In 2024 Ellen Osborne won the Guppy Open Submission Competition with a  manuscript that would become The Seeker and the Shade - a dazzling dual narrative edgy romantasy. Praised by Bella Pearson, publisher at Guppy Books who described it as an 'utterly unputdownable novel; page-turning and compelling with a romance that’ll whisk you off your feet – I absolutely LOVE this book!'  We loved it too - and were thrilled to get the chance to ask Ellen a few questions about her intense, beautifully written, compelling first novel.

Q. The concept of Seekers and Casters, and the way they're bound to each other, is brilliant! Did a "eureka!" moment spark that concept? Where did it spring from?

A. I wanted to explore a partnership where each side was inextricably dependent on the other, not just in terms of deciding or communicating, but also physically - in a way that felt vulnerable. I was playing around with light as the weapon against the darkness and from there the concept of one partner ‘wielding’ the other developed naturally. What if the strength of your connection ultimately determined whether you lived or died? The idea felt rich and multifaceted enough that I knew I had to explore it!

Q. Related to inspiration and ideas - which came first? The idea of the sinister Shade and encroaching darkness, or the concept of Casters and Seekers?

A. The ideas collided! Strictly speaking, I had the idea of the Shade first - I always imagined a circle of light in the middle of a pitch black forest, and I was interested in the boundary. If you’re inside the light circle, you’re safe, but if you step outside, you’re unprotected. Anything could happen. So what if the true source of that light is actually something fragile, that needs attention? Separately I was thinking of what soldiers would look like in this setup - and the two concepts crashed together with a kind of alchemy.

Q. The novel sits in a tradition of innovative dystopian YA fiction. What are your favourite books in that genre? Was it inevitable you'd write in that genre, or have you written in other styles? And lastly on this subject, why do you think it's so perennially popular, and why does it have a habit of being so powerful?

A. I remember reading Exodus, by Julie Bertagna, probably when I was about twelve years old, and being absolutely captivated by it. The story follows a girl on a futuristic quest to find a new home in a world that is slowly drowning. It’s brutal but also utterly imaginative. There’s an immediacy about a people or way of life threatened with extinction. I think in the current world climate, people find enormous power in stories of hope and perseverance in the midst of desolation. I obviously adored The Hunger Games, like everybody else, which resists painting sides as black or white, and instead argues for authenticity and compassion. These are the characteristics we need to hold onto as the world grows ever more fragmented and scary. Dystopian fiction will always hold a special place in my heart for that reason - but I have written in other genres, and who knows what I might write next!

Q. We absolutely adored the slow-burn, complex relationship between Connie and Jasper, and the fact they have very different backgrounds, and very different reasons for coming to Blackwood Fortress. Did you always know you wanted the novel to have a strong romantic strand? And how important was it to you to represent different backgrounds, classes and motivations?

A. The concept was an obvious setup for a great romance! I knew early on I wanted a key story thread to be a cracking love story. I was most interested in how Connie and Jasper would change each other. They’re not just from different walks of life, they also bring out another side in each other, and that’s crucial to the story. Connie presents Jasper with an entirely alternate view of what really matters in life. Jasper challenges Connie to stand tall in a world that tells her to shrink back. It’s so important to let people into your life that hold another perspective - even when it’s uncomfortable - because this is how we open up our horizons. Progress is dependent on it.

Q. What do you hope readers take from The Seeker and the Shade?

A core theme of the story is how the perception of what makes a ‘good’ caster or seeker is warped, and the wrong traits that are championed. We see this all the time in our world when we apply restrictive and fixed ideas to concepts such as what makes a good leader, or what true power looks like, just to name a couple. I hope people take away the message that integrity and self-belief is far more valuable than conforming to societal expectations. Make a promise if you intend to keep the promise - not because of what other people might think!

Q. What's next for you after writing such a unique debut?

A. I am so thrilled to see this book out in the world, it’s truly been a wonderful experience to see readers connect with this story. And I’m also excited about what happens next - there are so many stories I want to tell and plenty of fantastical ideas brewing in my head. So who knows, hopefully more is on the way!

Read our review and download the opening chapter of The Seeker and the Shade by Ellen Osborne - available to pre-order now.