Adam Reta, born in Addis Ababa in 1958, is one of Ethiopia’s most original literary voices. Shaped by political upheaval, revolution, and displacement, his fiction mirrors Ethiopia’s fractured history through non-linear, fragmentary storytelling. Trained in geography and GIS, he approaches narrative like cartography, where motifs act as coordinates and meaning arises in the gaps. His philosophy, Hisinawinet, inspired by injera’s rhizomatic surface, embraces openness, silence, and interconnectedness. First recognized with Etemete Lomi Shita (2008), his works include award-winning novels like Yesinibit Qelemat and Af, known for their layered structures and strong female voices. Adapted to film and celebrated in Ethiopia and abroad, Reta remains committed to experimental, humane literature, now reaching a global audience with the translated collection Couch Grass.

Sometimes, Shashank Gupta has no clue of what he may have written until years later when the real story is revealed to him. He thinks ignorance, and not knowledge, is where truth resides. His books cover a wild spectrum from adult horror to literary to romance to children's to narrative non-fiction. Poetry, to him, is the highest form of writing which he shall only dare closer to his end. In search of freedom, he left his PhD in horticulture to become a farmer, and escaped the cycle of crops, after 6 years, for advertising. 23 years as creative director, of the most obnoxious campaigns, is a rut he tries to run from by writing stories that may add meaning to mere existence. He is free from all social media for his peace of mind, and to create time. He lives with his wife, an artist, in New Delhi. 'Four Chimneys' will be his fourth published work.

Kyallo Wadi Wamitila (born 1965 in Machakos, Kenya) is a renowned scholar, novelist, and literary theorist whose work has significantly shaped contemporary Swahili literature. He earned his PhD in 1999 from Bayreuth University, Germany, and later taught at the University of Nairobi, specializing in literature, comparative literature, oral traditions, and translation. Wamitila has written extensively on Swahili prose, drama, and literary theory, including the widely referenced Outline of Swahili Literature: Prose Fiction and Drama. As a creative writer, his acclaimed novels, such as Dharau ya Ini, demonstrate his innovative style, interweaving oral tradition with postmodern narrative techniques. Known for his critical rigor and metatextual storytelling, he has been instrumental in nurturing new generations of writers and cementing Swahili literature’s role in world letters.

Genevieve L. Asenjo (b. 1979) is an award-winning multilingual Filipino poet, novelist, fictionist, essayist, translator, children’s book author, academic, and literary scholar. She is celebrated for her body of work in three Philippine languages: Kinaray-a, Hiligaynon, and Filipino, and for her advocacy in writing mentorship, cultural volunteerism, and storytelling. She is featured in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Encyclopedia of Philippine Art (Literature, 2018). She has been awarded international writing fellowships, including residencies in Seoul, South Korea (2009), and at the International Writing Program (IWP) of the University of Iowa, USA (2012).

Asenjo’s work engages with urgent and enduring themes: inter-island migration and diaspora, the lives of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), women’s stories, indigenous knowledge systems, regional and postcolonial identities, and the environmental crises surrounding food security, rivers, water, and mountains. Her writing also contributes to the emerging Filipino Gothic or archipelagothic —a mode rooted in folklore, colonial trauma, and global hauntings.

Claudia Wysocky is a 16-year-old Polish poet based in New York, celebrated for her evocative creations that capture life's essence through emotional depth and rich imagery. With over five years of experience in fiction writing, her poetry has appeared in various local newspapers and literary magazines. Wysocky believes in the transformative power of art and views writing as a vital force that inspires her daily. Her works blend personal reflections with universal themes, making them relatable to a broad audience. Actively engaging with her community on social media, she fosters a shared passion for poetry and creative expression.

Simo writes about the quiet weight of emotion—the soft undoings, the subtle reckonings, and the everyday miracles of survival. A longtime creative, his work gently explores themes of vulnerability, mental health, and the contradictions of living with both tenderness and resilience. His writing feels like a late-night confession whispered between friends—layered with wit, honesty, and quiet grace. 

When he's not writing, Simo is likely deep in some book on ancient symbols and spirituality, in the gym chasing clarity through movement, or just trying his best to exist. This collection "Quiet Disasters and Other Miracles" is a deeply personal debut—not meant to fix anything, but simply to say: You’re not alone in this.

Ann van Wijgerden is a poet originally from England, though she has spent most of her adult life in the Netherlands and the Philippines. She co-founded and works (2008 – present day) for a non-profit organisation called Young Focus www.youngfocus.org, providing education for children living in Manila’s slum area of ‘Smokey Mountain’. Ann has had poetry, fiction and nonfiction published in multiple magazines and anthologies in different countries and is a 2025 Best of the Net nominee. Much of Ann’s writing reflects her passion for social justice, her wrestling with what it means to be human, as well as an awakening sense of kinship with the natural world. She’s very excited about her debut poetry collection Dear Planet being published by Fidessa Literary later this year (2025).

Suze Leonie is a literary fiction and children's fiction author and illustrator from a Dutch coastal town. She has a passion for literature and philosophy and when she isn't writing or drawing, she's usually found with a book in her hand. She's known for her insatiable interest in a variety of subjects.  In the spring of 2024 Suze Leonie made her debut with the novel Ivan, Boris and Me, which is the first book in a collection of literary works that heavily focus on human psychology. When Suze Leonie is able to let go of her precious books she enjoys going to museums, good food, board games and long walks on the beach. 

Annefleur Bruin is a literary author from the Netherlands whose international upbringing shaped her perspective on cultures and storytelling. From an early age, she expressed herself through music and literature. Her novels focus on character exploration, delving into struggles, desires, fears, and love stories. She crafts immersive narratives that connect readers with her characters on an emotional journey. 

Annefleur has written several books, including Blackwood’s Institute for Girls 1827, published in the UK in 2022. She now looks forward to releasing her upcoming novel, Messenger from Before, with Fidessa Literary in 2025.

Aelia Qalam is a 25-year-old royal-born Northern Nigerian with both a political and literary upbringing. She is passionate about using her artistic voice to explore the rarely documented intricacies of Northern Nigerian culture—especially its political, historical, and emotional nuances—through compelling, emotionally resonant storytelling. Beyond literature, she is deeply involved in the world of art, from poetry to fashion, always seeking new ways to express the richness of the world.

Bethlehem Attfield is a British literary translator of Ethiopian heritage. She specialises in translating fiction and poetry from Amharic into English. Her debut translation of the Amharic novel The Lost Spell was published in London in 2022 and was shortlisted for the Society of Authors’ TA First Translation Award. Her translated short stories have appeared in Asymptote Journal and The Hypocrite Reader. She also translated Adam Reta’s short story Requiem Potatoes and adapted it into an audio musical story available on Spotify. Beyond translation, Bethlehem writes research papers and engages with digital platforms to promote important literary and academic works. In her leisure time, she enjoys travelling and exploring new cultures.

Rachel Griffiths is a fiction author from Wales. She has a lifelong passion for reading, and books have been her closest companions since childhood. Rachel is known for her ability to create realistic, down-to-earth characters and stories that transport readers away from their worries to a place of relaxation and joy. Her stories are praised for their warmth, humor, and captivating scenery, with readers often commenting on the charm and cheer her writing brings. When Rachel isn't writing, she enjoys walking her dog, indulging in Earl Grey tea and gin, and spending time with her family. In the spring of 2025, her highly rated Cosy Cottage Café series will be published in Dutch. 

Torsaa Emmanuel Oryiman is a Nigerian writer deeply inspired by timeless themes of love, loss, and redemption. With a passion for weaving intricate tales that explore the duality of human nature, he draws on rich cultural traditions and personal insights to craft stories that resonate with the struggles and triumphs of life. When not writing, he enjoys exploring historical landscapes, reading classic literature, and engaging with communities to bring forgotten stories to life.

His stories have been published in Literary Yard, The Kalahari Review, and Inverse Journal.

Justice Faruck is a Nigerian author whose work explores the emotional complexities of identity, tradition, and the quiet we carry. His debut novel, The Loud Silence Between Us—a haunting portrait of womanhood, justice, and quiet resilience—will be published with Fidessa Literary. Committed to authentic storytelling, Faruck is also the creator of FictionFlux, a literature app in development that amplifies diverse voices and fosters meaningful creative expression

South African writer Mlungisi Zondi’s narrative style pulses with phantasmagoric insight into the mundane aspects of life, his pen slipping into dark imaginings when you least expect it. 

A former journalist, his themes are shaped by cordoned-off crime scenes and the gritty realities of the inner city. His debut novel, The Ghosts of Van Der Merwe Street, is a noir tale of betrayal, addiction, and haunted memory. 

He is working on his second novel, a prison escape thriller inspired by the real-life exploits of Stander gang member and master key forger, Allan Heyl. The story is narrated by a likeable rogue Heyl helped escape. 

In his personal life, Zondi marvels at his 10-year-old daughter’s milestones, though he often escapes to the golf course when her preteen drama gets too much to handle. In quieter moments, he enjoys rereading the classics of the Romantic Movement.

Antonius is a non-fiction author from The Hague, renowned for his unique approach to integrating mathematical concepts into legal frameworks. With a background in economics and law, Antonius’s research delves into organic systems within legal theory, drawing on insights from his experience in investment. His 2024 book, Jurimetric Insights into Property Law, introduces IT-based concepts into legal analysis. Influenced by 16th and 17th-century legal philosophers, Antonius is dedicated to reexamining the foundational elements of law. In 2025, his upcoming book Humane Anarchy  will be published by Fidessa. Outside of writing, he enjoys both sports and literature.