Jo will be speaking at The Council Chambers (within the Corn Exchange) between 10am and 11am on Saturday 14th November 2026. Her talk is entitled ‘What I learned from Stephen King and How Not to Self-Publish an Audiobook.’
Jo will be in conversation with Nat Wood Fox about the pros and cons of being an independent debut author, including a nuts-and-bolts session on what it took to elevate her novel from a good amateur effort to a publishable work; but also, she’d like to share my experience of independently publishing an audiobook, which turned out to be an absolute minefield.
Jo will also be running a stall at the Book & Craft Fair.
About the author
Jo Chinn is a former Police Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police, where she served for thirty years before retiring in 2015. During her career, she held senior command roles in some of London’s most high-profile events, including the London Riots, the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee celebrations, and the London Olympics. Her work placed her at the heart of complex, fast-moving situations, shaping her understanding of people, pressure, and resilience—qualities that now inform her writing.
Jo now lives in the New Forest with her husband, a retired Senior Investigating Officer from the Murder Squad, and their German Shepherd Dog.
After retiring, Jo spent a few years searching for a creative outlet. She tried her hand at pottery, dressmaking, cake decorating, and photography, but discovered there are only so many wonky
pots and cushion covers anyone really needs. When her photo collection topped 50,000 images, she decided it was time for a change—and as for the amount of fondant consumed during her cake decorating phase… best not to ask!
In 2022, Jo turned to writing, a childhood interest, completing the Oxford University online IntroducBon to Creative Writing Course. The experience sparked the idea for her debut novel, Under the Hickory Tree, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
She is currently working on her next novel, which remains under wraps… for now…
Under the Hickory Tree:
FAMILY SECRETS. BETRAYAL. REDEMPTION.
Discover my gripping family saga set in South Wales, Buenos Aires and Kentucky.
When bad things happen to good people, is blood truly thicker than water, or will the secrets of the past be too devastating to overcome?BC
Blandford Literary Festival 