I have a younger brother, and I think it’s a great dynamic to explore, particularly in a dystopian, fantasy setting. I’ve always loved studying history and been fascinated by the prominent eras of society, such as the Victorian Industrial Revolution and Japanese Edo period. I liked the idea of someone looking down on Earth and cherry picking which bits of civilisation they would choose to keep, and why. The novel then developed organically from there.
What's it about?
Dark Blessings is set in a steampunk reflection of feudal Japan. Saori and Akio Kawamoto know only the lies and propaganda of their society; they are sinners, committed to a life of atonement and destined to perish in factories or be slaughtered by the monstrous oni. But their life in the ‘Dark’ is upturned when Saori accidentally bonds with a deadly Kuro-oni, named Koll. He is smart, vicious and determined to exact vengeance on those who stole his humanity.
Institutionalised and imprisoned, Saori and Akio gradually uncover the parasitic history of ‘their’ world, and learn the truth about the monsters who bleed red.
What's your writing routine?
I am pretty flexible with my routine, to be honest. My working days can be quite long, and I also cover night shifts, so I write little and often. I tend to be most productive late morning and late evening. I'll switch between edits and writing depending on how I feel.
What's next for you?
I'm deep in the trenches of editing my Scottish historical fantasy, getting it ready for queries. I also have a cosy fantasy on the go, set in a magical prison inside a tree. It has ghosts, fairy gangs, a onesie-wearing goat, and is proving very fun to write.
What are your favourite children's books and why?
I’ve always been a fantasy girl, and anything with talking animals was a given. Brian Jacques’ Redwall, the Narnia series, and His Dark Materials trilogy, were – and still are – my firm favourites. I’ve always wanted a daemon of my own!
Any tips for writers intending on entering the competition?
Just go for it, and enjoy the experience of putting your writing out into the world. Utilise the excellent feedback to improve your novel and become a better writer.