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 24

Chris Burleigh
Author
‘Life is serious, but is not to be lived too seriously’. Serious or humorous, my poems are always good-natured.
I write when I have something to say, and I feel I have found the right way to say it. It’s about having fun with words and meaning, using words skilfully to say things differently, and saying the familiar in unfamiliar ways.
In 2017 I self-published a collection of poetry and wit as Particles of Light, with a 2nd edition in 2025. The book has been well received and has sold well in my local bookshops.
Intersecting Lines, my second collection, was traditionally published by indie publisher Beercott Books in 2021. In 2025 Beercott Books published my third collection, titled Reflections. These two collections continue to reflect my interest in people, love, the natural world, and the human condition.
In 2025 I also compiled together the sections of wit from my 3 collections and published it as Wit ‘n Word. There are poems to move you, to surprise you, and to make you laugh. The humorous poems and one-liners are there for entertainment, to be enjoyed, though they often contain a ‘sting in the tail’. I hope readers will enjoy reading my poems and will feel I am putting their own experiences and emotions into words.
I read regularly at poetry ‘open mics’ and at local literary events, and I give talks about my poetry to community groups.
Table 45
Evolve Expressions
Author
We are Evolve Expressions— ‘where words become power, and art becomes movement’.
We are Yvonne Murray and Charlynn Bryan – self-published poets with 6 poetry books between the two of us. Charlynne and I met through our love of poetry and became firm friends.
We have been collaborating as a business for nearly 3-years to sell our books and artwork. We have a positive outlook on life and share that sentiment with everyone who meets us. We are passionate creatives who can turn hurt (and of course joy) into art.
We believe we craft poetry that doesn’t just speak—it uplifts!
We want to create art that doesn’t just inspire but makes you think – reaffirms.
From heartfelt verses to imaginative storytelling, our six books celebrate creativity, including one specially crafted for the dreamers—the children who carry tomorrow in their hands.
Our full range of art, which comprises of paintings and photography on canvass or framed, positive affirmations on cards, book marks or framed; keyrings, magnets, knitted hats and headbands. For 2026, we now have resin and wooden coasters.
Evolve Expressions—where poetry meets possibility, and creativity sparks transformation.
Table 31

Norman George
Author
Norman George was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland, where he grew up during the height of the troubles. Although he is a retired IT network manager, his real passion is for natural sciences, having studied Genetics and Cell Biology, Geosciences and Astronomy at Manchester and Open Universities.
He spent over 20 years living on mainland Europe, and spent several years hosting a ski chalet, where he became chef, driver, tourist guide and barman. His fascination for natural sciences, complemented by observation of humanity’s cultural conflicts, terrorism and the impact of mankind on nature, inspired his first novel.
‘Who Writes the Rules?’ published in 2023 presents scientific ideas and the author’s concerns about the impact of human activity. The story of Mosse and Heelia’s relationship examines how of cultural differences conflicts with their instincts, while providing a vehicle for discussing natural science within the context of the plot.
Norman’s 2nd novel, ‘Divine Intervention’, was inspired by visits to Athens and Delos, where the temples to the Greek gods are now in ruins. How would Athena react if she saw the horde of tourists surrounding the Parthenon?
A 3rd thought-provoking book is currently being researched, to be published in 2027.
Table 6

Sylvia Vetta
Author, Event Organiser, History
Sylvia named Coopers Oxford Marmalade Factory, ‘the Jam Factory’ when she established an Art and Antiques Centre with café, bookshop and repair services. The name has stuck! She’s best known locally for the ten year Oxford Castaway series in The Oxford Times. It brought together people who would usually never meet and she made it diverse which was rare then. Her novel, Sculpting the Elephant, is half set in Jericho and half in India. Sylvia is a campaigner for libraries and recently, with friends and the help of Korky Paul raised the money to build the first community library in west Kenya where her novel Not so Black and White is partly set. Her best-selling Brushstrokes in Time is a historical novel which tells the story of the courageous Stars artists (Beijing 1979). Her memoir has been endorsed by the journalist, Yasmin Alibhai Brown, the international poet Sudeep Sen and the history professor, Rana Mitter (Oxford and Harvard).
Table 25

Results Department Editorial Services
Editors, Publisher Services
Results Department Editorial Services is run by Helen Johns, an award-winning copywriter and supplier of editorial services in Oxfordshire. Helen specialises in providing editorial support, copywriting, copy editing and proofreading services to authors and businesses. Her background is based on 40 years’ experience of editorial, sales and marketing roles in book and magazine publishing and other businesses.
Helen can edit your book for publication, whether it’s fiction, biography or memoir, or non-fiction. I’ll check for consistency, clarity, and relevance; ensure grammar, syntax, diction, spelling and punctuation are correct; reduce over-long sentences where required; double-check that text references and footnotes are accurate; remove unwanted formatting, and check fonts are consistent.
Helen is also a first-class proofreader: checking for spelling and punctuation errors in headings and body copy; reviewing consistency of headings, references and pagination; ensuring fonts are consistent; dealing with missing or repeated text; and ensuring captions and source references are correct.
Table 57

Steve Sheppard
Author
Steve has spent his life trying to discover the secret of how to become a fully-functioning adult. He has so far failed. One thing he has learnt is that he ought to have tried writing a book forty years earlier than he did, although he also now realises that he should have become a celebrity first, as this would have made selling it much easier.
He currently has three comedy spy thrillers to his name, all published by Claret Press: A Very Important Teapot, set in Australia; Bored to Death in the Baltics, not set in Australia; and Poor Table Manners, which takes place in Cape Town. These feature an initially fairly hapless hero, Dawson, and a considerably less hapless heroine, Lucy, together with varied supporting casts, most of whom are not who they claim to be.
In 2025, Steve also released into the world a comedy-murder-mystery, Lazytown, set in an eccentric Oxfordshire village. And, in a departure from comedy, a UK based thriller, False Connections, featuring ex-MI5 agent, Mel Milano, may well be out before the summer book fair. This could be the first of a new series, although Dawson and Lucy are also planning another outing at some point.

What's happening on the day?
Event Schedule
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.
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