Helen worked as a publishing PR in London before moving to Devon and becoming National Director of Arvon, which is known for its residential creative writing courses. From there she went to Farms for City Children, a charity connecting inner city school children to the countryside through a week on a working farm. Helen is principal short story reader for the Bridport Prize. She lives in West Devon on the northern edge of Dartmoor.
Follow Helen on Twitter: @LitWorksCEO

What are the three books you’ll love forever?

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Another Country by James Baldwin
Precious Bane by Mary Webb

Heather studied BA English Literature with Creative Writing at University of East Anglia and MA Creative and Critical Writing at the University of Sussex. Before coming to Literature Works she worked for the Devon Guild of Craftsmen and Tobacco Factory Theatres. Heather is the Project Officer, coordinating Quay Words at Exeter Custom House and other Literature Works projects.

What are the three books you’ll love forever?

Howards End – E. M Forster. “Forster is one of my absolute favourite writers, and the sentiment only connect is something I try to live by.”

Dart – Alice Oswald. “Beautiful poetry about the place where I grew up, it’s like someone designed this book just for me!”

The Dispossessed – Ursula K. Le Guin. “There’s nothing like a bit of radical, feminist, political sci-fi to make you see the world in a different way.”

Laura Moore is the administrator for Literature Works and resident ‘recommender of books in translation’ for the team.

What are the three book you’ll love forever?

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. “Set in Barcelona, one of my favourite cities – the first in The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series. So compelling, I had to finish it on the journey home from a holiday in Barcelona“.

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracey Chevalier. “My favourite of Tracey’s books. I studied history and enjoyed the immersive experience of this novel, set in medieval Flanders. It’s cleverly linked to a set of tapestries which can be visited in Paris”.

Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson. “I loved the whole set of Moomin books as a child. For adults, there is plenty that we can learn from the Moominland characters”.

Michelle studied English Literature at undergraduate level and Publishing at MA level. As Literature Development Officer for Literature Works, she works across the charity’s digital strategy – from commissioning web design projects and producing copy to managing social media. Michelle also provides support to the executive team, assisting in operations, programming and logistics.

What are the three books you’ll love forever?

Matilda, by Roald Dahl. “Matilda is basically me in book form. It was always a good ice-breaker on my degrees when I said this was my favourite book!”

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. “I’ll always be an Austenite. It’s a truth universally acknowledged!”

The Interestings, by Meg Wolitzer “A timeless coming of age story, with important messages about identity at its heart.”