Breakthrough is a collective of authors that has created an innovative, award-winning independent publisher putting freedom and fairness for creatives – and quality and originality for readers – at the heart of its ethos. A diverse and eclectic list includes fiction and non-fiction, debuts and series, YA and adult sci-fi/fantasy, love stories, mysteries and thrillers, humour and satire, business books and short story anthologies.

Recent launches include Awakenings: why neopaganism and the folklore renaissance matter by Stevyn Colgan (who will be on stand), Curious Events Lately Occurring in this Neighbourhood by the Sunday Times bestselling Tom Cox, the award-winning surreal satire collection from Zena Barrie (also on stand) and romcom The Earth Husband by Dan Brotzel (also at the fair!) among nearly 20 other titles.

Where has depletion become normal in your life?

Stewardship: For the Woman I Am Now… And the Woman Who Is Emerging is a guided journal for women navigating change and the quiet work of returning to themselves. Across nine chapters, from The Return to Emergence, it creates space to hear yourself again and to make choices from that place. No correct answers. Only honest ones.

Lorraine Kidd is a writer and the founder of Ocean Energy Living. She lives by the sea in Eastbourne.

Visit Lorraine at table N57 for a signed copy – a thoughtful gift for a woman at a turning point, or for yourself.

I am a director, steering group member and volunteer of One Planet Abingdon Climate Emergency Centre located under the County Hall Museum in Abingdon Market Place.

We are implementing the climate and ecological emergency declaration made by Abingdon Town Council in 2019. We have adopted the ten principles of One Planet Living devised by Bioregional and serve Source Climate Change Coffee, the highest rated coffee by Ethical Consumer and home made cakes, soups and curries made from the best meat free ingredients.

After 5 years experimenting with volunteerism we have probably placed Abingdon on the top of the league of climate emergency centres coming out from behind the cakes to discuss the latest climate events and nature loss and recovery.

Last year we we received the prize from the Ridgeway Education Trust (the two senior schools and sixth form in Didcot) for ‘best employer’ for work in the schools on climate literacy and providing work at the CEC. We are not expecting to prevent bad climate events happening but the people in Abingdon might be more aware and prepared for the worst.

Award winning stand-up comedian and author with writing credits for BBC radio, Luke Richards published his first novel, Dave’s New World, in 2024 – a dystopian comedy that has been described as, “laugh-out-loud funny”, “a fantastic premise executed really well” and “Douglas Adams meets George Orwell”.

For his next book, Richards has teamed up with obscure independent filmmaker, Henry Knudsen, to share the story of his lifelong, and often frustrated, pursuit of cinematic excellence. Explore Henry’s fascinating life and filmmaking career in the form of anecdotes, interviews, script extracts and behind the scenes photographs, as well as extensive, lengthy and often scathing notes from producers, collaborators and colleagues. The Henry Knudsen Archives: A Life Of(f) Film is a painfully revealing memoir that aims to answer the question: if a man makes a film and there’s nobody there to see it…will they at least read a book about it?

Reviews
“An absolute triumph of self-delusion, ego, and unintended hilarity. Whether you are a devout cinephile or simply love a brilliantly executed satire of the creative ego, Knudsen’s journey is utterly unmissable. Highly recommended!”

“Savagely funny satire on the movie world – Packed with plenty of laugh-out-loud gags and moments of pathos in between the chaos, this is a must read for anyone who’s ever tried – or failed – to make a movie. Hugely recommended”

“Witty and has interesting insights into the world of film” – Arthur Smith, Comedian

UKRAINE is alive and kicking despite the massive attacks on her integrity. The past 4 years 9 months have stimulated enormous resilience expressed through craftsmanship of of many kinds. Especially on the part of their women, forced to dig deep.into their personal and communal resources. New networks have been created with skill and imagination, and a wave of innovative writing provoked to counter propaganda and misinformation.

You are invited to dip.into a selection of these books and chat with our team to discover more … please ask questions!

Oxfordshire Stanza 2 is a group of poets under the auspices of the Poetry Society, many of whom are prizewinners and have published collections, as well as having work in anthologies and in print and online magazines.

This is an opportunity to meet some of them, buy their books and perhaps consider joining us.