Author A E Johnson
Early Life
Born in the historical city of Nottingham, England, Alice Johnson Nee Burton indulged in all areas of history from a very early age. Her love of history began with the mystery of Robin Hood, which led her towards the world of Celtic and Gaelic Lore, Greek mythology and even Roman mythology, soon took hold of her. Her fascination for Vikings soon showed as she began exploring works by Neil Gaiman.
During her earlier years, her fascination with Greek Mythology led her towards making several YouTube videos, this was later picked up by several filming companies, whilst those videos were removed from YouTube to prevent copyright issues, Alice kept one video for her and the public. You can view her video of Medusa here.
From a very young age, those around her noticed her passion, including Margret Parsons, a friend of the family and keen archer, much like Alice. At the tender age of 6, Margret told her parents,
‘Don’t stop this one, she’ll be a writer one day,’ lo-and-behold, Margret was right.
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 advanced 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 ggelf’s 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.
Writing career
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 5 books in the Cammbour saga from September 2020.
Family Life
Now married with children, Alice dedicates her life to writing. In 2021 Alice’s hand was forced, having to leave a job she adored in a family run shop, she spends her day homeschooling her 6-year-old daughter, caring for her 2-year-old son and at weekends her 9-year-old disabled step-daughter, although referring to Rubie as her step-daughter would be a mistake to many, Alice insists that the word ‘step’ is pertinent to swearing in the family home.
In 2015, Alice began a local craft market, to help struggling craftspeople gain more customers throughout their community, the market sadly closed in late 2019 because of the global pandemic, however, the market reopened in 2021 with Alice taking her business Twinkles Emporium and her author business to the market. Her work in the community has been noted as, ‘selfless,’ and ‘unending,’ even so, Alice works with the local community, during the pandemic, she employed the help of local volunteers to deliver food parcels to the elderly, vulnerable, and those shielding.
Awarded as a community champion in 2015 following her work with the more vulnerable in her area, she declined the award, stating,
‘It is as much a pleasure for me as it is for my community, I don’t do the things I do for any form of gain, be it a piece of paper with my name on, or even a thank you, I do it to see the smile on someone’s face, knowing there is always someone there to listen, knowing we are all part of a wider community.’
She gave the cash reward to an unknown cause.
Written by Nigel Cunningham, a close friend of the family, Alice wished to remain completely inert.
Author Alice E Johnson 