Debbie Young
Debbie Young (born 1960) is a British writer of cozy mystery novels, UK ambassador for ALLi the (Alliance of Independent Authors), and founder in 2015 of the now annual Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival. Her debut novel, "Best Murder in Show", was published in 2017 as the first part in a series of seven novels that spans the course of a village year. In 2015, Young commissioned T E Shepherd to illustrate the fictional "Hector's House Bookshop and Tea Room" that features in her "Sophie Sayers Village Mysteries" series of cozy mystery novels. In 2018 Debbie was invited  by John Holland to co-judge the Stroud Short Stories competition. Biography. Young was born in Sidcup, Kent, England, and was schooled first at Days Lane Primary, and then after passing the 11+ at Beaverwood School for Girls. Her family relocated to Germany when Debbie was aged 14, and she spent four years at Frankfurt International School where she gained the then brand new International Baccalaureate. Young came back to the UK to study English and Related Literature at the University of York, before living and working for a while in London and the West of England as a  journalist and PR consultant. Young now lives in a small Cotswold village with her husband and daughter. Works and Appearances. Collected Columns and Essays. Since 2010 Young has written monthly columns for two local magazines, the multiple award-winning "Tetbury Advertiser" and the "Hawkesbury Parish News". These articles and columns have since been republished in two books. Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival. Young has for many years been involved in the UNESCO-led World Book Night as one of thousands of volunteer "book givers". In 2015, she set up a small local event on the evening of 23 April (World Book  Night) in The Fox Inn in Hawkesbury Upton. What started as a few author friends and village locals soon led to an invitation to the general public to join a full evening event with over 20 authors, poets and illustrators, celebrating the joy of reading with a series of panel discussions and public readings. In 2016, the festival returned, this time for a full day's programme in multiple venues, and it has grown year on year since then. The fifth festival on Saturday 27 April 2019, once again coincided with World Book Night