Abigail Ottley is an English teacher turned poet who has published several pieces of work and was nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

Donald Adamson hails from Dumfries and won the Autumn Voices flash poetry competition for September 2022. Having worked as an English teacher in France, Finland, Iran, Kuwait, he now works as a lecturer in Finland.

Caroline Johnstone is a senior legal advisor, workshop facilitator, coach, writer, poet, and hypnotherapist. She runs poetry for Write Lines, a wellbeing group, and is the poet in residence for Dundonald Castle and Visitor Centre in East Ayrshire.

Sara Baker trained as a social worker in the 80s, before opening antique and book shops in the Highlands and France. She has now settled in Linlithgow with her partner.

Kay Ritchie was a photographer and radio producer; her poem was highly commended in the Autumn Voices’ Living Our Dying competition.

June Webster, a retired accounts manager, writes short stories and poems. After living in Rome, she returned to writing, completing courses and working on a book of poems for her daughter who passed away.

Mary Goggin wrote a piece on our website about her play in Edinburgh which explores her turbulent upbringing and youth.

Jane Campbell grew up in Zambia and Cape Town, before training and lecturing internationally as a Group Analyst. She published her debut short story collection, Cat Brushing, at the age of 80.

Jayne Baldwin is based in Wigtown, Scotland, and runs Foggie Toddle Books and Second Sands Publishing. She has been a journalist, yoga teacher, mother, and has run her own publishing company.

Stewart Conn has been published by Polygon and Bloodaxe. He lives in Edinburgh, where he became the capital’s inaugural laureate from 2002-2005.

Hilary Hawker trained as a teacher in Birmingham after travelling to Uganda. She has now lived in Galloway for over 40 years, where she enjoys a huge garden.

A C Clark has published five full collections and six pamphlets of poetry. She is currently working on series of surrealist poems.

Lindsay Oliver lives in Leith with tabby cat called Parrot. Her poems have been published online, by Lallans, and Hybrid Press.

Peter Davies won the Autumn Voices flash poetry competition on Dance. He was a social worker and educational advisor in the midlands before taking early retirement and moving back to South Wales.