2024 Writing Award Finalists

Writer based in Dublin

Having retired from teaching, I have spent much of my spare time writing, learning from my mistakes and discovering how much I enjoy the writing process, despite its many frustrations. I have been successful in several competitions, mainly in writing Flash Fiction, and my play, "So Quick", was

Kat Trigarszky (pen name: Katharine Rogers) is a freelance writer and copy editor originally from the UK but now living in Stockholm, Sweden. When not writing her first novel, a work of historical fiction set in England during the Second World War, she is a co-host of the Historical Fiction writing

Although born in the UK, and educated at Cambridge University, I embarked on a teaching career in California. Securing several promotions, and working in a variety of schools and settings, I became a headteacher in the UK. I currently live in London and am an educational consultant, supporting

I have always loved reading and sharing books with others. I never thought I'd write my own, and it wasn't until I hit my fifties that I decided to give it a go. It has been a steep learning curve, but one I've enjoyed from the first step to now. I started writing historical romance, and that

I grew up in a small town in the centre of England and left as soon as I could. I spent many years following whims, living in Italy, Spain and Saudi Arabia, but then brought up my children in England. Paid work over the years has included cooking, graphic design and teaching English as a foreign

Fiona Hartmann has a B.A. in English Literature from McGill University. She currently resides in Toronto, and is interested in creating thought-provoking fiction.

I’m a member of the Florida Writers Association and hold a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Writing from MIT. A graduate of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, I’m a General Surgeon in Jacksonville, Florida. Drafted as the unofficial photographer of my children’s sports teams, I

Paula Seager spent her early life in developing countries with aid project parents, living in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, including Zimbabwe. She continued to travel with her communications roles at Amnesty International, Sight Savers and the World Health Organisation, working in India

I am a neurodivergent mother raising two readers in upstate New York. When I’m not writing fiction, I work in the EdTech sector, focusing on accessible online course design.

Steve conveys perspectives and emotions in poems and songs. His draft memoir, Galvanized, tells how he overcame timidity as an air cavalry officer in the Vietnam War. A tuxedo cat from a shelter encourages him from a perch over his PC keyboard. Steve assists disabled veterans in getting government

Growing up in Canada, the U.S., Spain, England and the Czech Republic has given my novels their international flavours. My parents were diplomats and my mother was British so I spent two years in a British boarding school while my parents were posted behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. Now

Prasha is a published children's book author, clinical audiologist and educator with Master's degrees in Audiology and Education (Global Learning). Her award-winning picture book, My Brain is Magic: A Sensory-Seeking Celebration was published by Soaring Kite Books in 2023. She was the recipient of a

Born in 1977. From Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland. Fledgling author, full-time dreamer.

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

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

Born in Spain, raised in Australia, I now live in Ireland with my husband and two teenagers. I like to tap into the heart and mind of my protagonists, so readers connect to them on an emotional level. I'm a self-taught writer and In Her Skin is my debut novel. I'm active in writing/critique groups

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

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

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

I am a writer and tutor of creative writing for universities in the UK, and an older mum to a wonderful boy, age 12. We live in Portugal, way up in the mountains, and we have two ponies and a dog. Inspired by my son and our travels in our campervan, I am writing a series about a magic campervan

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

Erin L. Swann is an avid home cook and works as an art teacher in Central Maryland. Her work appears in numerous anthologies and publications including Factor Four Magazine, Aurealis Magazine, and Andromeda Spaceways Magazine. She has won three honorable mentions from L. R. Hubbard’s Writers of the

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

A Mancunian, after 20 years in Sydney, I live in a cabin in an enchanted forest in Cornwall, inspired by the wisdom of nature's seasons. I’m currently enjoying the MA in Nature & Travel Writing at Bath Spa University. Many moons ago I studied a BA (Hons) in Modern Languages. It was my childhood

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.

Kevin Kordziel is a retired attorney with a passion for reading, reviewing, and writing fiction under the pen name Kevin Joseph. His first novel, The Champion Maker, published in 2005, explores legal and ethical issues at the intersection of genetic engineering and athletics. Praised as “a genuine

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'

Karin is an autistic mathematician, and writer of (cosy) 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

Karin is an autistic mathematician, and writer of (cosy) 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

I am married with two teenage children and live in Bedford, Bedfordshire. Teaching is my passion and I have been teaching primary school children now for 10 years. I love all things supernatural ever since I saw a ghost on the side of the road while driving home one day. I love writing and creating

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