Meet The Authors
Ready to meet the people responsible for your latest book obsession?Â
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From swoony romance and morally grey favourites to magical worlds, small towns and everything in between, Flirt Fest is bringing together an amazing line-up of romance authors for you to discover.
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Have a nosy through our attending authors below, find your favourites, discover someone new and start planning who you’ll be heading straight to on the day.
Susan Buchanan
Susan Buchanan writes contemporary romance, women’s fiction and romantic comedies,
usually featuring travel, food, family, friendship, community – also Christmas!
As a freelance developmental editor, copyeditor and proofreader, if she’s not reading, editing
or writing, she’s thinking about it.
Julie Shackman
Julie Shackman is a former journalist, and author of the bestselling Scottish Escapes cotemporary romance series.Â
She has two sons, an adopted Romanian rescue pup, Cooper and lives in South Ayrshire.
Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags.Â
Ellie Henderson
Ellie Henderson is the author of contemporary romance fiction set in Scotland.
Ellie is also a passionate advocate for the role of creative writing in supporting wellbeing. For more than a decade, she has worked with a wide range of organisations, including Women’s Aid East and Midlothian, using creative writing to reduce isolation, support confidence and wellbeing.
Zoe Allison
Zoe Allison writes contemporary rom coms (mainly based in the Highlands) and lives in Scotland with her husband, two children, and massive notebook collection. She is the author of seven published romance novels plus she is a practicing doctor—and has the terrible handwriting to prove it.
Mairi Macmillan
Mairi MacMillan is a Scottish romance author known for dark, atmospheric stories filled with morally grey characters, intense romance and a touch of Gaelic folklore.
Her debut novel, Fairest, is a dark mafia romance loosely inspired by Snow White, blending danger, obsession and fantasy elements against a distinctly Scottish backdrop.
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Rachel Debrave
Rachel Debrave writes contemporary romance and commercial fiction. She also writes dark paranormal and fantasy romance as Rae Devine. Since making her publishing debut in 2025, Rachel’s work has been shortlisted and placed in a number of industry awards and competitions.Â
Noelle Rayne
Noelle Rayne is a Fantasy & Dark Romance author from Ayrshire, Scotland. She is best known for The Empress Series, which is a five book romantasy series, but now that is concluding, she is venturing into dark romance. When she’s not writing, she is reading those exact genres or spending time with her two boys and husband.
Coral Cooper
Coral Cooper is a pink haired, animal obsessed, hopeless romantic, romance author. She writes cosy, heart breaking yet heart healing romance to make you believe in love again. Writing perfectly imperfect characters to make everyone believe that they deserve the love that is written about in books.
Fiona GibsonÂ
Fiona Gibson started her writing life working on beloved teen magazines Jackie and Just Seventeen. She went on to edit More! magazine, Originally from a Yorkshire village called Goose Eye, Fiona now lives in Glasgow and has written 26 romantic comedy novels. Â
Skye MacKinnon
Skye MacKinnon is a Scottish romance author who was raised by elves in the mystical Highlands and calls the Loch Ness monster her friend.
Her bestselling books weave together romance with action, suspense and whimsical humour, creating page-turners filled with strong heroines, alpha heroes and loveable monsters.
Nancy Jardine
Writing about all historical time periods appeals immensely, but so far only the early Celtic/Roman Britain, Victorian, and Edwardian eras have been explored in her published work.
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Her novels have achieved Finalist status in prestigious UK book competitions and have gained various noteworthy Online Book Awards.
Lisa J Hobman
After relocating to Scotland in 2012, Lisa began writing romance inspired by her favourite Scottish places. She now co-owns secondhand bookshop Slightly Foxed while continuing to write, often featuring cameos from her two energetic golden retrievers. Lisa loves creating new characters and seeing where their stories take her.
Sasha Greene
Sasha Greene is a fiction writer and first aid teacher living in Glasgow, who always struggles to stop the books in her flat from multiplying and overflowing on her bookshelves. Sasha has written three interlinked romance novels called Happiness, Trust and Memories, which strongly feature mental health themes. She is currently working on a new series about the power of community and found family in testing times.
Margaret Amatt
Margaret Amatt is a bestselling Scottish romance author.
Since publishing her first novel in 2021, she has written more than thirty cosy, emotional romances filled with relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, banter and plenty of small-town drama.
Her series include Scottish Island Escapes, Glenbriar and Love on the Edge – Barra, taking readers from remote islands and Highland villages to castles, lochs and happily ever afters.
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Jayne Castel
Multi-award-winning author Jayne Castel writes epic Historical Romance and Celtic Romantasy from her home in Edinburgh, Scotland. With over +55 published books, she pens emotionally intense, action-packed romances featuring fierce heroines and battle-hardened heroes. Originally from New Zealand, Jayne loves exploring the Scottish Highlands that inspire her stories, cooking Italian feasts, and reading (and re-reading) her favorite authors.
Eve Riley
Based in Edinburgh, Eve a Scottish romance author drew on years spent around the tech start-up world to create the Techboys Series, beginning with The Refusal.
Eves books are packed with steamy romance, strong women, humour and plenty of fictional boyfriends.
Her latest novel, Liquids, is a standalone romance with a grittier edge, following two very different people who find an unexpected connection. When she’s not writing, she loves reading, running, discovering local cafés and exploring the Scottish outdoors.
Sarah Austin
Sarah Austin loves medieval history. Her debut novel is a gritty romantic drama set in that time. Castles hold a deep fascination - these are the places where some experienced love, loss, power and a myriad of emotions that humans feel no matter the time period. Sarah lives near Stranraer but spends much of her time in a different century.
Meet The Vendors
Ready to meet the people bringing even more temptation to Flirt Fest?
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From bookish goodies and gorgeous accessories to handmade treats, gifts and plenty of things you definitely didn’t know you needed, we’ve got an amazing line-up of vendors joining us for the day.
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Have a nosy through our attending vendors below, discover some brilliant small businesses and start planning what you’ll be adding to your Flirt Fest haul.
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PinspellPOP
At Flirt Fest you'll find our official festival badges alongside romance-themed bookish sets, made for everyone, from dark romance readers, to those are happily invested in a book boyfriend (again). Come say hi, pin your favourites to your tote bag or jacket, and find your people. Wear what you love.
Bookish Lusk
Hi, I'm Katie, the owner of the Scottish book merch shop 'Bookish Lusk'. We have goodies for all different book girlies from stickers and bookmarks to zodiac mystery book boxes. We are so excited for Flirt Fest 2027 and can't wait to see everyone there!
Eden Smith
Hiya my name is Eden Smith i’m a 16 year old Scottish singer / songwriter from Bathgate, West Lothian! I write heartfelt pop music that a lot of people can relate to. I’ll be playing a set of acoustic romance music and i’m really looking forward to performing for you all at Flirtfest ‘27!!Â
Dear Green Reads
I'm Nicola and Dear Green Reads is my passion project born from a love of books and all things bookish.
I make luxury padded book sleeves and dust jackets. They are a perfect gift for book lovers but also work well for tablets and stationary items such as diaries. I source designs from independant artists and many are exclusive to my business, making them a little extra special.
Black Moon Bakehouse
Black Moon Bakehouse is an independent bakery based in Troon.
Black Moon will be bringing a special book-inspired menu created exclusively for Flirt Fest, with treats inspired by the world of spicy romance, dark romance and all things BookTok.
Expect beautifully decorated cakes, cookies, brownies and other indulgent bakes — because sometimes your fictional crush deserves to be eaten in cake form.
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Charming Laura
Hi! I’m Laura, the Ayr-based maker behind Charming Laura, a small business born from my love of reading and crafting. I’ll be bringing handmade Kindle charms, charm bookmarks and crochet scrunchies to add a little extra personality to your reading obsession.
Come say hello, talk books and buy something charming — I promise not to judge your fictional crushes. Mine are probably worse.
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Arlene Rose Crafts
Arlene Rose Crafts is a small Edinburgh-based handmade business creating bookish pieces for readers who love beautiful details. With an ever growing range of wooden bookmarks and bookish accessories every piece is carefully designed and made to be used and loved.
OrraOrra
OrraOrra is an illustrator who focuses on fantasy and fantasy art. Based in East Ayrshire, she has been drawing a range of prints, stickers t-shirts and cards since 2016.