A little about Lady Alice E Johnson
Having started her author journey back in September 2000, she took a break from writing, only to return in September 2020 with her novel The Hangman's Turn. Her heart belongs to the darkness. Duchess Grimdark, as she is often known, also goes by the name of Twinkle, which is an example of how mixed her writing and personal life can be.
Growing up in the south of Nottingham, Alice came from what many would call a normal working class background. Her father was a mechanic and her mother was a typist, who went on to become an editor.​Throughout her life, Alice has never let her passion for reading go.
'When times are tough, read. When times are easy, read more.'​
A thirst for knowledge often drives her. Now, with her own children, Alice tries to instil her passion for reading in children and adults of all abilities. Her work in writing includes several adult short stories for those who wish to begin their own reading journey.
​'It's not always about what you're reading, just the fact you are. That's what matters.'​
Her working life began shortly after leaving school. While also trying to attend college, she first worked for a major newspaper company as a manager, but this soon led her towards her real passion for writing.
​Later in life, Alice began her writing journey after the birth of her second child. Now with two children and a stepdaughter who required 24 hour care, Alice could balance her family and work life with the support of her family and husband.​
Community has always been important to her, and in 2019 a council group who recognised her passion awarded her the title of Lady, this was following her gifting her business, 'Clifton Craft Market' to the people of Clifton, to be run, as she had, voluntarily.​
The none profit organisation brings many visitors to the small estate each month and has created businesses for those who would otherwise be without, supporting mental health, loneliness, and those with disabilities who wish to work.​​​
The extended story of Alice E Johnson
Having begun her writing career back in the early 2000s as a ghostwriter, she began her love of writing using the national press as a gateway, but it was never meant to be. Her heart belonged to the world of Dark Fantasy and Grimdark. Working with several agencies, her time within the industry came to a crashing halt when her agent unexpectedly passed away from cancer. Thrown into depression, having lost a dear friend, Alice placed her work to one side.
Unexpectedly, Alice received a letter during the global pandemic lockdown in 2020. Inside was a letter that had been filed away since 2009. Eleven years later, she could read the words of her dear friend, colleague, and agent, Doreen, telling her,
'Do not stop, regardless of your path in life, never stop writing.'
The letter propelled Alice forward. Now, with children and a husband, she published the first of many in 2021.
Hobbies
​Some of her favourite authors include Neil Gaiman, George Orwell, David Odell, Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, and D. H. Lawrence. Her home library is always expanding, exploring new independent authors.Rune reading became a favourite pastime of hers, leading her towards the Pagan route she still follows today. A proud, self-proclaimed witch, Alice has many adventures of her own throughout the spirit world. Her love of dark fantasy began - as many have - after reading The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien. Her love of creatures began with Jim Henson's 'The Dark Crystal.' She has a particular love of dragons and the mythology of other cultures surrounding the beasts. Reading many works surrounding mythology, she felt a certain passion for the unknown creatures of myth, such as the Pooka, a part of Irish mythology which occurs in many other cultures, a shape-shifting wanderer, a creature - which is believed - still exists today in many areas around the world.As well as 'borrowing' mythological creatures, her knowledge allowed her to open the minds of many by creating several creatures only found in the lands of Cammbour. The Ggelf, for example, is a creature closely related to the brownie, a pixie-type creature that remains hidden. The ggelfs of Cammbour are known as the keepers of secrets, using them as a type of trade, almost a currency. Her love of Jim Henson's Gelflings inspired the names of the Ggelfs. Her parents often used this as a nickname for Alice when she was younger. She took the idea from known mythology, using brownies as her guide.
A Love of history
A love for Nottingham
Exploring the historical streets of Nottingham is nothing new for Alice. History is in her blood, it is her passion, although it was not a subject she was fond of in school, her passion grew with time.The surrounding architecture in Nottingham led her to research Nottingham crimes, including the Nottingham Gaol, her love of the town grew from there, as did her love of history.The dark and unknown history is what fascinates her the most. Around every corner in Nottingham is a tale of murder, dread, abuse, and hate, these are the tales she aches to tell.
