Some of the
Rubery Book Award Winners
Authors are listed alphabetically by last name.
Jacob M. Appel
Short Fiction Winner - 2019
​Rubery Winner - 2013
Jacob M. Appel is an American author, physician, lawyer, bioethicist, and social critic, known for his versatile literary output spanning novels, short stories, essays, poetry, and drama. Born in New York City in 1973, he holds multiple graduate degrees, including an M.D. from Columbia University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from New York University. His debut novel, The Man Who Wouldn’t Stand Up, won the 2013 International Rubery Book Award, and his work has also been recognized by the Boston Review Short Fiction Competition, the William Faulkner–William Wisdom Award, and the Hudson Prize, among others. Appel’s writing is celebrated for its wit, insight, and humanity, blending sharp social observation with moral and ethical exploration. He currently teaches at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, contributes widely to debates in medical ethics, and continues to produce fiction and nonfiction that engage both literary and scholarly audiences.
Yvonne Baker
Poetry Winner — 2025
Yvonne Baker is a British writer whose work is defined by its emotional resonance, thoughtful pacing, and insightful exploration of relationships. Her writing often engages with themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the intricacies of human connection, creating narratives that feel intimate yet universally relatable. Baker’s work has been recognised for its clarity, warmth, and underlying strength — qualities that shine in her 2025 Rubery Award–winning book. Judges highlighted her ability to balance tenderness with honesty, crafting stories that linger long after the final page. Whether writing fiction or memoir-based narrative, Baker demonstrates a talent for capturing quiet, transformative moments in everyday life. Her voice is compassionate and observant, offering readers both comfort and depth. The 2025 award marks a significant achievement in a growing literary career that continues to draw attention for its integrity and heartfelt storytelling.
​Gerard Beirne
Fiction Winner — 2025
Gerard Beirne is an Irish writer celebrated for his atmospheric, lyrical fiction and his ability to explore the subtle complexities of human relationships. His writing often weaves together landscape, memory, and emotional introspection, grounding his stories in strikingly evocative settings. The Thickness of Ice, winner of the 2025 Rubery Fiction Award, showcases Beirne’s talent for crafting immersive, psychologically rich narratives. Set in the subarctic North, the novel blends the stark physical environment with the internal journeys of its characters, creating a powerful emotional resonance. Beirne’s wider body of work includes novels, short stories, and poetry that have earned critical acclaim and recognition on prestigious literary lists. Known for his quiet intensity and lyrical control, Beirne continues to establish himself as a distinctive voice in contemporary fiction, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the fragile yet profound ties that connect people to place and to one another.
Keith Chandler
​Poetry winner - 2018
Keith Chandler is a British poet who was born in Nigeria and educated at Christ’s Hospital and New College, Oxford.  Over the years, he worked as a schoolteacher in Liverpool, London, and Norfolk before retiring and moving to Bridgnorth in Shropshire.  Chandler has published several poetry collections, including Kett’s Rebellion (Carcanet, 1982), Passing Trade (O.H.P., 1991), A Different Kind of Smoke (Redbeck, 2001), and The English Civil War Part 2 (Peterloo Poets, 2008).  His collection The Goldsmith’s Apprentice (Fair Acre Press) won the International Rubery Poetry Award in 2018.  Known for his empathy and wit, his poems often explore ordinary lives, work, history, and the passage of time. Since retiring from teaching, he has become an active member of the Bridgnorth Writers and Border Poets groups.
Isabel Sun Chao and Claire Chao
​Book of the Year - 2019​
Isabel Sun Chao and her daughter Claire Chao are the award-winning co-authors of Remembering Shanghai: A Memoir of Socialites, Scholars and Scoundrels. The book blends Isabel’s vivid recollections of growing up in 1930s and 1940s Shanghai with Claire’s extensive historical research, tracing five generations of their remarkable family. Rich with vintage photographs and cultural detail, the memoir offers a personal window into Shanghai’s golden era and its turbulent aftermath.
Claire Chao graduated with highest honours from Princeton University and built a distinguished career in luxury brand management before turning to writing full-time. Isabel Sun Chao, born into the prominent Sun family, brings first-hand insight into a world of privilege, upheaval, and resilience. Remembering Shanghai has earned nearly 30 literary honours, including the International Rubery Book Award – Book of the Year (2019), which recognised its narrative depth, historical value, and emotional power.
Evelyn Conlon
Poetry Winner - 2022
Evelyn Conlon is one of Ireland’s most distinctive and accomplished writers, celebrated for her sharp insight, wit, and deeply human storytelling. Born in County Monaghan, she spent several years living in Australia before returning to Ireland, where she now resides in Dublin. A member of Aosdána, she is the author of four novels, including Stars in the Daytime and Not the Same Sky, as well as four acclaimed short-story collections. Her work frequently explores themes of migration, justice, feminism, and the complexities of personal and political identity. Evelyn has held numerous international writing residencies and has long been committed to nurturing new voices. She has taught and mentored emerging writers through Carlow University’s MFA programme, among others. Her recent essay collection, Reading Rites, offers a reflective, provocative look at the experiences and ideas that have shaped her life and writing. Evelyn Conlon continues to be a powerful, influential voice in contemporary Irish literature.
Annie Dawid
​Fiction Winner - 2016
Annie Dawid is an award-winning novelist, essayist, and creative writing teacher based in South-Central Colorado. She taught English and directed the Creative Writing program at Lewis & Clark College for 15 years before turning to writing full-time. Her debut novel, York Ferry, earned the International Rubery Book Award in Fiction. She is also the author of Lily in the Desert (short stories), And Darkness Was Under His Feet: Stories of a Family (linked stories), and Put Off My Sackcloth: Essays. Her latest book, Paradise Undone: A Novel of Jonestown, was published in 2023 after years of in-depth research into the Jonestown tragedy. Living in a remote mountain valley, Annie continues to write, create visual art, design rugs, and teach in the University College Master’s programme in Creative Writing at the University of Denver. Her work blends historical insight, emotional depth, and narrative craft to engage and illuminate human experience.
​Peter Deadman
YA Winner — 2025
Peter Deadman is a writer, editor, and long-established wellbeing advocate whose work blends narrative craft with a deep interest in health, lifestyle, and human flourishing. Known for his contributions to acupuncture, qigong, and integrative wellbeing literature, Deadman brings an insightful, reflective quality to his creative writing. His 2025 Rubery Award–winning work demonstrates his ability to translate lived experience and philosophical understanding into compelling storytelling. Deadman’s writing stands out for its clarity, compassion, and thoughtful engagement with themes such as personal growth, balance, and the search for meaning. Across his varied career — which includes publishing influential nonfiction, founding wellness publications, and teaching internationally — he has earned respect for his commitment to accessible, transformative knowledge. His Rubery-winning book highlights his strength as a storyteller capable of weaving emotional depth with contemplative insight.
Becky Ellis
​Non Fiction Winner - 2024
Becky Ellis is an American memoirist, teacher, and longtime publishing professional based in Portland, Oregon. After earning a BA in English Literature from UC Berkeley, she worked for more than twenty years in the publishing industry before shifting her focus to writing and teaching. She has taught with Write Around Portland and Blackbird Studio for Writers, helping emerging writers find clarity and voice. Her debut memoir, Little Avalanches, explores her childhood relationship with her father, a decorated World War II combat veteran whose trauma shaped the emotional landscape of her family. Ellis writes with honesty, restraint, and deep compassion as she traces the lingering effects of generational silence. The memoir was widely acclaimed and won the 2024 Rubery Book Award for Nonfiction, as well as additional honours for military and historical writing. Ellis continues to write and teach, focusing on healing narratives and personal transformation.
‘Atu Emberson-Bain
Book of the Year - 2024
‘Atu Emberson-Bain is a Tongan-born Pacific Islander writer, academic, and human-rights advocate based in Fiji. Educated at Oxford, London University, the Australian National University (PhD), and the University of the South Pacific, she has worked in social development, documentary filmmaking, and as a regional adviser for the United Nations. Cries from the Moana, created with her sons Melino and Siale Bain-Vete and illustrated by her granddaughter Anga’aefonu (“Auntie Fonu”) Bain-Vete, is a landmark intergenerational collaboration. The book blends Pacific mythology with a powerful environmental message about deep-sea mining and ocean stewardship. Its cultural resonance and activism earned it international acclaim: it won the 2024 Rubery Book Award (Book of the Year). The project showcases the family’s deep ties to Moana identity and their commitment to protecting ancestral waters through art, storytelling, and Pacific perspectives.
Robin Anne Ettles
​Short Fiction Winner - 2020
Robin Anne Ettles is a multidisciplinary Canadian artist, musician, and writer whose creative work spans short fiction, television, film, and music. Originally from Edmonton (Amiskwacîwâskahikan), she now lives on Prince Edward Island (Epekwitk). As a bassist and guitarist, she has toured across North America, Europe, and Australia, and contributed musical scores to documentaries for Radio‑Canada. Her first book of short stories won the 2020 International Rubery Book Award in the Short Stories category. She holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from l’Université de Moncton. Ettles’s work is celebrated for its lyrical prose, emotional depth, and the way it explores identity, family, and the surreal edges of everyday life. In addition to her literary achievements, she continues to create music and visual art, blending multiple disciplines to craft unique, immersive experiences for her audience.
​Tracy Fahey
Short Fiction Winner — 2025
Tracy Fahey is an Irish writer whose work spans folklore, Gothic traditions, and contemporary social themes. Known for blending the uncanny with emotional insight, Fahey creates fiction that is both atmospheric and deeply human. Her stories often draw inspiration from Irish cultural histories, exploring how folklore shapes identity, memory, and the way we interpret the world around us. Across her career, she has published acclaimed novels, short-story collections, and academic work on Gothic studies, earning recognition within both literary and scholarly circles. Fahey’s writing is praised for its evocative imagery, strong sense of place, and its subtle examination of fear — whether supernatural or psychological. Her 2025 Rubery-winning work demonstrates her signature ability to merge narrative tension with emotional depth, offering readers a compelling, richly layered experience. Fahey continues to contribute to contemporary Gothic literature with a voice that is innovative, thoughtful, and resonant.
Ashley Marie Farmer is an acclaimed American writer whose work spans poetry, essays, and hybrid nonfiction. Her essay collection Dear Damage (Sarabande Books, 2022) — winner of the 2022 International Rubery Book Award in Non-Fiction — explores trauma, family history and the complexities of intimacy with lyrical power and formal innovation. Farmer’s earlier work includes a prize-winning poetry collection and numerous essays and stories published in journals such as TriQuarterly, The Progressive and Salt Hill Journal. She has been recognised with honours including the Ninth Letter Literary Award in Creative Nonfiction, a Pushcart Prize, and distinctions in Best American Essays. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Farmer writes from a place where introspection meets cultural critique, crafting work that is both personal and piercingly observant.
Ashley Marie Farmer
​Non Fiction Winner - 2022
Eleanor Fitzsimons
​Non Fiction Winner - 2020
Eleanor Fitzsimons is a distinguished Irish researcher, biographer, journalist, and occasional broadcaster whose work focuses on recovering the lives of remarkable women. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Business Studies from University College Dublin and later earned an MA in Women, Gender, and Society with first-class honors. Fitzsimons has contributed to The Sunday Times, The Guardian, and The Irish Times, among other publications, and has worked on several primetime television programs for RTÉ. Her acclaimed biography, The Life and Loves of E. Nesbit: Victorian Iconoclast, Children’s Author, and Creator of The Railway Children, won the 2020 International Rubery Book Award for Non-Fiction. She lives in Dublin with her husband and two children. Fitzsimons’s work is celebrated for its meticulous research, narrative flair, and ability to illuminate overlooked figures, bringing historical women vividly to life for modern readers.
Stef Gemmill & Mel Armstrong
Children's Winner - 2020
Stef Gemmill & Mel Armstrong are the writer–illustrator team behind the heartwarming picture book A Home for Luna, which won the 2020 International Rubery Book Award in the Children’s category.
Stef Gemmill is an international award-winning children’s author with a background as a Montessori teacher, technical writer, and music journalist. She draws on her varied experience to create stories that are imaginative and emotionally resonant, often rooted in themes of belonging and change.
Mel Armstrong is a New Zealand–born illustrator and surface pattern designer based in Wellington. A former dancer turned graphic artist, Mel’s whimsical, colorful style brings Gemmill’s words to life with warmth and vibrancy.
​Through their collaboration, they have created a tale of home, friendship, and resilience that resonates deeply with young readers. Their work continues to inspire children and educators alike with stories that celebrate imagination, empathy, and the magic of everyday life
JL George
​YA Winner - 2022
JL George is a Welsh author whose work explores speculative and dystopian fiction with sharp social insight and vivid imagination. Born in Cardiff and raised in Torfaen, George draws on a background in academia—having completed a PhD on the evolution of the “weird tale”—to craft stories that challenge genre norms and provoke thought. Her debut novel, The Word, won the Rubery Book Award in 2022 for its gripping portrayal of power, identity and resistance in a fragmented Britain. George’s fiction also earned a New Welsh Writing Award and a shortlist for the Rhys Davies Short Story Competition. Based in Cardiff, she balances writing with a love of baking, alternative music and caring for a collection of long-suffering houseplants. With a distinctive voice and imaginative reach, JL George is emerging as a compelling talent in contemporary genre fiction.
Chad Alan Gibbs
YA Winner - 2019
Chad Alan Gibbs is an award-winning American writer and journalist, author of four novels including Bardo by the Sea, Graves upon Bones, and The Rome of Fall. His debut novel, Two Like Me and You, won the 2019 International Rubery Book Award for Young Adult fiction and was named a Best Book of 2019 by Kirkus Reviews. Gibbs has contributed non-fiction to CNN.com and The Washington Post, appeared on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, and wrote a humor column about life as a stay-at-home dad for three years. He lives in Alabama with his wife and two sons, balancing family life with a prolific and genre-spanning writing career. Gibbs’s work is celebrated for its compelling storytelling, rich character development, and the ability to engage readers across multiple genres, from young adult fiction to suspenseful thrillers.
Sean Godfrey
Fiction Winner - 2023
Sean Godfrey is an award-winning writer whose work straddles fiction and deep emotional themes. His novel Sasha Knight was honored by the Rubery Book Award, marking a significant achievement in independent publishing. Godfrey’s storytelling is praised for its vivid sense of place and emotional urgency, exploring complex family dynamics, identity, and redemption. His Rubery win has raised his profile in indie literary circles, and he continues to engage with readers through his compelling, character-driven work.
Carlos Andrés Gómez
Poetry Winner - 2023
Carlos Andrés Gómez is a Colombian-American poet, spoken-word artist, actor, and educator based in Atlanta. He holds a BA in History from the University of Pennsylvania and an MFA from the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. His debut full-length poetry collection, Fractures, was awarded the 2020 Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry. The book has since won a host of awards: the 2021 Midwest Book Award (Gold), 2021 Independent Publisher Book Award Silver Medal in Poetry, the 2022 Independent Author Network (IAN) Book of the Year for Poetry, the 2023 Rubery International Book Award for Poetry, and the 2024 North American Book Award Gold Medal for Poetry.
In addition, he released Circling Fatherhood, which won the 2024 Poetry International Chapbook Prize, and a memoir, Man Up: Reimagining Modern Manhood, published by Penguin Random House. As a performer, Gómez has appeared on HBO’s “Def Poetry Jam”, TV One’s Verses and Flow, and acted in Spike Lee’s film Inside Man. He has also toured globally, delivering keynotes and performances at more than 1,500 institutions across 29 countries.
Some of the other prizes he has won include: the Yeats International Poetry Prize (2024), the Sandy Crimmins National Prize for Poetry (2019), the Lucille Clifton Poetry Prize (2015), and the Atlanta Review International Poetry Prize (2018).
Sasha Harding
​Non Fiction Winner - 2015
Sasha Harding is a British fine artist and writer based in Cornwall, whose work is inspired by the sea and coastal landscapes. She studied Fine Art at Falmouth College and has been painting for over 25 years, often using a limited palette of just three colours plus white to emphasise form, light, and narrative. Her paintings feature rock pools, crashing waves, and seaside scenes, blending quirkiness, humour, and a loving eye for the natural world. Sasha has also written an illustrated travelogue documenting her walk along the South West Coast Path and a children’s book, Plop!, reflecting her playful and imaginative storytelling. Sasha exhibits regularly across the UK, and her work is held in private collections worldwide. Through her art and writing, she invites viewers and readers to experience the beauty, drama, and joy of coastal life, celebrating nature’s rhythms with both insight and charm.
Oz Hardwick
​Poetry Winner - 2019
Oz Hardwick is a York-based poet, photographer, occasional musician, and academic with a gift for writing across media. He has published numerous collections and chapbooks, including Learning to Have Lost (IPSI, 2018), which won the 2019 International Rubery Book Award in the poetry category. As a Professor of Creative Writing at Leeds Trinity University, Oz leads postgraduate writing programmes and brings his lifelong experience of writing, teaching, and performing to both students and readers. His work has been widely published in international journals and anthologies, and he’s performed at festivals worldwide. He has also co-edited important anthologies—such as The Valley Press Anthology of Yorkshire Poetry—highlighting his commitment to community and collaboration in the poetry world.
Jaq Hazell
​Book of the Year - 2017
Jaq Hazell is an award-winning British-Irish author whose work spans young adult fiction, psychological thrillers, and short stories. Her YA novel My Life as a Bench won the International Rubery Book of the Year in 2017 and also received the Carousel Aware Prize for Best Young Adult Book. Her debut thriller, I Came to Find a Girl, was selected by The Telegraph as one of the Best Crime Fiction titles of 2015 and was shortlisted for the Virginia Prize, establishing her as a bold and distinctive voice in contemporary fiction. Born near Portsmouth to a mixed Irish-English family, Jaq studied Textile Design at Nottingham Trent University before completing an MA in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. She has worked as a greetings-cards designer, journalist, and magazine editor. Jaq now lives in London with her partner and their two daughters, continuing to write stories that challenge, provoke, and move readers.
Rosie Hewlett
Book of the Year - 2021
Rosie Hewlett is an English author known for her powerful retellings of Greek myths, especially those that give forgotten women a voice. Born in 1995, she graduated from the University of Birmingham with a first-class degree in Classical Literature and Civilisation. Her debut novel, Medusa, first published independently in 2021, went on to win the International Rubery Book of the Year Award, earning widespread acclaim for its lyrical writing and fresh perspective. Rosie later released Medea (also titled The Witch of Colchis), which quickly became a Sunday Times bestseller. Her stories blend careful research with imaginative storytelling, making ancient tales feel vivid, emotional, and modern.
Now writing full-time, Rosie lives in Kent with her husband. She continues to draw inspiration from her lifelong love of classical mythology, bringing new depth, empathy, and empowerment to the legendary women who shape her work.
Jesse James and Catalina Echeverri
Illustrated Children's Winner - 2022
Jessie James is a UK-based children’s author with a gift for blending gentle storytelling and powerful messages.
Catalina Echeverri, is a Colombian-born illustrator based in London, known for her expressive, emotionally rich artwork. Trained in graphic design and illustration, she has illustrated numerous acclaimed children’s books and is recognised for her distinctive, character-driven visual style. She was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration (2024) for April’s Garden.
​In 2022, The Wall won the International Rubery Book Award in the Illustrated Children’s Books category, praised for its timely themes of inclusion, community, and courage.
Stephen Johnson
Non Fiction Winner - 2021
Stephen Johnson is a British writer, composer, and BBC broadcaster whose work bridges the worlds of music, psychology, and personal memoir. Trained as a cellist and composer, he studied under Alexander Goehr at Leeds University before researching Shostakovich’s string quartets at Manchester University. Over several decades, he became a familiar voice on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4, contributing to programmes such as Discovering Music and writing for The Guardian, The Independent, Gramophone, and BBC Music Magazine.
His acclaimed book How Shostakovich Changed My Mind explores how the music of Dmitri Shostakovich offered him profound emotional grounding through his experiences with bipolar disorder and childhood trauma. Blending neuroscience, psychotherapy, and philosophy with musical insight, the book resonated widely and won the International Rubery Book Award in 2021.
Johnson continues to write, lecture, and compose, using his expertise to illuminate the transformative power of music on the human mind.
David Joiner
Fiction winner - 2024
David Joiner is an American novelist whose work is shaped by decades spent living in Japan and Vietnam. After first studying in Hokkaido in 1991, he later moved to Vietnam, where he lived in Hanoi, Saigon, and Danang, experiences that deeply inform the cross-cultural themes in his fiction. His writing — spanning novels, short fiction, essays, and poetry — has appeared in journals such as The Brooklyn Rail, Phoebe Journal, and The Madison Review. His debut novel Lotusland (2015) explores contemporary Vietnam, while Kanazawa (2022) reflects his long connection to Japan. His 2024 novel The Heron Catchers, set in rural Hokuriku, is a quiet, intimate story of grief, memory, and renewal. The book received high critical praise and was shortlisted for the 2024 Rubery Book Award, recognising its emotional depth and evocative sense of place. Joiner continues to divide his time between Japan, Vietnam, and the United States.
Diana Kimpton
Children's Winner - 2015
Diana Kimpton is a prolific British children’s author and scriptwriter with more than 40 published books spanning fiction, picture books, and non-fiction. Her most beloved works include the Pony-Mad Princess series, which has sold over a million copies in 13 languages. She also writes the Amy Wild – Animal Talker series, featuring a girl who communicates with animals, as well as quirky alien stories such as The Green Sheep. Diana has written plays, scripts, and instructional material for other writers, including the practical guide Plots and Plotting: A Guide to Creating Stories That Work. Her work combines humor, heart, and imagination, engaging children with relatable characters and adventurous storylines. She lives on the Isle of Wight, where she cares for her horse and enjoys playing the ukulele in her spare time. Diana continues to inspire young readers with her playful, inventive storytelling and her dedication to nurturing a love of reading.
Rod Madocks
Non Fiction Winner - 2023
Rod Madocks is a memoirist and author best known for his deeply personal book Muzungu: A Rhodesian Testament, which recounts his childhood in Rhodesia with raw honesty and lyrical sensitivity. Reflecting on identity, colonial legacy, and belonging, the memoir has been widely praised, and it won the Rubery Book Award for Non-Fiction in 2023. Madocks’s writing bridges personal history with broader post-colonial themes, offering both a heartfelt account of his youth and a thoughtful meditation on displacement and heritage.
​David P. Miraldi
Book of the Year - 2018
David P. Miraldi is an attorney and author from Lorain, Ohio, whose writing blends narrative drive with deep insight into the justice system. A graduate of The College of Wooster and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, he practised civil trial law for more than forty years, often representing individuals in high-stakes cases. His long legal career strongly informs his work, giving his books authenticity, emotional depth, and a keen sense of moral complexity. Miraldi’s debut book, The Edge of Innocence: The Trial of Casper Bennett, re-examines a dramatic 1964 murder trial involving his father, also an attorney. The book received wide acclaim and won the International Rubery Book Award in 2018. His second book, The Edge of Malice, further established him as a compelling storyteller of true courtroom drama. Beyond writing and the law, Miraldi is also a photographer and pianist. He continues to draw inspiration from his community, family, and lifelong dedication to justice.
Jenny Morris
Illustrated Children's Winner - 2018
Jenny Morris is a British behavioural scientist and cognitive psychologist turned author. She holds a PhD in Cognitive Psychology and works in applied behavioural science, specialising in how humans think, decide, and behave. Her writing is known for its high-concept crime and speculative elements, often exploring moral and philosophical dilemmas. She lives in Crowborough—the same area associated with Winnie-the-Pooh—and when she’s not working, she enjoys galloping through Ashdown Forest, foraging for mushrooms, and fiercely competing over board games in her local pub. In 2018, her book The Thing on Mount Spring, illustrated by Sara Hayat, won the International Rubery Book Award in the Illustrated Children’s category.
Sara Hayat is a Syrian illustrator and visual storyteller based in Sweden. Her artwork explores themes of memory, displacement, and hope, drawing deeply on her cultural heritage and personal experiences. Through rich, symbolic imagery and a gentle emotional touch, she creates illustrations that resonate with readers of all ages.
Marie Naughton
Poetry Winner - 2021
Marie Naughton is an acclaimed poet whose work blends emotional clarity, lyrical precision, and deep psychological insight. Born in Consett and raised between County Durham and North Yorkshire, she studied languages at the University of Manchester before living and working across Europe. Her professional path has been richly varied—translator, teacher, lecturer, school counsellor—and she now practises as a psychotherapist while leading writing workshops for fellow therapists and counsellors. Her debut collection, A Life, Elsewhere, published by Pindrop Press, explores the shifting landscapes of memory, loss, parenthood, and the defining moments that shape our inner worlds. The collection’s tenderness and emotional acuity earned widespread praise. In 2021, A Life, Elsewhere won the International Rubery Book Award in the Poetry category, recognising Naughton’s ability to illuminate the quiet, transformative experiences of everyday life. Marie lives in the north of England, where she continues to write, teach, and explore the rich intersection between poetry and psychotherapy.
​Trish Nolan / Romont Willy
Children's Winner — 2025
Trish Nolan and Romont Willy are a creative duo whose collaborative work has earned them recognition for its originality, emotional sincerity, and narrative clarity. Together, they bring distinct creative strengths to the page: Nolan contributes her sharp storytelling instincts and nuanced character development, while Willy adds imaginative depth, cultural perspective, and expressive visual or thematic elements (depending on the nature of the work). Their 2025 Rubery-winning project is celebrated for its cohesive voice, compelling message, and the seamless way their talents blend into a unified artistic vision. Judges praised their work for its authenticity, accessibility, and ability to engage readers across backgrounds and ages. Nolan and Willy’s partnership exemplifies the power of creative collaboration — a fusion of unique viewpoints that together produce storytelling that is richer, more dynamic, and deeply memorable.
Lisa Anne Novelline
​Children's Winner - 2019
Lisa Anne Novelline is an Italian‑American children’s author, former ballet dancer, educator, and nature enthusiast. She holds a Master of Education from Harvard University, along with bachelor’s degrees in Psychology from Northeastern University and Mathematics from Lesley University. Novelline is best known for her award-winning Piccadilly and Her Magical World picture-book series, which includes Piccadilly and the Fairy Polka, Piccadilly and the Waltzing Wind, and Piccadilly and the Jolly Raindrops. Her book Piccadilly and the Jolly Raindrops won the 2019 International Rubery Book Award for Children’s Literature. Before becoming a full-time author, she taught mathematics and coached creative problem-solving teams, drawing on her passion for critical thinking, creativity, and the natural world. Novelline lives in Massachusetts with her four sons and continues to write, design mobile games inspired by her books, and foster imaginative play, encouraging young readers to explore magic, movement, and curiosity in everyday life.
​William Orem
​Book of the Year - 2020
​William Orem is a distinguished American poet, fiction writer, playwright, and academic whose work spans a remarkable range of genres. He is Senior Writer-in-Residence at Emerson College in Boston. Raised in Maryland and Washington, D.C., Orem holds both an M.F.A. and a Ph.D. in English from Indiana University. His poetry collection, Our Purpose in Speaking, won the 2020 International Rubery Book Award for Poetry and was also chosen as Book of the Year. In fiction, his short story collection Zombi, You My Love captured the GLCA New Writers Award, while his novella Across the River secured the Texas Review Novella Prize. His novel Killer of Crying Deer won the Eric Hoffer Award and was optioned for film. Orem’s short plays have been produced internationally, and his writing appears in over 100 journals. His work is celebrated for its depth, emotional resonance, and mastery across multiple literary forms.
Marilyn Pemberton
​Fiction Winner - 2020
Marilyn Pemberton is a British historical novelist, biographer, and former IT project manager whose richly researched work often explores forgotten voices, especially those of women. After a career in technology, she pursued her passion for literature, completing a BA, MA, and PhD at Warwick University, where her doctoral research focused on the utopian and dystopian aspects of Victorian fairy tales. Her non-fiction work includes Out of the Shadows: The Life and Works of Mary De Morgan, a biography of the Victorian fairy-tale writer. Her novel The Song of the Nightingale: A Tale of Two Castrati, set in 18th-century Italy, won the 2020 International Rubery Book Award for Fiction. Pemberton is currently working on a multi-generational trilogy about women storytellers. She is a member of the Society of Women Writers & Journalists, the Historical Novel Society, and The Society of Authors. Her work is celebrated for its meticulous research, compelling narratives, and dedication to giving voice to overlooked historical figures.
Emma Purshouse and Catherine Pascall‑Moore​
​Poetry Winner 2016
Emma Purshouse is a British performance poet, novelist, and freelance writer based in Wolverhampton. She was the first Poet Laureate of the City of Wolverhampton (2020–2022) and performs regularly at festivals including Cheltenham, Ledbury, Womad, Latitude, and Shambala. A former slam champion, Emma holds a degree in English and an MA in Creative Writing. Her debut children’s poetry book, I Once Knew a Poem Who Wore a Hat, illustrated by Catherine Pascall‑Moore, won the Rubery Book Award for poetry. Emma also writes for adults, leads creative workshops, and is part of the West Midlands poetry collective Poets, Prattlers & Pandemonialists. She is also Guess Judge for The 2026 Rubery Book Award.
Catherine Pascall‑Moore is an illustrator and designer whose lively, expressive artwork brings character and warmth to children’s poetry. Her collaboration with Emma on I Once Knew a Poem Who Wore a Hat combines playful, whimsical visuals with rhythmic language, making poetry accessible and delightful for young readers.
Angela Readman
Book of the Year 2015
Angela Readman is a British poet, short-story writer, and novelist, born in Middlesbrough in 1973. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Northumbria. Her debut short story collection, Don’t Try This at Home, won the International Rubery Book Award in 2015, and her work has been shortlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize. Angela also writes poetry; her collection The Book of Tides was published by Nine Arches Press in 2016. Her first novel, Something Like Breathing, was published in 2019. Over her career, she has won several awards, including the Mslexia Poetry Competition, the Charles Causley Prize, and the Costa Short Story Award. Currently living in Northumberland, Angela continues to write fiction and poetry that explores the strange, poignant, and often humorous moments in everyday life. Her work combines emotional depth, wit, and a keen observation of human behaviour, earning her a respected place in contemporary British literature.
​Jo Riccioni
​Fiction Winner - 2015
Jo Riccioni is a British-born novelist and short-story writer now based in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. She studied English at Leeds University and earned a Master’s degree in Medieval Literature, developing a lifelong love for Icelandic sagas and Arthurian legend that influences her storytelling. Her debut novel, The Italians at Cleat’s Corner Store, drew on her family history and won the International Rubery Book Award for Fiction. She later turned to fantasy with her YA duology The Branded Season (The Branded and The Rising), published by Pantera Press in Australia and by Angry Robot internationally. The Branded was shortlisted for the SPN Book of the Year Award. Jo’s short fiction has appeared in Best Australian Stories and other anthologies, winning awards in the UK, Australia, and the US. When she’s not writing, she teaches creative writing and sex education, and continues to live with one foot “still in the snow,” blending her love of the past with the present in her work.
​Anthea Rowan
Book of the Year 2025
Anthea Rowan is a British writer and journalist whose work often explores the human condition with clarity, compassion, and emotional accuracy. Drawing from her own lived experience, Rowan writes with a distinctive balance of vulnerability and insight, delving into the complicated realities of family life, mental health, and caregiving. Her 2025 Rubery Book of the Year winner, A Silent Tsunami, is a deeply personal memoir about navigating her mother’s dementia — a story told with elegance, courage, and an unwavering commitment to truth. Rowan has contributed to prominent international newspapers and magazines, where her work is praised for its honesty and distilled emotional power. She is recognised for transforming intimate experiences into narratives with universal resonance, offering readers both understanding and solace. A Silent Tsunami cements Rowan’s reputation as a compassionate chronicler of love, loss, and the fragile terrain of memory.
Ellie Royce
​Children's Winner - 2021
Ellie Royce is an Australian children’s and young adult author known for her warm, imaginative, and heartfelt storytelling. With a passion for exploring identity, empathy, and the power of being true to yourself, she writes stories that help young readers feel seen, understood, and inspired. Ellie’s work spans quirky middle-grade fiction, thoughtful YA, and picture books that celebrate diversity and belonging. In 2021, her acclaimed picture book Auntie Uncle, illustrated by Hannah Chambers, won the Children’s and Young Adult category of the International Rubery Book Award, highlighting her talent for crafting meaningful narratives that resonate with readers of all ages. Beyond writing, Ellie is a speaker, storyteller, and advocate for the life-changing power of stories. She lives in northern New South Wales with her family and a lively co
llection of pets, where she continues to create books that encourage kindness, curiosity, and courage in young minds.
Wendy Storer
YA Winner - 2018
Wendy Storer is a British author known for her emotionally rich young adult fiction and her commitment to stories that help readers navigate real-life challenges. Her novels, including Bring Me Sunshine and Where Bluebirds Fly, explore themes such as family, loss, resilience, and the search for belonging. Written with warmth and honesty, her work resonates strongly with teens and adults alike. Alongside her fiction, Wendy writes non-fiction that supports personal wellbeing. Her book In Your Write Mind uses creative writing as a therapeutic tool, helping readers develop emotional awareness and self-expression. Wendy has worked as a teacher and creative writing therapist, roles that deepen the empathy and insight in her storytelling. She is also the founder of Magic Beans Literary Services, where she mentors emerging children’s writers and supports them in developing their craft. Wendy continues to write from her home in the UK, inspired by people, nature, and the healing power of stories.
David Swann
Book of the Year - 2023
Dr David Swann is a senior lecturer in English and Creative Writing at the University of Chichester, UK.
University of Chichester. A versatile writer of poetry, flash fiction, and prose, his work often reflects themes of memory, social hardship, and human resilience. His novella-in-flash Season of Bright Sorrow — a poignant series of interconnected micro-stories about a young girl navigating loss and instability — won Book of the Year at the 2023 Rubery Book Award, earning both the prize money and a commemorative plaque.
Swann has also received recognition in poetry, including multiple wins at the Bridport Prize, and has been published in a range of journals.
Laura Tisdall
​Book of the Year - 2016
Laura Tisdall is a historian, academic, and speculative fiction writer. She is a senior lecturer in modern British history at Newcastle University, where her research focuses on childhood, adolescence, self-narrative, and social histories of age. Her fiction combines historical knowledge with folktale and horror influences, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the uncanny. Her debut novel, Echoes, won top honours at the International Rubery Book Award, including Book of the Year and the YA & Children’s category, establishing her as a distinctive voice in contemporary speculative fiction. Laura grew up between Wiltshire, UK, and Washington D.C., and now lives in rural Northumberland with her springer spaniel. She blogs at drlauratisdall.wordpress.com and continues to write both fiction and academic research, blending storytelling with historical insight to illuminate human experience across time and place.
John Toomey
Fiction Winner - 2017
John Toomey is an Irish-born novelist and teacher based in Dublin, known for his philosophical and introspective approach to literary fiction. His novels, including Sleepwalker and Huddleston Road, explore themes of identity, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in contemporary life. Published by Dalkey Archive Press, his work combines quiet reflection with emotional depth, drawing readers into thoughtful, character-driven narratives. Toomey’s writing is influenced by personal experiences and a sense of displacement, though his stories remain fictional rather than strictly autobiographical. He brings a contemplative voice to each novel, balancing intellectual inquiry with insight into human relationships and the complexities of modern life. In addition to writing, John Toomey teaches and mentors writers, sharing his expertise in narrative structure, character development, and the craft of literary storytelling. He continues to contribute to contemporary Irish literature, offering readers nuanced explorations of the human condition.
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Sylvia True
Fiction Winner - 2022
Sylvia True is a British-born novelist and educator whose work blends emotional depth with carefully researched history. Raised in Manchester, she later moved to the United States, where she earned a degree in chemistry and a master’s in education. She now lives in Massachusetts and serves as the head of a high school Science and Technology Department, bringing curiosity and compassion to both her teaching and her writing.
Her acclaimed novel Where Madness Lies won the International Rubery Book Award in 2022. Inspired by her own family history, the book weaves together the stories of two women—one in Nazi-era Germany, the other in 1980s America—to explore mental illness, inherited trauma, and the enduring human need for hope and healing. Sylvia’s debut novel, The Wednesday Group, established her as a writer drawn to complex emotional landscapes and the hidden struggles people carry. She continues to write fiction rooted in truth, empathy, and resilience.
Barbara Valenza
Children's Winner - 2023
Valenza is an independent children’s author whose work is distinguished by warmth, whimsy, and a deep sense of empathy. Her storytelling invites young readers into imaginative, comforting worlds where kindness and courage gently lead the way. Valenza’s debut picture book, Little Lovedog’s Long Walk Home, showcases her gift for crafting tender, emotionally resonant tales. The story follows a small, hopeful dog on a heartfelt journey, capturing themes of belonging, perseverance, and the quiet bravery of finding one’s place in the world. The book’s charm and emotional clarity earned it recognition from the Rubery Book Award, an achievement that highlights Valenza’s emerging talent within independent children’s publishing. Although she prefers to keep her personal life private, her writing speaks vividly on her behalf—celebrating compassion, connection, and the joyful wonder of early childhood. Valenza continues to create stories that bring comfort and delight to families and young readers alike.
Lucy Weldon
​Short Fiction Winner - 2024
Lucy Weldon is a British writer, born in Hong Kong, whose life across Asia, Europe, and Australia informs her globally attuned fiction. She holds a BA in Spanish and a Master’s degree in Responsible Business Practice & Sustainability, and she previously worked as an international journalist and non-fiction writer. Her fiction reflects concerns about climate change, migration, political unrest, and the fragility of community, often set against vividly rendered locations shaped by her own itinerant life. Her debut short-story collection, Ultramarine, comprises eleven stories spanning continents and emotional registers, unified by sharp observation and a lyrical, thoughtful style. The book received widespread recognition and won the 2024 Rubery Book Award for Short Fiction, affirming Weldon as a compelling new voice in contemporary short-form storytelling. She continues to write fiction that blends global awareness with intimate character study.
Melanie Whipman
Short Story Winner - 2017
Melanie Whipman is a British writer, editor, and lecturer whose short stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and published in a variety of literary and commercial magazines. She holds a PhD in English & Creative Writing from the University of Southampton, and her MA in Creative Writing won the Kate Betts Prize. Melanie is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Chichester and runs creative writing workshops in Farnham, including with disadvantaged groups such as prison inmates. Her acclaimed debut short story collection, Llama Sutra, won the International Rubery Book Award in 2017 for short stories highlighting her sharp eye for human relationships and darkly comic storytelling. Formerly based in Brighton, Melanie has also lived in London, France, Israel, and Germany. She now resides in a village near Guildford, Surrey, where she continues to write, teach, and support emerging writers through workshops and mentorship.
Diana Whitney
​Poetry Winner - 2015
Diana Whitney is an American poet, editor, and writing coach whose work explores feminism, motherhood, desire, and identity. Her debut collection, Wanting It, won the 2015 International Rubery Book Award in the Poetry category, establishing her as a powerful and emotionally precise voice in contemporary poetry. Her poems, essays, and criticism have appeared in The New York Times, The Kenyon Review, Glamour, and other publications. Diana also edited the YA anthology You Don’t Have to Be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves, which won the 2022 Claudia Lewis Award. Her latest collection, Dark Beds (June Road Press, 2023), delves into intimacy, transformation, and the wildness of the natural world. She lives in Vermont, where she continues to write, edit, and coach other writers, while advocating for survivors of sexual violence. Through her work, Diana combines lyrical craft with emotional honesty, offering readers a deeply resonant and unflinching exploration of contemporary life.
Debbie Wise and Peter Barron
Children's Winner - 2017
Debbie Wise is a British children’s author and illustrator whose work celebrates the natural world with warmth, charm, and gentle humour. She lives on a farm surrounded by fields, hedgerows, and wildlife, which provide endless inspiration for her writing and illustrations. Drawing primarily on watercolours, Debbie brings her animal characters to life with delicate, expressive detail. A former art teacher, she combines her passion for storytelling with her visual creativity to craft engaging, rhythmic tales for young readers. Her debut book, Rosie and Rufus (2016), won the International Rubery Book Award in the Children’s category in 2017, establishing her as a distinctive voice in early years literature. She has since published other beloved works, including Sidney Squirrel’s Secret, which continues to explore the hidden lives of garden and woodland creatures, delighting children with whimsical adventures and gentle life lessons.
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Peter Barron is an award-winning storyteller whose career has spanned journalism, broadcasting, and literary fiction. Before becoming a full-time author, he worked for many years at the BBC, where he developed a passion for uncovering human-centered narratives and crafting stories that resonate across diverse audiences. His transition from broadcaster to novelist deepened his commitment to exploring character, place, and the quiet tensions that shape everyday life.
Patricia Helen Wooldridge
​Poetry Winner - 2024
Patricia Helen Wooldridge is a British poet whose work is rooted in the quiet attentiveness of rural life. Living in Hampshire, she draws inspiration from walking, bird-watching, and tending her allotment, and her poems reflect a close, meditative relationship with the natural world. She holds a doctorate in creative writing and studied English Literature at the University of London. Her poetry has won numerous awards, including recognition in the National Poetry Competition and the Kent & Sussex Open Poetry Competition. Wooldridge’s Sea Poetics won the Cinnamon Press Debut Collection Prize, and her pamphlet Being received the Cinnamon Pamphlet Award. Her collection Out in the Field — a celebration of ecology, seasonality, and the tender human connection to land — was shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award, highlighting its lyrical precision and environmental insight. Wooldridge continues to publish poems that honour both landscape and quiet human resilience.
Lisa Woollett
Non Fiction Winner 2016
Lisa Woollett is a British writer, photographer, and natural historian whose work explores the sea, shorelines, and the hidden stories washed up on Britain’s coasts. She grew up on the Isle of Sheppey, collecting fossils, shells, and beach debris, and later studied documentary photography, working for publications such as The Independent on Sunday and The Observer. Now based in Cornwall, Lisa has published several books combining lyrical prose and evocative images, including Sea Journal, which won the International Rubery Book Award in the Non-Fiction category. Her memoir Rag and Bonedraws on her family’s history of beachcombing and scavenging to reflect on consumption, memory, and the things we discard. Lisa continues to give illustrated talks, write, and photograph, living close to the coastal terrain that inspires her work. Through her books and lectures, she invites readers to see the beauty, history, and stories hidden in the natural and discarded elements of the shoreline.
