A FORMER pupil of Elton High School has penned her first book.
Alison Kershaw's fascination with the supernatural has led to her conjuring up Didikai Witch, now on sale.
The novel is the culmination of six years work for Miss Kershaw, who by day works as general manager for marketing firm Evolve Business & Marketing Ltd in Rossendale.
Its publication is extremely poignant for the Bury lass, who made a promise to her late father, John Kershaw, she would become a published author.
Inspired by famed author Anne Rice, the writer behind Interview with a Vampire, Miss Kershaw has also set the book in her home town of Bury, and also the town of her work, Rawtenstall. Her favourite places in Wales and Scotland also feature in the book.
However, research for her series of novels has taken her to places such as Transylvania and even Anne Rice’s hometown of New Orleans, as well as many other European cities.
Miss Kershaw, said: “The supernatural world by its very nature is as far removed from reality as possible and forms the perfect way to escape from the daily routine. This is why books such as Harry Potter and Interview with a Vampire are so popular.
She added: “My background is in finance and now marketing, most of my career has been working in banks, including Abbey National in Bury, before moving into marketing.”
She added: “I started writing Didikai Witch when I was facing a difficult and challenging time in my life. Withdrawing into a world of fantasy and endless possibilities was a way of forgetting for a short time. Writing these ideas down helped me to make sense of a chaotic world.”
Didikai Witch is the first of a series of books which make up the Beyond Series.
The story tells the tale of a powerful witch, who has been promoted to High Priestess of the witches’ coven, Avalonia. But she finds herself cast out and is left to fend for herself in the human world she knows only as The Beyond.
Miss Kershaw has just completed editing her second book Demon Lupus, which will be out on sale in March.
She said: “This genre is extremely popular at the moment, and I feel the strong attraction with this book is people will recognize many of the places the story is set in. Why shouldn’t Bury form the backdrop of a book. It has a fascinating history and many of its own ghost stories. The building I work is apparently haunted!”
Didikai Witch can be ordered from Waterstones stores and independent book shops. See Waterstones Website for information on Didikai Witch or log on to her website www.alisonkershaw.com .
