2024 Writing Award Finalists

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

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.

Caroline Turriff is an award nominated social affairs journalist who was shortlisted for the Amnesty International Media Awards for a report on race and police brutality she did for BBC TV's Newsnight which was also broadcast on BBC1, Radio 4, Radio 1 and run by the Guardian, Mail and Metro

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

Originally from Sydney, Australia, I have spent most of my adult life in Switzerland, working as a physio with disabled children, raising a family, and studying. I received a BA with First Class Honours in Literature and Classical Studies from The Open University in 2001, and an MA from Bath Spa

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

I write women’s upmarket and historical fiction. As a former retail executive specializing in e-commerce, for years I’ve channeled my story-telling passion into writing thousands of words in the form of published articles, white papers, website and social media content, marketing materials

British Army veteran and former English Teacher; now writing Horror and Sci-Fi novels. I love folklore-inspired horror and splicing together terror and sci-fi fiction. @HThomaswrites

I have published short fiction and poetry, and I have been short- and long-listed for the Fish Short Story Prize. As an undergraduate I majored in English literature, though I currently work in technology.

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

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

Originally from Sydney, Australia, I have spent most of my adult life in Switzerland, working as a physio with disabled children, raising a family, and studying. I received a BA with First Class Honours in Literature and Classical Studies from The Open University in 2001, and an MA from Bath Spa

Patrick Eades is a writer from Sydney, Australia. Growing up, he spent his free time reading, on sporting fields, and getting up to mischief in the National Park. After school, Patrick found himself in a variety of jobs. He was a baker, pizza delivery driver and shelf stacker before realising he

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 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 am a retired professor of Victorian Literature who has written two single-authored books, produced several editions, edited or co-edited several essays, and written numerous articles. During the course of my career I worked with a writing therapist, Cynthia MacDonald, a poet and therapist who was

Daniel Westlund is a cybersecurity engineer who lives in Texas. He knew some interesting kids in middle school, who love to turn up in his books. His novel Stolen Shroud won some indie awards, such as the IndieReader Discovery Award.

Writer based in Dublin

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

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

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

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

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’m a former teacher from London, juggling my time between raising my three kids, caring for my disabled son, and writing in every spare moment of time I find. A lifelong SFF fan, I’ve written several fantasy and sci-fi novels. I’m currently querying my most recent novel: The Last Sky. Twelve years

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

Wheston Chancellor Grove holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, VT. He also earned an MSW. He is the author of Who Has Known Heights, a bildungsroman (2017), and The Lost Art of Love (2023), available on Amazon. The Lost Art of Love is a 2024 Indie Book Awards Finalist. His short

This is my first year entering the Page Turner Awards for a Writers Award with an unfinished manuscript. My book is currently 300 pages and is a patient 's account, my own account, of being struck down with Crohn's Disease, Pericarditis and a Chronic Pain disorder. A fifteen year long, and ongoing

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

Leaving Palmer’s School in 1953, I served two years in the R.A.F. and thereafter became too involved in building a career to allow myself the time to develop my talent for scribbling (although I did write a sales manual!). After a 40 year career, first in retail in UK, later in chemicals in UK and

I've been writing fiction for five years and I've just finished my first novel which began as a story told around a campfire, imagining walking into the woods and out into a different time. What might happen? Who would you meet? What would you do? At first, it was an an exciting story to tell the

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

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've been writing fiction for five years and I've just finished my first novel which began as a story told around a campfire, imagining walking into the woods and out into a different time. What might happen? Who would you meet? What would you do? At first, it was an an exciting story to tell the

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 working on her latest WIP – historical fiction set in Yorkshire during the Second World War – she is a co-host of the online historical fiction

Hi, I'm Morag Higgins. I am passionate about writing and have in the past written articles for equestrian magazines (I am a horse trainer to trade). I have published several equestrian training books but my real passion is for fiction. My first published book was Bruja. The true story of my first

Hi, I'm Morag Higgins. I am passionate about writing and have in the past written articles for equestrian magazines (I am a horse trainer to trade). I have published several equestrian training books but my real passion is for fiction. My first published book was Bruja. The true story of my first

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

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

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

Gianaclis (gee-on-a-klees) is a multi-award winning non-fiction author who was raised in the wilds of Oregon talking to trees and escaping work in the garden to read books. She writes upmarket speculative fiction with themes of family, platonic love, and nomance. After a few NaNoWriMo’s and buckets

I don’t remember the first story I wrote but at high school I do remember writing a ‘science fiction’ story featuring a pair of goggles that allowed you to see inside other people’s minds and reverse their deeds. As a teen I favoured poetry. I relished the straightjacket form of a haiku and the

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

I am a Danish-Australian writer unexpectedly living in Malaysia. International literary journals have featured my short stories and prize-winning poetry, and my long-form fiction has been long-listed for multiple writing awards. Last year, I was awarded a month-long 'artist in residence' in Provence

I am a Danish-Australian writer unexpectedly living in Malaysia. International literary journals have featured my short stories and prize-winning poetry, and my long-form fiction has been long-listed for multiple writing awards. Last year, I was awarded a month-long 'artist in residence' in Provence

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

Punk Rock had barely left the charts when I moved to London and started a degree in Fine Art Sculpture at Central St Martins. Nearly a decade followed, working at Virgin Records - going to see bands nightly and heaps of obscure films. As with the music of my generation, the films I saw in my youth

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

My work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer’s Digest and Family Circle. A Pushcart Prize nominee, I won the Grand Prize in the annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition and received a Finalist Award in Prose from the Illinois Arts Council. I graduated with a

My work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer’s Digest and Family Circle. A Pushcart Prize nominee, I won the Grand Prize in the annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition and received a Finalist Award in Prose from the Illinois Arts Council. I graduated with a