Meet the team behind Beyond the Book Festival

  • A man with short hair and beard dressed in a tuxedo, posing in front of a background of hanging lights or bokeh.

    David Fennell

    Founder & Festival Director

    Author of the bestselling Grace Archer Series - The Art of Death, See No Evil, The Silent Man, A Violent Heart, and the multi award nominated Sleeper series.

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  • Black and white portrait of a man wearing glasses and a patterned sweater, looking at the camera with a neutral expression.

    Phil Viner

    Festival Manager

    As P. D. Viner, Phil is the author of The Sad Man books and he's the founder of the Goldsboro Writing Academy where he champions new writers. 

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  • Black and white photo of a smiling woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, wearing earrings and a black top with lace details.

    Erin Young

    Festival Board Member

    Bestselling author of American-set thrillers, The Fields and Original Sins. Writes historical fiction as Robyn Young. Over two million books sold.

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  • Black and white photo of a smiling woman with shoulder-length dark hair and bangs, wearing hoop earrings and a floral patterned top, looking slightly to the right.

    Araminta Hall

    Festival Board Member

    Araminta Hall is the bestselling author of six novels, including the Richard & Judy pick Everything & Nothing. Her latest is One of the Good Guys. Three of her books are under TV/film option.

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  • A man in a suit sitting at a desk, smiling, writing on a notepad with a pen. Behind him on the wall are a police badge with a star at the top, and a framed display with police station names and a question about the next police superintendent.

    Graham Bartlett

    Festival Board Member

    Ex senior police officer, Graham Bartlett writes the best-selling Jo Howe novels, Bad For Good, Force of Hate and City on Fire. He’s also written non-fiction and is a police advisor to crime writers.

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  • Black and white photo of a bald man with a beard and glasses, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, looking at the camera.

    S. J. Watson

    Festival Board Member

    Bestselling author of Before I Go to Sleep, Second Life and Final Cut. Curator of a Substack, Compendia.

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