Speakers
Writing professionals to help you improve and progress
We've curated an amazing line-up of speakers and hosts that will inspire you to write and understand what goes on behind-the-scenes of the writing world. Professional authors, TV and film screenwriters, journalists, editors, writing coaches and publicists will be giving advice and expertise to help you with your writing journey.
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Plus, our YouTube channel features interviews with our speakers which give a taster of their talks and workshops.
Gail Aldwin
Dorset-based writer of fiction and poetry
Finalist in The People’s Book Prize 2020 and shortlisted in the Dorchester Literary Festival Writing Prize 2020.
Chantelle Atkins
Children's author based in Christchurch.
Co-director of Chasing Driftwood Writing Group.
Christine Aziz
Won Richard & Judy book prize.
Creative writing tutor at AUB and former international journalist.
Denise Baden
Professor of Sustainable Practice at Southampton University.
Author and founder of Green Stories, writing under D.A Baden.
Tracy Baines
Best selling historical saga author.
Award-winning educator, writer, coach, speaker and researcher.
Dr Aanka Batta
Writer.
Activist bringing awareness to issues around race and racial politics.
Sophie Beal
Director of Cadence Publishing.
Publisher, writer and freelance journalist.
Rachel Boucher
Author and composer
Former Primary School teacher-turned-author. Rachel is stepping in to replace Sophie Kirtley)
Catherine Bruton
Award-winning children's author.
‘No Ballet Shoes in Syria’ (Winner of the Books Are My Bag Readers’ Award 2020, The Sheffield Book Award and The Middle East Book Award).
Beth Calverely
Poet and performer.
Poet, performer, facilitator and founder of The Poetry Machine. Her writing delights in the weird and wonderful things we do when trying to belong.
Megan Carroll
Literary agent at Watson, Little.
Graduated from Goldsmiths with a BA in English and American Literature in 2013 and has worked at the agency since 2014.
Lorna Child
Children's author and radio presenter.
Podcast host.
Tim Clague and Danny Stack
Film and TV screenwriters.
Tim and Danny have written or directed for BBC, ITV, Channel 5, Paramount+ as well as several independent movies.
Andreina Cordani
Writer, editor and book reviewer.
Her novel The 12 Days of Murder is currently being adapted for TV.
Helen Corner-Bryant
Founding director of Cornerstones Literary Consultancy UK/US.
Honorary Research Fellow of the Centre for Publishing, Department of Information Studies, UCL.
Steve Couch
Author.
Bournemouth-based author of Dead Man Singing.
Sally Curtis
Flash fiction writer.
Published short story and flash fiction writer.
Gary Dalkin
Editor and writer for hire with 30 years publishing experience.
Contributor to over 300 issues of Writing Magazine. Editor of self-published and award-winning/nominated authors from both sides of the Atlantic.
Broo Doherty
Literary agent at DHH Literary Agent.
Director at DHH Literary Agency. Literary Agent of the Year in 2017 at the Romantic Novelist's Association.
Paul Draper
Award-winning author of dark fiction "Black Gate Tales" and screenwriter.
Writer of over 100 short stories, commercial scriptwriter and Audible audiobook producer.
Alex English
Author, screenwriter and writing coach.
Author of picture books and children's fiction including Stop that Dinosaur, Monkey Bedtime and the Sky Pirates series.
Luke English
Media specialist lawyer.
Writer's rights, contracts and Intellectual Property rights.
Emilie Fiirgaard
Poet.
Studied an MA in creative writing and publishing where she edited the 2022 shortlist BWP anthology. Additionally, she has published poems and articles both online and physically.
Liam R Findlay
Author, illustrator and smell expert.
Designer for visitor attractions specialising in using smells; whether it's the stench of a Viking toilet for a museum, the whiff of a pirate ship for a theme park or the fishy fragrance of penguin vomit for a zoo.
Louisa Flynn
Yoga and wellbeing writer.
A widely published wellbeing writer, with over 15 years of experience.
Alice Fowler
Award-winning writer of short stories and longer fiction.
Her debut short story collection, The Truth Has Arms and Legs, was published by Fly On The Wall Press in July 2023
Valerie French
Freelance Journalist & author.
Published in The Guardian, Vancouver Sun, BBC Radio 4’s PM, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Beverley Glick
Author & editor.
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.
Bradford Gyori
Writer and lecturer.
Programme Leader of the MA in Creative Writing and Publishing at Bournemouth University.
Paula Harmon
Fiction author.
Her book ‘Death in the Last Reel’ was shortlisted for the Selfies 2022.
Briony Hartley
Graphic designer and colour addict.
Book designer, author and design lecturer at Arts University Bournemouth'
Lucy V Hay
Script editor, author and blogger who helps writers
Lucy is also an author, publishing as both LV Hay and Lizzie Fry.
Jude Hayland
Author and tutor.
A commercial short story writer for women’s magazines in both the UK and internationally for over 25 years, Jude now writes full length fiction and has published four novels. She also tutors creative writing classes and workshops.
David Headley
MD of DHH Literary Agency.
In the last ten years, he has been included in the Top 100 most influential people in publishing by The Bookseller, a number of times.
Sam Holland
Award-winning author
Sam became the first author to win the Bronze Bat for her debut and the Silver Bat for best thriller in consecutive years at the Nederlands Thrillerfestival.
Jasmine Isa Qureshi (They/She)
Writer and ecologist.
She writes about ecology, conservation, diversity, trans and queer issues, muslim identity, Islamophobia, philosophical thought, climate change and politics
Isabelle Knight
Author Brand Mentor & Publicity strategist.
Former publicist working in Film, TV and Books including with JK Rowling and BBC.
Jane Labous
Author, journalist and broadcaster
Jane Labous is a journalist, and author of two novels, Past Participle (Afsana Press, 2023), and The Chameleon Girl (Farafina Books, 2022).
Linda Liebrand
Book marketing specialist and self-publishing success coach.
Award-winning bi-lingual children's author.
Si Mack
Writer in residence for The Outsider's Project.
The Outsiders Project works with artists to tell stories that are exquisite, fearless, and uncensored.
Tom Masters
Editorial Director, Fresher Publishing.
Author and lecturer at Bournemouth University.
Alice May
Award-winning writer, artist and speaker.
Author of 'The House That Sat Down Trilogy'.
Chloe May
Customer Services Manager, Troubador Publishing.
Having worked at Osprey Publishing (part of Bloomsbury) and Pan Macmillian with authors such as Louis Theroux and Adam Kay, Chloe now helps self-published authors get their work into the world.
Hattie Miles
Walking historian.
Photographer.
Matt Miles
Poet, Musician, Journalist, and Freelance Copywriter
Matt is a professional editor, music journalist, content writer, copywriter, & arts correspondent.
Caroline Montgomery
Managing Director of Rupert Crew Literary Agency
Caroline has served on the committee of the Association of Authors’ Agents.
Louis Netter
Senior Lecturer in Illustration at the University of Portsmouth.
Along with teaching and research, Louis is a practising illustrator, animator and printmaker.
EL Norry
Author, editor and mentor.
Children's author based in Bournemouth. Fablehouse 2: Heart of Fire (Bloomsbury) is out in April.
Sam Parks
Author.
Former editor and current romance author for HarperCollins UK.
Anne Peterson
Published poet
Anne has been running Speakeasy spoken word group in Wimborne for over ten years and Inspiring Writing workshops in Poole for seven years.
No website
Fay Roberts
Poet and storyteller.
Performance poet, storyteller, event host and organiser, workshop leader, musician, and accidental voice actor based in the South-East of England.
Mark Rutter
Poet and artist.
Mark has published several books of poetry, along with visual poems and artist's books. He teaches Creative Writing at the University of Winchester.
Myriam San Marco
Poet, promoter and educator.
In their tenure as Bournemouth Poet Laureate, they led writing and development programmes for local writers, schools, and universities with support from Bournemouth Libraries.
Emma Scattergood
Writer/lecturer/facilitator in creative writing and writing for wellbeing.
Founder of The Bournemouth Writing Prize; Fresher Publishing; The Story Works; MA Creative Writing & Publishing at BU.
Matt Shaw
The published author of over 400 publications.
Not just a hobby but a career.
Brian Sibley
Writer and broadcaster.
Prolific author and TV/radio presenter, who adapted The Lord of the Rings, the Narnia novels and many more for BBC radio.
Jane Skellett
Community Writer & Tutor.
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.
Alex Stone
Author of psychological thrillers set on the stunning Dorset coast.
Author of The Perfect Daughter and The Other Girlfriend.
Peter Straus
Managing Director of RCW Literary Agency
Peter was President of the Association of Authors’ Agents from 2012 to 2014. He was awarded a CBE for his services to literature in 2016.
Tom Sykes
Writer, editor and Associate Professor at the University of Portsmouth.
Regular contributor for Private Eye and has written for New Statesman, The Scotsman, The Telegraph
Alex Thompson
Business Development Manager at Troubador Publishing.
After being a director for multiple London based marketing agencies, Alex now tries to help as many self-published authors find their best route to publication as he can.
Cathi Unsworth
Author of six pop-cultural noir novels.
Author of Season Of The Witch: The Book of Goth, a 2023 Times, Mojo and Waterstones book of the year. Tutor for Curtis Brown Creative and Arvon Foundation
Judy Waite
Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at University of Winchester
Award-winning author who has published over forty works of fiction, ranging from picture books to works of YA (young adult) fiction.
Kathleen Whyman
Author.
Comedy Women In Print prize finalist, journalist and author of Wife Support System and Would You Ask My Husband That?
Laura Williams
Literary Agent at Greene & Heaton
Laura started at Greene & Heaton as an agent in 2018, having worked at PFD from 2011 after studying Classics at Oxford.
Sumaira Wilson
Co-Founder & Publishing Director of SpellBound Books.
A Digital Indie Publisher of fiction and non fiction which tell the stories that need to be told.
Rachel Woodward Carrick
Director, BU International College.
Writer of Happy Silver People.