Jane Bidder trained as a journalist and has written for most national newspapers and magazines. She has also written hundreds of short stories for women's magazines; six non-fiction books; two series of children's non-fiction books; and three novels (under her pen name Sophie King). Jane's novels are published by Hodder & Stoughton and include the best-seller THE SCHOOL RUN, which was number one in The Bookseller's Heatseekers list.

Jane's new third novel SECOND TIME LUCKY has just come out (August 2007).

Jane also teaches creative writing both privately and for West Herts College and the University of Hertfordshire. She is a tutor for Writers News and also tutors the Writing for Children course for the London School of Journalism. In addition, she regularly speaks on the radio and has been on breakfast television. For more details, visit www.sophieking.info.

Jane is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Children's Contemporary Novels Fantasy Short Stories

Brian Innes has been involved in every aspect of publishing for over half a century. He spent seven years as a magazine journalist on and off Fleet Street, followed by two years as art director for the Hamlyn Group. Subsequently, he was for three years art director for partworks at BPC Publishing, before leaving to become, for 16 years, creative director and deputy chairman of Orbis Publishing. After this, for two-three years, he was a director of Mirror Publishing, before becoming an independent consultant to the Brown Reference Group.

He has had some fifty books - both fiction and non-fiction - published, as well as innumerable magazine articles, and his factual crime books have so far been translated into 14 foreign languages. He is a member of the Crime Writers' Association, and chairman of judges for their Gold Dagger award for non-fiction.

Brian Innes's specialist interests include - apart from crime in general and forensic science in particular - popular music (particularly jazz) and many aspects of the entertainment business; the occult, in all forms; secret societies and cults; aviation and maritime history, including exploration; and espionage, black propaganda, and codes.

Brian is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime General Thrillers/Mystery

Non-fiction History - General History - War & Military Law & Crime Music Scientific

Wendy Robertson has been a published full-time author for 20 years , (20 published novels and counting; various published short stories, newspaper and magazine articles), whose first career was as teacher and senior lecturer. Amongst other things Wendy runs many creative writing workshops and courses.

Wendy's daughter, Debora, writes "For someone who lives so much in her head, she manages surprisingly well in the real world. As well as writing a book a year, she's addicted to teaching. Can there be a school, prison or church hall left where she hasn't shared her love of writing, her love of books? Where, over instant coffee and Garibaldis, she hasn't made a timid housewife or retired colonel or prisoner on remand feel that those scraps of writing they've hidden in the back of the cupboard for years could really be a novel if they just worked hard enough? I've been to talks she's given. She is the Billy Graham of the creative writing circuit."

For more information about Wendy and her work, please visit her web site which can be found at:
www.wendyrobertson.com

Wendy is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Children's Contemporary General Historical Mass Market Sagas Women's Young Adult Fiction

Other Short Stories

Nick Inman has written, edited or contributed to over 50 non-fiction books for more than 15 publishers over the last 20 years. During the 1990s he was a senior editor for Dorling Kindersley responsible for the origination of high-spec illustrated travel guides. He now lives in France with his Spanish wife and their daughter and son. He works as a writer (mainly of travel guides to Spain) photographer and translator. Taking advantage of the print on demand revolution, he has recently gone into publishing himself (see www.mimbellebooks.com). His latest books are Politipedia and The Optimist's Handbook. For more details of his work see his website: www.nickinman.com

Nick is happy to critique the following genres:

Non-fiction Art Children's Children & Families Crafts & Hobbies Environment Film, Books & Literature Food & Drink Gardening

Guidebooks  History - General Mind, Body & Spirit Natural History Photography Politics & World Affairs Reference Travel (Abroad) Travel (British Isles)

Denis MacEoin first graduated with an M.A. in English from Trinity College, Dublin, followed by a second degree in Persian, Arabic, and Islamic Studies from Edinburgh and a PhD in Persian/Islamic Studies from Cambridge (King¹s College).

From 1984, he embarked on what became his principal career, writing fiction, under the pseudonym Daniel Easterman. Under the Easterman name, he has published fourteen novels, all international thrillers, including several best-sellers. As Easterman, he has been translated into about a dozen languages. The next will appear in September 2007. As Jonathan Aycliffe, he has written a further eight novels, all ghost stories in the classic English tradition.

Denis is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Contemporary Fantasy General Horror Thrillers

Non-fiction Politics & World Affairs Religion & Theology

Debi Alper started writing novels after the birth of her children. Her first novel, Nirvana Bites, was written "in the evenings in long hand lying on the settee and then typed it up in chunks using borrowed laptops". Eighteen months later she had her first book deal. Debi now has four novels to her credit. The Big Issue made these comments "Comic crime caper from Alper who writes with panache and affection about the alternative worlds of co-operative living, new agers and fetishists. She’s very funny and … delivers a very entertaining read. A fresh voice we should hear more from. "

Debi is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Children's Contemporary Erotica General Historical Horror Humour Mass Market Romance

Sagas Science-fiction Thrillers Women's Young Adult Fiction Other Short Stories

Paul Bennett - I have had four novels published to date - The 'Shannon' series of crime thrillers. In order, these books are: Due Diligence, Collateral Damage, False Profits and The Money Race. The main theme of these books, if you can't guess from the titles, is fraud.

I have finished a thriller, outside of the Shannon series, called Catalyst and I am currently working on another thriller, provisionally titled Mercenary.

Due Diligence has been optioned for a TV series (but, in the world of novels, many are called but few are chosen) and a film production company is working on a script of Catalyst.

Paul is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Fantasy General Horror Mass Market Thrillers

Non-fiction Biographies & Memoirs Business & Economics Scripts TV & Film

Lucy McCarraher - Author of novel 'Blood and Water' and self-help 'Book of Balanced Living'. Expert in work-life balance; previously tv script-writer and editor, journalist, researcher, presenter, theatre critic and publisher. Also specialises in women's fiction.

Lucy is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction General Mass Market Women's

Non-fiction Mind, Body, Spirit

Dean Wilkinson is an English comedy writer (ghostwriter, novelist and scriptwriter) who has enjoyed (and still is enjoying) a long and successful career writing for many many British telly shows. Dean has two BAFTA awards to his credit.

Some of Dean's current projects include:

• Writing a sitcom for BBC 3
• Developing the film version of The Legend Of Arthur King
• Writing the third Arthur King novel
• Developing several TV ideas for various companies
• Embarking on several new script writing workshops for children
• Continuing the Tees Bally Fiibber spoof e-paper
• But still available for new and exciting projects!
  

Dean is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Children's

Scripts TV

Tanya Jones grew up mainly in England, with a year in the United States, and read English at King's College, Cambridge. Since then she has studied medieval monasticism and law and worked in charity fundraising and P.R. in London, as a solicitor in the north of England and as a teacher of English in Italy and Ireland. She is the author of four comic crime novels, three set in Yorkshire and one in Tuscany and two books about chess, one each for adults and for children. Tanya and her husband Martin have three sons and now live in County Fermanagh where they run a small business selling books and green/fair trade products. She is a voracious reader at all hours of the day and night except those spent cycling, when she has to make do with audio books and lots of Bob Dylan.

Books:

Books:
Ophelia O. and the Mortgage Bandits (Headline 1995)
Ophelia O. and the Antenatal Mysteries (Headline 1995)
Trotter's Bottom (Headline 1997)
Survival Guide for Chess Parents (Everyman Chess 2003)
Girotondo (Crystal Bard Press 2006)
Starting Out: How to Play Chess (Hachette, forthcoming)

Tanya is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Children's Contemporary Fantasy General Humour Women's Other Poetry Short Stories

Non-fiction Biographies & Memoirs Children's Environment Guidebooks History - General Law & Crime Lifestyle Religion & Theology Sports & Pastimes Travel (Abroad) Travel (British Isles)

Kenn Griffiths, author of The Private Eyes Handbook, The Essential Survival Guide, The Spy Master`s Handbook, articles/short stories in magazines, radio drama `Im older than that`. Contributor to BBC Radio Stoke, TV appearances on GMTV BBC ITV, Featured on Channel 4`s Danger Incoming Attack, BBC Radio 4. Member of the Association of British Investigators, Qualified Social Worker, independent investigative social worker writing for journals and associated magazines. International investigative freelance journalism

Kenn is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Fantasy Mystery

Fiction Law & Crime Military Law & Crime

Clare Sudbery has been writing for eight years, during which time she has published one novel (The Dying of Delight), several articles and short stories and worked as a technical author. She is interested in non-fiction which is inspiring, accessible and informative, and fiction which is moving, imaginative and truthful. When editing or critiquing the work of others, her aim is always to help strengthen the author's voice and showcase their talents, a process which she finds intensely satisfying. She comes from a long line of writers of both fiction and non-fiction (her mother is a children's novelist, her father a published theoretical physicist). She straddles both arts and science, as a novel-writing maths and philosophy graduate who gave up a ten-year software engineering career to become a full time writer of both fiction and non-fiction. She has extensive teaching and editing experience, and is currently negotiating the publication of her second novel.

Quotes about Clare' work:

"Pulses with guts, energy and wit" - Julia Darling

"She writes with gut wrenching accuracy about the everyday complexities of love, friendships, loss and yearning." - Helen Walsh

Clare is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Children's Contemporary Fantasy General Horror Humour Mass Market Science Fiction Thrillers Young Adult Fiction Other Short Stories

Non-fiction Children's Computers Electronic & Multimedia Gardening Gay & Lesbian Guidebooks Lifestyle Mind, Body, Spirit Music Philosophy Pregnancy & Childcare Scientific Women's Studies

Mark Daniel is a bestselling thriller writer, but he is also the author of many novelisations ranging from Ghostbusters and Count Duckula to a breakthrough Jack the Ripper, successful young adult novels, books of children's verse, comic fantasy (as Mark F. Parker) and belles lettres including an edition of Gilbert White and French Letters, a humorous work of etymology. His novels set in the world of horseracing were published worldwide to widespread critical acclaim -"a dazzling insider's view of the sport... The characters and the ambience ring absolutely true, with some of the most exciting and realistic race-scenes ever penned… pacey, authentic and genuinely exciting." A Cambridge graduate, he has also written many millions of words in Opinions columns and features, and, as an accomplished cook and former restaurant chef, was for many years the crusading food correspondent for Country Illustrated and The Western Morning News and now for The Liberal, had a monthly racing column in Odds On and has written travel for House and Garden and others. He speaks French and Italian fluently and lists travel, cant and slang, natural history, country sports, racing, surfing, travel, high life and low life amongst his passions.

Mark is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Children's Contemporary Erotica Fantasy General Historical Horror Humour Mass Market Romance Sagas Thrillers Women's Young Adult Fiction Scripts Radio TV & Film Other Poetry Short Stories

Non-fiction Antiques & Collecting Art Art History Biographies & Memoirs Children's Crafts & Hobbies Environment Fashion & Beauty Food & Drink Gardening Guidebooks History - General History - Local History - Social History - War & Military Lifestyle Mind, Body & Spirit Natural History Philosophy Politics & World Affairs Sports & Pastimes Study Guides Travel (Abroad) Travel (British Isles)

Anna Paterson - After degrees in medicine and medical sciences from Lund (Sweden) and London, I've spent my professional life as a medical academic, mostly in the United Kingdom.

I changed direction in order to write full-time and 'non-medically'. I am now an award-winning literary translator from the Germanic languages (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German) into English.

My first published non-medical book was a study of landscape, identity and green policy in Scotland and other northern European countries. Although translating and literary journalism takes up much of my time, projects under way include a book about documentary fiction with the working title Truthtellers.

Anna is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Contemporary General Historical Scripts Drama Plays Theatre

Non-fiction Design Education - Higher Environment Gardening History - Academic Law & Crime Medical - History Medical - Pregnancy & Childcare Medical - Specialist Natural History Politics & World Affairs Psychology Scientific

Sam Smith - Editor of The Journal (once 'of Contemporary Anglo-Scandinavian Poetry'), publisher of Original Plus books, he is also proud to be Poetry Editor of The Select Six (BeWrite Books). Born Blackpool 1946, now living in Maryport, Cumbria, freelance writer, editor/reviewer for 3 publishers, his last day job was as an amusement arcade cashier; but he has also been a psychiatric nurse, residential social worker, milkman, plumber, laboratory analyst, groundsman, sailor, computer operator, scaffolder, gardener, painter & decorator........ working at anything, in fact, which has paid the rent, enabled him to raise his three daughters and which didn't get too much in the way of his writing. He now has several poetry collections and novels to his name.

Sam is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Contemporary Fantasy General Historical Horror Humour Mass Market Science Fiction Thrillers/Mystery

Other Poetry Short Stories

Julia Bohanna - Freelance journalist and short story writer. Winner of the 'Woman and Home' Short Story Competition 2006 (in conjunction with Harper Collins). Shortlisted for the 2005 Asham Awards, runner-up in the 2003 Good Housekeeping Competition and winner of the Sunday Telegraph’s Travel Writing Competition and runner-up in the 2007 Guardian/Virgin Trains Competition. Articles include ‘Whistleblowers’, ‘Wolves in Romania’ and ‘Homedads’. I have been published in Mslexia and The Sunday Times. I range from frothy to solemn. Animal conservation, particularly wolves, a speciality. I also currently work as a life coach for a Finnish writer and I am writing a novel.

Julia is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Children's Contemporary Fantasy General Historical Horror Humour Mass Market Romance Science-fiction Thrillers Women's Young Adult Fiction

Non-fiction Antiques & Collecting Art Art History Biographies & Memoirs Children's Environment History - General Psychology Scripts Drama/Plays/Theatre TV & Film Other Poetry Short Stories

John Priest I am a published author of children's books which are used as part of the school curriculum in the UK and also world-wide. Titles of these books are Naughty Nigel Runs Away! Tom's Birthday Treat and Answer The Phone Fiona. Publishers - Ginn & Co., and Heinemann.

Recently published (2007 S&L Productions), for Audio Stories for Kids.com are several audio stories titled: Ben's Friends, Don't be a moaner Ramona, Do I Live Here? and Benjamin goes 'Hopping-Shopping'.

I have a Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign language (TEFL/ESOL), Teaching Business English and Teaching Beginners. Besides other qualifications I have recently passed my assessor award and now assess candidates involved in the latest government qualification, the Information Technology Qualification (ITQ).

I have been an on-line IT e-tutor for a number of years, tutoring various on-line courses for the UK Government 'University for Industry' of which learndirect is the brand-name.

I have been in various employment, including the Building Trade, Police Force, Steel Industry, Author, Quality Manager and on-line e-tutor and can therefore offer a great deal of advice, experience and knowledge.

John is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Children's Contemporary Erotica Fantasy General Historical Horror Humour Mass Market Romance Sagas Science Fiction Thrillers/Mystery Women's Young Adult Fiction

Non-fiction Antiques & Collecting Children's Children & Families Computers Education - EFL/ELT Education - Special Needs Lifestyle Historical Other Short Stories

Frances Clarke was a Creative Writing Tutor for the University of Southampton from 1996 to 2004 and now works free-lance. She also works as a free-lance editor. She has published poetry in small magazines, journalism and book reviews and is a prize-winning short story writer. She has recently completed her first novel and is now well into her second.

Frances is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Contemporary General Historical Horror Humour Romance Sagas Science-fiction Thrillers Women's

Other Poetry Short Stories

Dexter Petley is the critically acclaimed author of four novels. He is also an experienced editor of fiction and non fiction. His track record inludes :

Published novels:
One True Void, Two Ravens Press, Ullapool, 2008
White Lies, Fourth Estate, London, 2003
Joyride, Fourth Estate, London, 1999
Little Nineveh, Polygon, Edinburgh, 1995

Other (recent) publications:
Translation of The Fishing Box by Maurice Genevoix, from the French, (co-translator Laure Claesen), Medlar Press 2005
Regular 3500 word spot in Waterlog Magazine, journal of angling literature, published by Medlar Press.

Story:
The Sutton Hoo Sea Poet in London Magazine, Jan/Feb 2007

Awards and nominations:
Scottish Arts Council Award for Little Nineveh, 1996
Shortlist Dazed&Confused (Most promising writer) for White Lies, 2003
Longlist IMPAC Dublin 2005 for White Lies
New Angling Writer of the Year 2003
Arts Council of Great Britain Award for work-in-progress 2005
The Fishing Box Shortlisted Oxford-Weidenfeld Prize for Literary Translation, 2006

Dexter is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime Children's Contemporary General Historical Horror Humour Mass Market Romance Sagas Science Fiction Thrillers/Mystery Women's Young Adult Fiction Other Short Stories

Non-fiction Biographies & Memoirs Children's Crafts & Hobbies Environment Ethnic Interest Gardening Gay & Lesbian Guidebooks History - General History - Local History - Social History - War & Military Law & Crime Lifestyle Medical - History Music Natural History Psychology Sports & Pastimes Transport Travel (Abroad) Travel (British Isles) Women's Studies

Alison Theaker - Born 25 February, 1958 in Exminster, Devon. Studied Politics at the University of York. Worked in public relations and as a freelance journalist, with regular columns in British Journal of Photography and Creative Review. Then taught on the BA in PR at Leeds Metropolitan University where I completed an MA in PR on the subject of Barriers to Women in Public Relations.

Two textbooks:
Effective Media Relations (co-author with David Wragg and Michael Bland) Kogan Page, 1996, 3rd edition 2005
The Public Relations Handbook, Routledge 2001, 2nd edition 2004 (3rd edn to be published January 2008)

Moved to Newton MA in December 2000. Runner up in first Improper Bostonian short story competition, 2001 with A Family Christmas. First novel published, No Rhyme nor Reason (iUniverse 2003). Won first Sudden Fiction contest run by New Voices, Cambridge, MA May 2004 with A Room With A View.

Highly Commended, First 3 pages of a Novel (Undertow) and Short Story (A Room With A View) categories, Writers' Conference, Winchester June 2004.

Won first prize in first Devon Life short story competition December 2005 with Lost and Found.

Undertow shortlisted in Cinnamon Press Novel Award, March 2006.

Short story A Winter's Tale shortlisted in Dark Tales Winter 06 competition, published in Dark Tales 10.

First prize, Frome Literary Festival Short Story Competition (Eating Cake) July 2006. Commended, Write Space Competition July 2006 (Starry, Starry Night). Shortlisted Writers' Forum, September 2006 (A Room with a View).

Alison is happy to critique the following genres:

Fiction Adventure & Crime General Historical Humour Mass Market Romance