Ruksana Abdul-Majid is a writer from Sheffield. She has a PhD in English Literature from the University of Sheffield and worked for many years in education.

“I am currently a working as a carer, in 2020 I was awarded a Northern Writers’ Debut Award for my novel-in-progress, and in 2022 was shortlisted for the Guardian 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize.”

Like his protagonist Seamus, Maurice grew up on a pig farm in a rural Irish border community. He recently completed the Curtis Brown Creative six-month Novel Writing course. In a Quare Country is currently shortlisted for the Yeovil Literary Prize 2023. Earlier drafts have been longlisted for the Cheshire Novel Prize 2023, BPA First Novel Award 2023, and the First Chapter Competition 2023.

“Since leaving Ireland, I have worked in the arts, as both a musician and visual artist for over fifteen years. Together with my husband, I am Co-Artistic Director of Islington Mill in Manchester, a heritage building we have developed into a leading hub for the UK queer community, alongside international creatives, funded by the National Lottery and Arts Council England. I am a fellow of the Clore Leadership Programme.”

Twitter/X: @a_quare_fella

Elizabeth is a recent graduate, with a BA and MA in English Literature, who prefers to write longer stories, novels, scripts and novellas.

“It is my escape from whatever is causing that anxiety and stress. It allows me to write about my emotions, putting them into a story, poem or scene of a book and releasing some of those emotions. When I’m not writing, I’m a huge BTS and Taylor Swift fan. I love to read, watch movies and spend time with my best friends, family and visiting the kitty cafe in Leeds.”

Twitter/X: @lazybookworm1