2026 Workshop Presenters

Amy Blythe

Amy Blythe (she/her) is a hybrid author with six self-published romcoms and two Harlequin Medicals to her name so far. As a high-school English teacher and youth poetry slam organiser, she loves creative communities, the magic of words, and almost any combination of the two! Amy lives in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand, with her husband and two teenagers. When she’s not writing, she smashes old plates to make mosaics, attempts to grow things she can eat, and plays elabourate boardgames. When she is writing, it’s mostly slow-burn romcoms with yearning, banter and a sizzle. A hopeless romantic, she cannot get enough of that whooshing feeling you get from a significant look, a world-spinning kiss, or an accidental, mid-argument confession of love. The first novel she wrote was Jane Austen fan-fiction, the next ER fan-fiction, and that probably tells you everything you need to know!
You can find here here: https://amyblythe.com/

Bronwen Evans

USA Today Bestselling author, Bronwen Evans (Bron), loves story-telling – gobbling up movies, reading books and attending the theatre. Her head is always filled with characters and stories, particularly lovers in angst. Is it any wonder she’s a proud romance writer.

Bronwen’s first manuscript, INVITATION TO RUIN, was completed late 2009, and was sold to Kensington Publishing early 2010, in a two book deal. Her debut novel, INVITATION TO RUIN, received a 4.5 star rating from RT Book Reviews and was nominated in the RT Reviewer’s Choice Awards – Best First Historical. Invitation to Ruin also won the RomCon Readers Crown Best Historical 2012.

Bron’s since gone on to win the RomCon Readers Crown three times. Her first book in her Disgraced Lords series hit the USA Today bestsellers list and she has hit it several times since.

She lives in New Zealand in sunny Hawkes Bay with her two Cavoodles named Brandy and Duke.
You can find here here: https://www.bronwenevans.com/

Eileen Mueller

Eileen Mueller is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of heart-pounding, YA fantasy novels that keep readers turning the page. Her urban and epic worlds are full of magic, love, adrenaline-fueled adventures—and dragons. Don’t forget the dragons!

The recipient of two New Zealand Storylines Notable Book literary awards for Best Youth Novel, Eileen also has Sir Julius Vogel Awards, and has won or been placed in international and national writing contests, including being a finalist in the 2017 Romance Writers NZ Chapter Short story contest.

Eileen has also appeared on podcasts, and been an MC, panellist, presenter and speaker at many author and reader conferences. She is an experienced marketing and public relations consultant and has many online and print articles published in newspapers, magazines, and on radio.

Rumor has it that she dwells in a cave on a Wellywood hillside with her dragonets.
You fan find her here: https://www.eileenmuellerauthor.com/

Holly Dunn

Holly is a book cover designer who specialises in creating illustrated covers for independent authors. She’s worked with some of the biggest publishers in the business, including HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Pan Macmillan. Her truest joy is in helping indie authors realise the covers of their dreams.

You can find her here: https://www.hollydunndesign.com/

James Blatch

James Blatch is a former BBC Defence Reporter and a former BBFC Film Examiner. He reported for the BBC on the UK military from, among other places, HMS Invincible (Operation Desert Fox build up), Kuwait (Ali Al Salem allied air base), the Arctic Circle as well as covering the UK air offensive during the Kosovo Conflict in 1999… Blatch is a director of the Self Publishing Formula Limited, an online course provider for independent authors. He co-hosts the weekly SPF Podcast.

Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
You can find him here: https://www.jamesblatch.com/

Lynda Tomalin

Lynda Tomalin/Elle Ashwell writes both contemporary young adult and small town romances set in New Zealand.

Along with publishing eight (nine by conference) books in three years, she is also the mother of three daughters and has a day job, so both time and mental capacity are limited. With a love of to-do lists and spreadsheets, she’s spent her entire publishing journey developing ways to streamline her author business so she can get back to the fun stuff: actually writing the books!

You can find her here: https://www.glitterinkpress.com/lynda-tomalin

Nat Connors

Nat Connors has been publishing genre fiction since 2016. He’s a fiction writer, medical scientist and dance teacher. Kindletrends started when he got fed up with trying to make sense of the Kindle Store, and wanted a compiled summary of the information important to his own writing. He shared it with author friends, and now he wants to share it with the author community as a whole. Kindletrends is a weekly research newsletter for self-published authors. Each week and month, subscribers get in-depth information summarising every aspect of their genre – blurbs, covers, titles and trends

Rosie Evelyn / Ruth James

Ruth James writes paranormal romance and mysteries as Rosie Evylin, and balances her creative work alongside her legal career, step motherhood, and business building. A certified coach and founder of the VIP (Values, Identity, Priorities) Framework, she works with ambitious women to build sustainable careers without sacrificing health or joy.

A dedicated runner and multi-passionate entrepreneur, Ruth understands firsthand the challenges of pursuing creative goals with a full life. She blends practical structure with thoughtful reflection, empathy, and infectious enthusiasm.

You can find her here: https://www.rosieevylin.com/

Sarah Williams

Bestselling romance author and CEO of Serenade Publishing, Sarah Williams writes emotionally rich love stories steeped in longing, music, and second chances.

Raised in rural New Zealand chasing sheep, riding horses, and picking kiwi fruit on her family orchard, Sarah’s love of wide-open spaces and heartfelt storytelling runs deep. After more than a decade of travel, she settled in Queensland, Australia, where she now lives in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, balancing family life with writing swoon-worthy romances that stay with readers long after the final page.

Her much-loved Australian set rural romance series Brigadier Station has captured hearts around the world and was brought to life in audio by Logie-nominated actor Myles Pollard (McLeod’s Daughters), adding an extra layer of heat and heart for listeners.

You can find her online at Sarah Williams

Shannon Curtis

Shannon Curtis is the award-winning, bestselling author of romantic suspense, paranormal romance and contemporary romance fiction. Shannon has written over fifteen novels for the US, UK, Canadian and AU/NZ home markets, as well as for The Bold & The Beautiful franchise, and her novels have won national and international awards. She’s shared her love of the craft of writing through teaching creative writing classes at Sydney Community College, Writing NSW, and various libraries, festivals and events.

You can find her online at: https://shannoncurtis.com/

The SPA Girls

Cheryl Phipps, Shar Barratt, Trudi Jaye, and Wendy Vella are the voices behind the SPA Girls Podcast. Since their first episode aired in 2015, they have delivered over 550 weekly episodes, and have built one of indie publishing’s most trusted free resources. They deliver weekly episodes packed with everything an indie author needs to know to succeed.
You can find them here: https://selfpublishingauthorspodcast.com/

Vianne Max

Vianne Max is a writer and educator with 25 years’ experience in teaching creative writing. She has worked in a number of countries and inspired a new generation of writers. She is the author of the Isle of Storms series and absolutely loves the writing process. She has Literature and Film degrees from Auckland, Glasgow and Middlesex Universities, and is passionate about travel and new experiences, including how they can influence our writing.

You can find her online at: