London Festival of Writing

Just last year, Kate Emilie was in your shoes attending the London Festival of Writing. She won the Friday Night Live competition with her entry Seven Dishes to Fall in Love, which went on to be a standout YA novel at Frankfurt Book Fair. She shares her journey to inspire and motivate you to keep pushing on.

Kate Emilie is the author of the upcoming YA speculative novel, Seven Dishes to Fall in Love, set for publication July 2027 with Random House Children’s Books in the US and HarperCollins in the UK.

What are agents and publishers actually buying right now? for an insider look at what’s selling across today’s market and why. From trends and genres to reader appetite, this panel cuts through the noise.

Speaker details to be announced in due course.

In this workshop, Zoë Richards shares a combination of mindset tools and editing tips that help you conquer overwhelm during the editing process. As an experience project manager, she has adopted a simple project approach to editing that works every time. Zoë will share this approach with you, take you through her 3 key elements, and show you how you can prepare your work in progress for querying.

Zoë Richards is a coach and the author of two feelgood novels, Garden of Her Heart (2024), and Tell It To The Bees (2025) which is a Good Housekeeping Magazine ‘Good Books’ Readers’ Favourite.

SFF allows writers to bring us to new worlds or re-examine our own in a different way. Whether you’re new to sci-fi and fantasy fiction or looking to refine your craft, this workshop is perfect for anyone passionate about bringing readers into new worlds.

Speaker details to be announced in due course.

What does representation on the page really look like and why does it matter more than ever? Join authors Jack Strange and Yvonne Battle-Felton on including diversity in your writing. This panel looks at how inclusive stories are shaped, championed, and received. This workshop is perfect for anyone passionate about blending storytelling with authentic characters and experiences.

Jack Strange writes romance and dystopian fiction. He is also a writing coach and travel writer.

Dr Yvonne Battle-Felton is an award-winning author, academic, podcaster, host, creative producer, and writer. She is a former Commissioning Editor (literary fiction) at John Murray, a winner of the RSL Scriptorium Award and is the Academic Director of Creative Writing at Cambridge University. 

How should you outline your novel? Whether you’re a planner or a ‘pantser’, we’ll be looking at ways to get started, shape characters and plotlines, get the pacing right and (hopefully) avoid any dreaded plot holes. This practical workshop suitable for beginners will look at different methods and help you find one which is right for you.

Catherine Cooper is a Sunday Times bestselling author of six destination thrillers published by Harper Collins. She lives in the South of France.

Join Rowan to learn how to create red-hot relationships that your readers will fall in love with in this fun, informative and inspirational workshop about putting passion on the page, where you’ll participate in exercises that explore strategies and tools to write chemistry that sizzles!

Rowan Coleman is the Sunday Times bestselling and award-winning author of 16 epic romance novels and also writes romantic comedy under the name Stella Hayward.

As the lines between genres get increasingly blurry, this exciting panel explores trying your hand at writing in different genres. From blending styles within a single manuscript to working in multiple genres across your career. Our speakers will discuss the creative opportunities, challenges, and industry realities of being a multi-genre writer and how to make it work.

Jack Strange writes romance and dystopian fiction. He is also a writing coach and travel writer.

Kate Harrison is the bestselling author of 25 books, across multiple genres. A former BBC producer, and teacher of Jericho’s Path to Publication course, Kate specialises in helping writers pitch their work and plan their author careers.

Learn how to hook your readers immediately with this workshop focused on those tricky openings. Explore the tips and tricks to engage readers and make them want more.

Becca Day is a bestselling author of crime fiction. The Girl Beyond The Gate was an instant Amazon bestseller and her exploration of the dark side of families has continued into the rest of her novels. Aside from writing, she is also Head of Membership & Marketing and Festival Director at Jericho Writers.

In this hands-on workshop we’ll explore ways to create a rich, believable and enticing world for young readers to step into. The physical landscape matters, of course – which is why maps are so popular in children’s books – but but so too do ‘cultural treasures’ ranging from lullabies to recipes, festivals to greetings. Whether your story takes place in the past, the present or a fantasy space, bring your imagination and let’s get world-building!

With a Masters and PhD in Creative Writing, Kate Lee is an award-winning author and an experienced mentor, editor and coach with a special interest in children’s literature.

With so many routes to publication available today, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This panel explores the pros and cons of different publishing options, offering advice to help you find the path that’s the best fit for your work.

Kate Harrison is the bestselling author of 25 books, across multiple genres. A former BBC producer, and teacher of Jericho’s Path to Publication course, Kate specialises in helping writers pitch their work and plan their author careers.

Gideon writes thrillers under the pen name Gideon Saint. He is also an experienced editor, and was formerly a story analyst for Twentieth Century Fox, Focus Features, and Universal Pictures. Gideon also provides professional editorial services with Jericho Writers.

An interactive workshop that explores how to write literary and upmarket fiction. We’ll discuss what it is, what sets it apart from other genres, and how you might go about writing a literary or upmarket novel.

Dr Yvonne Battle-Felton is an award-winning author, academic, podcaster, host, creative producer, and writer. She is a former Commissioning Editor (literary fiction) at John Murray, a winner of the RSL Scriptorium Award and is the Academic Director of Creative Writing at Cambridge University. Her debut, Remembered, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Her second novel Curdle Creek won The Shirley Jackson Award and was a finalist in the Hurston Wright Foundation Legacy Zora Award for Fiction. Photo credit to True North Photography.

We often hear that voice is the first ingredient an agent – or any other reader, for that matter – looks for in a novel. Whether you’re writing in first or third person, creating an engaging voice is vital. In this workshop, we’ll be analysing what is meant by the term ‘voice’ and working out ways to ensure the voice leaps from the page in your story. 

Debi is the author of five novels. Since 2006, she has worked as a freelance editor and creative writing tutor, including running our phenomenally successful Self-Edit Your Novel course, together with Emma Darwin. She won the inaugural RNA Indie Editor of the Year Award in 2021 and was a reader for the Costa Short Story Awards. If you’d like to know more, please get in touch with a member of the Jericho team.

Debi is the author of five novels. Since 2006, she has worked as a freelance editor and creative writing tutor, including running our phenomenally successful Self-Edit Your Novel course, together with Emma Darwin. She won the inaugural RNA Indie Editor of the Year Award in 2021 and was a reader for the Costa Short Story Awards. If you’d like to know more, please get in touch with a member of the Jericho team.

Join industry professionals in The Writer’s Hall on Sunday morning for an exclusive networking opportunity. Meet agents from , publishers from , and more to be announced! This is your chance to connect with agents, publishers, self-publishing experts, the Jericho Writers team, and fellow writers.

Whether you’re seeking representation, publication advice, or self-publishing tips, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with those who can help bring your writing career to the next level.

Keeping a writing routine isn’t always easy, and life has a way of getting in the way. This panel looks at the reality of staying motivated and making time for writing, with stories and advice that any writer can relate to.

Former detective, Graham Bartlett, is a best-selling crime writer, the police/ crime advisor to around 200 authors and TV companies and a Jericho mentor, running their Crime and Thriller courses. If you’d like to know more, please get in touch with a member of the Jericho team.

Thelma Ainsworth is a lawyer and writer. She is a Cambridge University law graduate, former City lawyer and New York attorney. She has worked in private practice and served in the armed forces. I Am A Wolf Tonight is her debut book, the first in her upcoming SURVIVING BADLY memoir series.

Regardless of genre, it’s crucial that your book has a strong pitch and that you’re able to get that pitch across to an agent effectively. This workshop will cover how to pitch your book in your submission to agents as well as at live events, and how to make sure you’re getting across your book’s strengths in a marketable way.

Laura Williams began her career at PFD in 2011 before joining Greene & Heaton as a literary agent in 2018. She works across genres in adult fiction from literary to upmarket to commercial. Laura also frequently offers Agent One-to-One sessions with Jericho Writers.

 Laura also frequently offers Agent One-to-One sessions with Jericho Writers.

Whether you are writing a memoir or narrative non-fiction, the people in your book need to come to life for the reader. In this workshop, Claire Gillman shares ways to create distinct characters in your narrative, how to make ‘real people’ engaging, and touches on the ethics of depicting people you know as characters.

Claire Gillman is an experienced editor and writer. She’s written over 31 books including three books in the Hodder Teach Yourself series on how to get published. She’s coached many authors and run writers’ workshops, always with the emphasis on fun, style and discovering your inner creativity.

Writing can be a tumultuous journey with plenty of obstacles in your path. Join this panel to learn more about navigating the highs and lows of writing life.

Daniel Aubrey is the bestselling author of the “Orkney Mysteries” series starring neurodivergent reporter, Freya Sinclair. His first two books, Dark Island and The Dying Light, have been nominated for multiple awards.

Annie Garthwaite is the author of two novels set in 15th century England. Her first, Cecily, is a Sunday Times ‘top pick’, a ‘Best Book’, and optioned for TV. She came to writing after 30 years in business.

If you’ve ever been asked, ‘Where do you get your ideas?’, or wondered where your favourite authors get theirs, or how they go from that initial spark to fleshing it out — then you’ve come to the right place!  Through a combination of writing exercises (no need to share!), prompts and discussion, we’ll examine why ‘waiting for inspiration’ might be a waste of time, how to quiet our ‘inner critics’, when to know which idea is the right one, and how to play to your strengths when following your inspiration.

E.L. Norry is an author, screenwriter, editor and mentor and has written for Eastenders. She writes MG fiction and non-fiction for children. Her latest two novels Runaways (2025) and Outlaws (July 2026) are published by Bloomsbury.

Create authentic characters readers relate to, trust and – where needed – fear. In this practical workshop, learn how to build believable protagonists, villains and a supporting cast for crime and thriller novels. We’ll explore motivation, backstory, voice, and psychological realism, with techniques to avoid clichés and raise tension. Expect clear frameworks, examples, and hands-on exercises you can apply immediately to your work in progress or novel you are aching to write.

Former detective, Graham Bartlett, is a best-selling crime writer, the police/ crime advisor to around 200 authors and TV companies and a Jericho mentor, running their Crime and Thriller courses.

Marketing is a crucial part of being an author, but it can feel like a confusing, ever-changing landscape. In this panel, our speakers talk about how they’ve built buzz for their books and share their tips to help you reach readers in a way that works for you.

Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Pilcher is a multi-award-winning freelance marketing consultant, author, content creator on TikTok and Lecturer on Publishing at Kingston University.

Debbie Young is the author of 17 cosy mystery novels, short fiction, plays, and non-fiction, traditionally and independently published. She is also the founder & director of the Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival. In addition, Debbie is a Jericho mentor and course tutor.

Join Sophie Flynn to learn how to end your novel with a bang. Good endings linger in the reader’s mind long after the final page so come along to learn more about delivering an excellent conclusion.

With an MA in Creative Writing from Oxford Brookes, Sophie Flynn is the author of five psychological thrillers; All My Lies (Simon & Schuster, 2021), Keep Them Close (Hera, 2022), If They Knew (Hera, 2022), What Stays Unsaid (Hera, 2024), and The Other Miss Jones (Hera, 2025). Sophie is also the Managing Director at Jericho Writers.

The best historical fiction transcends its genre and catches the attention of general readers – even those who think they hate history! Immersive settings, compelling characters and story lines that resonate across centuries are the starting point. In this workshop, we’ll look at recent examples that have achieved this and how, and talk about how you can turn your hist fic idea into a ‘must-read’ for today.

Annie Garthwaite is the author of two novels set in 15th century England. Her first, Cecily, is a Sunday Times ‘top pick’, a ‘Best Book’, and optioned for TV. She came to writing after 30 years in business.

Looking to connect with other writers in your genre? This is your opportunity.

Come along to our Genre Write-In, where you’ll sit and work on your projects with other writers in your genre. After a writing sprint, you’ll be invited to share your work with those on your table and encouraged to give and receive feedback.

At the end of the session, you’ll have the chance to swap details with your fellow genre writers so that you can continue to connect long after the festival ends.

Based on Jericho Writer’s longest-running online course, from which more than 100 alumni have gone on to be published, this session will teach you how to self-edit your manuscript. We’ll be covering structure, plot, pace, character, and all the elements of your prose style, including voice, POV, show and tell and much more.

How do you write for a teen audience? Discover what it takes to write compelling young adult fiction in this hands-on YA workshop.  We’ll explore what makes fabulous YA, looking at plot, character and voices. Learn how to craft strong, relatable characters, how to weave in important themes, and how to shape stories that resonate with young readers. Whether you’re just starting out or refining a work in progress, this workshop will help you bring your YA story to life.

Philip Womack is a critically acclaimed writer. His most recent book, Ghostlord, was Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week. He has also written for adults, including How to Teach Classics to Your Dog.

Daniel Aubrey has faced many of the hurdles that you yourself may be familiar with. From his inspiring journey, discover how to navigate these so that you can still make the most of being a writer, whatever stage you’re at.

Daniel Aubrey is the bestselling author of the “Orkney Mysteries” series starring neurodivergent reporter, Freya Sinclair. His first two books, Dark Island and The Dying Light, have been nominated for multiple awards.

Debi is the author of five novels. Since 2006, she has worked as a freelance editor and creative writing tutor, including running the phenomenally successful Jericho Writers’ Self-Edit Your Novel course, together with Emma Darwin. She won the inaugural RNA Indie Editor of the Year Award in 2021 and was a reader for the Costa Short Story Awards.

There will also be a prize draw for attendees.

Having worked at Watson, Little since 2017, Ciara is an associate agent looking to build her list of fiction and non-fiction. She reads widely in literary, upmarket and book club fiction and enjoys stories of family, relationships, sexuality and identity across genres, though she does not represent fantasy. In non-fiction, she represents memoir and narrative non-fiction, especially if they are written by experts in a field or tackle questions of society and culture. She also represents cookbooks and food writing.

With over a decade of experience working with manuscripts, Helen also offers editorial reports with Jericho Writers in addition to her role as an agent. She represents contemporary adult genre fiction including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, horror, action, adventure and thriller. She also represents young adult fantasy. Helen is not interested in reading manuscripts involving affairs, abuse or non-consensual sex in any genre, and she’s not the best fit for literary fiction or books pitched younger than the young adult market.

With over twenty years of experience in publishing, including time spent at Penguin and Orion, Kate founded her own agency almost a decade ago where she represents a list of adult fiction and non-fiction. Kate looks for commercial and book club adult fiction and is open to any high-concept and interesting stories in this space, with the exception of sci-fi and fantasy. She reads widely in non-fiction, including narrative non-fiction and memoir, and looks for big ideas that get people talking or are communicated by experts in their field.

John joined Bell Lomax Moreton in 2019 and leads the agency’s film/TV rights team in addition to building his list of adult, new adult and young adult genre fiction. He represents fantasy, sci-fi, horror, romantasy, literary speculative and anything speculative that defies categorisation. He is also open to select non-speculative fiction including action, espionage and historical adventure. Across genres, he is especially keen to see truly unique settings and stories

Having started her career in children’s publishing in 1995, Jo has a wealth of experience handling middle grade and young adult fiction. She has also been building her list of adult fiction over the past few years and represents women’s fiction, psychological thrillers, and contemporary rom-coms.

Laura has been working in publishing since 2011 and represents a broad list of adult fiction, as well as select children’s fiction and adult non-fiction. She reads widely across literary, upmarket and book club fiction, including historical, romance, gothic, horror, thriller, and mystery, and she also has experience handling contemporary young adult and middle grade fiction. In non-fiction, she looks for memoir and narrative non-fiction, with a particular interest in books on mental health, untold stories, and true crime.

Megan joined Watson, Little in 2014 and represents a broad list of fiction and non-fiction. She is currently looking for adult, new adult and young adult commercial fiction, particularly romance, romantasy and fantasy. She does not represent sci-fi, crime or thriller for adult readers. In children’s fiction, Megan is open to thriller and horror fiction for young adults, as well as contemporary middle grade fiction. While she has experience handling picture books in the past, she is not currently looking to represent this genre.

With a background in literary scouting, Liza has been working as an agent since 2018 and represents a broad list of adult fiction and non-fiction. In fiction, she looks for commercial, book club and upmarket fiction across a range of genres including historical, gothic, romance, speculative and fantasy, though she does not represent sci-fi or erotica. In non-fiction, she represents experts and creatives with new ideas or content to share, including through narrative non-fiction and memoir. She especially enjoys food writing, cookbooks, and books on women’s health.

Having previously worked at Hachette, Bloomsbury and Penguin Random House, Shanika brings her editorial experience into her work as an agent. She represents book club, upmarket and commercial fiction, including women’s, romance, thriller, historical and speculative fiction. She also represents commercial non-fiction from writers with a platform, including health, wellness, diet, parenting, career development, personal finance, spirituality and religion.