Featured writers

Emily Benet Won her first significant prize for writing when she was 13 and her short stories have since been published widely. Emily's Shop Girl Diaries, began as a blog about working in her mum's chaotic chandelier shop.	Maureen Carter Creator of the critically acclaimed DS Bev Morriss crime series and now writing a new police procedural featuring two female protagonists - a play-it-by-the-book DI and a reporter who writes rules as well as news stories.
Nicholas Corder He gained an MA in Creative Writing and is now a freelance writer, having had several books and plays published, as well as hundreds of articles for a wide range of magazines. Nicholas also teaches creative writing courses.	David Evans A steamy ride through the bleak streets of Apartheid South Africa. David Evans lived in South Africa before coming to the UK to teach and write. Touch of the Sun was was the winner of the North West Commonword novel competition.
Vanessa Gebbie Novelist and award-winning short story writer; Vanessa's stories have been commissioned by literary journals, the British Council, for BBC Radio, and widely anthologised.	Lynne Hackles She began writing in 1980, selling the first dozen stories she wrote, together with a novel for pre-teens. Then came her first rejection! Since then Lynne has sold several hundred short stories, been placed in many competition and has published books on the craft of writing.
Roger Harvey Poet, Novelist, Radio and Screen Writer, Roger was born in 1953 in Newcastle. His published works include The Silver Spitfire, The Writing Business and Poet on the Road. He has led writing workshops and residential courses for many years.	Jon Haylett He won The Bridport Prize in 2003 and The Royal Society of Literature's VS Pritchett Memorial Prize in 2004. Jon's first novel, Cry of the Justice Bird, was published in 2007.
Rita Hemraj What if I told you that happiness is not an accident that happens on some days and not on others? What if I said that your happiness has been unlearned and all you need to do is relearn happiness to experience it? In its true form, happiness is permanent and infinite. It is not something 'out there' to be obtained but lies within.	Clare Jay Her short stories and poetry have won prizes and appeared in anthologies. Clare has a PhD in Creative Writing and tutors the subject at university level. Breathing in Colour is her first novel.
Sue Johnson Poet, short story writer and novelist. Sue's poems have been published in a variety of small press magazines, both in the UK and overseas. Her short stories have been published in a variety of women's magazines and her first novel was published in 2011.	Emma Lee Emma's stories and poems are widely published. Her first novel is Bitter Fame. She’s also a member of Leicester Writers’ Club.
Linda Lewis A full time writer, Linda's short stories have appeared in various magazines including My Weekly and Yours. Her book, THE WRITER'S TREASURY OF IDEAS is a teach-yourself-how-to-come-up-with-ideas guide.	Kate Long Author of several novels. Her first, The Bad Mother's Handbook, was a No.1 bestseller and was serialised on BBC Radio 4. Kate's stories tend to focus on family drama and relationships between the generations ...
Alison Love Painter Stella Deighton became tennant of Mallingford, an 18th-century mansion in the Sussex South Downs, during the 1920s. But it is now the 1990s, and things must change. Stella is dead, and it is up to Cosima, Stella's granddaughter, to fight to keep a roof over her head.	Alison Moore Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2012 with her first novel, The Lighthouse.
Judi Moore In 2038 the enormous potential of Nanonics has finally been realised. Now it can heal the terminally sick at a molecular level. Terrorists can also use it to turn vital petrol supplies into something resembling molasses. This is the story of what happens when white nanonics meets black nanonics.	Nicola Morgan Author of many critically acclaimed titles for older children and young adults as well as a series of books to help other writers.
Abegail Morley First collection, How to Pour Madness into a Teacup, shortlisted for the Forward Prize Best First Collection (2010)	Sylvie Nickels After many years as a travel writer and editor, Sylvie returned to her first love, fiction, and has now completed a trilogy on what war does to people.
Joanna O'Neill Writer, artist, horse-whisperer and public speaker.	Sally Quilford Feature writer and columnist, Sally has had stories published in most of the major women's magazines and several pocket novels published by My Weekly.
Suzanne Ruthven Author, journalist, contributing editor, commissioning editor and writing tutor.	Catherine Smith Named as one of the top ten poets to have published a first collection in the last ten years by Mslexia magazine, Catherine was also chosen as one of the 20 Next Generation Poets by the Arts Council/Poetry Book Society.
Sally Spedding "... is a font of creepy stories, the kind of tales that wheedle their way back in to your mind, hours maybe days and weeks later..."	Heather Walker Roses and Rain, a comprehensive exploration of the life and work of James Elroy Flecker, poet, playwright and novelist.
Jane Wenham-Jones Author and journalist who regularly appears on radio and TV, Jane is also a columnist for Woman's Weekly, BookTime and her local paper ...	Simon Whaley Since becoming a full time writer, Simon has authored and contributed to several books, written hundreds of articles and seen several of his short stories published across the world.
Julia Widdows She is a prize-winning short story writer and has run creative writing groups in a variety of settings, including with recovering addicts and alcoholics. Living In Perhaps is her first novel.	Sally Zigmond It is 1848, the Year of Revolutions. Stoical and industrious Carrie and carefree and vivacious May lose both home and livelihood when their Leeds pub is sold out from under them to make way for the coming of the railway. They head for Harrogate to find work and lodging in the spa town's burgeoning hotel trade ...