Kate is a Scottish children's writer. She earned an MA in English Literature, but then spent a number of years working as an accountant before following her dream of writing for children.

Nazeen explores migration, place and identity across fiction, poetry and visual art. She is a former Hampshire Poet Laureate, a Penguin Random House Write Now mentee, and the author of the children’s novel City of Stolen Magic.

Co-director of Chasing Driftwood Writing Group.

Stonewall Book Award-winning author of THE BLACK FLAMINGO and writer & executive producer of TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE.

Creative writing tutor at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) and former international journalist.

Tricuro is owned by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and provides short and long term high quality care and support to adults, their carers and families.

Ri is a writer, performer, musician, poet, drag performer and facilitator, focusing on finding the way into big, seemingly inaccessible and daunting subjects, such as gender identity and quantum physics, and climate change. 

Publisher, writer and freelance journalist.

Mystical Poet & Mental Health Advocate and author of Five Collections of Poetry.

Winner of the South Hams Lit Fest ‘24 Short Story & Heathrow 70 Writing Prizes. 

Writer of paranormal women's fiction as well as writing for children under the pen name Tiger Molly.

In 2020, she won the unpublished Comedy Women in Print Prize and her debut novel Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy was published by HarperCollins in September 2021.

Kristin Burniston is a British American writer and alumna of the Creative Writing Programme. Her short story ANNE was published in Brighton and Beyond.

Writing under Anna Britton/Annie Bennet/August Bloom. Author of Shot in the Dark and Close to the Edge, published by Canelo.

A published author from Bournemouth. Her children's story 'Happy Ever Afters' was published in 2019, and was nominated for 'readers choice awards' in 2020.

Tim Clague is a writer / director who focuses on family friendly films and TV series. BAFTA nominated for "Eight" (a short film exploring one boy's love of football, linked to his father).

Lucy is the Sunday Times bestselling author of eight destination thrillers. Two of her thrillers, The Castaways and No Escape, have been adapted for screen and are now streaming on Paramount+. Her novels have been published in more than 25 territories worldwide.

Dr James Cole is course leader for BA (Hons) Creative Writing at Arts University Bournemouth and holds a PhD in English Literature and Creative Writing.  His novel, Reading Through Binoculars, was shortlisted for the Dundee International Book Prize.

Author based in Wales, UK who writes funny and fantastical tales, with diverse casts of characters, for children and young adults.

Steve is the author of two novels, Dead Man Singing and Foul and Fair. His third novel Imogen Imagine is due to be published later this year.

Contributor to over 300 issues of Writing Magazine. Editor of self-published and award-winning/nominated authors from both sides of the Atlantic.

A published literary writer, speaker and versatile teacher and coach.

Writer's rights, contracts and Intellectual Property rights.

Economic refugee poet fusing politics, autobiography and surreal whimsy; winning slams and entertaining audiences nationwide.

Working within community wellbeing, blending somatic practices and accessible arts.

Published poet and fiction writer. MA Creative Writing Distinction. Working class writer with ADHD and C-PTSD. Author of One-Armed Nick.

Mike Garley is an EMMY-nominated writer who has written for Adventure Time, Wallace and Gromit, and Image Comics' 24 panels anthology.

Former national newspaper journalist, now a developmental editor and book coach at The Right Book Company. Author of In Your Own Words, published February 2024.

Rohan Gotobed is a writer and theatre director. He is the Artistic Director of Dorsetborn, a new writing company creating original drama across the South West.

Stuart is an entrepreneur and the founder of a world-class digital agency specializing in creating websites and digital products for authors. Best Newcomer finalist at the speaker awards 2025.

Programme Leader of the MA in Creative Writing and Publishing at Bournemouth University.

With over a decade of experience, Jackson Gyori has established himself as an acclaimed documentary filmmaker.

A recent mentee of the Write Beyond Borders international literature development programme, AJ is currently working on a poetry project on belonging and ethnic diversity in the New Forest, and a queer spy novel set in Elizabethan England.

Founder of Elspells Writing Feedback, a service which provides affordable feedback for new writers.

Dr. Ashley Hickson-Lovence is a novelist, poet, literary critic and Lecturer of Creative Writing. He has a wealth of experience working for TV, radio and appearing at festivals. He also regularly reviews books for BBC Radio 4, Notts TV Book Club and The Observer.

Christopher is a lecturer in creative and social media at Royal Holloway in London as well as a playwright.

Victoria has a PhD in creative writing and has also studied at the University of Ulster and the Moscow State Institute for International Relations. She is the published author of two works of war fiction: Not the Work of an Ordinary Boy and The Other Way (Stairwell Books).

Sunday Times bestselling author of Soul Hate, Hannah is a writer of fantasy and contemporary YA and adult's fiction.

Award-winning poet and broadcaster blending wit, activism and pop culture, performing worldwide, including Glastonbury Festival's Resident Poet in 2019.

Former publicist to the stars, including titans of industry JK Rowling and the BBC, Isabelle Knight is the founder of Build Your Author Brand - an online consultancy helping fiction and non-fiction authors to grow your readership, raise your profile and give your books the best chance of success.

Saskia is a literary agent at Kate Nash Literary Agency.

Claire's debut children's book Time Tub Travellers and the Silk Thief won the Reader’s Choice Awards in the Diverse Book Awards 2025, won the Ink Book Prize 2024 and was highly commended in the Selfies book awards 2025.

Alice writes historical and saga fiction for

Boldwood Books and is the author of The Resistance Girls trilogy.

Helena assisted the MD of a boutique literary agency for two years before joining Curtis Brown to assist Sheila Crowley in April 2024.

Best-selling author of the Dorset Crime Series - the first book in that series, The Corfe Castle Murders, won the 2021 Kindle Storyteller Award.

Hattie's walks for the past two festivals have all sold out.

Nikki is an award-nominated author and editor, writing as Nikki Moore, Ella Allbright and Bella Brightside.

Precious Oyekanmi is a fiction writer from the UK. In her debut novel, Kaya, she shows that her writing style is dedicated to empowering women and speaking about spirituality.

Abby has hosted the well-established poetry open mic night in Bournemouth called 'The Platform' for five years and regularly performs in the local area.

Abby was previously an editor of commercial fiction at Hodder & Stoughton and Little, Brown Book Group.

Based in Dorset, Heidi is a crime thriller author of 5* Sunday Times Best Seller 'Now You See Her'.

She is the author of the middle-grade series The Travelling Library Chronicles of Maizey Lee. Her first novel, The Java Enigma, was shortlisted for the 2020 Epigram Books Fiction Prize.

Public Speaker and Author of poetry, short fiction and novels, published in both Italian and English.

Lisa is an author of multiple thrillers and mysteries. She has been traditionally and self-published. Lisa also offers advice to writers online and through mentoring.

46 years enabling and encouraging creative writing in a wide range of community settings and across different genres. Founder of the Hengistbury Head writers group and a member of the Society of Women Writers & Journalists.

Ali published her first book, Finding the Fox, with Oxford University Press in 2006. It became the first of the six-book Shapeshifter series. Her five-book Unleashed series serves as a spin-off/sequel to The Shapeshifter, centered on some of the other Shapeshifter characters.

Danny Stack is an Irish screenwriter and film director, best known for his work in children's television. Alongside Tim Clague, he made the live-action family films Who Killed Nelson Nutmeg, Future TX and the TV series Dog Years.

Ellora has been the Poet-in-Residence at both Jane Austen’s House and Petersfield Museum, and is currently the poetry reviewer for Mslexia.

Survivor, speaker, life writer, coach, author of award-winning memoir: The Secret Practice: Eighteen Years on the Dark Side of Yoga.

Jessica Toale is the first Labour and female representative of the seat, using writing, advocacy and clear communication to influence policy, debate and positive social change.

Published fantasy author and founder of the Untold Stories Academy.

12 published books. Translated to 6 languages. Founder of Ring of Culture.
Host at Witty Vitor Pod.

Nicola teaches writers and authors how to use social media to grow their audiences and market their work through her agency Too Much Social.

Kathleen Whyman writes humorous women’s fiction and has been shortlisted for the Comedy Women in Print prize. She also teaches Writing With Humour workshops and mentors authors.