Tim Butcher has worked for the Daily Telegraph since 1990 as foreign affairs leader writer, defence correspondent and Africa Bureau Chief. Xiaolu Guo was born in a fishing village in south China and moved to London in 2002. Her books have been shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction. Joanne Harris is the author of several books including the Whitbread-shortlisted Chocolat (made into a major film starring Juliette Binoche). She lives in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, with her husband and daughter. Kathy Lette is the author of ten international bestsellers including Foetal Attraction, Mad Cows and How to Kill Your Husband (and other handy household hints). Her novels have been published in fourteen languages around the world. She lives in London with her husband and two children. Deborah Moggach is the author of many successful novels including These Foolish Things, Tulip Fever, and, most recently, In the Dark. Her screenplays include the film of Pride and Prejudice, which was nominated for a BAFTA. She lives in North London. Marie Phillips studied anthropology and documentary making, and worked as a TV researcher for several years. More recently she has worked as an independent bookseller whilst writing Gods Behaving Badly. Irvine Welsh is the author of nine previous works of fiction, most recently Crime. He lives in Dublin.
Edgy and bold...not your standard do-good, feel-good collection at all -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *