Local authors, writers and poets from Derbyshire

HIlary Mantel is originally from Derbyshire

There are many local authors in Derbyshire making an impact on the contemporary literary scene, most notably of all perhaps is Hilary Mantel who hails from Glossop.  

Here we profile some of the talented writers you can find in the County, both from the past and the present day.

 

Mark Gwynne Jones

http://markgwynnejones.com/

Derbyshire-born performance poet Mark is well known for mind altering poetry with an almost music-hall edge and has been called “Inspired” by the Guardian and “Astonishing” by the Daily Mail.  Mark will be appearing at the Derbyshire Literature Festival in 2015, in an otherwise packed engagements diary.  Find out more about Mark on his website or read the recent Guardian interview he gave.

 

Steven Dunne

http://sdunne2013.wordpress.com

Steven Dunne has been based in Derby since 1996 and is the author of the best-selling DI Brook thrillers. The first of this series was the self-published Reaper, about a serial killer who strikes in Derby which sold over 1,500 copies after publishing it in 2007, resulting in a commercial deal being offered by Harper Collins and an international release of the book in 2009. 

Steven followed this debut novel with The Disciple in 2010, Deity in 2012 and The Unquiet Grave in 2013.  The Sun newspaper has described his work as “fast paced and thrilling, crime writing at its best”.

 

Anne Zouroudi

http://www.annezouroudi.com/

Anne currently lives in the Peak District with her son and is the award-winning author of the highly acclaimed “Greek Detective” crime series set in modern Greece. In this series the central character is known as “the fat man”. Anne’s life in the Greek Islands has also recently featured in the ITV primetime documentary I Married the Waiter. 

Anne has given some wonderful talks in libraries all over Derbyshire, giving a fascinating insight into the inspirations behind her stories, and leaving everyone desperate to know her next move now that she has finished the seven novels about the Greek Detective!

 

Abi Burlingham

http://abiburlingham.com/

Abi currently lives in Derbyshire with her children and rescue greyhound. First published in 2006, Abi is best known as the author of the “Ruby and Grub” picture books series. Abi has recently published A Mystery for Megan the first of her Buttercup Magic series for 6-9-year-olds.  Abi also leads workshops in schools and teaches.

 

Caryl Hart

http://www.carylhart.com/

Caryl is an award-winning author of children's picture books with Supermarket Zoo and Don’t Dip Your Chips in Your Drink, Kate! amongst her titles popular with young audiences.  Caryl also runs creative literacy workshops in schools and libraries and has appeared at the Derbyshire Literature Festival in past years.  She lives in the Peak District and her favourite place is the local library because it's warm and full of books.

 

Alison Uttley 

http://www.alisonuttley.co.uk/

Alison Uttley was born in 1884 near Cromford, was educated at Lea School in Holloway and then Lady Manners School in Bakewell. She was a prolific writer, writing over 100 books during her career.  Alison Uttley is best known for her children's series Little Grey Rabbit, Little Red Fox and Sam Pig, though she later wrote for older children and adults.  With her later writing, she particularly focussed on rural topics.  The Country Child is a fictionalized account of her childhood experiences at her family farm home, Castle Top Farm. In 2009 her private diaries, covering the period 1932 to 1971, were published for the first time. The Alison Uttley Society have a website dedicated to the author’s work.

 

Christine Poulson 

http://www.christinepoulson.co.uk/

Christine currently lives with her family in a water mill in Derbyshire. She is a crime writer best known for the Cassandra James series, which feature a literary historian and accidental sleuth. 


Ann Featherstone 

http://www.writingeastmidlands.co.uk/writers-directory/ann-featherstone/

Ann was born in Ilkeston. Her first library book, Enid Blyton’s Children of Sunnybrook Farm was borrowed from the Children’s Library at Ilkeston leading to a lifelong love of books and reading.  Ann has authored several non-fiction books about the Victorian entertainment industry including The Victorian Clown.   Ann has also written two historical novels The Newgate Jig and Walking in Pimlico.

Ig Oliver

https://www.ig-oliver-author.com/

Ig Oliver was involved in a serious motorbike accident in 1979, and moved to his parent's home in Ticknall, Derbyshire to convalesce, later attending the now demolished Wilmorton Catering College Derby, working in many of the local restaurants in the area. His career as a chef took him up and down the country, and eventually abroad, working for many celebrities, politicians, and royal families including our own.

But now, over recent years he has put his artistic skills and imagination to pen and paper to write and illustrate children's adventure fairy-tale books, drawing from his own experiences and his children's demands to create new stories, receiving writing awards for his books and appearing on BBC Radio Derby and published by Ventorros Press children's book publishers.

His New Book The Butterfly Bee Lady - The Black - part 2 of a series will be published in February 2023.

 

Independent bookshops in Derbyshire

The work of all of these writers is not just available on Amazon!  You could try buying books from the wonderful bookshops we have in the County, or you can borrow them from your local library.

Search the library service’s book stock online and find out what your local library has in stock or pay a visit to one of the many independent bookshops around the County. 

Read this guide to secondhand and antiquarian bookshops in Derbyshire too.

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