11 Sci-Fi, Horror and Fantasy writers join Penguin’s WriteNow programme 

Laila Ali is a prose writer, poet and occasional playwright. She recently completed a BA and MA in English Literature and has been writing since childhood, always pushing her creative boundaries. Marked for Love is a YA fantasy novel, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and defying societal expectations.

Kain Stockton is a London-based writer and multidisciplinary artist from Teesside. He has a degree in Filmmaking and is pursuing a degree in Astronomy and Planetary Science. As well as being a novelist, he also writes poetry. In his work, he is largely inspired by nature, theology, and the macabre (as well as his favourite authors, Donna Tartt and Cormac McCarthy). Kain is neurodiverse and LGBT+. The Cult of Immortality is a science-fiction thriller that follows a missing person’s detective who unravels a sinister government conspiracy whilst tracking down a man who has returned from the dead.

Samah Chowdhury is a London-born, Brighton-based recent graduate of literature and law with a love of writing back against the canon, undergoing knitting projects far beyond her skill level, and looking for inspiration in the everyday. She currently works in children’s publishing, where she is reminded of the joys of reading and writing. Bloodrot is a Gothic novel that explores white supremacy, human connection and love, under a veneer of vampirism and murder.

Morgan Greensmith is a queer and disabled Devon-based writer of all things prose, poetry and audio drama. After a childhood of mythology and portal fantasies, they are fascinated by how fantasy and horror can be used to uplift marginalised voices and use the genres to explore their experience of the world. Morgan is currently studying a Creative Writing Masters at the University of Exeter and applying for a PhD. I Dream of Endings is a stand-alone, dual timeline YA portal fantasy following Nate Evans, a closeted trans boy who falls into a magical, post-apocalyptic world called Elegor.

Sophie Harris is a horror writer living in the beautiful countryside between the Welsh mountains and the Forest of Dean. Influenced by the many supernatural myths and legends associated with the area, she has developed a fascination with the weird and sinister. Sophie graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University with a master's degree in English and Creative Writing. Black Rabbit is a psychological/folk horror novel that explores national identity, cultural history, and Celtic folklore.

Robbie Taylor Hunt was born in Aotearoa New Zealand and grew up between NZ and Essex. He’s a queer writer passionate about presenting LGBTQIA+ characters in atypical ways. He’s co-written comedy plays Lesbian Space Crime, Pansexual Pregnancy Piracy and Count Dykula at Soho Theatre which playfully explore some nuances of queer culture. He’s also written web series, a short film and television pilots. One Thing you can Feel is a YA fantasy which follows Rafiq who, after an anxiety attack, wakes in a new world and meets a group of phobic teens. Together, they must learn to harness their fears as powers in order to escape  

Sophie Kamkar has been writing tales of magic, monsters, and epic love since childhood—starting with crayon-scribbled stories in her diary to now working towards her dream of becoming a fantasy author. The Whispering Thrones, an adult fantasy novel steeped in dark magic, ancient prophecies, and forbidden romance, is a story about fate, betrayal, the relentless pursuit of truth, and a love written in the stars. It draws inspiration from Sophie’s childhood, where she grew up immersed in Persian folklore rich with captivating tales of jinn, mythical beasts, and legendary heroes. 

Charlotte Peers is a Manchester based writer with a never ending TBR pile. Charlotte has a passion for creating tales that examine the darker side of the everyday. The Sixth Girl, her first novel, is a tale of revenge and redemption. It delves into the dark side of true crime, family loyalty and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Becka Spruce is an artist, author and poet. A recent award-winning creative writing graduate, she loves exploring the dark and surreal aspects of everyday life in her storytelling. Her writing is usually set just outside reality, and aims to give a voice to those who have always felt a little out of place in the world – herself included. Recurring themes in her work include emotions, memory, and the relationship to the self. Elderwing is an adult science fiction novel, in which Ellis Williams – a biologist, photographer and recovering addict – embarks on a journey of self-re-discovery amidst the dangers of deep space.

Phoebe Thomas is a writer from Devon, currently studying on the MSt in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford. From a low socio-economic background, she uses her experience with losing her home to inform her writing and often writes on themes surrounding free will and the struggle of an individual to find their place in society. Myth Hunting is a middle grade fantasy novel which follows Amy Thorne, a girl born without magic, as she overcomes her barriers to defend the magical world. 

Lily Tibbitts (she/her) is a writer, student and hot chocolate enthusiast from sunny Northumberland. She’s been a keen writer since her thrilling, crayon-illustrated debut at age four and she’s continued to write almost every day since, winning the New Writing North Young Writers’ Award in 2021 and founding Wild Stories, a project that uses creative writing to help young people understand climate change. Nik Tauro’s Guide to the End of the World, follows a ragtag bunch of teenage pirates as they navigate the apocalypse and accidentally end up adopting a baby.