After 40 years (and counting!) of writing scientific papers, books and patents where almost every sentence needs to be justified with a reference, I suppose I longed for being able to write something which did not have any boundaries. Having recently become a part-time consultant scientist and with all four children having now left our house, there is now some time for me to let my mind wander through those things that do not need to be proved; do not have to be true. But the scientist in me hasn’t allowed me to stray that far from the truth or reality and that’s pretty much how I ended up writing ‘A Painkiller to Die For’ (2025). This was my second published novel after ‘A Practical Arrangement’ which came out towards the end of 2023 under the nom de plume of Verity Trevethan.

My third novel, ‘The Disappearance of Sarah Griffiths,’ has a publication date of 28th November and also has a smattering of science running through the plot. My editor has labelled this book as ‘Gone Girl meets Breaking Bad’ and I think I can see where she is coming from. It is a dark, domestic noir based around a young married couple whose comfortable existence is crumbling around them. The life changing events lead to the wife’s disappearance and a criminal investigation looking into the death of a small-time drug dealer. The novel asks questions to just how far we’ll go to protect the ones we love and the lives we’ve built and what we become when they start to fall apart.

Mario Coelho is a multiple award wining children’s book illustrator based in Oxford with several mainstream picture book publications including with the prestigious Oxford University Press and several independent publications with the very well known and acclaimed children’s poet John foster.

Very recently I have worked alongside the great illustrator Korky Paul in a publishing project with Epic Tales where we both illustrated several titles and most recently shortlisted for the ArtEvol 2025: Voices from the Undefined.

I discovered my writing voice in English at the turn of the millennium after a thirty-year-long nervous breakdown.

I’ve had a colourful, vibrant life not only as a single mother of four and intermittent wife/lover, but also on the stage as an opera and tango singer and actress.

As a Colombian woman of colour my work explores race as a social phenomenon, in particular the experience of internalised racism and the subtle undertows of its development within each of us, through our upbringing in a post-colonial global culture; as well as the different aspects of misogyny that pervade all levels of society, even amongst the most conscientious and well meaning individuals.

At the 2026 OIBF I will be launching and signing copies of the latest edition of the full Physics of Passion trilogy, which explores these essential themes, reflected through a prism comprising the facets of science, spirituality and relationships.
Joining me will be:

Anila Syed brings a distinctive voice that moves effortlessly between literary fiction and children’s books. Her genre-defying collection Prompted showcases her imaginative storytelling, alongside a growing body of work for younger readers.

Italian author Renata Lanzoni, whose novel Shattered Moon draws on real-life experience to tell a gripping story of abuse, resilience and survival on a tropical island. She is also the author of the travel guides Oxford in One Afternoon and The Light-Packer’s Guide: Globetrotting on Bare Essentials.

Fran Clark writes emotive women’s fiction inspired by the connection between London and the Caribbean. Her work explores themes of identity, family, and resilience, often shaped by the storytelling traditions of her Dominican heritage. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and lives in the English countryside, where she also teaches vocals.

The Grail Twins – A Cathar Legacy

More than a story – a mystery school initiation

A tale of dragons, an ancient bloodline, and the hidden wisdom of Sophia.

When Oxford doctor Annie Morgan turns to hypnotherapy to quiet her night terrors, she unlocks memories she cannot explain – glimpses of a Cathar girl fleeing Montségur, sacred relics entrusted to her care, and a treasure buried high above the monastery at Montserrat. As her visions lead her through Atlantis, Egypt, Druid Wales, Avalon, and Rosslyn Chapel, Annie pieces together the story of Anna and Dewi – twins born of Magdalene and Yeshua, protectors of Sophia’s flame, trained by Merlin and Taliesin, and guarded by dragons. In their Atlantean lifetime, their destiny is to restore balance after the Fall, healing the rift between light and shadow – a harmony that will one day awaken the true Grail. Now, as Annie walks the ancient stones and meets the man her soul has known for millennia, she learns what it truly means to be the Grail’s keeper in a world that has forgotten.

A story of love, remembrance, and the return of Sophia’s wisdom, The Grail Twins invites readers on a journey through history, myth, and the light within.

Mediterranean Publishing is the storyteller’s home. Since 2019, we’ve been the quiet force behind hundreds of authors—shaping raw manuscripts into polished works of courage, culture, and consequence. From a child’s first picture book to a scholar’s definitive thesis, we believe every story deserves the integrity of traditional craft and the reach of modern strategy.