2024 Writing Award Finalists

I am a minority immigrant to Australia from a completely different culture. At school, I was teased and bullied for my heritage. When other children were eating vegemite sandwiches, I was eating open sandwiches with pate and salami. Other students would point to my lunch, call it 'dog meat' and

I used to run a Tango club in Brighton and now work as a model for such names as Balenciaga and Martine Rose https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2022-menswear/martine-rose. For the past 30 years I have been working the twelve-step program of Narcotics Anonymous and have written a memoir about

Therena is an award-winning, internationally published photographer and artist. She writes epic romantic fantasy novels and creates fantasy illustrations. She loves transporting readers and art lovers into a world of love, magic, and adventure. Born to be an artist and author, she delights in

Corporate turned creative. Swapping life in a FTSE for freedom, I now enjoy more creative days as an aspiring writer and a business and marketing consultant. My novels, written with screenplay adaptation in mind, draw on the reality of today - the highs and lows, twists and turns of modern life and

Raised in Essex, Massachusetts, Travis worked in his family’s sawmill and lumber business from the age of seven instead of going to school. An avid outdoorsman from a young age, whether it was hunting the rolling hills of New Hampshire or fly-fishing remote brook trout ponds in the deep northwoods

Now retired, my career began as a teacher of French and German and ended as a specialist in helping pupils who do not speak the language of instruction all over the UK and Europe. I was a member of an EU Working Group promoting better Education outcomes for pupils of Roma heritage in Europe. I

Hannah Costelle is a Kentucky writer with a love of whodunnits, howdunnits, and whydunnits. She attended Eastern Kentucky University, where she studied Journalism and English. Today she works in historical archives. For the past ten years, she has been working on a trilogy of mystery novels, as well

I was born in Great Britain, a long time ago, then emigrated to Alberta Canada. My wife and I are now retired and living in the South Okanagan, BC Canada. I am in the process of writing 4 fictional books - a collection of short stories, a spy thriller, a western action and adventure book and an

Alicia Doyle is a voracious reader and lover of large cups of tea. Taking her love of the written word a step further, she published a small collection of her poetry in 2021 and had the pleasure of having one of her short stories published in the online magazine, Short Fiction Break, in 2022. In

Originally from South West England – I am now settled (with my wonderful dog Millie) on the edge of the beautiful Lake District National Park. My writing, like my life, reflects some deep inner shifts – and I find great inspiration from being near the mountains, walking in the woods, or breathing in

Alexandra Grace started writing emotional poetry as a teenager, but her biggest dream was writing a novel that made readers feel. That dream finally came true in her 40s when her first idea wouldn't let her sleep. She likes to combine her respect for military service personnel with her heartfelt

Before Melissa started writing romantic comedies and women’s fiction, she worked as a surgical Physician Associate in Nashville, where one of her favorite procedures was re-suturing a lower-lumbar tattoo. Her stories, like herself, are always a mix: light and dark, laughter and tears, outlandish and

Half British, half Spanish, with a hint of Belgian. Here to write and learn and enjoy every step along the way (even those where I trip).

I was born and raised in Spain and moved to live in the UK when I was 25. Learning a new language wasn’t easy for me; so, I challenged myself to write in English as a way to improve the language. Characters and their stories have crowded my head from a young age, wanting to be told; one day I gave

Andrew Phillips for "SHOES," "WHISPERS," RIMBOMBO," AND "HOPE OF GLIMMER" I am currently retired from the public education system in North Carolina. My career spans nearly thirty years of teaching early childhood classes, working as a Home/School Coordinator, Arts Coordinator and elementary

Andrew Phillips for "SHOES," "WHISPERS," RIMBOMBO," AND "HOPE OF GLIMMER" I am currently retired from the public education system in North Carolina. My career spans nearly thirty years of teaching early childhood classes, working as a Home/School Coordinator, Arts Coordinator and elementary

Kathryn Crowley writes short fiction and memoir from her home in Dublin. She has two published collections with Emu Ink Publishing, 'Sweaters and Small Stuff' (2014) and 'Room for One More' (2016). Her work has been published in Westword, Ruby Literary and other magazines.

Mikey Jackson is a versatile scriptwriter and novelist from the seaside town of Worthing, near Brighton, United Kingdom. His debut play Cruel was performed at Etcetera Theatre, Camden Town, London. His TV drama spec script Seven Magpies earned him a place as a finalist in the Amazon Studios and

Mikey Jackson is a versatile scriptwriter and novelist from the seaside town of Worthing, near Brighton, United Kingdom. His debut play Cruel was performed at Etcetera Theatre, Camden Town, London. His TV drama spec script Seven Magpies earned him a place as a finalist in the Amazon Studios and

Read Classics and Philosophy at UCL and taught Greek philosophy for a bit at the University of Kent. Did an MA in creative writing at Bath Spa University and have been writing on and off for years. Presently work in a medical school library.

Ayesha lives in Norway with her husband and two beautiful daughters. She was raised in Pakistan and worked for several years in Islamabad before moving to Norway, where she currently has a day-job as a Product Manager. In 2022 she won a bursary for Jericho Writer’s Self-Edit Your Novel course. Her

I am currently the head of the journalism department at City St George's, University of London and a former journalist who’s worked as a staffer for the BBC, the Independent, the Washington Post, the Sunday Times amongst others. An award-winning short story writer, my work has also been longlisted

I was born in Wisconsin, raised in Southern California, then moved back to Wisconsin, where I’ve lived for the last 35 years. Having four seasons instead of two has been one of the many benefits of living in Northwestern Wisconsin. So is living in the country, because I get to enjoy its beauty and

My name is Elena Violaris and I was born in Manchester, UK, to Greek Cypriot parents. I received my BA, MPhil and PhD in English Literature from the University of Cambridge, and I'm now a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. I'm currently researching the experiences of British 'postmigrants'

Gemma O'Donoghue was born in Essex, which is where she predominately spent her childhood, apart from a three-year sojourn in Dublin. She currently lives in Chelmsford with her husband, growing a collection of cacti and carnivorous plants. Writing has always been her passion and nothing is more

Neil was a grand prize winner in WLT's Annual Manuscript Competition and has been a finalist for Writers of the Future, the National Playwrights’ Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, Screencraft's Cinematic Book Competition, PNWA's Unpublished Contest, and the Page Turner Book Awards. In

Jay’s short fiction has appeared in Elevator Stories by Third West Publishing, The Legendary, Pythia Journal, Oblong Magazine and Eunoia Review. You can read more at www.jayhodgkins.com. He is the co-author of "Athlete Brands: How to Benefit from Your Name, Image & Likeness" from Darden Business

Pria Dee aka VPrice ( Victoria Price) is an American author, who lives in Michigan. She writes children’s books, clean new adult/young adult women’s fiction . While not writing, she loves to travel, read and and garden. Pria Dee Social Media https://www.tiktok.com/@priadeeauthor https://www

After fifteen years working in that niche crossover between bookselling and the music business, Vanessa undertook the MA in Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes University, graduating in 2021. She focuses on writing in the crime/thriller genre - she loves to get under the skin of her villains to

I consider myself a collaborator and builder. Working as a leader and member of high-performance teams, I have created tremendous capabilities at financial institutions across Canada and in the U.S. I have been a Chief Risk Officer and a Chief Executive Officer. I also consider myself a creator. I

Mike Darcy is the debut author of the Little Joe series, as such it is not a series yet, but trust him, there is more than one book. He spent the better part of his youth wandering the forest, subsisting on foraging wild berries and the generosity of concerned woodland creatures. He holds degrees in

During my thirty year career in education, I was Head of English and later Headteacher of two schools in the UK, as well as CEO of five international schools in The Hague, the Netherlands. Now, as a “digital nomad” I have travelled extensively in Latin America and have spent a lot of time in Peru

Wendy A. Warren writes upmarket historical fiction set in the Pacific and Inland Northwest. Her short stories and essays have appeared in Bright Flash Literary Review, HerStry, Hare’s Paw Literary Journal and elsewhere. She's querying her award-winning, unpublished debut novel, THE BUTCHER'S

Sara is passionate about representation for teenagers who are impacted by the care and justice systems in fiction. She taught English in Scottish High Schools for 15 years before moving into a Child Protection role. She is dedicated to showing children impacted by neglect, abuse and familial

Eric Miller is a former hip-hop artist, former political economist, former medical professional, and a current father of three. His two previous novels, a middle-grade fantasy, and a YA superhero/sci-fi, remain unpublished, yet he soldiers on.

I write queer YA fantasy inspired by Scandinavian folklore, exploring gender, animal welfare, and the importance of knitting. I'm an Oregonian of Scandinavian descent, but currently live in Australia with my fabulous wife and numerous reptile pets. I’ve published four nonfiction books with academic

Growing up on the prairies of Colorado, Rayanne (Rayray) Robison developed a wide taste in literature, which is reflected in her stories. Her goal is to reach people with her stories, and maybe even help them change their thinking, by the grace of God. She is determined to live a purposeful life

Holly taught English in UK secondary schools for 15 years before relocating to Hong Kong with her family. The move enabled her to complete a Distance Learning MA in Creative Writing with the University of Lancaster (Distinction; winner of Portfolio Prize 2023). She has had eighteen short stories

Hi, I’m Phil, a former radio and TV reporter/producer in the UK, writing as PN Johnson. My novels, Killer in the Crowd and Run to the Blue are published by Burning Chair, London. Both have been Shortlisted Finalists in these awards. I am just completing a sequel to Run to the Blue as well as a

Jack Chandler is a member of Jericho Writers. In April 2021, her first children's book was published by Carl Ed Schunemann KG in Germany, but her heart belongs to thrillers. She's writing a thriller/psychological thriller series with returning characters, although each book works as a standalone. Ms

Jack Chandler is a member of Jericho Writers. In April 2021, her first children's book was published by Carl Ed Schunemann KG in Germany, but her heart belongs to thrillers. She's writing a thriller/psychological thriller series with returning characters, although each book works as a standalone. Ms

Michael is a graduate in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University. He lives and works as a lawyer in London. In between spending time with his wife and chasing after his spirited young son, Michael reads and writes.

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

Writing has always been a part of Hannah Martinez's life, from writing skits in high school to writing a short film called Groom Search. After acting in Los Angeles, she became a Data Specialist while writing her first book. Currently, she's a mother to two beautiful children and is writing a new

Hello I have completed my first novel and am currently working on my second. Aside from writing, I am a mother of five, a wife, and a barista. I reside in the wonderful state of Indiana, but grew up in Canada where I obtained an undergrad in psychology and worked with male young offenders. Before

I started writing for my younger daughter, who was born with one hand. Her complaint was that in children's books any character with a disability like her was either: 1. The baddy (let's face it, you thought of Captain Hook, didn't you?) with the disability used to show how evil they are 2. A

I am an LGBTQ+ writer hailing from Newry in Northern Ireland, right on the border. I graduated with a B.Ed Hons degree in English and Drama in 1995 and have been a Primary School teacher ever since. I am also very lucky to teach and perform Burlesque with my dance troupe, The Scarlet Belles. I have

Pat Sayer studied history and art history as an undergraduate. She practiced medicine as a naturopathic physician. Later, she taught anatomy and microbiology to pre-med students at Washington State University. The inspiration for writing her first historical novel came after reading an article

Steve Rush’s experience includes tenure as homicide detective and chief forensic investigator for a national consulting firm in the field of forensic and environmental pathology and medicine. Once hailed as, “The best forensic investigator in the United States” by the late Joseph L. Burton, M.D

I was born in the south but grew up in Virginia, returning briefly to North Carolina to complete my bachelor’s degree in business. I’ve spent my professional life to date in sales and marketing positions, and as an entrepreneur. Along the way, I discovered my passion for people is only exceeded by