more speakers here

==========================

John Jarrold
Publishing Unplugged

Books have ruled John Jarrold's professional life for 35 years.

As an editor and editorial director specialising in SF and Fantasy with Macdonald Futura, Random House and Simon & Schuster, he published the bestselling novelists: Iain Banks, Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Arthur C Clarke and Michael Moorcock, amongst others.

He commissioned the Lucifer Box novels from the League Of Gentleman’s Mark Gatiss; published bestselling thrillers by John Sandford, Lorenzo Carcaterra and Stel Pavlou, and The Prehistory of the Far Side by Gary Larson, Larson’s first UK hardback.

John worked as an editor with new and published writers, as well as with publishers as a freelance since leaving London publishing in August 2002. Since 2004, he has also run the John Jarrold Literary Agency, which specialises in SF, Fantasy and Horror.

Over an 18-month period, he sold six debut novels to major London publishers. He has around forty clients – and has turned down more than 3,000 submissions to the agency.

John is there to offer answers and open the lid on everything from finding an agent to helping ensure writers ‘hit the spot’ with the right publisher. John is a not-so-secret agent.

more speakers here
==========================

Penny Junor
Biography - fiction and truth.

Penny Junor is a journalist, writer and broadcaster, best known for her royal writing and commentating.

Penny began her career as a journalist; but most of her work has been in presenting television programmes and writing biography.

She is the daughter of the late Sir John Junor.


Pic: Les Wilson
Her subjects included Diana, Princess of Wales (1982), Margaret Thatcher (1983), Richard Burton (1985), the Prince of Wales (1987 and 1998), the Prince and Princess of Wales (1991), John Major (1993). In 2002 she wrote Home Truths: Life Around My Father – an account of her relationship with her father who died in 1997.

Her TV career has included presenting Channel 4’s award-winning consumer programme, 4 What It’s Worth, (1982-89), The Afternoon Show on BBC1 (1984-85) and The Travel Show on BBC2 (1988-97).

Her latest book is Wonderful Today, Pattie Boyd’s autobiography, published last year and available in paperback in June. Penny is currently working with Cliff Richard on a book to celebrate his 50th year in showbusiness. My Kinda Life will be published in September 2008.

more speakers here
==========================

Katie Fforde
The Same Again but Different
How one goes on publishing books that are different but also satisfy the reader and the publisher

Katie Fforde is currently working on her fifteenth novel. Katy's novels are light, feel-good romantic comedy, and include Going Dutch, (Sunday Times bestsellers list) Practically Perfect and Flora's Lot.

pic David O' Driscoll
This year, Katie took part in the BBC 4 programme about romantic fiction. 'Reader, I Married Him' which attracted a large viewing audience and was very successful.... However, Katie openly admits that she was also part of the tremendously unsuccessful Society of Author's team for University Challenge.

Katie's most recent novel, Wedding Season, looking at the wedding business, came out in June.

Her hobbies include singing in a choir and flamenco dancing (not usually at the same time!) However Katie's research commitments have included going clubbing, corset making and wine tasting. Sadly she never has time to do as much research as she would like!

more speakers here
==========================
Carole Matthews
From Milton Keynes to Hollywood

Carole Matthews is an international best selling author of hugely successful romantic comedy novels. Published in twenty-four countries, her unique sense of humour has won her legions of fans and critical acclaim all over the world.

Her books include Let’s Meet on Platform 8, A Whiff of Scandal, More To Life Than This, For Better, For Worse, The Sweetest Taboo, and With or Without You.

Pic Angus Muir
Welcome To The Real was short-listed for Romantic Novel of the Year in 2007. Carole’s latest bestsellers, The Chocolate Lovers’ Club and sequel, The Chocolate Lovers’ Diet are out now.

Last year, Carole co-edited - with writer Sarah Mlynowski - two new editions of the hugely popular charity series called Girls' Night Out - one for the USA and one for Canada. All proceeds go to War Child.

Carole has presented on television and is a regular radio guest. When she’s not writing novels, television or film scripts she manages to find time to trek in the Himalayas, rollerblade in Central Park, take tea in China and snooze in her garden shed in Milton Keynes.

more speakers here
==========================
Liz Niven
Speaking From the Heart

Liz Niven is an award-winning poet who writes in Scots and in English. She is a former teacher but escaped in the 90s after a language secondment to develop Scots materials for schools.

She’s still involved with the world of education, being in regular demand to visit schools across Scotland and enthuse young people about writing poetry, and as a setter for the Advanced Higher Language paper with the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Pic © Maud Sulter
Liz speaks at Literary festivals across the world, which this year, includes the Edinburgh Festival and the Beiijing Literary Festival.

She has written four poetry collections, including Stravaigin and Burning Whins. Some of Liz’s work has included collaboration with sculptors who engraved her work into wood, metal and granite. Liz has held a wide variety of writing residencies and one of them was the subject of TV documentary.

Liz started her writing life in the late 70s when she lived in a Highland village schoolhouse as the Dominie's wife. The Primary 7 girls arrived in the morning interval and lunch hour to walk the babies (it would never be allowed nowadays!) giving Liz some precious ring-fenced writing time.

She wrote for BBC's Morning Story slot, has dabbled in drama and has edited many books. She is currently co-editor of New Writing Scotland for the Association of Literary Studies. Educational and human rights issues associated with non- standard dialect and mother tongue languages have been a long-standing source of fascination for Liz.

Much of Liz’s life long work has been dedicated to shifting the status of the Scots language. Is it ‘Time tae pit the claith ower the parrot’? (All will be revealed at Swanwick!)

more speakers here
==========================
Swanwick 2008 August 09 to August 15
Diamond Anniversary Year

email: swanwick here