Skills and Experience

PUBLISHING

Wyndham Books
My imprint, Wyndham Books, specialises in reissues of novels by some of the bestselling English language novelists of the mid-twentieth century. These include Catherine Gaskin, Lucilla Andrews, Lucy Walker, Anne Hampson, Ursula Bloom and Naomi Jacob. Wyndham Books also publishes the blockbuster Hardacre family saga novels by C L Skelton, soon to be a major new television drama series, The Hardacres, on Channel 5 in the UK, and the only novel written by acclaimed television writer and producer John Finch (A Family At War, Sam).

Through Wyndham Books, many of these books have become bestsellers for a second time, in the UK, US and Australia, with sales exceeding well over half a million copies. Some titles are now available as audiobooks from Wyndham Books, and some rights have been licensed for large print and audio.

AUDIO PRODUCTION

Riverside
In 2022 I adapted the popular magazine serial Riverside into a 14 episode audio drama. I wrote the script, and directed and produced the audio. Riverside was created and is written by bestselling author Glenda Young for The People’s Friend. The audio cast includes well-known actors from programmes such as The Archers and Neighbours. The drama was featured in the national press and has gained five star reviews.

Audiobooks
I have produced two audiobooks by Wyndham Books authors: Sara Dane by Catherine Gaskin and The White Walls by Lucilla Andrews.

Ursula Bloom: A Life in Words
I edited and produced a five-part podcast series, Ursula Bloom: A Life in Words. Ursula Bloom, now reissued by Wyndham Books, was a household name during most of her lifetime. Between 1924 and 1981 she wrote over 560 books. Ursula wrote novels, short stories, and radio and stage plays. She was a Fleet Street journalist, agony aunt, beauty editor and the chief crime reporter who tracked down Ethel le Neve, Crippen’s lover, who went into hiding after his execution.

Naomi Jacob: A Life in Words
I edited and produced a four-part podcast series, Naomi Jacob: A Life in Words. Naomi Jacob, now reissued by Wyndham Books, was a bestselling author, an actor and broadcaster. She is best remembered for her celebrated seven-volume series The Gollantz Saga.

Romance Aloud
To mark the Diamond Anniversary of the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2020, I produced and hosted a ten-part podcast series of interviews with prominent RNA authors. In each episode I talk to an author about their own work, and ask them to chose and talk about a favourite author from the RNA’s 60 year history.

Here is the full episode list: Milly Johnson on Carole Matthews; Nicola Cornick on Mary Stewart; Lorna Cook on Rosamunde Pilcher; Sue Moorcroft on Christina Courtenay; Jill Mansell on Jilly Cooper; Jean Fullerton on Catherine Cookson; Jules Wake on Katie Fforde; Donna Ashcroft on Milly Johnson; Rhoda Baxter on Sarah Mason; Alison May on Dorothy Koomson.

Women Aloud
I produced Women Aloud, an audio anthology of short stories written by eleven of the UK’s best loved women’s fiction writers. This anthology was part of the celebrations for National Short Story Week 2011, with all of the proceeds from sales going to the Helena Kennedy Foundation. The Foundation provides financial bursaries, mentoring and support to disadvantaged students from the further and adult education sectors, enabling them to complete their studies in higher education and move on successfully into employment.

The CD contained stories written by Trisha Ashley, Judy Astley, Elizabeth Chadwick, Rowan Coleman, Katie Fforde, Milly Johnson, Catherine King, Sophie King, Carole Matthews, Sue Moorcroft and Allie Spencer.

The Write Lines
I produced two series of The Write Lines, presented by acclaimed broadcaster and author Sue Cook. These special online editions of Sue’s radio programme were broadcast as part of the celebrations for National Short Story Week. Guests included some authors who were then at the beginning of their career, but have since become household names, such as Mark Edwards and Mel Sherratt.

Talking Bookshelf
In 2009 I set up Talking Bookshelf to produce promotional author podcasts. I also produced interview podcasts to promote television programmes and station launches, theatre performances and celebrity events. During the time that Talking Bookshelf was active, I interviewed hundreds of creative people including bestselling writers, Hollywood actors and television stars from the UK, USA and Australia.

Short Story Radio
Short Story Radio was one of the first podcast and audio streaming short story projects in the UK. I created Short Story Radio to promote the short story form and English speaking short story writers to a global audience. I was awarded funding by Arts Council England which was instrumental in increasing the content and profile of Short Story Radio. The project ran for ten years.

For Short Story Radio I produced and broadcast work by both emerging and bestselling writers. Some writers whose work was first broadcast on Short Story Radio went on to be commissioned by BBC Radio 4 and nominated for or awarded prestigious literary prizes. I donated story recordings from Short Story Radio to Insight Radio, the radio station of the Royal National Institute of the Blind. I produced the winner of Mslexia magazine’s short story competition for four consecutive years.

WRITING

Riverside
As previously mentioned, I have written a 14 episode audio drama, adapted from the popular magazine serial Riverside. Riverside was created and is written by bestselling author Glenda Young for The People’s Friend.

Books and magazines
While living for six years in Italy, I worked as a writer and translator on a national magazine, and wrote a three volume English language course-book, which sold well throughout southern Europe. Among other work, I translated numerous advertising campaigns and video and television scripts.

Blogs
I have written numerous guest posts for book and literature blogs over the years, showcasing the work of bestselling Wyndham Books writers such as Catherine Gaskin, C L Skelton and Naomi Jacob.

EVENTS

Smithdown Litfest
I established the annual Smithdown Litfest in 2017. This popular Liverpool literary festival presents a programme of stimulating and enjoyable author events in local venues, with guest speakers such as Ann Cleeves, Jimmy McGovern and Chris Tarrant.

Liverpool Book Club
The Liverpool Book Club is a series of year-round special events with big name authors in iconic Liverpool venues, including Sefton Park Palm House and The Athenaeum.

The Exchange
Through The Exchange, I organise and host public conversations about the important issues of our age at Liverpool’s famous Athenaeum club. The Exchange encourages debate and the sharing of opinions and experiences in a welcoming and respectful environment. I believe that through the ongoing exchange of ideas we can achieve a greater knowledge and understanding, and that this benefits both the individual and society as a whole. Influential guest speakers have included disaster expert Professor Lucy Easthope, Financial Times journalist Brian Groom and writer, podcaster and social commentator Konstantin Kisin.

Perfect Crime
Along with bestselling crime fiction authors Margaret Murphy and Caz Finaly, I co-organised the first crime writing festival set in the heart of Liverpool. Our first event in 2020 moved online due to lockdown restrictions at the time, but we were pleased to host a live event in 2021. We welcomed big names from the crime writing world to Liverpool, including Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths and Sophie Hannah.

National Short Story Week
In 2010 I founded National Short Week, which was celebrated by libraries, bookshops, schools, and readers and writers throughout the UK. National Short Story Week launched at Charles Dickens Museum in London, and ran for seven years. During that time hundreds of events took place around the country. The National Short Story Week Young Writer competition (2013 – 2017) attracted entries from schools around the UK, and international schools overseas. The winners were featured in The Guardian and First News, and were published in anthologies which raised thousands of pounds for Teenage Cancer Trust.

TALKS

I am a frequent speaker at writing groups and conferences. Speaking engagements include: The Society of Authors (London, Bath, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester), the Historical Novel Society‘s International Conference (London, Oxford), the Romantic Novelists’ Association‘s Annual Conference, and the MA Creative Writing group at Sheffield Hallam University. I have been a headline speaker at the School Library Association‘s annual School Librarian Day. I have run regular publishing workshops for members of the Society of Authors.

QUALIFICATIONS

BA (Hons) Language Studies, Essex University
Postgraduate Diploma in Translation (Italian to English), Chartered Institute of Linguists
Postgraduate Certificate in Psychology, London Metropolitan University

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, the Translators’ Association and the Society of Authors. I am a Proprietor of The Athenaeum.

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