Penelope Lively is the author of many prize-winning novels and short story collections for both adults and children. She has twice been shortlisted for the Booker Prize; once in 1977 for her first novel, The Road to Lichfield, and again in 1984 for According to Mark. She later won the 1987 Booker Prize for her highly acclaimed novel Moon Tiger. Her novels include Passing On, shortlisted for the 1989 Sunday Express Book of the Year Award, City of the Mind, Cleopatra's Sister, Heat Wave and her latest, Consequences. Many of her books, including Going Back, which first appeared as a children's book, and Oleander, Jacaranda, an autobiographical memoir of her childhood days in Egypt, are published in Penguin.She published her memoir, Ammonites and Leaping Fish, in 2013.

Robert Goddard was born in Hampshire. He read History at Cambridge and worked as an educational administrator in Devon before becoming a full-time novelist. His bestselling novels are: Past Caring, In Pale Battalions,Painting the Darkness, Into the Blue (winner of the first WH Smith Thumping Good Read Award and dramatized for TV in 1997, starring John Thaw), Take No Farewell, Hand in Glove, Closed Circle, Borrowed Time, Out of the Sun (a sequel to Into the Blue), Beyond Recall, Caught in the Light,Set in Stone, Sea Change, Dying to Tell, Days Without Number and Play to the End, Sight Unseen, Name to a Face, Found Wanting, Long Time Coming and Blood Count.His latest novel,The Ends of the Earth,is published in paperback in June.

Nicholas Evans was born and grew up in Worcestershire and was a screenwriter and film producer before writing his first novel, the phenomenal number one bestseller The Horse Whisperer. It has now been translated into 36 languages and sold more than fifteen million copies worldwide since its publication in 1995. It is now also a Hollywood film, starring and directed by Robert Redford. He is also the author of The Loopand The Smoke Jumper. Nicholas Evans lives in Devon and London

Juliet Barker a distinguished biographer, medievalist and scholar. She is both a bestselling historian and a critically acclaimed expert on the Brontes. From 1983 to 1989 she was the curator and librarian of the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Her book, 'The Brontes: A Life in Letters', has just been updated and republished to coincide with Charlotte Bronte's 200th anniversary .

Jane Corry is a novelist, creative-writing tutor and journalist. Her first psychological thriller, ‘My Husband’s Wife’ will be published by Penguin Viking in August. As a journalist she trained with the Thomson graduate scheme before writing for numerous nationals, including Woman, the Daily Telegraph and the Times. From 2007 to 2010, Jane was writer-in-residence of HMP Grendon, a high-security male prison. During that period, she also taught at Oxford University’s department for continuing education; she lectured on the university’s MA in creative writing; and was an outreach tutor for special-needs groups in Hertfordshire. Jane is a frequent guest on BBC Radio 4 (Woman’s Hour, The Learning Curve), Radio Devon and breakfast television. She is a past winner of the Elizabeth Goudge award and the Vera Brittain cup, besides being a regular speaker at the Winchester Writers’ Conference and the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival in Italy. Jane is also a life-story judge for the Koestler awards, for prisoners and those in secure units. In 2009, Jane moved from Hertfordshire to Devon where she lives with her husband and youngest son. Jane is on the executive committee of the Sidmouth Literary Festival.

Veronica Henry began her career as a script typist for Radio 4s 'The Archers'. After two years in Ambridge she became a script editor for Central Television, then jumped over the fence and wrote scripts for ten years for many of our best loved dramas, including Boon, Heartbeat and Holby City. Her secret wish to become a novelist was fulfilled in 2000. Her fourth novel,An Eligible Bachelor, was shortlisted for the RNA Novel of the Year Award 2006. Veronica lives with her husband and three sons in a village in North Devon.

Simon Weston CBE is a former British Army soldier who became well known throughout the United Kingdom for his courageous recovery and charity work after suffering severe burn injuries during the Falklands War.

Simon's story has been well publicised and he has been the subject of five major BBC Television documentaries: Simon's War, Simon's Peace, Simon's Triumph, Simon's Return and in April 1999, Simon's Journey. He has been a 'victim' on This is Your Life. His autobiography, Walking Tall, was No1 in the best selling list. Going Back was also a best seller being in the top 10 for eight weeks. He then wrote a series of fiction books with titles such as Cause of Death and Phoenix. His most recent book, Moving On was published in 2003 and sees Simon lay his Falklands ghosts to rest. Simon has also published 4 childrens books - Get Fit With Nelson.
Simon is joined by  Radio Devon Presenter and co-author of the Nelson books David Fitzgerald.

Judi Spiers is one of Devon’s most popular and highly respected broadcasters. Renowned for her sharp wit and naturally engaging personality.

Kate Hamer grew up in Pembrokeshire and after studying Art worked in television for over ten years. Her debut novel THE GIRL IN THE RED COAT was published by Faber & Faber and by Melville House in the US. It has sold in over fifteen other territories. Kate also won the Rhys Davies short story prize in 2011 and the story One Summer was broadcast on Radio 4. THE GIRL IN THE RED COAT has been shortlisted for the John Creasy (new Blood) Dagger award, the Costa First Novel Prize and a Bookseller award. She lives in Cardiff with her husband.

Penrose Halson's career encompassed teaching, writing, editing and, to her astonishment, becoming first lady Master of a City Livery Company. Her determined mother sent her to the Katharine Allen Marriage & Advice Bureau, of which she became proprietor in 1986. In 1992 it incorporated Heather Jenner's agency. Aged forty-eight she finally delighted her mother by marrying and lives in London with her husband.