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.

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.”

I am proud to have published six books for 8-12 year old children, all set on the mysterious Island of Animaux. The island is located somewhere at the very edge of the world, although it has yet to be discovered. It is full of the strangest creatures having unending crazy, mad, funny adventures.

All the books have received wonderful reviews. The latest one is ‘Who’s There?” and as usual it contains five tales, the first following on from the last in the previous book, “The Other Side”.

In the new tales, Aubrey the Turkey is once again the centre of attention, with strong support from Clifford Platypus and Walli Hog. See how they go on an amazing journey, to help ten-year-old Daisy return to the real world. Watch Aubrey lose all his money to a sly fox and Douglas Duck almost become a shark’s snack. And delight as Aubrey, Clifford and Walli save their new friends’ business, much to Rick Rat’s annoyance.

I am delighted to once again be returning to the Oxford Indie Book Fair.

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.

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.

Chris Andrews Publications has produced guide books, coffee tables and souvenir books in Oxford for over 40 years. The company also publishes calendars, cards, posters and fridge magnets. All are photographed, designed and produced by ourselves. We also publish books and cards in the Cotswolds, Chilterns, Channel islands and Belfast.