2023 Writing Award Finalists

I am a new writer from the south east, I worked as a script reader for a few years writing some of my own short scripts along the way. I have only recently started writing fiction novella as a way to tell more complex stories in a way that is more artistic than what is allowed in screen format. I

Hi! I'm Amanda and I live in London, UK. :) Having spent ten years working as a Barrister in Criminal Law, I live and love all things crime! Hence all my books have a strong crime element, based on murder cases I prosecuted and are embedded with twists and conspiracies. As I have teenage children

Hi! I'm Amanda and I live in London, UK. :) Having spent ten years working as a Barrister in Criminal Law, I live and love all things crime! Hence all my books have a strong crime element, based on murder cases I prosecuted and are embedded with twists and conspiracies. As I have teenage children

I am a graduate of the Curtis Brown Creative Novel-Writing Course, winner of the 2021 Blue Pencil Agency Pitch Prize and have been long listed for Mslexia Novel Writing competitions. The Hollow Mountain is my third novel. I trained as a pharmacist, ultimately heading up a department supporting

JAC Laferriere is almost a retired scientist. He has numerous publications on a wide range of topics in vaccine research and development, from how to manufacture a vaccine to the health economics of publicly funded immunisation programs. He especially enjoys writing poems, novels and plays with a

I’m a psychologist who develops equitable credentialing exams. I live in Alexandria, VA, where I’m the last person who still believes Pokémon Go is cool. When I’m not writing, I’m snapping photos of Pikachu in front of national monuments.

Herb Williams-Dalgart is an award-winning author and screenwriter, recognized for developing rich, memorable stories, layered characters, and fresh dialogue across many genres. The grandson of a World War II veteran, Herb maintains a great respect for and fascination with “The Greatest Generation.”

Chad V. Broughman was the recipient of the Rusty Scythe Prize Book award in 2016 and in 2017 was awarded the Adobe Cottage Writers Retreat honor in New Mexico. As well, Chad was awarded two chapbook contracts for his short story collections––“the forsaken” and "slighted"––both published by Etchings

Esme Carpenter was born in England where she started writing at a young age. She graduated from the University of East Anglia's BA in English Literature and Creative Writing and went on to become an English teacher. Esme writes fantasy and science-fiction for young adults and adult readers

I have been awarded second place in the final judging of Hastings Litfest, (a submission from a previous crime thriller), and ‘Sins of the Fathers’ reached a longlist of 20 in the Bridport Prize. (1629 entries). It also achieved a Highly Commended 4th place in the Yeovil Novel Prize, the longlist of

A life left to my own devices all over the world bred mythical mysteries, fantasies and misery. So I'm an author. I have a feather quill tattoo.

Greetings! My name is Michelle Iantosca. I was born and raised in New England, where I still reside today. I am a fulltime health care worker, an avid reader of Suspense, Thrillers, and Horror, and I spend my free time sharpening my skills as a novelist. I aspire to create three-dimensional and

I am eighty-two years young. Born in Batesville, Arkansas. I graduated from Lutcher Stark High School in Orange, Texas. I received my BA Degree with a Major in Voice and Minors in Speech and Drama and Secondary Education from Arkansas College (now known as Lyon College). I taught Choir, Band and

Hi! I'm Nurse Jenn. A wife, mother, ER nurse and author. After over 14 years in the emergency room, I've learned a thing or two, usually that thing is you have no idea what's going to walk through the door next. My debut novel, Nursing Intuition: How to Trust Your Gut, is a mix of Eastern meet

Jilly Carrell has been an army wife for the past 18 years, and her husband’s six Afghan tours with the British Army were the inspiration for her submission. Following his death, two years ago, she took a year long sabbatical to spend time with her young daughters and to complete an MA in Creative

I'm Bryony. I'm 29, and I'm from Northern England. I've been writing, in various capacities, since I was 12.

Jenny is a doctor; a job that has long involved observing people, writing and story-telling. Instead of medical articles, now she is writing psychological thrillers. Jenny works full time as an NHS hospital paediatrician. She lives in West London with her partner, two children and two Russian Blue

Katie Eagan Schenck writes sweet romance and women’s fiction that warms the heart and gives all the feels. She has an MFA in creative writing from Queens University of Charlotte and her debut novel, A Home for Christmas, was released in October of 2022. When she's not writing she's either drafting

I am a trained classical guitarist with a BA in music from Rowan University and an MS from Drexel University. I spent thirty years teaching guitar and playing background music, recorded four studio albums, and performed at Carnegie Hall. I am a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, The

I grew up in Great Britain on the borders of Wales in a Tudor house on the banks of the River Wye. As LP Fergusson I write serious historical fiction dealing with the Second World War and the War of Spanish Succession. As Loraine Fergusson I write cozy mysteries inspired by my time working in one of

Kim Black is a not-quite-cozy genre mixologist and award-winning author. She loves learning new things and returned to school in her fifties to receive her certification in screenwriting. She is a member of the Texas High Plains Writers, one of the oldest writers' groups in America. She speaks to

I have always written and though I have never been published, I’ve been placed in many writing competitions: most recently I have been longlisted in the CWA’s Debut Dagger, The Yeovil Literary Prize, Flash 500 Novel Comp, The Joan Dempsey First Chapter Contest and shortlisted in The Retreat West

Scott Rye is a decorated veteran who served throughout the Middle East and Africa. The author of two non-fiction books, Scott has worked as a newspaper correspondent, magazine editor, advertising copywriter and was a partner and Chief Operating Officer of an ad agency before founding his own crisis

I was born into a working-class family in the North of England. My family on my father's side are Romany Gypsies who lived a travelling lifestyle. Education wasn't a priority in my family but I was fortunate in that I attended a grammar school which enabled me to get a university education. I have

David Imrie is a British author and literary editor who lives in Galicia (NW Spain). His two novels to date are 'The Lost Piece' and 'Ghosts' (both 2024). Born in Oxford in 1973, during his childhood David's family moved first to Dorset and then to Thurso in the Scottish Highlands, where he went to

After gaining a degree in Anthropology, Sophie went into television production directing her first documentary for Channel 4 when driving from London to Johannesburg. Having produced an INSET series for BBC Education, she set up wildlife films in Botswana and a BLUE PETER exploration of South Africa

Erin L. Swann is an avid home cook who has taught visual art for eighteen years in Central Maryland. She recently became an online writing instructor for Authors Publish and has given several free online lectures through them as well. Her work appears in numerous anthologies and publications

Author of "The Private Misadventures of Nell Nobody," and "On Wounds of Woe," Jennifer Newbold came to fiction writing from a historical perspective, with a belief that history can be immediate and relevant, and that fiction can be a means to making history accessible. But fiction can do so much

Kate, now retired, has been writing since her teens, finding her voice through humorous poems, short stories, and illustrated books for children. In her early twenties she found her work in the Samaritans profoundly affecting and led to a deep interest in people; what influences our beliefs and the

Chris Berg and Paul James Smith are award-winning authors who craft crime thrillers inspired by true events. The retired police detectives are former partners and lifelong friends. Their partnership has yielded critical acclaim, including a Claymore Award and recognition as Pageturner Award

Eugene Aucoin is a published author whose first book won Asia’s Best Book of the Year in Theology in 2020: The Cardinal Sin Award. His book, "Has Science Killed God? – Three Powerful Ideas that Will Reignite your Faith" (Manila: St Pauls’ Books, 2019), was also published in French in Canada in July

Eugene Aucoin is a published author whose first book won Asia’s Best Book of the Year in Theology in 2020: The Cardinal Sin Award. His book, "Has Science Killed God? – Three Powerful Ideas that Will Reignite your Faith" (Manila: St Pauls’ Books, 2019), was also published in French in Canada in July

Stevie Turner is a British author of Romantic Suspense, Humour, Paranormal, and Women’s Fiction (family dramas). She won an inter-schools' essay competition at the age of 11, and this gave her encouragement to write further. She has now written 15 novels, 2 screenplays, 6 novellas, 1 memoir, and 18

Karin is an autistic mathematician, and writer of science fiction, fantasy and thrillers. After twelve moves within the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and the UK, she settled in the Garden of England (a.k.a. Kent). As a writer/reader, she is passionate about diversity – any kind – but, more than

Darrell Bowling, after a career in corporate aviation spanning fifty-five years, I now follow my favorite pastime, storytelling. With a thirty-year history as a pilot, part-time dealer, and pit boss for Nevada casinos, my background lends me to a life most only dream of. An old Chinese proverb reads

Mikey Jackson is a versatile scriptwriter, author and playwright from the seaside town of Worthing, near Brighton, United Kingdom. His plays have been performed in London at the Etcetera Theatre, the Hen and Chickens Theatre and the Libra Theatre. His TV drama spec script Seven Magpies earned him a