2024 Writing Award Finalists

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page Turner 2022 Genre Award winner for her recently published debut novel, I, SAID THE FLY (award under its working title: The Assassin Who Loved Me), Jay Jones is currently working on book 2 in The D.I. and The Assassin series. Originally from India, Jay and her husband now live in Worcestershire

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

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 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

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

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

MULTI-AWARD WINNING SCREENWRITER AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR. Samantha Lee Howe began her professional writing career in 2007 and has been working as a freelance writer for small, medium and large publishers ever since. She is a multi-award winning author and screenwriter and a USA Today

Genre: Historical After completing my PhD on the writings of Elizabeth Gaskell, I decided to turn my extensive knowledge of the nineteenth century into a novel, concerning the plight of a young girl whom Gaskell, along with Charles Dickens helped. I have studied with the Faber Academy 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

Cameron Thompson is an Editorial Coordinator for the Today Newspaper Group, based in Ipswich, Queensland. He has worked as a journalist since 1981, at regional centres and in capital cities across Australia. Cameron was a Member of the Australian Commonwealth Parliament in the lower house seat of

Cameron Thompson is an Editorial Coordinator for the Today Newspaper Group, based in Ipswich, Queensland. He has worked as a journalist since 1981, at regional centres and in capital cities across Australia. Cameron was a Member of the Australian Commonwealth Parliament in the lower house seat of

Madison Hamill is the Ockham award-winning author of Specimen: Personal Essays. She is currently embarking on a PhD in Wellington, New Zealand, where she enjoys speedy ocean dips, painting pictures of her friends and turning her life into bestseller material.

Paul's academic focus was urban planning, human geography, environmental studies, and Australian politics. His research essays on urban development issues, human health disparities, population, and pandemic responses in socio-economically disadvantaged communities earned distinctions. But it was

A Massachusetts native, Abby Sandman was on skis before she could walk, and this early tendency towards adventure has carried her from the canyons of Peru to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. She is an associate editor for Indagare Travel, where she writes for the company’s tri-annual magazine and

Sue Abell, writing as MS Abell and Sabella MaKamish, has been writing since early childhood – short stories, novels and even a play. Her style of writing is organic … rarely does a novel form from an outline. Most often, her novels come from the dreams she has while sleeping. Sue lucid dreams: she

A Massachusetts native, Abby Sandman was on skis before she could walk, and this early tendency towards adventure has carried her from the canyons of Peru to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. She is an associate editor for Indagare Travel, where she writes for the company’s tri-annual magazine and

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.

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

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

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

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'

I have had two novels published with independent presses: Work For Four Hands (Starborn Books) and A Diamond in the Sky (Honno). New Books Magazine, now nb.magazine, said of Work for Four Hands: ‘A wonderful, cleverly written novel.’ Oxford Magazine said of A Diamond in the Sky: 'Pelling has an

I'm a trilingual storyteller, international journalist, and fiction novelist with a love of ancient history, astronomy, fantasy, and beautiful words that make you swoon.

Sue Abell, writing as MS Abell and Sabella MaKamish, has been writing since early childhood – short stories, novels and even a play. Her style of writing is organic … rarely does a novel form from an outline. Most often, her novels come from the dreams she has while sleeping. Sue lucid dreams: she

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

I'm a trilingual storyteller, international journalist, and fiction novelist with a love of ancient history, astronomy, fantasy, and beautiful words that make you swoon.

Sue Abell, writing as MS Abell and Sabella MaKamish, has been writing since early childhood – short stories, novels and even a play. Her style of writing is organic … rarely does a novel form from an outline. Most often, her novels come from the dreams she has while sleeping. Sue lucid dreams: she

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

Sue Abell, writing as MS Abell and Sabella MaKamish, has been writing since early childhood – short stories, novels and even a play. Her style of writing is organic … rarely does a novel form from an outline. Most often, her novels come from the dreams she has while sleeping. Sue lucid dreams: she

Maria is a British Zillennial who loves languages, photography and travelling. She has a First Class degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Lancaster University and works in recruitment. She recently won the ‘Thriller’ category in The People’s Friend Writing Competition (2024), was

Maria is a British Zillennial who loves languages, photography and travelling. She has a First Class degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Lancaster University and works in recruitment. She recently won the ‘Thriller’ category in The People’s Friend Writing Competition (2024), was

My debut historical fiction novel, THE LAST GYPSY QUEEN, will publish April 16, 2026. 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

Celeste Lovick is a Canadian author and singer-songwriter residing in Norfolk, England with her husband and son. Her first novel, 'Medicine Song', was self-published in 2017 and was inspired by her experiences performing at greenfield festivals over the years. She has released four solo albums of

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

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).

Anne Lacourrege was raised in New Orleans. There has always been the desire to do creative writing and this was Anne’s first attempt. My father was the inspiration for this story. He was such a happy, go-lucky guy that loved life. Unfortunately, he ended up with Alzheimer’s. With those sad days of

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

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

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

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

Dorit d’Scarlett is a CaLD poet and writer ‘of a certain age’ whose short stories and prize-winning poetry have featured in Rattle, Meniscus, Antler Velvet, and other international literary journals. Her long-form fiction has been both short and long-listed for multiple writing awards. Recently

Dorit d’Scarlett is a CaLD poet and writer ‘of a certain age’ whose short stories and prize-winning poetry have featured in Rattle, Meniscus, Antler Velvet, and other international literary journals. Her long-form fiction has been both short and long-listed for multiple writing awards. Recently