Sam Jordison
Co-director at Galley Beggar Press, Norwich
Sam Jordison is co-director of Galley Beggar Press, an award-winning independent press based in Norwich. He is the author of several works of non-fiction including the notorious Crap Towns series, the best-selling I Spy for Adults series, a book about Literary London (co-authored with Eloise Millar), political books like Enemies Of The People and The 10 Worst Of Everything. He is also the co-host of the literary podcast Across The Pond and a literary critic. As a journalist, he mainly writes for The Guardian – mostly about books. He runs the Not The Booker Prize, and The Guardian’s online book club, The Reading Group.
Isabelle Kenyon
Managing Director at Fly on the Wall Press, Manchester
Isabelle Kenyon is the Managing Director of Manchester publishing house ‘Fly on the Wall Press’ and was named a Future Leader by the Bookseller in 2024. Founded in 2018, she has led Fly on the Wall Press to win Small Press of the Year at the British Book Awards 2024 (North), achieving finalist status five times in the years 2021-2025. She is the author of psychological thriller The Dark Within Them, poetry collections including Growing Pains (Indigo Dreams) and one short story with Wild Pressed Books named The Town Talks. She also runs PR campaigns for writers and publishers under Kenyon Author Services (www.kenyonauthorservices.co.uk).
Hanna Nielson
Editor at Yellow House Publishing, Belfast
Hanna Nielson is an American writer-filmmaker in Belfast, with a Master’s from the University of Leeds. Her Belfast-based stories have appeared in The Scores and Burnt Pine Magazine. Hanna has been a lifelong writer and began creating stories and illustrations from age six. At age 13, she was nominated to participate in the Young Iowa Writers’ Workshop, run by the renowned Iowa Writers’ Workshop in Iowa City. Her articles on feminist and BAME contributions to media have appeared in Ms In The Biz and Pasadena Weekly. She is currently the Editor at Yellow House Publishing in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
James Trevelyan
Director at The Emma Press, Birmingham
James Trevelyan grew up in the Midlands and has an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway. His poems have appeared in various print and online magazines, and in anthologies including Best New British & Irish Poets 2017. His debut pamphlet of poetry DISSOLVE to: L.A. was published by the Emma Press (where he is now working as Director and Editor) in March 2016. Among others, he has poems anthologised in 154 (Live Canon, 2016) and Swapping a Present for a Future (Verve, 2020). Currently, James is writing for theatre and his debut playscript We Go Again has been longlisted for the Finborough Theatre’s ETPEP Award 2021 & the 2022 Bruntwood Prize. You can find him on LinkedIn and The Emma Press Instagram
Aina Marti
Founder at Héloïse Press, Canterbury
Aina has set up her own publishing house in 2022 called ‘Héloïse Press’. The publishing house is a small independent press based in Canterbury that champions world-wide female talent and gives voice to emerging and well-established female writers from home and abroad. Héloïse’s careful selection of books gives voice to emerging and well-established female writers from home and abroad. With a focus on intimate, visceral and powerful narratives, Héloïse Press brings together women’s stories and literary sophistication. You can find Aina on LinkedIn here.
Martha Williams
Programme Producer at Glasgow Zine Library, Glasgow
Martha Williams is a writer, facilitator, and creative producer based in Glasgow, originally from the West Country and London. Her work explores Black feminist world-making and the language of marginal experience, often drawing inspiration from moments of rest, reality TV, and time spent at her allotment. She is particularly interested in how we make home, both within ourselves and in relation to others. Martha is the current Programme Producer at Glasgow Zine Library and the founder of Metaphors for a Black Future, a writers programme centering visionary storytelling and community.