2024's roll call of exhibitors features some exciting new talent as well as more established authors and of course a few local writers groups who just love coming back to us.
Here's a few of them to tempt you - more to follow!
Angie Moon
Crime of the Century is a comprehensive book about classic rock’s connections to true crime cases with over twenty true stories of classic rock musicians and their encounters with murderers, and musicians who committed murders.
From rock stars’ chilling encounters with killers to musicians-turned-criminals, this book uncovers the most chilling encounters such as The Band playing at Jack Ruby’s nightclub months before Lee Harvey Oswald was killed on live television, The Beach Boys’ association with Charles Manson shortly before the Tate-LaBianca murders, The Kinks meeting John Wayne Gacy during their infamous 1965 US tour, and Debbie Harry allegedly getting into Ted Bundy’s car in New York in the ‘70s. This book also explores how once-celebrated talents such as Rick Stevens, Joe Meek, Jim Gordon, and Phil Spector went from superstars to committing some of the most heinous crimes.
Brace yourselves for this wild ride through the annals of popular music history.
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Angie Moon is the founder of the classic rock blog The Diversity of Classic Rock and the author of the nonfiction classic rock and true crime book Crime of the Century: Classic Rock & True Crime. On her blog she has interviewed musicians like The Fontaines D.C., Graham Parker, Tony Valentino of The Standells, Don Dannemann of The Cyrkle, The Jack Rubies, Mike Peters of The Alarm, John Hanlon, and Dea Matrona. She is originally from the Chicago area, but has moved around quite a bit living in Canada and Ireland before settling down in Coventry with her husband Eoin and her cat Bowie. In her spare time she loves travelling, photography, and collecting vinyl records and vintage clothing.
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https://crazyonclassicrock.com/
Buy the book https://crazyonclassicrock.com/buy-crime-of-the-century/
Person Irresponsible
Is an author, adventurer, anxiety-sufferer and once academic who, on a whim, took it upon herself to walk from Mexico to Canada whilst fat, forty-something and very funny. It was just unfortunate timing that a global pandemic broke out just as she started slogging her way up her first mountain, emptying the wilderness of all of its tourists. It left her to mostly mutter away to herself how awful a time she was having. The full story is captured in her book “Everything You Ever Taught Me”.
Along the way she faced down bears, skirted around rattlesnakes and spent most nights wondering if her feet would ever recover. The hardest part of it all was missing her cat, The Admirable Nelson, also known as The Furry Imbecile.
So for her next adventure, she decided to buy a van, already converted into housing a bed, a kitchenette and a toilet. Throwing in the cat, gently, they set off to learn all she could about England: the home of her birth, but a place otherwise quite the mystery. Needing a route, she set off to visit all the rude and funny sounding places. Crank? Crackpot? Clown! She’s been called them all. "Everywhere I NEVER Wanted To Go" explores the Englishwoman’s culture and history of these kelly lands via some hilarious place names.
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Suzanne Lissaman
Is hitting a handsome professor with a vacuum cleaner a good way to start a new relationship? Em doesn't think so. But there was definitely a spark, and it didn't come from the hoover.
​When Em discovers that her fiancé’s having an affair, she leaves her stressful call centre job, packs up her paints and easel and moves to the coast to build a better life on her own. But her new life becomes more complicated when a charming professor, Jack Carver, arrives for a holiday. Who’s he avoiding? And what do Jack and Em have in common?
Set in Birmingham, London and the fictional small town of Dashford on the beautiful North Devon coast, 'Be More Octopus' is an entertaining, closed-door, friends-to-lovers, romantic comedy following the twists and turns of Em and Jack’s love lives with lots of 'will they, won't they?' moments to keep you turning the pages.
This is the first book in the Dashford Comedies series. The sequels are called Be More Lucy and Be Less Panda, with more books planned in 2025
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Suzanne Lissaman is a writer of fast-paced romantic comedies featuring strong women and secrets. Her debut novel, Be More Octopus, won the Romantic Novelists' Association Debut Romantic Novel Award 2024. She's also an artist and photographer. She lives in Warwick with her husband, children, and a demanding but adorable cat.
WINNER OF THE ROMANTIC NOVELISTS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT ROMANTIC NOVEL AWARD 2024
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Elisabeth Dunleavy
Living an idyllic childhood in 1930s Germany, sisters Ursula and Christa-Maria’s world is blown apart in the final months of WW2.

Ursula and their parents must endure the terrifying, lawless and brutal Russian occupation of their hometown, Gleiwitz. A clandestine escape is their only chance of survival and hope of finding Christa-Maria.
Hundreds of miles from home, Christa-Maria is abandoned at a Nazi work camp when it is shut down as Germany faces defeat.The Russian Army has advanced into south east Germany.She is cut off from her family, not knowing the fate of her parents and sister.Alone, she makes a life-changing decision, taking her on a year-long journey across Czechoslovakia and Germany.
Ursula and Christa-Maria take you on their separate journeys-harrowing and emotional at times,their faith and small acts of kindness amid the devastation bring hope to their desperate plight.
This compelling true story weaves the sisters’ journeys together.Separated as girls, they become young women in a new world order; their innocence lost, their once bright futures in ruins, their relationship changed forever.
Evocative and thought-provoking, No Way Home gives a rarely heard perspective on the lives of these ordinary German sisters- from their happy childhood years to the fateful journeys in 1945, these translated diaries are a significant piece of social history. If you enjoy inspirational true stories of courage, faith, survival and resilience of the human spirit, don’t miss this unforgettable read.
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Elisabeth Dunleavy lives in UK cruising the waterways on a narrowboat, ChristaBella. A mother and grandmother, she felt compelled to bring her mother and aunt's story to life for future generations and wider audience. After several years of research, including personal recollections with her mother and aunt, she translated their diaries, found after their deaths in 2020, to bring you their story.
Rosemary Sturge
1739 The Venice of Vivaldi, Canaletto and Goldoni. Harry Brierfield, a young Englishman of limited means is attempting to establish himself painting cityscapes for his compatriots doing the Grand Tour. Things aren't going well, and soon they’re going disastrously, when he finds a body in a canal. The nuns who run the orphanage where the dead girl lived are naturally suspicious of his involvement, but Paola, a young musician and the dead girl’s best friend, is more ready to believe in his innocence, and furthermore co-opt his assistance in discovering who did kill Sonia. But can they do it, given that the nuns are now employing Harry to copy the paintings in the soon to be demolished chapel, and Paola has a busy schedule of masses and concerts to perform, not to mention the fact that Don Antonio Vivaldi is composing an opera for the whole orphanage to present to visiting Royalty?
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As a small child I was a novelist, although I didn't know it! I used to climb into my parents' bed in the early mornings and regale them with stories about the adventures of my toys. Most of my adult years were spent teaching, earning a living, trying to write but never having enough time and energy. However, on retirement I determined to give it a go, and studied Creative Writing at Middlesex University. This confirmed my suspicion that what I really loved and wanted to try my hand at, was historical fiction. Having completed 20,000 words to gain my MA I thought, why not finish it? So it became my first book, Death of a Daughter of Venice. Since then I have completed 4 more historical novels set variously in the Yorkshire Dales in the Civil War period, C19th Holland, C18th Scotland, and medieval Northampton, the town where I live. A fifth book, set in the north of England in the Napoleonic War period is currently with a publisher, and number six is fermenting in my brain!
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Steve Ford
Spanning six decades, from propeller driven transport aircraft to composite, fly-by-wire and wide-body double-decker aircraft plucked from the pages of science fiction. ‘20 West’ charts the emotion, the physical experience, the joy and anguish of flying.
It is not a blow-by-blow account of the aviation industry. Nor is it merely one person’s story of their career in aviation. Rather, it is a collection of snapshots, some humorous, some heart breaking, of the people and the aircraft that shaped a lifelong passion for flight.
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Steve was born in Portsmouth, England and educated at St. John`s College, Southsea.
Trained as a professional aircraft engineer and pilot, he flew commercially for both aircraft manufacturers and airlines.
Having travelled the world extensively, his passion for writing led him to author; ‘20 West’ and ‘Flight Envelopes’.
Living in Warwickshire, Steve continues to write and is adamant that he learns from life and the world around us, with his latest book released earlier this year ‘Loving Life’
Available at Waterstones, all good book stores and Amazon.
Instagram @steve_ford_author
Carolyn Parker
“The question hung in the air as if she’d typed the words on a manual typewriter and left that one sentence on a blank sheet of paper for all to see.”
She was just eighteen. A naïve country girl all alone in the big wide world for the first time. Soon, her rose-tinted, fairy-tale world would be shattered by the sudden need to make a stark, life-changing decision. A decision that pulled on her heartstrings, which would change EVERYTHING.
She chose her escape route to freedom; yet the ghosts of the past continued to follow her through the years until FINALLY she found a way to face them, shift the shame and silence the inner scream.
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Carolyn Parker, aka The Overcoming Queen, is a heart inspired writer who is passionate about sharing her life stories to show her readers they’re not alone in their troubles and that it’s totally possible for them to overcome their difficulties by believing in themselves and taking inspired action.
Her mission is to walk alongside women who’ve experienced mental or emotional trauma , candidly sharing the ups and downs of her own life so others can build their self belief and step into a hope future.
Joy Burnett
Her latest book is set in the early 21st century. 'Two Women-Two Lives' highlights the lives of two very different women; Kate an orphan, who with determination rises above her abusive and dysfunctional childhood and Elena from a village in the Ukraine: pretty, young and naive who is seduced into a world of pain and exploitation. They never meet. All they share is a birthday and an indomitable spirit until fate takes a hand...
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Joy Burnett is a member of Northants Authors. She writes on a variety of different subjects including two reference books on Aromatherapy, stories about cruising, internet dating and reincarnation.
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Thomas Norford
Earth. The distant future. An immense planetary ring dominates the sky, drowning the humbler stars in its borrowed light. Moulded by aeons, humans have evolved into diverse new forms. The people are born, they toil and they die, their lives at the mercy of theocratic edict and a flawed, implacable god.
Canna Dawn’s mundane existence is upended when a transgression forces him to join an audacious sea voyage, led by a charismatic and unstable captain. As the crew approaches the mysterious continent of Eyra, they face deadly wildlife, treacherous seas, and an enemy within their ranks. Canna’s profound insights into the living world set him on a collision course with everything he holds sacred, while a patient, merciless enemy awaits his return. The Starved God is an enthralling tale of adventure, mystery, and philosophical exploration.
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Thomas Norford is a science fiction author with just the one novel to his name so far, but there's another one coming out called Fear the Seeded Earth some time this year, so he hopes.
In his spare time (when he should be writing), he enjoys playing soccer (badly); creating terrible computer music; and cycling around the bridleways and canal paths of central England. He lives in Northamptonshire with his wife and two children.
The Starved God is available on Amazon:
Thomas also writes a monthly blog on Substack:
James Carrac
Jeff and Anne Peters live a quiet life as befits two middle class, middle-aged people. Good jobs, nice car, private tennis club membership. Their son, David, has just got a job teaching English in Shanghai and has a new girlfriend, Chynna. Then the Peters' idyllic world is turned upside down with the brutal murder of David and Chynna by the three Lee brothers. Shanghai's best detective, DI Chow, is certain the Lees are guilty but cannot find the crucial evidence. As Jeff's world falls apart, and his son's killers seem to have got away with it, he decides to take matters into his own hands.
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Carrac, an ex-lecturer, lives in Warwickshire, UK, with his wife and family. James enjoys many sports, in particular golf, and most genres of music, playing guitar and drums. He now works part-time as a TV and film extra.
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https://pegasuspublishers.com/authors/james-carrac
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SC Skillman
The county town of Warwick is famous for its magnificent castle rising above the River Avon but there is much more to it than this. A–Z of Warwick reveals the history behind the town, its streets and buildings, businesses and the people connected with it. Alongside the famous historical connections are unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are less well known.
Fully illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to all those with an interest in this historic Warwickshire.
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My name's Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.
I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK.
My output includes mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)
In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I'm a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.
My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I have just delivered my latest nonfiction book to my publisher, Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new contemporary gothic fantasy novel in progress, called Director’s Cut.
Northants Authors
Northants Authors was started by five writers, all of whom had self-published books.
Although each was very different, they shared the same problem: how to promote and sell their work.
Without the backing of a traditional publisher, books could not be distributed to the wider audience they sought.
They decided to try to do it together. So Northants Authors, a co-operative of authors living in Northamptonshire, was born.
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https://authorsnorthants.co.uk/
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Valerie McGurk
The water is getting warmer, and the ice cap is melting. Thor, the walrus, is at risk of losing his homeland.
Thor lives in the seasonally ice-covered waters of the Arctic Circle with his mother, his friends, and the elders. The ice is brittle and breaks easily. Thor hears the elders talk about climate change and wonders what it means. Being named after the god of thunder, Thor decides he is a brave walrus who will one day embark on an adventure to explore far-off lands to find out more. One night, the ice breaks, and Thor floats away, leaving his mother, his friends, the elders, and his homeland behind. Thor’s adventure has begun.
As he enters warmer waters, his floating iceberg gradually melts until it disappears. Thor is on his own and swims for hours, looking for food and a place to rest. He visits coastal villages and a herring festival where the air is thick with the smell of fish. Every time Thor stops to rest and regain his strength, a crowd gathers, and Thor wonders why. He feels lost and alone, listening to the crowds. People were excited to see him. Men in orange coats kept the crowds at bay, but Thor was never far from the water’s edge and would grunt if people came too near. He kept hearing the words ‘global warming,’ ‘climate,’ and ‘change.’
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Valerie discovered a love of storytelling when she began making up stories to her young sons and developed her communications working as a nurse for more than 40 years, specialising in paediatrics. An avid reader, Valerie understands the importance of reading to children and spent time in a primary school as a volunteer and a school governor. She enjoyed following Thor on his epic journey and was intrigued by the interest shown by the public. Thor the Walrus, A Story You Will Never Thaw-get is Valerie’s first book. She wanted to recreate his travels in a story appealing to younger readers as well as getting everyone to think about climate change and its affects, not only on people but also to animals and wildlife. Valerie believes reading can be an escape or an adventure and hopes people of all ages will share her joy at reading about Thor’s travels.
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JG Nolan
Jump!
Robbie Blair is a talented young schoolboy who dreams of being a professional football player when he grows up. He possesses the necessary skills but unfortunately is also set apart from the pack by his tendency to break bones – lots of them!
When Robbie breaks his leg for the third time during an important trial he is resigned to the grim reality that his footballing dream is finally over.
But, is it over?​​​​​​​​​
JG Nolan was born and raised in a sleepy village in Shropshire and loved writing stories and playing football as a child.
He has been a teacher for many years, working mainly with children who have had difficult beginnings in life. He strongly believes in positive thinking and feels most things are achievable if you put your mind to it.
When his football mad son, Robbie, was much younger, he kept breaking bones and was told by the doctors that he should never play football again. It was during one of his many lengthy stays visiting Robbie in the local children’s hospital that the idea for 'Jump!' drifted into JG Nolan’s mind.
JG Nolan began to read the exploits of famous, maverick footballers from the past, to inspire his son and give him hope. Whilst doing this, he became more and more drawn to the tales of famous Celtic legends from the 1920s, whose names are still chanted in Parkhead to this day. It soon became clear to him- his first book would have to be set in Scotland.
JG Nolan’s research led him to discover the iconic, ethereal, Cathkin Park.
After meeting Scottish actor Simon Weir, who has helped preserve the park for many years, the pieces of the jigsaw fell into place and 'Jump!' was born.​​​​​​​
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Sergar Creative - home of JG Nolan's Jump! series
Click here to find out more & buy the books.
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Poppy Sall
Remembering Sophia is written in poetic verse and tells the story of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh. Sophia is the granddaughter of the last king of the Punjab, Ranjit Singh, she was also Queen Victoria’s god daughter and lived through key moments in British and Indian history. She took part in significant struggles for democracy and freedom, working with the Red Cross during World War One and was a leading member of the suffragette movement. ​
Poppy is a former lawyer who changed direction to study for an MA in Creative Writing and a PhD in excavating hidden histories through historical fiction. Her novel 'Sepoy' tells the story of an Indian soldier fighting in the First World War. Poppy teaches creative writing to BA and MA students at Coventry University. Poppy also runs Creative Writing workshops both locally and at literary and arts festivals.
​Remembering Sophia can also be bought through Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1053288552/remembering-sophia?ref=shop_home_active_1
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/WritingEvents
Carly Perkins-Turvey
Meet Barty the bear and some of his family and friends as he goes in search of the biscuits he loves!
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When Luna borrows a rubber tiger from the nursery and brings it home to join her on many adventures with her family for the entire bank holiday weekend!
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A wife and a mother of a three year old daughter and a 11 month old baby boy currently on maternity leave, with a huge love of teddy bears since a child (taking them everywhere until the age of 12!), a vivid imagination and penchant for creating stories based on what her toddler gets up to both in nursery and at home along with using my own imagination about what my teddy bears get up to but with meanings in the books, Bears Buddies - Barty is the first of my newest series which also teaches the meaning of forgiveness and sharing with a lot of biscuits involved!
A lover of animals (dogs) having previously both fostered and adopted along with having previously volunteered at an animal rescue, a huge gamer with a broad amount of games and an avid reader when her children allow. Based in Warwickshire.
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Stephen Collier
Eighteen months ago. Chinatown, London. A police raid goes disastrously wrong. People die. Today, those police officers involved in the swoop are dead. Serial, Purple One Five, are all dead, except the serial commander – Sergeant Brian Gibson.
In Hong Kong, a woman’s body is discovered in a seedy downtown Wan Chai hotel. Detective Inspector of Police MANDY LEE must determine who she is and who killed her. Lee identifies the woman as Andrea Ventress-Gibson. Her investigation leads her to the UK, but Andrea’s new husband, Sergeant Brian Gibson, is missing – whereabouts unknown.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Road Policing Officer PC ED ROBERTS discovers a cyber-attack on a police database committed by a Hong Kong underworld organisation – Crimson Dragon. Ordered to chaperone D. I. Lee, they soon find that their enquiries are linked.
Against orders, Roberts follows Lee to London’s Chinatown, where they come into direct conflict with CRIMSON DRAGON, Lee confirming her suspicions that her estranged step-brother is involved.
Can Lee and Roberts discover Gibson’s whereabouts and stop CRIMSON DRAGON?​
Stephen has been an avid reader all of his life. It has been a predominant focus on all his writing and early influences. Neither has it all been crime fiction. Writing, though, is a challenge. Seen by his peers as a bit of a ‘wordsmith’, he gets concerned when he sees how the English language, both in speech and writing, is developing. Accepting that the English language has developed over thousands of years, and will keep developing, he thinks sometimes it’s not in a good way.
Stephen published his debut novel ‘Blind Murder’, in 2014. He knew that it needed to be different. Being different, though, does not always get you a publishing deal or an agent.
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​Blind Murder is different because it uses a road policing officer, reluctantly getting himself involved in things he shouldn’t do with a detective. The consequences of which will affect the rest of his life, (I won’t say any more in case you haven’t read it). Jake Jordan’s problems continue in the second in the series, ‘Driving Dead,’ published in January 2019.
In 2022, Stephen’s third book – a stand alone – Crimson Dragon was published as part of his submission for his MA in creative writing – crime fiction, from the University of East Anglia.
Stephen is an author member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, the Society of Authors and the Crime Writers Association. He is also a member of the International Screenwriters Association and the Association of Self Published Authors
Monica Withrington
So, why am I telling you a story about a grape? Well, Gideon is a most unusual grape. He started out the smallest and greenest of the bunch, but worked hard to be the largest and juiciest, as his ambition was to be a drop of wine in the King's cup. Did he succeed? That is for you to decide.
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Monica Withrington was born and educated in South Africa. Although she trained as a teacher, she has told and written stories all her life, some of which have been published in magazines. She has thrice been short-listed in Writing Magazine and has won First Prize in two other story competitions.
She now lives in the Midlands, where she enjoys the inspiration she gains from her four young granddaughters.
She has self-published four story-books and two novels for children and one collection of short stories for adults.
Sarah Whitton
I realised I’d made an even bigger mistake.
I’d made the wrong choice…
It’s her third wedding of the year, and 33-year-old Louise is tired of living vicariously through other people. She just wants to meet a man she connects with; someone who puts her first. But all her relationships seem doomed to fail from the beginning.
Father-of-two Dan is no exception. Sure, he’s funny, sexy, charming… but he’s married. Louise doesn’t want to be a homewrecker; she wants someone who can commit to her and their relationship. But she has always fallen hard and fast, and Dan… he feels like the one.
As Dan continues to shower her with affection, Louise becomes convinced that he is her only shot at true happiness. But her friends are not so sure – especially handsome best friend Flint, who has always been Louise’s shoulder to cry on – and with their support, Louise slowly begins to realise that love doesn’t need to be new and exciting to be real.
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Sarah lives in Oxfordshire with her husband, two energetic boys, and cat Willow – who helps to balance out all the testosterone! Sarah is currently a Domestic Abuse Co-Ordinator and is writing her second novel. She thrives on writing about real-life situations, friendship, love and how it can all go spectacularly wrong.
When Sarah isn’t writing, she loves Boxercising to drum and bass , watching her boys play sport and stomping around her local fields listening to podcasts, or leaving very long voice notes for her friends to speed up.
https://cranthorpemillner.com/?s=sarah+whitton
Jessi Hartshorn
Rugby resident, Jessica Hartshorn (Jessi Illustrates) has illustrated and written her second children’s book ‘Super Panda and the Chilly Adventure’, a sequel to her first book ‘Super Panda’ published in lockdown.
In the first book, take a journey through the jungle to an animal fancy dress party. A leafy cape transforms Paul into ‘Super Panda’, but as he zigs and zags through the jungle, is he all alone? The story sees a little caterpillar secretly ‘MUNCH, MUNCH, MUNCH’ his way through the leafy cape, as a puzzled Paul tries to work out ‘what is that sound?’ But as Paul arrives at the party without a costume, what will the other jungle animals think? Enjoy a delightful story to be enjoyed by all but is aimed at 3-6-year-olds.
In the second book, the story follows Super Panda Paul who is back with a new adventure… a chilly adventure. Paul has become bored of the leafy jungle until a special invitation is delivered from the Arctic. Paul realises this could be his chance to be super again, but the icy adventure may not be as easy as he thinks.
Join Super Panda and his new tiny friend, Kevin the caterpillar, on a journey to the Arctic to meet Misty the Polar bear and her family.
Centred around the theme of overcoming nerves to try new things, the book encourages children to understand everyone can be anxious about unfamiliar activities. By taking small steps and a deep breathe with our friends we can overcome our fears. As Paul says ‘We can do this’.
Jessica say’s ‘The first book was so popular, there was demand for the main character to come back in a second book. It has taken two years to write and illustrate the next story, but it has been very well received so far and a joy to watch children join in actions and laugh in the right parts! I feel my bold and colourful style of Illustration and interactive story engages children, whilst sharing the message of never giving up and celebrating our personal superpower.’
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‘Art is essential to help us understand and see the world differently. As a freelance illustrator, artist, and educator in the cultural and heritage sector, I use art to tell stories and bring joy to the world.’
Illustrator, Jessica Hartshorn is based in Rugby Warwickshire and creates a range of vibrantly and colourful artworks bringing heritage to life.
After gaining her degree in Visual Communication, Illustration at Loughborough University in 2001, she worked as a freelance illustrator for 1 year before changing direction, developing a career in the museums and gallery education sector for over a decade. Returning to illustration in 2018, Jessica has completed a range of murals for schools and organisations, six illustrated children’s books and runs workshops, however she has predominately carved out a niche specialising in illustrations for museums and galleries. Using her background in the heritage sector she now creates artwork and content for family trails, maps, interpretation and education resources all over the UK. Now working as a freelance illustrator, artist and community practitioner predominantly in the cultural and heritage sector. With over 20 years’ experience advocating for arts education and 5 years working as a freelance illustrator, she particularly focus on working with schools and community groups, and adults living with dementia. Jessica’s practice is divided between illustration commissions and art education delivery and projects, focusing on core drawing, painting skills and crafts, developing these into something more playful, focusing on narrative and exploration. ‘ I’m really passionate about innovative ways of working to encourage people to explore creativity in differently.’
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Through a fun and colourful flavour, Jessica’s Illustrations focus very much on a playful style and which is incorporated into the story telling of her illustrations. Using a mixture of acrylic, paint pens, work is sketched, and then painted using layers of colour and finally adding detail.
There are opportunities for Jessica to visit local schools for book reading and signings and she also runs children’s drawing workshops. Get in touch to find out more.
Rugby Cafe Writers
The Rugby Cafe Writers are a group of experienced and budding authors who meet every fortnight to share their love of writing. Each meeting has a special theme - either a writing challenge, such as a story set in a railway station, or a skills-based discussion, such as how to write an opening paragraph or even mastering punctuation!
The group has been going for about seven years and has so far self-published six anthologies. Its biggest project has been a series of four books of short stories, each devoted to a season of the year. There is now a short story available for every day of the year. The group also includes talented poets who contributed to the anthology, Press Pause. All of the group's books will be available to buy for £5 each at the Southam Book Festival.
To find out more, or to join the group, go to www.rugbycafewriters.com
Liv Webbe
YOU CAME TO ESCAPE. SHE CAME FOR REVENGE.
When Dee arrives on the beautiful Île de Ré, she’s hoping to escape the secret that’s been suffocating her for years. And what better way to forget than a lavish holiday with her boyfriend and a family wedding to celebrate?
Meanwhile, bride-to-be Willa is meant to be basking in a pre-wedding glow. After all, her fiancé’s whole family have gathered on the island to celebrate her marriage to their handsome, wealthy son. But Willa isn’t telling the whole truth – and she can’t wait for this sham to be over.
By the end of the holiday, two people will be dead, lives will be shattered and no one’s secret will be safe.
Liv Webbe worked for more than a decade in journalism and communications before studying on UEA's creative writing MA. Her short fiction has been shortlisted for the Bridport and Fish short story prizes. Currently she is a freelance writer, editor and journalist, and lives in Warwickshire with her partner and children.
https://www.headline.co.uk/titles/liv-webbe/lucky-girls/9781035409242/
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Chris Burleigh - Poet
In 2017 I decided to gather together the best of my work and to self-publish a collection of poetry and wit as Particles of Light. The book has been well received and has sold well in my local bookshops.
Intersecting Lines, my second collection, was traditionally published by indie publisher Beercott Books in 2021. It continues to reflect my interest in people, love, the natural world, and the human condition, and is written very much with the reader in mind.
‘Life is serious, but is not to be lived too seriously’.
Serious or humorous, my poems are always good-natured.
I write when I have something to say, and I feel I have found the right way to say it.
I have been writing poetry all my adult life as my response to scenes, situations, people and emotions. Over the years, as poetry took up more of my time, I joined writers’ groups, and started entering poetry competitions with some success. I have been published in anthologies by Fish Publishing and Indigo Dreams.
Brian Pollitt - Bookbinder & Repairer.
Brian's passion is to breathe new life into books that are of personal value and have precious memories associated with them, as well as creating new books to capture new memories.
What books do you treasure? -Typically they are family bibles, granny's cook book, children's books, photo Albums.
​Such well-loved books are often damaged from use over the generations or just by accident. You may be afraid to use such books for fear of further damage but worry not - most can be returned to at least a safe-to-use functional condition and many can be restored to their former glory.
If your book is too delicate or valuable to repair, then it can be protected by a made-to-measure box to protect it, be it a simple phase box or full on clam-shell box.
For books you want to keep in good condition, slip cases are great way to protect them.
You may have a collection of papers, photos or memorabilia that need collating into a dedicated binding to keep them together and protecting, or maybe a story you wrote as a child and would like it binding into a book – pretty much anything is possible if you have the imagination.
I hope readers will enjoy reading my poems, and will feel I am putting their own experiences and emotions into words.
It’s such a great feeling when you get good feedback and review comments, or when somebody chooses to take home a copy of your words from a bookshop. That’s communication!
I read regularly at poetry ‘open mics’ and at local literary events, and I give talks about my poetry to community groups.
Chris's author page on Amazon.
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Bring your books along and Brian will examine the damage and explain what can be done to bring them back to life, whether it is a repair or designing a completely new binding to your requirements. He can also provide a guide to its value.
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There will also be some of Brian's most recent new bindings, including blank notebooks for sale. For the practical types, there will be some journal kits if you want to have a go at making one yourself.
Brian is a book repairer and restorer who focuses on books of personal value, rather than conservation of books with historical significance and high commercial value. This started off as a hobby some years ago after having some old family books passed to him. Having worked with a number of bookbinders to develop his skills, word of mouth has got around and now has enough work coming in to keep him out of mischief.
Beercott Books - publisher
Beercott books is an independent publisher based in Warwickshire, close to Leamington Spa and the Shakespeare town of Stratford-upon-Avon. Our aim is to provide readers with quality books by passionate authors.
We publish a wide range of books including children’s picture books and novels, craft books, and plays and pantomimes for performance. We are big supporters of mental health awareness for both children and adults, and many of our titles encompass this theme including ‘Atticus’ which sheds a light on what it is like to suffer from schizophrenia and the power of friendship, and ‘Felix the Fox’ which teaches children it is OK to be different, and to be proud of who they are. We support local authors too including; Charlie King – ‘Mr Blinking’, Alyy Lavinia O’Leary – ‘The Tora Island Adventure’, and Sitala Peek – ‘The Forest of Friendship’.
As well as books, we publish the hugely popular magazine Pantomime!, the only magazine dedicated to the world of pantomime. With interviews and stories from both sides of the curtain, it aims to celebrate this wonderfully British form of theatre.
Southam Heritage Collection
Southam Heritage Collection research and publish local history books about and around Southam by different authors. These can be bought on line from our web site using our Sumupstore, or by calling into our Exhibition Room in Tithe Place on Southam High Street.
All proceeds from book sales go to support the work of this small heritage charity.
https://www.southamheritage.org/
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Sara Rose - Apollo Creative
Hand stamped keepsake bookmarks and enamelled homeware accessories.
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I began to create hand stamped bookmarks as I was guilty of two cardinal book sins - folding down the corners of the page or folding round the dust jacket to use as a book mark.
Please forgive me book gods and fellow readers!
A good book deserves a great bookmark and Apollo Creative and the ever increasing range of different themed bookmarks was born.
Southam Library
Southam Library will be showcasing their services – there is a lot more on offer than just books!
Come and find out about such things as:
BorrowBox where you can download audio books to listen to on your device for free.
Hublet tablets to access online newspapers and magazines for free.
Micro:bits - start coding with tiny programmable computers.
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​Click here to see the full list of services
https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/directory-record/591/southam-library-and-information-centre
