New2theScene

Meet Rachel Hickingbotham, winner of our 2026 Winter Short Story Competition with her haunting entry The Sentinel, now available to read at New2theScene. As part of our mission to champion emerging writers, we sit down with Rachel to explore her creative journey, inspirations, next steps, and hopes for the future.Step into Rachel’s world as we uncover the origins of The Sentinel — a chilling, atmospheric tale rooted in stillness, memory, and the quiet witness of time. Discover how her fascination with nature, history, and the unseen threads of human experience shaped a story that is as lyrical as it is unsettling, and how her writing has evolved through years of being told 'writing isn’t what we do from round 'ere'.Get to know Rachel alongside our New2theScene presenter as she opens up about the challenges behind her work — the discipline required to refine her craft, the vulnerability of submitting work to competitions, tutors, or friends, and being diagnosed as having ADHD later in life. Hear how she navigates self-doubt, embraces feedback, and continues to push herself toward new creative heights.Be inspired by Rachel’s thoughtful approach to storytelling, even it’s at 2am when she’s keeping her partner awake because the idea must get out of her head! Her journey is a reminder that embracing who were are and our passion makes life richer, and hopefully pays off.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to discovering new or not-yet-familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (@new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests. Visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts — and unearth your next great read.

Meet Jenni Thorne, a poet from the Black Country and the winner of our 2025 Poetry Competition. In this episode, Jenni opens up about the imposter syndrome that kept her from pursuing her dream for years, as she watched from the sidelines of a world she felt her background denied her access to.Discover how Jenni challenged her self-doubt, found her voice, and built the confidence now propelling her forward with success and support.Get to know Jenni alongside our New2theScene presenter as she reflects on how her family, childhood, and life experiences shape her poetry. Her work delivers powerful, cathartic pieces on addiction, resilience, and motherhood, spanning the many chapters of her life.Writing is often a solitary pursuit, with inspiration striking at any hour — something Jenni embraces to combat insomnia, polishing her prose while the rest of the world sleeps!Be sure to listen to the full episode to find out whether Jenni can top the leaderboard in our game, “Title Race.” You won’t regret spending 50 minutes immersed in your passion.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to discovering new or not-yet-familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (@new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests. Visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts — and unearth your next great read.

Meet Ella Torres, a Brazilian writer, poet, translator, and the winner of our Summer 2025 Novel Competition. In this episode, Ella speaks candidly about her dreams of authorship and the tight-knit community of aspiring writers who inspire and sustain her. Together, we dive into her winning novel extract, The Midnight Saints, uncovering the questions it raises about belonging, transformation, and the ghosts we carry.Learn about Ella’s daily writing routine, her practical advice on succeeding in story competitions, and her thoughtful approach to contacting agents. Be inspired by her determination to break through the seemingly impenetrable walls of the literary world — armed with deadlines, support, and sheer persistence.Get to know Ella with our New2theScene presenter and hear about the sacrifices that come with chasing a dream, as she reflects on the thrill of recognition, the vulnerability of being read, and her hope that this marks the true beginning of her writing career. These are the fears many of us share: Are we good enough? Can we make it? Ella’s honesty and openness in confronting these questions will reassure you that you’re not alone in your pursuit of publication.And listen to the whole episode to find out whether Ella can top the leaderboard in our game ‘Title Race’ — you won’t regret spending 50 minutes indulging in your passion!New2theScene is a platform dedicated to discovering new or not-yet-familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (@new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests. Visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts — and unearth your next great read.

Meet Evie Wild, winner of our 2025 Summer Short Story Competition with her entry Fifteen Forever, which can now be read at New2theScene. As part of the prize, we want to promote new writers, and as such we chat to Evie about her writing journey, inspirations, next steps, and her view on the literary world today.Learn about Evie’s early love of literature that quickly became a need to write, how school critiques honed her voice and resilience, and how she is now working at an academic publisher while quietly building the experience and skills to launch a career in fiction.Get to know Evie with our New2theScene presenter and hear about the difficult parts and sacrifices that come with chasing a dream, the fight to manage the weight of imposter syndrome, and the unshakable need to write that continues to drive her forward.Be inspired by Evie’s dedication and honesty, from her daily writing rituals to the quiet determination of submitting work in secret, showing that passion and persistence can turn a lifelong love of stories into something tangible—and that the courage to keep writing, even in the face of self-doubt, can ignite your own creative journey.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to discovering new or not-yet-familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (@new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests. Visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts—and unearth your next great read.

Meet Tim Collyer, winner of our 2025 Flash Fiction competition with his piece, What Mirrors Cannot Change, now available to read on our winner’s blog page. As part of the prize, we aim to shine a light on emerging writers, and in this episode, we speak with Tim about his remarkable journey into writing, his love for flash fiction, and what’s next for him creatively.Tim’s story is one of transformation—after surviving a heart attack that nearly took his life, he woke with a fierce determination to write. He threw himself into the world of fiction, entering as many competitions as possible over the course of a year. In doing so, he discovered a passion for flash fiction’s tight, expressive form, and is now planning a flash novella that builds on this love.Get to know Tim better with our New2theScene presenter and hear how this turning point in life gave him not just a second chance, but a new purpose: to write with urgency, clarity, and heart.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to discovering new or not-yet-familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (@new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests. Visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts—and unearth your next great read.

Meet L.S. Scott, winner of our 2025 Winter Novel competition with her entry What Pulls Us Under, which can now be read on our winner's blog page. As part of the prize, we want to promote new writers, and as such we chat to Larissa about her writing journey, aspirations, next steps, and view on the literary landscape.Learn about Larissa’s strategic path to becoming a full-time author—how she reshaped her life to prioritise writing, even leaving a job that no longer aligned with her creative ambitions. Hear how Larissa draws daily inspiration from the natural beauty of a hidden Florida, writing with intention and persistence, whether she’s published or not.Get to know Larissa better with our New2theScene presenter and discover how she’s living her best life now: writing every day, researching comparable novels to sharpen her edge, and actively learning from other authors as she embraces the craft she’s always loved.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (@new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet Joe Pearson, winner of our 2025 Winter Short Story competition with his entry All Equal in Utopia, which can now be read on our winner's blog page. As part of the prize, we want to promote new writers, and as such we chat to Joe about his writing journey, aspirations, next steps, and view on the literary landscape.Learn about Joe's bold decision to become an author by pausing his career, focusing on finding representation for his sci-fi work, whilst entering competitions to hone his skills and 'reconnect with the reasons for storytelling'.Get to know Joe better with our New2theScene presenter and hear how juggling life as a new father, and emigrating to Paris, has inspired him to do what he's always wanted: call himself a writer.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

M. Jonathan Lee, author of six novels, shortlisted for The Novel Prize in 2012, and mental health campaigner, returns for his second podcast with N2tS as he's been working on a special project for the site. His new six-part series, 'M is for Meaningless', details his life in writing, including hints and advice he's acquired over twenty years, exclusive to New2theScene, and can be read by clicking here.Learn what it takes to be an author, how getting published is a challenge no matter how many times you've done it, what can improve your writing, and the importance of following your passion for mental wellbeing.Get to know Jonathan better with our New2theScene presenter, and hear about swapping genres, not pigeon-holing your writing, and what's next for this talented writer - all whilst recovering from a rare illness that has effected every part of his life, apart from his sense of humour!New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet Kate Bramhall, winner of our 2024 poetry competition with her poem Papa, which can now be read at New2theScene.co.uk. As part of the prize, we want to promote new writers, and as such we chat to Kate about her writing journey, aspirations, next steps, love for literacy, and the difference it can make in people's lives.Learn about Kate's work in prisons, transforming outlooks through poetry, and how educating herself in Creative Writing in her twenties changed Kate's life, and how that is still evolving to this day.Get to know Kate better with our New2theScene presenter and hear about the struggles she's encountered in childhood, her struggles to understand her place in society, barriers she's faced such as racism, and how her passion for literature and reading has been a constant source of support.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet co-authors and sisters, Katharine and Elizabeth Corr, creators of The Witches Kiss trilogy, A Throne of Swans duology, and The House of Shadows duology, Daughter of Darkness and Queen of Gods. We chat about their work, writing with a sibling, inspiration, the road to getting published, and upcoming projects.Learn what it takes to get published, the benefits of researching and studying your subject matter in writing, and the obstacles, doubts and worries facing all authors, even when they've published seven books!Get to know Katharine and Elizabeth better with our New2theScene presenter and hear about the lives of authors, the support of working with a loved one, and the ups and downs and rejection in the publishing industry that never relents.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet Eugene O'Toole, winner of our summer short story competition (2024) who wrote Church of Rage, which can now be read on our winner's blog page. As part of the prize, we want to promote new authors, and as such we chat to Eugene about his writing journey, aspirations, next steps, love for literacy, and what a good short story needs.Learn the importance of honing your craft in competitions, and the joy it gives you, how you are never too old to begin a journey towards an ambition, and how to overcome bad habits developed over a career in journalism.Get to know Eugene better with our New2theScene presenter and hear his experience with trying to find publishers and agents to take a chance on new writers, and the importance of marketing yourself - as well as the mistakes he's made along the way.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet Natalie Franks, editor and creator of Clever Crow copyediting, who works with indie authors on developmental, copyediting and proofreading. We chat about the different aspects of the publishing industry, namely editing, how to become an editor, and what you should be looking for when thinking of hiring an editor's services for your manuscript.Learn what it takes to become a professional editor, the challenges of being visible as a fresh face in an industry, the support of the indie community, and the ins and outs of life when following your passion.Get to know Natalie better with our New2theScene presenter and hear about the publishing industry from an alternative perspective, what it's like to be invested in a novel and then hand it over, and the importance of creating relationships when working with authors.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet Luke Richards, author of Dave's New World, a dystopian comedy, and winner of the Bath New Comedy award for 2024 for his stand-up routine. We chat about getting published, performing comedy, future projects and more.Learn about entering the comedy scene, accepting that not everyone will like your work, and the difficulty of getting noticed in any creative industry.Get to know Luke better with our New2theScene presenter and hear about the publishing industry from the perspective of a debutant author, working with editors, and a writing routine of blocking out weekends and 'splurging' thousands of words in a single sitting on any topic.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet Sylvia Bishop, author of ten novels for a variety of ages, short-listed and winning awards since 2017. We chat about writing for different age groups, performing comedy, writing workshops, Writers with Faces, and more.Learn what it takes to establish a career in writing, how lonely writing can feel if you shut yourself away from the world, and ideas on how to combat that isolation.Get to know Sylvia better with our New2theScene presenter and hear about discovering your passions and finding your people, not being afraid to leave university with a different plan to the one you entered with, and the importance of a balanced life.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet Victoria Williamson, author of eight novels, and more, which have been short-listed, long-listed, and won numerous awards since 2018. We chat about her work, the importance of children seeing themselves in literature, school librarians, writing for a variety of genres and purposes, and 90's children's TV programmes!Learn what it takes to get published, the lesser-known struggle to continue being visible, and the obstacles facing new authors through diminishing opportunities and funding.Get to know Victoria better with our New2theScene presenter and hear about the full time job of visiting schools, promoting her work, donating to charity... before the writing and editing begins!New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet M Jonathan Lee, author of six novels, shortlisted for The Novel Prize in 2012, and mental health campaigner, in a podcast that’s been over a year in the making. His article, 'Writing and its mental health benefits', inspried New2theScene to exist. We chat about this, the personal experiences leading to that article, and writing through adversity.Learn what it takes to be an author, the importance of following your passion, and where a positive outlook and persistance can lead in literature.Get to know Jonathan better with our New2theScene presenter, and hear about the addictive nature of writing and how it can be the best kind of therapy, and the charity work that's developed from this.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet Samantha Howard-Els, creator of the beautifully illustrated Mungo series for 4-7 year olds. We chat about life as an author in South Africa, the good, bad and ugly of self-publishing, and finding a genre that suits your style.Learn what it takes to be a children's author, the process of working with an illustrator (and friend), and what it means to have total control of a publication.Get to know Sam better with our New2theScene presenter, and hear about the many hats an author wears, and how it often takes them outside their comfort zone.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet Liam Randles, author of ‘The Heat of the Summer’, a thriller where a group of boys discover the cost of keeping the party going to forget traumas at home.We learn how Liam came to be an author, his hopes in the literary world, and what’s on the horizon for this fresh voice.Get to know Liam better as he chats with our New2theScene presenter, and receive an insight into the life of a debut author.New2thescene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) and visit our website new2thescene.co.uk to order 'The Heat of the Summer' or more new talent.

Meet Patricia Marques, creator of Inspector Reis, with The Colours of Death and House of Silence already on our shelves, and Broken Oaths, the third novel in the series, due September '24. We chat about getting a university assignment published, the advantages and disadvantages of crossing genres, and how life can impact the writing process as she struggled to complete her latest instalment.Learn what it takes to be an author, the lack of sleep that comes with writing around work commitments, and the pressure from positive reviews rather than negative.Get to know Patricia better with our New2theScene presenter, and hear about the sometimes toxic relationship authors have with writing... but they wouldn't have it any other way!New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in this or other podcasts, and unearth new talent.

Meet Chris Nickson, author of over 30 books, including historical crime series featuring Simon Westow and Tom Harper, set in his hometown of Leeds over the last three centuries. We chat about the importance of factual accuracy in fiction, writing several series in unison, following in family footsteps, and penning 50,000 word celebrity books in a month!Learn the reality of paying the bills with your writing, the passion a person can have for telling the story of a city, and how real fictional characters can be to an author.Get to know Chris better with our New2theScene presenter, and hear how characters sit beside him as he writes, making sure their stories are told, as social history informs fictional novels in his blend of crime and mystery during the evolution of a city.New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order books mentioned in podcasts or unearth more new talent.

Meet Kristen Bailey, author of 10 books, including stand-alone novels Sex Ed, the RNA Romantic Comedy Award nominated Great Sexpectations, and her latest release, Five Gold Rings. We chat about becoming an author, the perception versus the reality of writing for a living, and the imposter syndrome that success doesn't banish.Learn the true ups and downs of being an author, the sometimes brutal nature of book publishing, and the joy of hearing fans engage with your work.Get to know Kristen better with our New2theScene presenter, and receive an insight into jungling the raising of a family with writing to deadlines... whilst earwigging!New2theScene is a platform dedicated to the discovery of new or not yet familiar talent. Follow us on Instagram (new2thescene.official) for the latest offers, news, and upcoming podcast guests, and visit our bookstore at new2thescene.co.uk to order Kristen's books or unearth more new talent.