GREG CHRISTIE
Fascinated to learn that Eric Knight penned the 'Lassie' stories, Greg Christie was determined to write his life story. He set about taking a degree in English, followed by an MA. His researches led him to the Knight archive at Yale, as a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellow, then further west to New Mexico and California, where he met Eric's grand-daughter, Betsy. He wrote a number of articles and a BBC Radio documentary based on his findings. But by 2014, Greg had lost his sight completely and ready to accept defeat. With the collaboration of a friend and fellow writer, he finally managed to complete what amounted to a 20 year project -
Knight: Yorkshireman, Storyteller, Spy
S M CONNELL
California-based S M Connell was the overral winner of the
2019 Ouen Press Short Story Competition for her work 'Zawadi' - which was included in the anthology
Zawadi & other short stories. With two non-fiction works already published, S M Connell has her first novel in rewrites -
The Dark Conceit tells a story we all recognise:Sometimes the human power play for social domination is blood sport.
MICHAEL CONNOR
Writer and author, Michael has crafted a true crime biography -
The Soho Don, a psychological thriller
The Cleansing, and a pacy crime fiction
May All Your Names Be Forgotten. Hotel-school trained, Michael had a regular feature in the Caterer &Hotelkeeper for six years, and his crime and travel pieces have been included in national newspapers, glossy supplements and monthly magazines. Michael is a member of English PEN, which promotes free speech, human rights and greater understanding through literature. His most recent novel - a new foodie fiction -
The Mushroom Effect is out now.
KRISHAN COUPLAND
UK editor and UEA Creative Writing alumnus, Krishan was a prize-winner in the
2017 Ouen Press Short Story Competition when he was awarded a 'Runner-up' place for his work 'The Life of Dogbreath' - which was included in the anthology
Tasting Notes & other short stories. He runs and edits Neon Literary Magazine, and he says is unduly pre-occupied with theme parks. His short fiction can also be found in Ambit, Aesthetica and Litro magazines, and he has won the Manchester Fiction and Bare Fiction Prizes for his work.
AVIVA DALE MARTIN
Canadian writer, Aviva was awarded a 'Commended' accoldate in the
2016 Ouen Press Short Story Competition for her work 'Manuela' - which was included in the anthology
Journey through Uncertainty & other short stories. Aviva studied Creative Writing with Hugh MacLennan at McGill University, and later at the University of British Columbia. In retirement now, Aviva has retured to extended and vigorous writing, with the aim to tell stories that are unique, provocative and authentic.
CAROL FENLON
UK writer, Carol was awarded a 'Commended' accoldate in the
2015 Ouen Press Short Story Competition for her work 'Ghosts of Former Days' - which was included in the anthology
Last Call & other short stories. Carol sits on the editorial board of the Short Fiction in Theory & Practice Journal and is an active member of Edge Hill University Narrative Research Group and Skelmersdale Writers' Group. She also won the 2007 Impress Novel Prize for her story of a feral child,
Consider the Lilies
STEPHEN GAGE
Stephen was awarded a 'Commended' accoldate in the
2017 Ouen Press Short Story Competition for his work 'Impeccable Taste' - which was included in the anthology
Tasting Notes & other short stories. Following a career in Business Consultancy and Professional Football, Stephen is now retired. He enjoys cinema, theatre, reading and writing - his influences are LeCarre, Len Deighton and Phillip Kerr.