Local Writers' Showcase The chance to hear and celebrate the work of local independent writers

Our very popular event returns with the opportunity for local independent writing talent to share their work, and for audiences to hear exciting new voices. Hosted by local writers Jacci Gooding and Jenefer Heap, settle back for an informal evening of readings and storytelling, and give your support to the emerging pool of talent from local writers and poets.

Once you have booked you will receive a booking confirmation from Ticketsource with a Zoom link. Click on the link to enter the event. We will be admitting audience and participants from ten minutes before the event starts.

This year's showcase will feature work from:

Amy Ahmed-Dolphin

Amy Ahmed-Dolphin began writing poetry inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood in 2019. To date, she has written over 250 ‘Hollywood Haiku’ which she publishes via her dedicated Instagram account. More recently, she has become a regular contributor for Yours Retro magazine, writing nostalgic features about Old Hollywood. Instagram: @hollywood_haiku

Amelie Ashley-Timms

Amelie is a keen new writer studying English and Creative Writing next year at university. She is currently working on a poetry collection as well as a one act play for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Recently, she came runner up in the Felix Dennis Young Poets Competition.

Gwyneth Box

Writer, translator and award-winning poet, Gwyneth Box has spent the last year collaborating with Spanish author and student of theology Lucía Moreno-Velo. The current tally of the project is three books of poetry and prayer, and uncountable hours of laughter, joy and mindful thought. Modern Pagan Prayers https://modernpaganprayers.com/ IG: @gwyneth.box Twitter: @gwynethbox

Chris Burleigh

Chris M L Burleigh has been a prizewinner with Fish Publishing. His first collection, Particles of Light, is available in local bookshops and on-line. His new collection, Intersecting Lines, comes out in June. ‘Life is serious, but is not to be lived too seriously’. Serious or humorous, the poems are always good-natured. Twitter: @chrismlburleigh FB: chrismlburleigh

Books: Particles of Light ISBN 978178803908. Available on-line and through Kenilworth Books, Warwick Books, and all bookshops

Ginny Davis

Ginny Davis is an award-winning playwright and former criminal barrister. In her novel What Lies Beneath the Surface dramatic tension is combined with insight into the lives of senior lawyers and an actress, who are all caught up in a police enquiry into an unexplained death in London, 2019. http://www.ginnydavis.com/ Twitter: @dishmop Facebook: www.facebook.com/ginny.davis IG: @dishmop2

What Lies Beneath The Surface is now on sale via Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions. It can also be ordered from Waterstones.

Helen Evans

Helen Evans writes historical mysteries with a time-shift to the present day and all are set in Stratford-upon-Avon. Her first novel, ‘The Shakespeare Silence’ takes place in Victorian times, her second, only just finished, comes forward to 1939 and she has plans for the third to go right back to Medieval Stratford. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shake...

Jacci Gooding

Jacci is a self-published author and blogger from south Warwickshire. She was runner-up in The Squat Pen Rests short story competition in 2018, the Bedford International Prize 2019 and most recently was Commended in the Parracombe Prize Writing Competition, 2020. She reviews for online magazine The Short Story. Twitter: @JacciGooding IG: @alloftheoutside https://jaccigoodingauthor.wordpress.com

Jenny Heap

Jenefer Heap writes modern fiction about life and love and has published two collections of short stories: The Woman Who Never Did, and Women in Shorts. Her alter ego, Jenny Heap, writes songs about poorly pythons for a younger audience. Twitter: @jennyjheap

Valerie Horton

Valerie Horton’s book It’s Not About Shakespeare explores ordinary life in Stratford during the period 1775-1915. This is in addition to the history of her family home. The chapters alternate between the two. The book is the accidental result of an over exuberant rummage through the Birthplace Trust archives. Available from Youcaxton Publications, Waterstones and Stratford WHSmith.

Bren Littlewood

JJ Franklin, aka Bren Littlewood’s first novel, Urge to Kill, is a psychological thriller/police procedural featuring DI Matt Turrell. It is set in and around Stratford-upon-Avon. Echoes of Justice is the second in the series and Bren is working on the third. She will be reading from this work.

Lynn Macwhinnie

Lynn Macwhinnie’s work in progress is set in the Australian outback. One character has inspired a short story for this reading. Lynne made the Fish Publishing long list in the short memoire competition that helps spur her on. She self-published Emotional Wisdom with Bach Flower Remedies which has been translated into five languages. Instagram: @bachflowerwisdom www.lynnmacwhinnie.com Twitter: @LynnMacwhinnie

David Muir

David Muir was born in Scotland in 1947 and attended a number of boarding schools in England. He spent over twenty years as a university lecturer. Having now retired, David spends time writing fiction, a blog and poetry. He lives with his wife in Solihull. http://www.davidmuir.website

Ellie Stevenson

Ellie Stevenson is a writers’ coach and the author of three novels. Shadows of a Lost Poet, an historical novel with a time travel twist, is due out this year. Her books feature mystery and mayhem – with some humour. She is a member of the SoA and ALLi. https://elliestevenson.com/

Twitter: @stevensonauthor Instagram: @elliestevensonauthor

Jann Tracy

Jann Tracy writes fiction and poetry but publishes non-fiction in her Stratford Small Histories Series. The first, Marie Corelli: Shakespeare’s Champion is available on Amazon – and on the cusp of coming out are two more: Stratford Women and Stratford and the Gunpowder Plot. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marie...

Richard Vaughan-Davis

In the Shadow of Shakespeare - The amazing secret of Shakespeare’s real identity finally revealed.

When four actors performing "Hamlet" in Stratford- upon- Avon discover the real identity of the playwright, it seems the Shadow of the Bard does not want the centuries-old secret revealed. Dramatic warnings mirror the killings in the play.

Get in touch here if you'd like to be considered as a participant. Numbers strictly limited.