About Us

Alison's first crime novel, The Tattoo Thief, was Pitch Perfect winner at Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival 2016. Translated into 15 languages, it was a number 1 bestseller in Italy and is the first instalment of the internationally acclaimed Tattoo Thief trilogy. Alison also writes in collaboration with her brother Nick Higgins, publishing two thrillers set in Afghanistan with him. The first two books in her trilogy featuring DI Lexi Bennett and set in Canterbury will be published on June 26. Alison divides her time between London and Edinburgh and is a founder and host of the Edinburgh Writers’ Forum.

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Book recommendation: The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox

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Jane writes historical fiction. Her first book, The Girl Who Fled the Picture, was longlisted for the Adventures in Fiction 2018 New Voices competition, and shortlisted for the 2014 Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award. Her second novel was longlisted for the 2017 Retreat West First Chapter Award and the 2017 Exeter Novel Award, and won the Literary Sofa Book Pitch Spotlight 2021. Two of her novels were Writing Award Finalists in the Page Turner Awards in 2021 and 2022. She was named an Emerging Writer by the Edinburgh City of Literature and was a featured Story Shop writer in 2017, reading her work at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Jane is also a founder and host of the Edinburgh Writers’ Forum.

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Book recommendation: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Kristin writes women’s fiction. In 2008 she started the Highland Literary Salon in Inverness (now Highland LIT) which she hosted and coordinated until 2011. She has chaired book launches and events in Edinburgh, Inverness, and Melbourne and is a founder and host of the Edinburgh Writers’ Forum.
 

 

Book recommendation: Heartburn by Nora Ephron

Olivia is Assistant Manager and Events Coordinator at the Edinburgh Bookshop and co-creator of Wee Three Indies virtual events platform. In 2022 she was shortlisted for Individual Bookseller of the Year at the British Book Awards. Her influence has also helped lead the Edinburgh Bookshop to achieving Scottish Bookshop of the Year five of the last ten years as well as Children’s Bookseller of the Year in 2014.

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Book recommendation: The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary