What is OXIB?
The National Independent Publishing Event
Established 2020
There are 2 OXiB events for 2026 and they’re both FREE to visitors.
- Summer Book Fair
Sunday 12th – July 11am-4pm
Magdalen College School OX4 1DZ - Autumn Book Fair
Sunday 22nd November – 11am-4.30pm
Oxford Exams Schools OX1 4BG
Both fairs bring together the book-buying public and the burgeoning independent creative community of small publishers & presses, established and un-agented authors, poets, writing groups, and self-published writers. A meeting place as much as a marketplace, OXIB offers a superb space for conversation, collaboration, and inspiration. Visitors can meet authors face-to-face, attend talks and readings, and hear the stories behind the stories – all FOR FREE.
OXIB offers a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere where independent and alternative voices take centre stage.
Join us and discover your next favourite book.
Table 42
Nick Cennamo-Smith
Author, Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Nick Cennamo-Smith is the author of the Mortzeel’s Lost & Found crime-fantasy series, as well as other standalone titles.
The latest installment of his whimsical and chaotic series, The Blade of Qalkar, will be releasing in August 2026.
Table 20
Peter Tickler
Author
Peter Tickler is an established writer of crime fiction, mostly set in and around Oxford. He has been much praised for the authenticity of his Oxford (‘a wonderful gift of creating geographically factual settings for his fictional characters’ – Oxford Times) as well as the pace of his stories (‘deliciously thrilling and wildly unpredictable’ – Oxford Today).
He studied classics at Keble College, and later settled with his wife and family in South Oxford. He worked in the IT dept of the Potato Marking Board in Between Towns Road, and from the computer room he looked down into the carpark of the Cowley police station. So it was inevitable that his irascible protagonist DI Susan Holden was based there. He loves setting his crimes in places he knows, and describes himself as ‘town, not gown’.
His latest (and 10th) crime story is Death in the Sea Pool, set in Bude where he has spent many off-season holidays. He insists that ‘sometimes I need a change of scene!’.
He is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association, and gives talks at festivals, libraries, U3As, Women’s Institutes and even at one of His Majesty’s Prisons. (They let him out eventually!).
His great-grandfather founded Tickler’s Jam Company, which supplied jam to the British troops and became a household name in the First World War. This was the inspiration for his novel The Tickler’s Jam Murders.
Peter Lovesey (winner of 3 CWA daggers) emailed him: “I was bamboozled by the solution to the puzzle. Bravo.”
Table 11
Walton Street Writers, Oxford
Author
Walton Street Writers is a writing group founded by Sara Banerji. We meet regularly to share our writing, and thoughts on life, americanos and flat whites. We aim to be helpful to each other, and offer observations in an open and uncritical way. We have published several anthologies including Tales from a Bookshop, Tales from a Café, and most recently, Côte Tales (2024) which you can find on Amazon.
Writers whose work features in Côte Tales:
Anne Harrap, Catherine Hurst, Charles Bidwell, Harold Roffey, J.M Kennedy, Jane Spiro, Jenny Burrage, Keith McClellan, M.S. Clary, Neil Hancox, Sara Banerji, Valerie Dearlove and Simon Howard.
Additional members of Walton Street Writers not mentioned above are Maria Armero, Carol Lange, Sheila Johnson and Julie Dyson.
Several members have published novels, memoirs and poetry, and collections of their own stories.
Table 17
Linda Newbery
Author
Linda Newbery writes for both adults and younger readers. Her latest novel for adults, The One True Thing, was inspired by Oxfordshire Artweeks. She won a Costa category prize with her young adult novel Set in Stone and has twice been shortlisted for the prestigious Carnegie Medal. With friends Adele Geras and Celia Rees, Linda hosts the literary blog Writers Review.
Table 3
Oxford Independent Authors (OxIA)
Author
The Oxford Independent Authors are a mutually supportive group of writers who meet to share expertise, preserving independence and joining together at collaborative events. The focus of this group is on marketing, promoting, selling and raising the profile of our writers.
If you are an independent author or working towards becoming one and would like more information please send an email to oxfordindieauthors@gmail.com.
Table 18
Evelyne Gnassounou
Artist
Evelyne Glyne is an oil painter. Born in Togo, she grew up in France and now lives in Woodstock, England. She has exhibited in London, Istanbul & Lille, and very fondly, Wolfson College, Oxford when she moved here in the 90s. She studied at Beaux-Arts Lille and Textile Design at ESAAT in Roubaix, participating in many fashion shows, competitions and freelance work, specialising in hand-knitted clothing, styling and textiles.
In the past few years, we have seen many British historical events that have altered the fabric of the country forever. Evelyne expresses these emotions through her artwork, her work is a mix of the West African, Oxfordian & French influences that have graced her life. Working on canvas, wood & ceramic, she continuously is inspired by her surroundings & world events.
What's happening on the day?
Free Talks & Poetry Slam Programme
Throughout the day we have a packed schedule full of exciting and informative sessions for all attendees.
Join us on Sunday July 12, thanks to The Oxford Festival of the Arts, and discover your next favourite book in the ‘Big School – the main hall of Magdalen College School: entrance Cowley Place just off The Plain.
But that isn’t all. Off the High Street approaching Magdalen Bridge is an entrance to the Rose Garden Gazebo/Bar where you can listen to poetry organised by The Oxford Poetry Circle.
In the Junior School Hall, to the left of the Gazebo, there will be speaker events. In the case of bad weather some of the poetry will take place there too.
Where to find us
The Venue
Contact
Magdalen College School
Cowley Place, Oxford, OX4 1DZ
Directions
By Car: The M40, M4 and A34 provide easy access to Oxford from London and the south. The M40 links Birmingham to Oxford from the north. The A420 and A40 approach Oxford from the west.
Parking: We are unable to offer parking for Festival events. Parking in Oxford city centre is limited. Visitors are advised to use one of the five Park & Ride systems, which are all clearly signposted from the Oxford Ring Road. The nearest car park to MCS is at St Clement’s Street, OX4 1AB.
By Bus: Oxford has an extensive network of local buses, making it easy to visit the town centre from every direction. The main Festival site is a short 5-10 minute walk from central bus stops. The closest bus stops are The Plain (Cowley Road) and St Clement’s. There are also fast and frequent bus services from central London (closest stop St Clement’s).
By Train: Oxford has a centrally located train station with frequent and direct train services from London and Reading, as well as from Birmingham via Banbury and Coventry. Oxford Parkway station, north of the city, serves London Marylebone. The main Festival site is a 25-minute walk from the station.
Stay Informed
Subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates about Indie Book Fair news and events. We won’t bombard you, just the absolute essentials!
Interested in exhibiting? We’ll automatically keep you informed and updated about future ticket release dates too. There is no waiting list, so just subscribe and add info@oxfordindiebookfair.co.uk to your safe senders list.
Subscribe Here
Our Sponsors
The Oxford Indie Book Fair is proudly funded and supported by:
