17
Authors
4
Venues
1
Town
All talks are free, donations are welcome
Please arrive promptly as each venue has limited capacity.
Warminster Library
Paula Rooney
10-11am
Travel/ Autobiography
Paula Rooney has now written three relatable travel memoirs where she describes the places she visits but adds some of life's journey as well.
Her first life changing trip was when she decided to pack a backpack and go interailing on her own after the children had flown the nest.
She then went onto walk 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago and then spent a month in Andalucia over Christmas enjoying Spain's history and coming to terms with a different Christmas without her grown up children.
Paula writes with an honesty and readers have often said they can identify with her books and many people have been inspired to travel after reading them.
She is just back from 5 weeks in Morocco which will be her 4th travel book.
A A Abbott
11-12 noon
Psychological thrillers
Based in Clifton in Bristol, AA Abbott writes psychological thrillers about women who find strength in the face of danger. Although light reading, they cover dark subjects such as gaslighting and homelessness. Each story ends on a note of hope. Her
books include ‘Lies at Her Door’, loosely inspired by a sinkhole appearing near her home in Bristol. All titles are available in large print and dyslexia-friendly Lexend font as well as regular paperbacks and ebooks.
Kate Pearce
1.30-2.30pm
Steamy Romance
Kate Pearce is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of over 100 books. She recently returned to the UK after 25 years in the USA with both her accent and her love of tea intact, but still lives a somewhat transatlantic life. She is traditionally published and has self-published since 2010 and writes in numerous romance sub-genres.
Stuart James
3-4pm
Psychological thrillers
Stuart James is a psychological thriller and horror author.
All of his books have been best sellers, and he recently won The International Book Award for his chilling novel, The House On Rectory Lane.
He was also nominated for TikTok Breakthrough Author Of The Year.
Stuart was born in North West London but now lives in Hertfordshire, UK, with his beautiful wife, Tara, and two wonderful children, Oli and Ava.
He adores watching boxsets and thriller/horror movies.
Nicola Parkinson
9.30-10.30am
Children's Meditations
Hello, I am Nicola Parkinson, and I write children’s imaginative meditation story books about dragons in my spare time.
I am an Osteopath, a neurodevelopmental therapist and a meditation teacher, and for a long time I wanted to encourage children to lose themselves in their imagination but also encourage their minds to a deeper level and into the stress release area of their brain. In lockdown I had the perfect opportunity to write a series of 6 fictional children’s books about dragons.
The dragons live in the Draco star constellation situated above the North Pole, and each dragon is named after one of the stars and is a different colour, and each one goes on a different adventure with your child. We summon the dragons down from
their star by using our coloured breathing techniques and breathe our dragon breath around our bedroom in red, blue, green, yellow, purple or silver. The dragons then take you off through a portal and into an imaginary world to meet their friends. The dragons create a safe space for your child to come and visit them anytime they like by using their imagination and breathing techniques, which offers an opportunity for your child to emotionally unwind. The books come with a downloadable audiobook accompanied by brainwave music in the background, and with the combination of the visual book, the breathing techniques and the audio this entices your child’s brain into the emotional processing areas, and this will help your child process stress in
their sleep.
In lockdown I had the perfect opportunity to write these books with 3 months off work and came up with 6 fiction books for children aged 6 and upwards. The books are based in half reality and half imagination, which is perfect to educate a child and also lead them into their imagination. A child’s brain at 6-12 years of age is half reality and imagination and in this age range they will release stress via imagination. Each book offers a different adventure into a different world to explore with the dragons and their friends.
We venture into the golden pyramids with Thuban the blue star
dragon, and into the centre of the earth with Zeta the green star dragon, off to the south Pole with Delta the yellow star dragon, and into the crystal caves with the double headed purple star dragon Rastaban and Eltanin, we then can go to the silver star forest with Gamma the silver star dragon, and finally down into Atlantis with
Sigma the red star dragon. Each book is around 10 minutes long with pages in the back to draw your own dragon and dragon friends and write your own story.
Imagination is very important for children’s brain growth and these books offer the perfect fictional story time.
Cogmaze publishing
11-12 noon
Children's Books
At Cogmaze Publishing, we aim to encourage children to embrace
their unique differences and celebrate their gifts. We aim to creat
a culture of inclusivity knowing that everyone is special in their own way.
We love bringing stories to life through our characters and we are
always writing a story about something! We aim to engage children through our colourful picture books! We enjoy speaking to parents and learning from experts, as we are passionate about helping children to achieve their full potential.
More about us:
Anna and Julie instantly became friends when they first met
through their books. Both sharing in the same vision, values and
goals, they decided to team up to create Cogmaze Publishing, a
platform where you find a range of inclusive books with divers
voices, resources, signposting and fun activities for children too.
Mark Tanner
1.45-2.30pm
Young Adult
Mark started writing when he was 10 and at 13 years old, had his first story published in his school magazine. Since then, he has written many different stories, children’s books, murder mysteries and young adult fantasy fiction that have never seen the light of day. The first draft of this book was written in 1992 in three months and then was put on a shelf for many years. Every five years, he would reread it, which led to vast amounts of editing and rewriting and so the book has been rewritten at least three times.
In January this year, after reading it through again and some urging from his wife, Julz, he decided that this was the year for it to be published. He reworked the story again and it now stands as a Young Adult fantasy fiction trilogy called ‘The Borsidian Chronicles’, of which ‘Born of Ashes’ is the first book. It is due to be released on 21 st November with a formal launch on 27 th November It has been a labour of love and Mark hopes you enjoy reading it as much as he did when creating it.
Richard Collis
3-3.45pm
Young Adult
Richard lives in Portishead with his young family, and divides his time between being a Dad and an English teacher. In 2022 he had his first book, The Pool, published, and it was followed up with his second book, Wolf Mother, being published in December 2024. Both books take place in the city of Fenwood - ethereal thrillers that explore themes of love and responsibility, innocence and chaos, and ultimately the power of Nature.
Vanessa Tanner
4.15-5pm
Family, Friendship and Fidelity
Vanessa Tanner lives in Devizes, Wiltshire, with her husband and cat. She recently retired after twenty years as an English teacher, both in the UK and overseas, gathering stories and meeting some interesting characters during her time in the classroom.
Nowadays, she loves writing, reading and gardening, just like any middle-aged woman! She is also a serial community volunteer, serving on numerous committees and in many local groups as well as being an elected, independent Town Councillor.
The Barmouth Affairs: A charming and uplifting family saga of life, love, relationships - and two women search for happiness.
It’s 1974, and two very different men have not been able to uphold their marriage vows. The effect of their unfaithfulness on their wives, Isabella and Babs, is profound.
When an accident draws these two women together, they learn more about their husbands' infidelities. As their friendship blossoms, they both realise that the pain and hurt caused by their men puts each of their marriages under serious threat.
But in the small Welsh coastal town of Barmouth, everyone knows everyone else’s business. Can Isabella and Babs bring together the colourful local characters as well as the incomers, to find a way to save their relationships? And are these even the right ones to save?
Based on true events, The Barmouth Affairs is a heartwarming, nostalgic and atmospheric story of life, love, and two women’s search for happiness.
All talks are free - donations welcome
Masonic Hall
Please enter and go up the stairs to the main meeting room
Our volunteers will be there to direct you
Wendy Jackson
10-10.45am
The Lost Keys-a war saga
Wendi lives in Warminster with her 3 children and enjoys being in nature, exploring local walks in the area and Longleat Forest with her dog Alfie. She works locally for Aspire Defence supporting the military camps in the southwest as an IT functional specialist. The desire to tell her family’s tragic story was born when she was a teenager learning for the first time what they went through, so when her own children reached an age where she could dedicate the time, she turned her attention to researching and learning to write. During this time, she completed a creative writing course, an editing and proofreading course and joined the Warminster writing circle to gain confidence in her writing as she had never written before. Initially, Wendi found it difficult to share her work with others, but the group were a great support.
Wendi is most proud that after four years, she has completed her project and can pass on her grandmother’s story to the next generation of her family. One day she hopes to write the sequel but for now she’s enjoying travelling and spending time with her one-year-old grandson.
Nikki Copleston
11-12 noon
Crime
Nikki Copleston grew up in Salisbury before moving to London, where she worked in local government. She now lives in Wells, Somerset, and is an active member of Frome Writers’ Collective. She has written award-winning short stories as well as flash fiction and poetry and enjoys talking to groups about her writing. Her crime novels set in Barbury – a place not unlike Salisbury – feature Detective Inspector Jeff Lincoln and take in many local places, including Warminster.
Nikki’s crime novels are contemporary police procedurals set in Wiltshire and they have been consistently well received. They are: The Price of Silence, A Saintly Grave Disturbed, The Shame of Innocence, The Promise of Salvation and A Strange and Murderous Air.
Bryan Mason
1.30-2.30pm
Black comedy / Crime
Bryan J Mason wrote his first novel, Shaking Hands With The Devil in the late1980s but when he and his agent failed to get it published, he decided he was a failed writer and should instead go on and fail at something else instead. However,
whenever he read the manuscript, he was surprised to find that he still found it funny, and eventually redrafted it. It was published 30 years after the first draft.
He has worked as a brush salesman and rent collector, made sound effects for BBC Radio and been a tax inspector and an occasional actor. He also writes regular theatre reviews.
Bryan has started a new black comedy crime series set in Belfast during the Troubles, featuring Harry and The Squad. The first, An Old Tin CaN, was published on 31 May 2024. Future titles will include Dead On and Never a Happy Ending. The
recurrent themes are identity, murder and … biscuits.
He lives in Bristol with his wife and has two children in their twenties. He likes nothing more than being in a graveyard, which he thinks might come in handy one day.
Bryan’s novels:
Bryan works in the genre of black comedy crime.
His first novel ‘Shaking Hands With The Devil’ featured Clifton Gentle, an ordinary man without much to distinguish him. Not much, apart from being a serial killer who is leaving bits of his young male victims scattered around North London.
DCI Dave Hicks is the larger than life policeman determined to catch him. His attempts to find ‘the nutter; through a combination of spoonerisms, personal abuse and a belief that something will turn up don't go well. All that turns up are yet more
body parts.
The hunt becomes an increasingly personal one and a race against the clock as Clifton, Dave Hicks, a would-be victim, and a copycat killer each try to uncover what- or who - they hold responsible for their own problems.
‘An Old Tin Can’ is the first novel in a new series set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
Harry Burnard joins a police force confronted with threats on every side. His team, ‘The Squad’, a bunch of abandoned oddballs, are only allowed to work criminal cases.
But there is no crime. Only terrorism. So, do they really have nothing to do?
When Harry uncovers clues about an apparently random series of sectarian stabbings, he gets caught up in an increasingly complex political landscape and sets out to find a killer unlike any other.
In this explosive witty novel, where not everyone is who they seem to be, it can be dangerous to know who you are.
Are you a Billy, a Dan, or an old Tin Can?
In a land where identity is everything, it gets bloody complicated.
‘An Old Tin Can’ is the first in a new black comedy crime series featuring Harry Burnard and The Squad with future titles ‘Dead On’ and ‘Never A Happy Ending’.
Rachael Rowe
3-4pm
Body Snatchers and Modern Surgery
THE SCIENCE LOVER'S GUIDE TO LONDON.
HOW BARBER SURGEONS AND BODY SNATCHERS INFLUENCED
MODERN SURGERY
The eighteenth century experience of surgery was very different to today. In this talk I’ll outline the role of the barber surgeons and also the gory function of the bodysnatchers in London and how theyoperated. The talk will include how modern surgery became regulated and where to see places associated with bodysnatchers and barber surgeons in London. This talk is not suitable for small children.
Lynn Griffin
10-11am
Women's Fiction
L.B. Griffin loves to write stories to touch people’s hearts. She draws upon social issues that are often hidden in deep drawers but readers can identify with. Her women don’t see themselves as strong, courageous, or survivors, but they certainly are.
Her debut, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox has received superb 5 star reviews, amongst them Whispering stories and VINE VOICE, singing high praise: ‘Incredibly well-written, Secrets,
Shame, and a Shoebox is a magnificent debut. It's a poignant, disturbing and a heart-warming page-turner that has left me chomping at the bit to continue Harriet's story.’
The sequel, and also standalone - The Twenty-One-Year Contract, is already receiving fantastic five star reviews including VINE VOICE authors Terry Newman and Suzy Black; 'This book will have you laughing, crying and cheering'.
L.B. Griffin continues to turn silent stories into courage, hope, and survival. Be warned, she is a self-confessed chocolate-raisin and strawberry addict!
J P Reedman
11.30-12.30pm
J.P. Reedman lives in Amesbury, Wiltshire near to Stonehenge. Born in Canada to an English war bride (a dramatic story in itself!), she moved to the UK in1992. J.P. has had a lifelong interest in prehistoric Britain and medieval history, and is often found with camera in hand lurking around prehistoric sites, ruined castles, abbeys, and interesting churches. Her first novel was an epic set at the time of Stonehenge, and she became a full-time writer in 2018.
J.P. writes mostly historical fiction and historical fantasy, but also retells myth and folklore on occasion and dabbles in high fantasy.
Description of work—
Historical fiction, from the time of Stonehenge through to the late Middle Ages. J.P.’s best-known series are , ‘I, Richard Plantagenet’, 5 books chronicling Richard III’s life from childhood to Bosworth, and ‘Medieval Babes’, a set of standalone novels about lesser-known medieval queens and noblewomen. A number of these ladies have a Wiltshire connection, the most important one perhaps being Eleanor of Provence, Queen of Henry III, whose grave is ‘lost’ in Amesbury. (It may even be under a carpark!)
Felice Hardy
2-3pm
The Tennis Champion who escaped the Nazis
Felice is in interview with Maggie Dee
The book is based on the dramatic story of my grandparents’ escape to London, along with my mother, from Nazi-occupied Vienna in the months before the outbreak of the Second World War. My grandmother, who came from a wealthy family of distillers, was a celebrated athlete. She had been Tennis Champion of Austria in 1930 and was still ranked No.2 in 1937 when she was forced to stop competing because of her Jewish heritage.
By contrast, my grandfather, one of 11 children, came from a background of extreme poverty in rural Slovakia. He left home aged 15, went to Vienna to work initially as a butcher. By the time he was 21 he was the owner of a major textile company manufacturing silk stockings.
Still in his 20s, he became president of the largest sports club in Europe. He took his football team to London where they beat West Ham 5-0 at Upton Park, the first foreign team to beat a British league side. On the way home he rewarded his players with a weekend in Paris…and met my grandmother, his social opposite, in The Louvre.
My mother was 12 years old when the family left everything behind to escape to Britain, with my grandfather crawling for 18 miles through the snow across the Czech-Polish frontier.
Once they were safely in London, my grandmother resumed her tennis career, beating Tim Henman’s grandmother to qualify for the 1939 Wimbledon Championships, where she played singles and doubles. After the Second World War, she and my mother both played competitive tennis. They remain to this day the only mother and daughter to have played doubles together at Wimbledon (in 1946). My mother went on to compete at Wimbledon six years running and also in the US Open.
The book then switches to the terrible fate of those close relatives they left behind, including my grandmother’s older sister, who joined the resistance in Slovakia.
Woven through the story is a personal journey in search of my identity. I was born and brought up in London, with a British father. My grandparents and my mother, you might think, were the lucky ones. But I was raised in an emotionally-ravaged family who suffered for the remainder of their lives from the acknowledged syndrome of survivor’s guilt. They buried their pre-war existence beneath a blanket of denial that included all dead relatives and religion. For half of my life, I remained unaware of my roots and, as I now know, the suffering from second-generation Holocaust guilt. Only after they died, did I begin my journey to discover who I am.
Jo Gilfillan
3.30-4.15pm
Dogs about our House
Following a long career as a physiotherapist, Jo retired early due to health reasons. After completing numerous courses in dog training and behaviour, she began fostering and rehabilitating rescue dogs in 2020. Her work focuses on helping dogs adjust to family life after difficult beginnings, building their confidence and preparing them for loving homes.
Jo also supports Superdogs Rescue as a training and behaviour advisor, offering guidance to help more dogs succeed in their new lives. Alongside her passion for animal welfare, she enjoys singing, baking, and travelling with her family. She also volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Society at the Dementia Day Care Centre in Salisbury, where her dog Nellie brings comfort and joy to the members.
‘Dogs About Our House’ is a heartfelt collection of real-life stories about the first three rescue dogs that passed through Jo’s home. It offers a glimpse into the chaos, joy, and life-changing moments that come with fostering, while also shedding light on the emotional journeys of these incredible dogs. The book includes notes from the adopters and a handy guide to welcoming a rescue dog into your home.
This is Jo’s debut book, and through her writing, she hopes to raise awareness about rescue dogs, inspire others to consider adoption, and support rescue work through book sales.
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