Here are details of all the authors, performers and speakers taking part in our International Women’s Day Celebration. They are listed in the order in which they appear on the programme.
SUE BARROW
Cardiff was my birthplace and it’s where I’ve lived most of my life. There are so many open spaces to explore – the Taff Trail, Bute Park, the Ridgeway. And Caerphilly just up the road, with its ancient castle and mountain top views over the Valleys.
I’ve loved writing stories for as long as I can remember. Though I cringe now reading any of my early efforts! Boarding school antics and horse riding adventures – all inspired by the books I enjoyed reading as a child.
When I left school I studied for a history degree in London. It turned out to be an excellent choice and later led to writing two local history books for children.
These days I prefer writing contemporary fiction for teens and the challenging, real-life situations they often find themselves in.
When I’m not working on a story I enjoy visiting schools and libraries to talk about how and why I wrote my books, and to encourage new readers and aspiring writers.
I also love walking the Wales coastal path, eating shellfish and getting beaten by my family at board games! Find Sue’s Website Here.
HELEN MATTHEWS
Helen Matthews is the author of five published suspense novels and is fascinated by the darker side of human nature and how a life can change in an instant. Her new suspense thriller If I Were You will be published by DP Books in 2026. Previous novels have won prizes including the opening pages of a novel award at Winchester Writers’ Festival and the suspense and thriller genre prize in the 2022 Pageturner Book Award. Born in Cardiff, Helen read English at the University of Liverpool and worked in international development, consultancy and human resources. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Oxford Brookes University.Some of Helen’s novels cover themes of human trafficking and she has been appointed an Ambassador for the charity, Unseen UK, which works towards a world without slavery. She donates her author talk fees, and a percentage of royalties, to the charity.
Her short stories have been shortlisted by Flash 500, 1000K Story and published in Artificium; in the Reflex Press anthology ‘The Real Jazz Baby’; in EllipsisZine and in Love Sunday magazine. She has published an eBook collection of stories and travel writing ‘Brief Encounters’ and this is available on Amazon. Helen regularly gives talks and appears at events and literary festivals. Find Helen’s Website Here.
KATY CAWKWELL
I have been working as a professional storyteller since 1996 in venues across the UK and beyond.
I create contemporary, dramatic performances for adult audiences, based on traditional narratives. My shows have appeared in a wide range of venues: major theatres (inc. Barbican Pit Theatre, Soho Theatre, Derby Guildhall), storytelling clubs and nine international storytelling festivals (inc. a 2 week tour of India in 2016). I was one of four storytellers shortlisted for the Arts Foundation Storytelling Fellowship and I’ve featured on Radio 3 The Verb and Radio 4 The Storytellers. Since moving to Devon, I have set up Artemis Storytelling to bring the very best of performance storytelling to the Exeter area. I also run regular workshops to help local storytellers find their voice and develop their performance skills, supported in 2021, by an Exeter City of Literature Compact Commission. Find Katy’s Website Here.
www.artemis-storytelling.co.uk
facebook.com/ArtemisStorytelling
insta @katycawkwell
ROSIE MEAD
From the moment you step into Dr Rosie’s world, you know that this work is different. It’s the combination of mental performance and life coaching that make’s Rosie’s approach to high performance unique, and gets incredible results on and off the court.
Rosie’s background is varied, and she is a self-confessed learning junkie which means she is able to bring the cutting edge mental performance tools to her clients.
Rosie has worked with many professional athletes. After signing her first basketball client, Rosie fell in love with the sport; the players saw a a real transformation to their playing (and their lives) and the rest is history! Rosie niched into basketball and hasn’t looked back.
Rosie’s client list includes players in the NBA, WNBA, EuroLeague and EuroCup. Rosie holds a Doctorate in Sociology, and a Masters in Psychology. She holds certificates in mental performance coaching, brain coaching, and life coaching. Find Rosie’s Website Here.
FINOLA BRENNAN
When not walking through woods and fields or swimming in the sea I can be found at The Cedar Tree, where I am passionate about sharing yoga, creative writing and poetry, creating safe spaces for words, movement and self. The Cedar Tree began, as all trees do from a seed, a belief that our body, mind and spirit has an amazing potential for self-healing and growth which needs to be nurtured and taken care of.
Our vision at The Cedar Tree is to provide a calm and peaceful space for you to arrive at yourself. Somewhere to tune in, re-balance and heal.
Our aim is to create a place for relaxation, healing, growth and development, allowing you to leave feeling connected, empowered, balanced and nourished.
Our wish is to give you the opportunity to tap into and explore your own potential, to harness your own creativity and have fun.
The Cedar Tree would like to see movement through yoga, spontaneous dance, therapies, creative writing and poetry becoming a thread that weaves through your every day, enhancing your life.
We hope you visit and experience the, love, light and laughter that is The Cedar Tree. Find the Cedar Tree Website here.
Blandford Literary Festival 