Nick Croydon has more than 25 years’ experience shaping stories from the boardroom, leading international publishing houses and book retail giants across then UK and Australia.

Now the CEO of QBD Books Australia, Nick has shifted from nurturing the literary dreams of others to realising one of his own with his debut novel, The Turing Protocol. Born in Surrey, England, and now living in Brisbane with his Spanish wife, Esther, and their children, Nick brings a rare insider’s perspective to the page: one honed in the engine rooms of the book world, now turned toward storytelling itself.

Connect with Nick Croydon:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theturingprotocol/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw%3D%3D#

Dr Lee Kofman is a Russian-born Israeli-Australian author of six books and editor of three anthologies, writing teacher and mentor based in Melbourne.

Her numerous short stories, short creative non-fiction and poetry have been published widely in Australia, Scotland, UK, Israel, USA and Canada in such publications as Best Australian Stories, Malahat Review, Meanjin, Griffith Review and Brand among others.

She is a regular participant in literary festivals, has been a judge or assessor for multiple awards and literary competitions and her work has been shortlisted for accolades such as the Nib Literary Award and the ABIA awards.

Lee’s writing and reading life began in a remote Siberian village where she recited her first poem to an admiring crowd of illiterate babushkas.

Connect with Dr Lee Kofman:

Website: https://leekofman.com.au/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafo_hPY75NaU_dmpq-fcyTa8P9Q2Q8Ot_r6YsZXeh1qlbYZwKQYnI8rEg82oQ_aem_zso_7FUK4-ewG0J-yuFHbQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leekofman?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-kofman-phd-b7482a19?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BOxSwAIeuStynWA3%2Fs2u30Q%3D%3D

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008964011013

Wendy Dale is an author and a seasoned memoir-writing coach challenging conventional advice about writing.

With fifteen years of experience reviewing thousands of manuscripts, Wendy developed the Memoir Engineering System, detailed in her upcoming book of the same name, which was published in January 2025.

She is also creating the world’s first writers reality show based in Peru! Her clients include prominent media organizations such as Entertainment Weekly, The New York Post, and NBC.

Wendy is the author of the memoir Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals and resides in Cusco, Peru with her husband and two bunnies.

Connect with Wendy Dale:

Website: https://www.geniusmemoirwriting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/writerwendydale?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BJuDaJ7SRTKiJUv5Urj%2BCjw%3D%3D

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@memoirwritingforgeniuses

Edwina Shaw is a Queensland writer and editor of fiction, memoir and screenplays. Her first novel, Thrill Seekers, based on her brother’s battle with schizophrenia, was shortlisted for the 2012 NSW Premier’s Awards.

Since 2002, over forty of her short pieces have been awarded and widely published in Australian and international journals, including Best Australian Stories, Griffith Review, Island, Grieve anthologies and Asia Literary Review.

Edwina has run Relax and Write Retreats, affordable retreats for women and non-binary folk, since 2017, and is passionate about helping people heal through getting their stories onto the page.

She lives on unceded Ugarapul Country (Ipswich), west of Brisbane, in a 160-year-old stone cottage full of secrets. She writes because she can’t stop.

Connect with Edwina Shaw:

Website: https://edwinashaw.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAac9JJ-B-5T7wZrte32KHsf99CUlJp5fWB5MX_9CmmWjfJa2sdGm5xJ3hgLykg_aem_vGcUDgxS1QRW2Ct8qimwSQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinashawauthor?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edwina.jean.2025/

Email: edwinashaw@icloud.com

SubStack: Edwina Shaw

Jai Heer is the founder and CEO of AMSPPC. His company helps nonfiction authors run scalable book advertising campaigns that generate readers on autopilot on Amazon using KDP AMS and boost their brand value on Amazon.

Jai is a self-published author who brings expertise, patience and a passion for seeing authors succeed.

Connect with Jai Heer:

Website: https://amsppc.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jai-singh-profile?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BrpCmPdVXQEuKxKuKWYYBJA%3D%3D

Email: jaipreet.singh83@gmail.com

Jacinta Tynan is a journalist, former news presenter, columnist, author, MC and mother to two teenage boys. Jacinta has published five books, her most recent: The Single Mother’s Social Club - Inspiration and advice on embracing single parenthood (Murdoch Books). She has been a regular columnist with Sunday Life and Body+Soul and contributes to various publications including Stellar.

After leaving her successful career as a national TV news anchor, she founded The Spiritual Book Club sharing inspirational books and author interviews - including the likes of Gabby Bernstein, Deepak Chopra and Rebecca Campbell - with like minded souls.

Passionate about social causes, Jacinta is an Ambassador for The Warrior Woman Foundation and Raise Foundation providing in-school mentoring to high school kids across the country.

For more information, visit: https://jacintatynan.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaci7BBdpF9zKJOFQ0RUi7GR4OaiwI3fZ6CVXW3QA3dxWNEReiZOhs7ghk5kwQ_aem_KVmi8gHgJl66B3hX4d0CRQ

Karen Jacobsen is the president of the Whitsundays Writers Festival and deeply involved in the arts scene.

Driven to follow her dream and born to light up the stage, Karen studied in Brisbane where she began her professional career, and on to piano bars, jazz trios and voice-over work in Sydney before moving to New York City with one suitcase becoming an award-winning Singer and Songwriter.

Being given the role of the GPS girl changed Karen’s life, allowing her to create her empowerment brand The GPS Girl, giving directions for life and business and showing how to navigate change powerfully.

For more information visit:

https://karenjacobsen.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae5LM9ldm_R4dI2Hz5l5oD6Bk-c2YmmIDAvMsBVuf8C8i7-WXxJOWf2URDB9Q_aem_XGZ2ZaZZVf9wNr952NiQhw

https://www.whitsundayswriters.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafoC9D8D8fJvMGFKtvYDjELc_1Zd8ctV1LJ-GVR8bccbfdIrTWU7emU2RxSNg_aem_B71XwcnoE2KGvDF9Bx82qQ

Danielle Colley is a coach, speaker, workshop facilitator and award-winning author of The Chocolate Bar Life, which was published by Hembury Books in July 2024.

For the past five years, Danielle has been helping people who are feeling stuck and dissatisfied with their lives to reach their full potential. As a former journalist working for The Australian Women's Weekly and Sunday Life, and a struggling solo parent of two young children, Danielle understands how hustle and grind impacts our ability to live a rewarding life and has developed techniques to rid ourselves of anxiety, overwhelm and burnout.

Embodying delicious balance, Danielle lives by the sea one hour south of Sydney, with her husband, her two kids, and their goofy dog, Rocky.

For more information, visit: https://daniellecolley.com.au/