Beyond the Dark Oceans by Alison Huntingford

21 May

The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour

Beyond the Dark Oceans by Alison Huntingford

Today I’m thrilled to be hosting Alison Huntingford with a guest post about her book Beyond the Dark Oceans, a gripping story about the ties between family against the backdrop of the First World War.

Book description

A family united, a family divided…

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.

Based on true events, Beyond the Dark Oceans is a moving story of love, loyalty, and resilience, exploring how ordinary lives are shaped—and divided—by extraordinary moments in history.

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3LPxV5

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Guest Post

Researching the Past: Bringing History to Life

‘Beyond the Dark Oceans’ is a novel that simply couldn’t have been written a few years ago. Much of the later part of the story relies on the 1921 census, which only became publicly available in 2021 due to the 100-year confidentiality rule. Census records are invaluable for family historians, offering detailed snapshots of people’s lives — names, ages, occupations, marital status, and addresses — all helping to build a vivid picture of a particular moment in time.

Through the 1921 census, I uncovered fascinating details about my characters. One family member, for instance, had joined the newly formed RAF. I was also able to identify my heroine’s occupation, which led me to trace her employment records at the London telephone exchange — records that are still preserved today. She was performing a vital service, especially during wartime, when it was essential to keep communications open between the government and the armed forces.

Another key resource was the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, where I found information on the burials and memorials of First World War soldiers. Medal cards added further depth, revealing awards for bravery and helping to piece together individual wartime experiences.

Beyond official records, I needed to understand the wider context of the story — particularly emigration in the early 1900s and life in Canada, a country I had never visited. To bridge that gap, I joined Canadian online communities, where people generously shared both historical knowledge and modern insights. It was through this research that I first learned about the devastating Halifax Explosion of 1917.

The journey of emigration itself was another area I explored in detail. Travelling to Canada in 1906 was a demanding and often gruelling experience. I researched steamship voyages and even found an image of the exact ship the Huntingford family travelled on. I also discovered the quarantine station at Lawlor’s Island, and through the Canadian Museum of Immigration, I was able to access powerful descriptions and images that revealed the harsh realities faced by new arrivals. One particularly helpful resource was Quarantine: What is Old is New – Halifax and the Lawlor’s Island Quarantine Station 1866–1938 by Dr Ian Arthur Cameron.

To immerse myself further in the setting, I watched as much as I could — documentaries, historical films, and Canadian wilderness series — anything that might help me visualise the landscape and atmosphere my characters would have experienced.

Research into the First World War followed, including accessible guides to the battles, but it was the army service records that proved most valuable. Luckily the Canadian library archives are a mine of wonderful, free information. These documents helped me piece together the experiences of my central character, Georgy, and his family. I further researched the army training camps and Canadian troop movements which backed up everything I already knew.

I was shocked by the details I found about the WW1 wartime bombings in London and the UK. (Much of this information is available online.) I used one particular incident in the story, building it into a key moment for the characters.

Georgy became the natural focus of the novel because, as the eldest son, he experienced every stage of the journey — life in England, emigration to Canada, and ultimately the upheaval of war. Through his story, I uncovered not only hardship and resilience but also a deeply complex and controversial love story. It was only through research that I fully understood how such relationships were viewed at the time — and, in many places, still are. I had never realised just how much disapproval there was of first cousins marrying.

Ultimately, my aim is always to weave historical accuracy into a compelling narrative without it ever feeling like a history lesson. Research provides the foundation, but it is the people — their lives, choices, and emotions — that truly bring the story to life.

Author Bio

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.

Author Links:

Website: https://alisonhuntingford.com

Twitter / X: https://x.com/ahuntingford9

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ahuntingford9/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ahuntingford9/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ahuntingford9

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/alisonhuntingford/alison-huntingford/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alison-huntingford

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Alison-Huntingford/author/B09D8JDJ49

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19175307.Alison_Huntingford

Historical FictionBlog Tour

Rachel Elwiss Joyce

Rachel Elwiss Joyce, Author of Historical Fiction.

Exploring power, loyalty, and love in turbulent medieval England.

Rachel came to novel writing later in life, but she has always been passionate about history, storytelling, and the forgotten voices of women. She writes meticulously researched, immersive historical fiction that brings overlooked heroines into the light.

She started inventing tales about medieval women living in castles when she was just six years old—and never stopped. But when she discovered the extraordinary story of Nicola de la Haye, the first female sheriff, who defended Lincoln Castle from a French invasion and became known as ‘the woman who saved England’, Rachel knew she had found a heroine worth telling the world about.

Lady of Lincoln is her debut novel, the first book in her Nicola de la Haye Series, with sequels to follow.

https://rachelelwissjoyce.com