“Bob is writing timely, speculative, thriller fiction on climate, governments and the flaws within us all.
Bob’s 3rd book Project Deadhead II, a dystopian, crime, thriller has just been launched.”

I am a director, steering group member and volunteer of One Planet Abingdon Climate Emergency Centre located under the County Hall Museum in Abingdon Market Place.

We are implementing the climate and ecological emergency declaration made by Abingdon Town Council in 2019. We have adopted the ten principles of One Planet Living devised by Bioregional and serve Source Climate Change Coffee, the highest rated coffee by Ethical Consumer and home made cakes, soups and curries made from the best meat free ingredients.

After 5 years experimenting with volunteerism we have probably placed Abingdon on the top of the league of climate emergency centres coming out from behind the cakes to discuss the latest climate events and nature loss and recovery.

Last year we we received the prize from the Ridgeway Education Trust (the two senior schools and sixth form in Didcot) for ‘best employer’ for work in the schools on climate literacy and providing work at the CEC. We are not expecting to prevent bad climate events happening but the people in Abingdon might be more aware and prepared for the worst.

Emma.R.Schofield is a British fantasy writer whose debut book, The Nature of Shadow, came out in March this year. It is the first of a Literary High Fantasy series for five, the second of which, Anhame, will also (fingers crossed) be available at the fair.

The Nature of Shadow is a Literary High Fantasy series is for people who love myth and magic, dragons and sword-fighting, and walking the path of story with a frighteningly powerful protagonist who nevertheless faces entirely human struggles. Low on violence and sex, it is suitable for fantasy lovers from young adult to long-retired elder.

Book 1: The Nature of Shadow
Anhame, the Hall under the six point star, is the only place Lia can learn how to use her terrifying powers. But to take the oath, and to pass through the trials, she must conceal the darkness that is her nature. How long can she hide her dark secret from the Masters of her craft? And if they find out, what will they do to ensure she is not a danger to everyone around her?

Book 2: Anhame
The only way that Lia’s powers will reach their full potential is if she passes through the trials. What will Fate place in her path to test her higher senses to their limits? And has she learned enough, is she powerful enough, to escape the terrifying deaths that claim those who fail?

“Dr Lorna Robinson is the founding director of the Iris Project, a charity which runs a range of classics-based initiatives in state schools and communities. She is also the founding director of the Rumble Museum at Cheney School, the first accredited museum in a school.

Her latest novel is “Oread”:

“Two hundred years have passed since the UK government instituted a bold new programme to pair every citizen with a tree. Known as the Hamadryad Charter, it created vast national forests, major civic festivals and a whole new system of personal names. Deep in the tunnels beneath London, a community has been growing which rejects the Charter. Tensions between the two societies are rising sharply. When a lone Hamadryad finds his way into the underground, a terrible tragedy threatens to unfold. Oread is the sequel to Hamadryad, but can be read as a standalone novel.”

She is also the author of three other novels.

Hamadryad – is a blend of sci-fi, ancient Roman religion and dystopian fiction, the novel imagines a near future where humans are bonded to trees.

The Birder – is a magical realist novel set in a world where people transform into animals instead of dying. The novel is illustrated throughout with linocuts depicting birds in locations around the city of Oxford.

Flower Gathers – is inspired by the mysterious Minoan Civilisation, the novel re-imagines both ancient lives and modern ones in a new exploration of an ancient setting.”

As a disabled teenager, Sarah R. New identified strongly with monstrous female characters, but couldn’t quite find herself reflected in her favourite genre. Twenty years on, she’s crafting her own narratives, using personal experiences to thrill and scare readers. She is the host of film analysis podcast Anatomy of a Horror Film, and regularly writes about film analysis on her Substack, naturalis mutant. Her first novella, Gothic horror Amissis Liberis, was published by Alien Buddha Press in 2024, followed by body-and-mind horror novella, Hypochondria in 2026. Her most recent novella, animalistic thriller CATFOOD, was released in June 2026.

Beneath the Dust Jacket is a subscription box for lovers of mystery, thriller and crime fiction, built around signed and special edition books. Founded by Hannah, who runs it full-time, each month’s box centres on a carefully chosen title, so subscribers get great reads in editions that feel worth keeping.

At the fair, Hannah will be bringing The Scorpion Palace, Beneath the Dust Jacket’s first exclusive edition, created in partnership with its publisher. She will also have a selection of signed and special editions from previous boxes, so there’s something for every crime and thriller fan, whether you’re after a gift, a treat for your own shelf, or your next favourite read.

You can also find out about the monthly subscription at the stall, or at beneaththedustjacket.com.