阿乙 A Yi

A Yi (阿乙) is the pen name of one of China’s most celebrated crime writers.

A Yi (阿乙) is the pen name of one of China’s most celebrated crime writers. Born in 1976 and a graduate of the Police Academy in his hometown in Jiangxi Province, A Yi worked as a policeman for five years before training his sights on detective fiction. Now executive editor of Tian Nan literary magazine, he has published the short story collections Gray Stories (灰故事) and Bird Saw Me (鸟看见我了), as well as several novels. His stories have been published in Today, People’s Literature, and Novel magazines. His latest book, Cat and Mouse (猫和老鼠) will be published in August 2011.

Eric Abrahamsen

Eric Abrahamsen is the founder of the literary translation organization Paper Republic.

Eric Abrahamsen has lived in Beijing since 2001, when he studied Chinese at the Central University for Nationalities. He began his literary translations of Wang Xiaobo at an early date and kept at it through the intervening years while working as a teacher, editor and freelance journalist. He founded the literary translation organization Paper Republic in 2007. He is the recipient of a PEN translation grant for Wang Xiaobo’s My Spiritual Homeland and a NEA grant for Xu Zechen’s Running Through Zhongguancun. Eric is currently translating Wang Xiaofang’s Notes of a Civil Servant.

Meredith Badger

Meredith Badger is the author of Fairy School Dropout, Fairy School Dropout Undercover, and Tweenie Genie: Genie in Training. She is also a writer for the Go Girl! series. She also wrote a young adult novel, Shift, under the pseudonym Em Bailey. Originally from Australia, Meredith lives in Germany with her family.

Meredith Badger is the author of Fairy School Dropout, Fairy School Dropout Undercover, and Tweenie Genie: Genie in Training. She is also a writer for the Go Girl! series. She also wrote a young adult novel, Shift, under the pseudonym Em Bailey. Originally from Australia, Meredith lives in Germany with her family.

Dana Benvenisti

Dana Benvenisti has been the Minister (Deputy Head of Mission) at the Embassy of the State of Israel, Beijing since August 2011.

Dana Benvenisti has been the Minister (Deputy Head of Mission) at the Embassy of the State of Israel, Beijing since August 2011. A graduate of Hebrew University and Open University in History, Islam and Middle East Studies. Ms. Benvenisti was previously the Deputy Director of the Economic Affairs Department for Asia and the Pacific and served at diplomatic posts, as DCM in Ethiopia and Bulgaria. She has also headed the Minister’s Bureau at the Israeli Ministry of Finance and been a political advisor to Knesset Member Avraham B. Shochat.

Andrej Blatnik

Andrej Blatnik was born in Ljublijana, Slovenia in 1963. In addition to writing fiction and criticism, he serves on the jury of the Vilenica Central European Literary Award and has translated the work of Paul Bowles and others. His collection Skinswaps was translated into English in 1998. His latest short story collection You Do Understand? was featured in the anthology Best European Fiction 2010.

Andrej Blatnik was born in Ljublijana, Slovenia in 1963. In addition to writing fiction and criticism, he serves on the jury of the Vilenica Central European Literary Award and has translated the work of Paul Bowles and others. His collection Skinswaps was translated into English in 1998. His latest short story collection You Do Understand? was featured in the anthology Best European Fiction 2010. Andrej Blatnik is brought to you by Literature Across Frontiers and the Centre for Slovenian Literature.

CJ Bowerbird

CJ Bowerbird is an Australian performance poet. He writes and performs poems about things he has lost, things he never had and things that are slipping through his fingers. CJ has been performing poetry from his home in Canberra for the past four years. An Australian National Poetry Slam finalist in 2010, CJ has featured at the You Are Here and Art, Not Apart festivals in Canberra and at poetry slams across New South Wales. He has performed in several cities in Australia and the US, and has read poetry on ABC National Radio. CJ is the alter ego of a boring family man in Canberra, Australia.

CJ Bowerbird is an Australian performance poet. He writes and performs poems about things he has lost, things he never had and things that are slipping through his fingers. CJ has been performing poetry from his home in Canberra for the past four years. An Australian National Poetry Slam finalist in 2010, CJ has featured at the You Are Here and Art, Not Apart festivals in Canberra and at poetry slams across New South Wales. He has performed in several cities in Australia and the US, and has read poetry on ABC National Radio. CJ is the alter ego of a boring family man in Canberra, Australia.

Felicity Bryan

Felicity Bryan worked as a journalist with the Financial Times and the Economist before joining Curtis Brown where she trained as an agent and became a director. In 1988 she left to start her own agency, the Felicity Bryan Agency. Her authors include a wide range of writers, including leading historians, journalists, biographers and science writers, novelists - both literary and popular - and established writers on gardening, health and cookery.

Felicity Bryan worked as a journalist with the Financial Times and the Economist before joining Curtis Brown where she trained as an agent and became a director. In 1988 she left to start her own agency, the Felicity Bryan Agency. Her authors include a wide range of writers, including leading historians, journalists, biographers and science writers, novelists - both literary and popular - and established writers on gardening, health and cookery.

Cao Haili

Cao Haili (曹海丽) is the editor of The New York Times Chinese edition.

Cao Haili (曹海丽) is the editor of The New York Times Chinese edition. Before she was a senior correspondent at Caijing Magazine, a Beijing-based financial publication. A 2009 Nieman Fellow with Harvard University, Cao has won awards for her SARS coverage in Southern China in 2003. She holds degrees in Journalism from Renmin University of China and from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Cao Kou

Novelist Cao Kou was born in 1977 in Nanjing. He is the author of several short story collections, including A Tree on the Roof, the novel Seventeen Chronology and the essay collection, Slice of Life. Cao Kou’s writing explores the lives of those living at the bottom of Chinese society.

Novelist Cao Kou was born in 1977 in Nanjing. He is the author of several short story collections, including A Tree on the Roof, the novel Seventeen Chronology and the essay collection, Slice of Life. Cao Kou’s writing explores the lives of those living at the bottom of Chinese society.

Chi Zijian

Chi Zijian was born in 1964 in Heilongjiang province, where she still resides. She's one of China's most prominent female writers and the only writer to have won the prestigious Lu Xun Literary Award three times.

Chi Zijian was born in 1964 in Heilongjiang province, where she still resides. She's one of China's most prominent female writers and the only writer to have won the prestigious Lu Xun Literary Award three times. Her works stay close to everyday life in Northern China and she's known as a writer of the quotidian. She is the winner of the Mao Dun Prize 2008 for The Last Quarter of the Moon and has been translated into many languages.

Tim Clissold

After earning a MA in Physics from Cambridge University, Tim Clissold set off on a career in international business that would take him from London to Australia to Hong Kong. Clissold settled in China, where he has lived and worked for the last 20 years.

After earning a MA in Physics from Cambridge University, Tim Clissold set off on a career in international business that would take him from London to Australia to Hong Kong. Clissold settled in China, where he has lived and worked for the last 20 years. In 2004, Clissold published Mr. China, an account of foreign multinationals and their often comically disastrous attempts to tap into China’s vast potential market. Mr. China won the Economist Book of the Year award and has been translated into 12 languages. Currently, he is the CEO and legal representative of Peony Capitol.

Sophie Cooke

Sophie Cooke is a Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet, and travel writer. She was born in London in 1976. Her novels The Glass House, shortlisted for the Saltire First Book Of The Year Award, and Under The Mountain are both set in the Scottish Highlands.

Sophie Cooke is a Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet, and travel writer. She was born in London in 1976. Her novels The Glass House, shortlisted for the Saltire First Book Of The Year Award, and Under The Mountain are both set in the Scottish Highlands. Cooke's short stories have been published in anthologies and literary magazines in the UK and Continental Europe, and have been broadcast on BBC Radio. She won the Genomics Forum Poetry Prize and has been long-listed for the Montreal International Poetry Prize, the largest poetry prize in the world. Her travel writing appears in The Guardian newspaper. Cooke lives in Edinburgh. Sophie Cooke is brought to you by the EWWC and the British Council.

Sumita Dawra

Sumita Dawra heads the economic wing in the Embassy of India, Beijing. Poor but Spirited in Karimnagar- Field Notes of a Civil Servant is her first book, written after years of meticulous research. She currently lives in Beijing, China, with her teenage daughter.

Sumita Dawra heads the economic wing in the Embassy of India, Beijing, and is on a three-year posting. Her other publications include “Eradication of Child Labour: Convergence Strategies”(2007), a manual written for the International Labour Organisation, besides several write-ups published over the years on issues such as micro credit, urban governance, self-help groups and participative rural appraisal techniques. Poor but Spirited in Karimnagar- Field Notes of a Civil Servant is her first book, written after years of meticulous research. She currently lives in Beijing, China, with her teenage daughter.

Jacek Dehnel

Poet, novelist, translator and painter Jacek Dehnel was born in 1980 in Gdansk, Poland. He graduated from the Polish Language and Literature faculty at the Interfacultative Individual Studies College, University of Warsaw. He is the author of six books of poems, two collections of short stories, a cycle of four novellas, two collections of short prose pieces and two novels.

Poet, novelist, translator and painter Jacek Dehnel was born in 1980 in Gdansk, Poland. He graduated from the Polish Language and Literature faculty at the Interfacultative Individual Studies College, University of Warsaw. He is the author of six books of poems, two collections of short stories, Kolekcja and Rynek w Smyrnie, a cycle of four novellas, two collections of short prose pieces and two novels, Lala and Saturn. He translated books by Philip Larkin, Karlis Verdins, Edmund White and F. Scott Fitzgerald. He has been published in many literary magazines both in Poland and abroad; his works have been translated into over a dozen languages.

Bill Dodson

Bill Dodson is the author of the newly released book China Fast Forward: The Technologies, Green Industries and Innovations Driving the Mainland's Future and China Inside Out: 10 Irreversible Trends Reshaping China and Its Relationship with the World. A graduate of Cornell University in Physics, he is a columnist for the China Economic Review on China energy and environment issues. He has been an industry analyst, advisor and business manager in China.

Bill Dodson is the author of the newly released book China Fast Forward: The Technologies, Green Industries and Innovations Driving the Mainland's Future and China Inside Out: 10 Irreversible Trends Reshaping China and Its Relationship with the World. A graduate of Cornell University in Physics, he is a columnist for the China Economic Review on China energy and environment issues. He has been an industry analyst, advisor and business manager in China.

Esi Edugyan

Esi Edugyan is a Canadian novelist. Her most recent work, Half Blood Blues, was finalist for the 2011 Man Booker Prize. It was also shortlisted for the 2012 Orange Prize, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, the Governor General's Literary Award, and the Rogers Writers Trust Fiction Prize. It was awarded the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Anisfield Book Award, and the BC Book Prize. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her husband and daughter.

Esi Edugyan is a Canadian novelist. Her most recent work, Half Blood Blues, was finalist for the 2011 Man Booker Prize. It was also shortlisted for the 2012 Orange Prize, the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, the Governor General's Literary Award, and the Rogers Writers Trust Fiction Prize. It was awarded the 2011 Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Anisfield Book Award, and the BC Book Prize. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her husband and daughter. Esi Edugyan is brought to you by the Embassy of Canada.

Fei Dao

Originally a student of environmental engineering at Beijing Normal University, Fei Dao’s love of science fiction led him to switch to the literature department's science fiction major—the only such major in China. Since then he's published a large quantity of short stories and novellas, often alternating between fantasy and science fiction.

Originally a student of environmental engineering at Beijing Normal University, Fei Dao’s love of science fiction led him to switch to the literature department's science fiction major—the only such major in China. Since then he's published a large quantity of short stories and novellas, often alternating between fantasy and science fiction. His writing been translated into Italian and English and was nominated for the Chinese Literature Media Awards, which honors young writers with great potential. Though many "post-1980s" Chinese writers are often just as popular among young readers for their image as for their fiction, Fei Dao is unusual in his deep and serious attentiveness to the broader issues of Chinese society, and to the use of science fiction as a speculative vehicle for thinking about the future. His latest works are The Storytelling Robot （讲故事的机器人）and Confucius in a Hot Air Balloon (热气球上的孔子).

Seth Fishman

Seth Fishman is a literary agent at The Gernert Company and author of the forthcoming YA thriller, The Well’s End. Fishman began his career as an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc, where he signed literary wunderkind Téa Obreht. Born in Midland, Texas, he graduated from Princeton University and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.

Seth Fishman is a literary agent at The Gernert Company and author of the forthcoming YA thriller, The Well’s End. Fishman began his career as an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc, where he signed literary wunderkind Téa Obreht. Born in Midland, Texas, he graduated from Princeton University and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. His interests are wide-ranging, but they boil down in particular to literary and commercial fiction, popular (fun) science, young/middle grade, humor, sci-fi/fantasy, thrillers and graphic novels (of both a traditional, webcomic and literary bent).

Ellen Forney

Cartoonist Ellen Forney grew up in Philadelphia and has lived in Seattle, Washington since 1989. She created the Eisner-nominated comic books I Love Led Zeppelin and Monkey Food, and collaborated with Sherman Alexie on the National Book Award-winning novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Her latest work is the graphic novel Marbles, which details her struggle to creativity and health after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder shortly before her thirtieth birthday.

Cartoonist Ellen Forney grew up in Philadelphia and has lived in Seattle, Washington since 1989. She created the Eisner-nominated comic books I Love Led Zeppelin and Monkey Food, and collaborated with Sherman Alexie on the National Book Award-winning novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Her latest work is the graphic novel Marbles, which details her struggle to creativity and health after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder shortly before her thirtieth birthday. She has been teaching comics at Cornish College of the Arts since 2002. Ellen swims and does yoga, and fixes things with rubber bands and paper clips.

Michael Forsythe

Michael Forsythe has been a reporter and editor for Bloomberg News since 2000 and is based in Beijing. Forsythe has focused on policy and politics, with particular emphasis on the international impact of “China Inc.” and the confluence of money and power.

Michael Forsythe has been a reporter and editor for Bloomberg News since 2000 and is based in Beijing. Prior to that, he was an officer in the United States Navy for seven years, serving on ships in the U.S. Seventh Fleet. The highlight of his career in Washington was overseeing Bloomberg’s coverage of the historic 2008 presidential election. Since returning to Beijing in 2009, Forsythe has focused on policy and politics, with particular emphasis on the international impact of “China Inc.” and the confluence of money and power. He is a graduate of Georgetown University (with a bachelor’s degree in international economics) and Harvard University (with a master’s degree in East Asian regional studies). He is married and has two young boys.

Joe Gil

Joe Gil is an American musician. Crafting his talent from his father, who is a singer, and his brother, who is a music composer. He's based in Los Angeles and has been grabbing the attention of labels, music supervisors and blogs alike. Indie/Folk/Pop can best describe Joe's music and all of his songs include his "gorgeous vocals, clever-story telling and impressive song crafting".

Joe Gil is an American musician. Crafting his talent from his father, who is a singer, and his brother, who is a music composer. He's based in Los Angeles and has been grabbing the attention of labels, music supervisors and blogs alike. Indie/Folk/Pop can best describe Joe's music and all of his songs include his "gorgeous vocals, clever-story telling and impressive song crafting".

Keith Gray

Keith Gray was born and brought up in Grimsby, England. Labeled a “reluctant reader” at school, Gray discovered a love of reading and writing after he read Robert Westall's The Machine Gunners. His first novel Creepers was shortlisted for the 1997 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. He has gone on to write several award-winning books for children and young adults.

Keith Gray was born and brought up in Grimsby, England. Labeled a “reluctant reader” at school, Gray discovered a love of reading and writing after he read Robert Westall's The Machine Gunners. His first novel Creepers was shortlisted for the 1997 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. He has gone on to write several award-winning books for children and young adults, including The Runner, which won the Nestle Smarties Book Prize (Silver Award) and Malarkey, shortlisted for the 2003 Booktrust Teenage Prize. Other recent books include Warehouse, set in the docklands of a small northern town, which was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize and Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year Award and won the 2003 Angus Book Award; The Fearful, shortlisted for the 2005 Catalyst Book Award and Ostrich Boys (2008), shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book Award, the 2009 Carnegie Medal, and the Booktrust Teenage Prize. As the first ever Virtual Writer in Residence for Scottish Book Trust, he commissioned and edited short stories by his favorite writers and produced online creative writing videos to encourage young writers everywhere. He lives in Edinburgh and claims he is still writing books for the reluctant boy reader he once was. Keith Gray is brought to you by the EWWC and the British Council.

Guo Xiaolu

Guo Xiaolu was born in a fishing village in southern China. She studied film at the Beijing Film Academy and published six books in China before moving to London in 2002. The English translation of Village of Stone was shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Her first novel written in English, A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers was shortlisted for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction, and 20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth, published in 2008, was longlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize

Guo Xiaolu was born in a fishing village in southern China. She studied film at the Beijing Film Academy and published six books in China before moving to London in 2002. The English translation of Village of Stone was shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Her first novel written in English, A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers was shortlisted for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction, and 20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth, published in 2008, was longlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize. She is a contributor to Because I am a Girl, which chronicles the lives, struggles and hopes of girls around the world. Guo is also a successful filmmaker; her feature, She, A Chinese, was released in 2009 and her documentary Once Upon a Time Proletarian has been screened at international film festivals.

F.G. Haghenbeck

F.G. Haghenbeck is a novelist, historian and comic-book writer. He has a degree in architecture and has worked as museum designer, television producer and architect.

Unfortunately, Mr. Haghenbeck is unable to make his event. Refunds can be claimed at the bookshop.   F.G. Haghenbeck is a novelist, historian and comic-book writer. He has a degree in architecture and has worked as museum designer, television producer and architect. Haghenbeck is famous for his Noir-books, including: the bestseller Trago Amargo (Bitter Drink), winner of the Vuelta de Tuerca for Best Mystery Novel 2006. He has also written a of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo: The Secret Book of Frida Kahlo. On Comic books, he was the co-creator and co-writer of Crimson for DC Comics and the only professional Mexican writer of a Superman title. He lives in Tehuacan, Puebla with a beautiful chef (his wife), a young anarchist (his daughter) and Brandy (his dog).

Chad Harbach

Chad Harbach grew up in Wisconsin and was educated at Harvard and the University of Virginia. He is a cofounder and coeditor of n+1. His much anticipated debut novel baseball epic The Art of Fielding was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year 2011 and Amazon’s Book of the Year 2011.

Chad Harbach grew up in Wisconsin and was educated at Harvard and the University of Virginia. He is a cofounder and coeditor of n+1. His much anticipated debut novel baseball epic The Art of Fielding was named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year 2011 and Amazon’s Book of the Year 2011.

He Jiahong

He Jiahong is one of China’s leading experts on criminal evidence, evidential investigation and criminal procedure. He obtained his doctorate in judicial science from Northwestern University in Illinois and is currently professor at the school of law of the People’s University in Beijing, one of China’s most prestigious academic institutions. He is also a presenter of legal programs on Chinese national television. As well as publishing extensively on legal matters, he has written several bestselling crime novels, including a series of four books featuring the character of Hong Jun. This series has been translated into French and published by Editions De L’Aube. His book Hanging Devils is now available in English.

He Jiahong is one of China’s leading experts on criminal evidence, evidential investigation and criminal procedure. He obtained his doctorate in judicial science from Northwestern University in Illinois and is currently professor at the school of law of the People’s University in Beijing, one of China’s most prestigious academic institutions. He is also a presenter of legal programs on Chinese national television. As well as publishing extensively on legal matters, he has written several bestselling crime novels, including a series of four books featuring the character of Hong Jun. This series has been translated into French and published by Editions De L’Aube. His book Hanging Devils is now available in English.

Duncan Hewitt

Born in 1966, Duncan Hewitt spent his first year in China from 1986-7, while studying Chinese at Edinburgh University.He went on to work as the BBC's China correspondent as well as writing for the Guardian, Observer and The Far Eastern Economic Review. He currently writes for Newsweek and divides his time between England and Shanghai. He is the author of Getting Rich First: Life in a Changing China.

Duncan Hewitt writes for Newsweek, The Daily Beast and other publications from Shanghai, focusing on society, media and culture, and also lectures on journalism and Chinese media at New York University in Shanghai. A former BBC China correspondent, in 2012 he presented a two-part series on Weibo in China for the BBC World Service. His is the author of Getting Rich First – Life in a changing China (2008) which focuses on social change in the country, and he recently completed a research project on China and the western media for the Reuters Institute at Oxford University.

Justin Hill

Justin Hill is the author of Shieldwall.

Born in the Bahamas and raised in England, Justin Hill is an acclaimed novelist, travel writer, essayist and poet. During the nineties, he served for seven years with the VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) in rural China and Africa. His first novel, The Drink and Dream Teahouse, won the 2003 Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize. He has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize twice and translated into fifteen languages. Shieldwall is the first volume in his Conquest Trilogy, set in the period around the Battle of Hastings. He is a contributing editor to the Asian Literary Review and teaches writing at the City University of Hong Kong.

Lindsey Hilsum

Journalist Lindsey Hilsum is BBC Channel 4 News International Editor and the author of Sandstorm; Libya in the Time of Revolution, an account of the fall of Colonel Gaddafi. A former Channel 4 News China Correspondent, Hilsum has reported from many of the world’s hot spots including: Egypt and Bahrain during the Arab Spring, Belgrade in 1999 when NATO bombed Serbia and Baghdad during the 2003 US invasion. In 1994, she was the only English-speaking journalist in Rwanda when the genocide started.

Journalist Lindsey Hilsum is Channel 4 News International Editor and the author of Sandstorm: Libya in the Time of Revolution, an account of the fall of Colonel Gaddafi. A former Channel 4 News China Correspondent, Hilsum has reported from many of the world’s hot spots including: Libya, Egypt and Bahrain during the Arab Spring, Belgrade in 1999 when NATO bombed Serbia and Baghdad during the 2003 US invasion. In 1994, she was the only English-speaking journalist in Rwanda when the genocide started. She was recently in Mali during the French intervention.

Hong Ying

Hong Ying is a poet and fiction writer.

Fiction writer and poet Hong Ying (虹影) was born in Chongqing in 1962 and started writing in the early 1980s. In 1991, she settled in England but returned to China in 2004. Her autobiography, Daughter of the River (饥饿的女儿), as well as her novels, Summer of Betrayal, The Art of Love, Peacock Cries (孔雀的叫喊) and Concubine of Shanghai (上海王), have all been translated into English. Her responsibility as a writer, she believes, is to compassionately explore the lives of marginalized groups struggling for visibility in contemporary China.

Hu Yong

Hu Yong is an associate professor at Peking University’s School of Journalism and Communication, and a well-known new media critic and Chinese Internet pioneer.

Hu Yong is an associate professor at Peking University’s School of Journalism and Communication, and a well-known new media critic and Chinese Internet pioneer.

Petra Hůlová

Petra Hůlová is a Czech novelist. After graduating in Culturology and Mongolian language studies at Prague's Charles University, she spent a year in Mongolia – an experience that provided the setting for her first book, In Memory of My Grandmother, which garnered a number of literary awards.

Petra Hůlová is a Czech novelist. After graduating in Culturology and Mongolian language studies at Prague's Charles University, she spent a year in Mongolia – an experience that provided the setting for her first book, In Memory of My Grandmother, which garnered a number of literary awards. She has published several other novels including, Through Frosted Glass (2004), Plastic Three-bedroom Apartment (2006) and The Guardian of Civic Virtue (2010)

Ann James

Ann James was an art teacher and moved into designing and illustrating education publications while establishing herself as a children's book illustrator. James co-founded Books Illustrated, a centre celebrating Australian children's literature, in particular picture books and their creators. Some of the books she has illustrated include: The Penny Pollard series; the Hannah series; The Midnight Gang; Shutting the Chooks In; Little Humpty; The Way I Love You and Lucy Goosey.

Ann James was an art teacher and moved into designing and illustrating education publications while establishing herself as a children's book illustrator. She represents illustrators on the Committee of Management of The Australian Society of Authors, and manages their website, The Style File- an online showcase of Australian book illustrators. James co-founded Books Illustrated, a centre celebrating Australian children's literature, in particular picture books and their creators. Some of the books she has illustrated include: The Penny Pollard series; the Hannah series; The Midnight Gang; Shutting the Chooks In; Little Humpty; The Way I Love You and Lucy Goosey. Ann James' visit is supported by the 'Hello from Australia!' exhibition, funded through the CAL Cultural Fund (Australia).

Toby Jarman

Toby Jarman is an American standup comedian from Salt Lake City.

Toby Jarman is an American standup comedian from Salt Lake City. Born in the heart of Mormon country, he was raised Jewish and went to a Catholic school; his dad is gay, his brother is black and his wife is bald - prompting some to dub him, "the most tolerant man in the world." He has performed in Portland, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. When he's not performing with Comedy Club China, you can find him at local ping-pong parks chasing that ever elusive first point.

Phillip Y. Kim

Phillip Y. Kim has worked for over twenty-five years in the finance industry at such companies as Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley. He has spent most of his career in Asia and continues to live and work there, dividing his time between banking and writing. Nothing Gained is his first novel.

Phillip Y. Kim has worked for over twenty-five years in the finance industry at such companies as Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley. He has spent most of his career in Asia and continues to live and work there, dividing his time between banking and writing. Nothing Gained is his first novel.

Arthur Kroeber

Arthur R. Kroeber is managing director of GaveKal Research, an independent global economic research firm, and chairman of its subsidiary GK Dragonomics, which analyzes China’s political economy.

Arthur R. Kroeber is managing director of GaveKal Research, an independent global economic research firm, and chairman of its subsidiary GK Dragonomics, which analyzes China’s political economy. Kroeber is also editor of its China Economic Quarterly journal. Before joining Dragonomics in 2002, Kroeber worked for fifteen years as a financial journalist and economic analyst in China, Taiwan and India. He has written for The Economist, Far Eastern Economic Review, Fortune and Wired, and is a contributor to the opinion pages of the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Kroeber is a member of the National Committee on United States-China Relations and the Fernand Braudel Institute of International Economics, and a board member of the Research Center for Chinese Politics and Business.

Ambelin Kwaymullina

Ambelin Kwaymullina is an award-winning children's book author from the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Kwaymullina graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and has worked in the areas of natural resource management, law reform and politics. Her books include Crow and the Waterhole, Caterpiller and Butterfly and How Frogmouth Found her Home. The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf is her first novel.

Ambelin Kwaymullina is an award-winning children's book author from the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Kwaymullina graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and has worked in the areas of natural resource management, law reform and politics. Her books include Crow and the Waterhole, Caterpiller and Butterfly and How Frogmouth Found her Home. The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf is her first novel. Ambelin Kwaymullina is brought to you by the Australian Embassy of Beijing's Australian Writers' Week.

James Kynge

James Kynge is editor of China Confidential and author of China Shakes the World.

James Kynge is editor of China Confidential, a specialist research service at the Financial Times that focuses on the Chinese economy. He has spent 16 of the last 25 years living in China, first as a Reuters reporter in the 1980s, then as the FT Bureau Chief in Beijing for seven years until 2005 and subsequently as an executive heading up the Pearson Group operations in the PRC. His award-winning book, China Shakes the World, was an international bestseller and has been translated into 19 languages.  

Alison Lester

Alison Lester is a popular Australian writer and illustrator of children's books. She has won many awards, including the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book Award for Thing by Robin Klein (OUP), and Honour Book for The Journey Home (OUP).

Alison Lester is a popular Australian writer and illustrator of children's books. She has won many awards, including the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book Award for Thing by Robin Klein (OUP), and Honour Book for The Journey Home (OUP). Over her twenty-one year career she has produced such classics as the Clive Eats Alligators series, Magic Beach, Imagine and My Farm, and recently she has also started writing novels, including The Quicksand Pony and the Bonnie and Sam series with Roland Harvey. Her picture book, Are We There Yet?, won the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award in 2005, and Running with the Horses was an Honour Book in the 2010 CBCA Book of the Year Awards and 2010 Prime Minister's Literary Awards. She is also an ambassador for Australian's National Year of Reading 2012. Alison Lester is brought to you by the Australian Embassy of Beijing's Australian Writers' Week.

Li Er

Novelist and short story writer Li Er was born 1966 in Henan Province. He is the author of five story collections, two novels and approximately 50 novellas and short stories. His work appears regularly in Zuojia, Shouhuo, Renmin Wenxue and a variety of other mainland literary journals. German Chancellor Angela Merkel famously gave the German translation of his novel Cherry on a Pomegranate Tree as a gift to Premier Wen Jiabao. His novels The Magician of 1919 and Truth and Variations, about the mired physical and psychological circumstances confronting revolutionary poet Ge Ren in the 1930s and 1940s are now available in English.

Novelist and short story writer Li Er was born 1966 in Henan Province. He is the author of five story collections, two novels and approximately 50 novellas and short stories. His work appears regularly in Zuojia, Shouhuo, Renmin Wenxue and a variety of other mainland literary journals. German Chancellor Angela Merkel famously gave the German translation of his novel Cherry on a Pomegranate Tree as a gift to Premier Wen Jiabao. His  novels The Magician of 1919 and Truth and Variations, about the mired physical and psychological circumstances confronting revolutionary poet Ge Ren in the 1930s and 1940s are now available in English.

Li Nan

Li Nan is the Director of the World Wildlife Fund's Market Transformation Initiative (China has a diverse background in careers of scientific research, journalism, consultancy, and teaching in university with 20 years’ experience of working with academia, business, media, government and NGOs in China and overseas.

Li Nan is the Director of the World Wildlife Fund's Market Transformation Initiative (China has a diverse background in careers of scientific research, journalism, consultancy, and teaching in university with 20 years’ experience of working with academia, business, media, government and NGOs in China and overseas. In the late 1980’s, he worked at the National Lab of Molecular Virology & Genetic Engineering on antiviral effects of Trichosanthin, extracted molecule from carrot, for China’s 863 High Tech Project.  In the 1990’s, he joined China Central Television (CCTV), designed and executed an award-winning bilingual weekly program, “China Business Guide” to attract foreign direct investments to China.  In the 2000’s, he served as CCTV’s Bureau Chief in Sydney and then in the United Nations/New York. Mr. Li was a visiting scholar at the Fairbank Center at Harvard University after he received his Ph.D from University of New South Wales, Australia. He had his BA degree in Medical Sciences from Jilin University, China. Mr. Li joined WWF China in 2011 as director of Market Transformation Initiative (MTI). He is responsible for leading the MTI China team in engaging with priority companies to ensure the production of priority commodities meet credible sustainability standards so that the use of renewable natural resources in priority places with high conservation values can be sustainable.

Lu Nei

Chinese writer Lu Nei has worked a hodgepodge of menial jobs around China. His interest in literature began while he had a job watching dials in a factory, which have him plenty of reading time. Lu was born in Suzhou, where he has set his novels Young Babylon and On the Trail of Her Travels. His work is known for its wry humor and exploration of the challenges faced by his generation as it struggles to navigate the new China.

Chinese writer Lu Nei has worked a hodgepodge of menial jobs around China. His interest in literature began while he had a job watching dials in a factory, which have him plenty of reading time. Lu was born in Suzhou, where he has set his novels Young Babylon and On the Trail of Her Travels. His work is known for its wry humor and exploration of the challenges faced by his generation as it struggles to navigate the new China.

Pam Macintyre

Dr. Pam Macintyre teaches language and literacy and children's and young adult literature at the University of Melbourne. She is the editor of the quarterly review journal Viewpoint: on books for young adults. She has been a judge for the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, Aurealis Awards and CBCA Book of the Year Awards, and is co-author with Dr Susan La Marca, of Knowing Readers: Unlocking the Pleasures of Reading. Dr. Macintyre also co-edited the short fiction collection Things a Map Won't Show You: Stories from Australia and beyond.

Dr. Pam Macintyre teaches language and literacy and children's and young adult literature at the University of Melbourne. She is the editor of the quarterly review journal Viewpoint: on books for young adults. She has been a judge for the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, Aurealis Awards and CBCA Book of the Year Awards, and is co-author with Dr Susan La Marca, of Knowing Readers: Unlocking the Pleasures of Reading. Dr. Macintyre also co-edited the short fiction collection Things a Map Won't Show You: Stories from Australia and beyond. Paul Macintyre is brought to you by the Australian Embassy of Beijing's Australian Writers' Week.

George Megalogenis

George Megalogenis is an Australian author, commentator and journalist. He has 27 years' experience in the media, including over a decade in the Federal Parliamentary press gallery. He is a regular panellist on ABC TV's The Insiders. He is the author of Faultlines, The Longest Decade and Quarterly Essay 40: Trivial Pursuit – Leadership and the End of the Reform Era. The Australian Moment is his latest book.

George Megalogenis is an Australian author, commentator and journalist. He has 27 years' experience in the media, including over a decade in the Federal Parliamentary press gallery. He is a regular panellist on ABC TV's The Insiders. He is the author of Faultlines, The Longest Decade and Quarterly Essay 40: Trivial Pursuit – Leadership and the End of the Reform Era. The Australian Moment is his latest book. George Megalogenis' visit is supported by the Walkley Foundation.

A.D. Miller

A.D. Miller was born in London in 1974. After studying literature at Cambridge and Princeton, he began writing travel pieces about America. His first novel Snowdrops, a riveting story of erotic obsession, self-deception and moral free-fall set in post-communist Moscow, was one of the most successful debut novels in 2011, and was shortlisted for numerous literary awards including the Man Booker Prize, the Los Angles Times Book Awards and the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction. He lives in London with his wife Emma, daughter Milly and son Jacob

A.D. Miller was born in London in 1974. After studying literature at Cambridge and Princeton, he began writing travel pieces about America. Returning to London, he worked as a television producer before joining The Economist. Currently the magazine's Britain editor, Miller also served as the magazine's Moscow correspondent. He is the author of the acclaimed family history The Earl of Petticoat Lane. His first novel Snowdrops, a riveting story of erotic obsession, self-deception and moral free-fall set in post-communist Moscow, was one of the most successful debut novels in 2011, and was shortlisted for numerous literary awards including the Man Booker Prize, the Los Angles Times Book Awards and the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction. He lives in London with his wife Emma, daughter Milly and son Jacob.

AD Miller is brought to you by the EWWC and the British Council.

Tom Miller

Tom Miller is managing editor of the China Economic Quarterlyand a former Beijing correspondent of the South China Morning Post. Tom has a degree in English from Oxford and an MA in Chinese Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. After teaching for a year at Shanghai University, he studied Chinese at Beijing Language and Culture University and at China's Central Academy of Drama. Resident in China for more than a decade, Tom lives in Beijing with his wife and two children. China’s Urban Billion is his first book.

Tom Miller is managing editor of the China Economic Quarterlyand a former Beijing correspondent of the South China Morning Post. Tom has a degree in English from Oxford and an MA in Chinese Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. After teaching for a year at Shanghai University, he studied Chinese at Beijing Language and Culture University and at China's Central Academy of Drama. Resident in China for more than a decade, Tom lives in Beijing with his wife and two children. China’s Urban Billion is his first book.

Javier Moro

Spanish writer Javier Moro won the prestigious Premio Planeta in 2011 with his novel, El Imperio Eres tú.

Spanish writer Javier Moro won the prestigious Premio Planeta in 2011 with his novel, El Imperio Eres tú. His previous novels have included: Paths of Freedom, the story of the struggle to protect the Amazon rainforest, told through the life of the murdered Brazilian union leader, Chico Mendes; The Jaipur Foot, a tale about man’s ability to overcome tragedy; The Mountains of the Buddha, the result of two years’ research in Nepal, Tibet and India; Five Past Midnight, the story of the world’s deadliest industrial disaster. He has contributed from a very early age to the national and international press and has worked as a researcher for various books by authors like Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins. He spent six years in the USA developing projects for cinema and television, where he collaborated with directors like Ridley Scott. His latest novel, The Red Saree, is the tale of the Nehru-Gandhi family told through the story of Sonia Gandhi.

Canaan Morse

Canaan Morse is an Associate at Paper Republic and the Poetry Editor for Pathlight: New Chinese Writing. He writes poetry, essays and book reviews and is currently reading an M.A. in Classical Chinese Literature at Peking University.

Canaan Morse is an Associate at Paper Republic and the Poetry Editor for Pathlight: New Chinese Writing. He writes poetry, essays and book reviews and is currently reading an M.A. in Classical Chinese Literature at Peking University. 

Mitch Moxley

Mitch Moxley is a writer based in Beijing, where he has lived for six years. He has contributed to the Atlantic, the Huffington Post, TIME, the Wall Street Journal, the Globe and Mail, CNN Travel and others from China, Mongolia, Burma, India, Vietnam and elsewhere. Mitch came to China in 2007 to work at the state-owned China Daily. A book about his China adventures will be published in July by Harper Perennial.

Mitch Moxley is a writer based in Beijing, where he has lived for six years. He has contributed to the Atlantic, the Huffington Post, TIME, the Wall Street Journal, the Globe and Mail, CNN Travel and others from China, Mongolia, Burma, India, Vietnam and elsewhere. Mitch came to China in 2007 to work at the state-owned China Daily. A book about his China adventures will be published in July by Harper Perennial.

Paul Murray

Paul Murray was born in Dublin in 1975. A former bookseller, he was educated at Trinity College Dublin and took a MA in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. His novel An Evening of Long Goodbyes was shortlisted for the 2003 Whitbread Prize for First Novel and nominated for The Kerry Irish Fiction Award. His second novel, Skippy Dies, was longlisted for the 2010 Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award in the UK, the National Book Critic Circle's Prize in the US, and won the Dioraphte Prize in Holland. It was number three in Time's top ten books of 2010. Despite being Irish, Murray was named one of Britain's 20 Best Novelists Under 40 by the Daily Telegraph.

Paul Murray was born in Dublin in 1975. A former bookseller, he was educated at Trinity College Dublin and took a MA in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. His novel An Evening of Long Goodbyes was shortlisted for the 2003 Whitbread Prize for First Novel and nominated for The Kerry Irish Fiction Award. His second novel, Skippy Dies, was longlisted for the 2010 Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award in the UK, the National Book Critic Circle's Prize in the US, and won the Dioraphte Prize in Holland. It was number three in Time's top ten books of 2010. Despite being Irish, Murray was named one of Britain's 20 Best Novelists Under 40 by the Daily Telegraph. Paul Murray is brought to you by the Embassy of Ireland.

Håkan Nesser

Håkan Nesser is a Swedish author and teacher who has written a number of successful crime fiction novels. He has won Best Swedish Crime Novel Award three times, and his novel Carambole won the Glass Key award in 2000.

Håkan Nesser is a Swedish author and teacher who has written a number of successful crime fiction novels. He has won Best Swedish Crime Novel Award three times, and his novel Carambole won the Glass Key award in 2000. His books have been translated from Swedish into numerous languages. He has written a series of book about Inspector Van Veeteran, a detective and owner of an antique books shop. In 2006, Nesser introduced a new series with Swedish police inspector Gunnar Barbarotti, who uses his philosophical acumen to solve crimes in a fictitious Swedish town.

Eshkol Nevo

Eshkol Nevo was born in Jerusalem in 1971. He teaches creative writing at the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, Tel Aviv University, Sapir College and the Open University. He has published a collection of short stories, a book of nonfiction, and four novels, all of which have been bestsellers in Israel. In 2008, Nevo received the French Raymond Wallier Award for his novel, Homesick and is a member of the Israel Cultural Excellence Foundation. His latest novel is Neuland (Hebrew).

Eshkol Nevo was born in Jerusalem in 1971. He teaches creative writing at the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, Tel Aviv University, Sapir College and the Open University. He has published a collection of short stories, a book of nonfiction, and four novels, all of which have been bestsellers in Israel. In 2008, Nevo received the French Raymond Wallier Award for his novel, Homesick and is a member of the Israel Cultural Excellence Foundation. His latest novel is Neuland (Hebrew). Brought to you by the Embassy of Israel.

Robert Newton

Australian young adult novelist Robert Newton works as a full-time firefighter with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. His first novel, My Name is Will Thompson, was published in 2001. Since then he has written four other novels for young people, including Runner and The Black Dog Gang, which was short-listed for the New South Wales Premier's Literary Award. His latest novel, When We Were Two was shortlisted for CBC Book of the Year and won the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and three daughters.

Australian young adult novelist Robert Newton works as a full-time firefighter with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. His first novel, My Name is Will Thompson, was published in 2001. Since then he has written four other novels for young people, including Runner and The Black Dog Gang, which was short-listed for the New South Wales Premier's Literary Award. His latest novel, When We Were Two was shortlisted for CBC Book of the Year and won the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction. He lives in Melbourne with his wife and three daughters. Robert Newton is brought to you by the Australian Embassy of Beijing's Australian Writers' Week.

Makenzy Orcel

Makenzy Orcel was born in Port-au-Prince in 1983. In aftermath of the devastating earthquake that rocked Port-au-Prince in 2010, Makenzy Orcel wrote The Immortal to deliver the most insolent testimony against the Apocalypse. The Immortal is his first novel, for which he was awarded the Thyde Monnier Society of Men of Letters.

Makenzy Orcel was born in Port-au-Prince in 1983. In aftermath of the devastating earthquake that rocked Port-au-Prince in 2010, Makenzy Orcel wrote The Immortal to deliver the most insolent testimony against the Apocalypse. The Immortal is his first novel, for which he was awarded the Thyde Monnier Society of Men of Letters. Makenzy Orcel is brought to you by the Embassy of France.

Mark O’Neill

Born in UK in 1950 and educated at New College Oxford University, Mark O’Neill has worked as a journalist since 1972. Since 1978, he has been based in Asia, working in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and India, for Reuters, the South China Morning Post and many others. He is the author of three books, including Tzu Chi: Serving with Compassion and Frederick--The Life of My Missionary Grandfather in Manchuria. He lives in Hong Kong, where he works as an author, journalist and teacher.

Born in UK in 1950 and educated at New College Oxford University, Mark O’Neill has worked as a journalist since 1972. Since 1978, he has been based in Asia, working in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and India, for Reuters, the South China Morning Post and many others. He is the author of three books, including Tzu Chi: Serving with Compassion and Frederick--The Life of My Missionary Grandfather in Manchuria. He lives in Hong Kong, where he works as an author, journalist and teacher.

Peter Popham

Peter Popham has toured Burma as an undercover journalist several times since his first visit to the country in 1991. A foreign correspondent and commentator with the Independent newspaper, he covered South Asia (including Burma) for a period in the late 90s. Popham interviewed Suu Kyi when she was released from house arrest in 2002, and met her again in 2011. Married with two children, he currently lives in Milan.

Peter Popham has toured Burma as an undercover journalist several times since his first visit to the country in 1991. A foreign correspondent and commentator with the Independent newspaper, he covered South Asia (including Burma) for a period in the late 90s. Popham interviewed Suu Kyi when she was released from house arrest in 2002, and met her again in 2011. Married with two children, he currently lives in Milan.

Ren Xiaowen

Ren Xiaowen was born in Shanghai in 1978. After earning a Masters in Journalism from Fudan University, she began to write. Her work includes the short story collections Flying Carpet and Balcony and the novels The Island and They. Ren’s work, which explores the world of China’s working class – salon girls, fisherman, factory workers and long-haul drivers, has won numerous literary awards including a Chinese Media Award nomination.

Ren Xiaowen was born in Shanghai in 1978. After earning a Masters in Journalism from Fudan University, she began to write. Her work includes the short story collections Flying Carpet and Balcony and the novels The Island and They. Ren’s work, which explores the world of China’s working class – salon girls, fisherman, factory workers and long-haul drivers, has won numerous literary awards including a Chinese Media Award nomination.

Lars Saabye Christensen

Lars Saabye Christensen is a Norwegian Danish author. A poet, playwright and screenwriter, Saabye Christensen is best known for his novels Beatles and The Half Brother, which won The Nordic Council's Literature Prize and was shortlisted for the 2005 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. He is a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, a Chevalier dans L’ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature) and a member of the Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature. He lives in Oslo.

Lars Saabye Christensen is a Norwegian Danish author. A poet, playwright and screenwriter, Saabye Christensen is best known for his novels Beatles and The Half Brother, which won The Nordic Council's Literature Prize and was shortlisted for the 2005 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. He is a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, a Chevalier dans L’ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature) and a member of the Norwegian Academy for Language and Literature. He lives in Oslo. Lars Saabye Christensen is brought you by NORLA.

Tomasz Sajewicz

Tomasz Sajewicz is Polish Pubic Radio’s Beijing Bureau chief. Before moving to Beijing in 2005, he was a special correspondent for PPR in Iraq and Belarus. Currently, Sajewicz serves on the board of the Foreign Correspondents Club of China. His experience in China has shown that even writing a story about beauty contests can have “serious consequences.”

Tomasz Sajewicz is Polish Pubic Radio’s Beijing Bureau chief. Before moving to Beijing in 2005, he was a special correspondent for PPR in Iraq and Belarus. Currently, Sajewicz serves on the board of the Foreign Correspondents Club of China. His experience in China has shown that even writing a story about beauty contests can have “serious consequences.”

Henry Sanderson

Henry Sanderson has been a reporter for Bloomberg News since April 2010. Prior to that, he was a reporter for the Associated Press in Beijing and Dow Jones in New York. While at Bloomberg, Sanderson has covered corporate finance, focusing on China’s banks, the bond market, and the emergence of the yuan as an international currency. He is a graduate of the University of Leeds (with a bachelor’s in Chinese and English literature) and Columbia University (with a master’s in East Asian Studies).

Henry Sanderson has been a reporter for Bloomberg News since April 2010. Prior to that, he was a reporter for the Associated Press in Beijing and Dow Jones in New York. While at Bloomberg, Sanderson has covered corporate finance, focusing on China’s banks, the bond market, and the emergence of the yuan as an international currency. He is a graduate of the University of Leeds (with a bachelor’s in Chinese and English literature) and Columbia University (with a master’s in East Asian Studies).  

Boualem Sansal

Boualem Sansal, born 1949, is an internationally acclaimed Algerian author. Trained as an engineer with a doctorate in economics, he began writing novels at the age of 50 after retiring from his job as an official in the Algerian government. His 2008 novel Le village de l'Allemand ou le journal des frères Schiller won the Grand Prix RTL-Lire, le Grand Prix de la Francophonie and the Prix Nessim Habif and was translated into English and published An Unfinished Business. In 2012, he was named winner of the Prix du Roman Arabe for his novel Rue Darwin, but the prize money was withdrawn due to Sansal's visit to Israel to speak at the Jerusalem Writers Festival.

Boualem Sansal, born 1949, is an internationally acclaimed Algerian author. Trained as an engineer with a doctorate in economics, he began writing novels at the age of 50 after retiring from his job as an official in the Algerian government. His 2008 novel Le village de l'Allemand ou le journal des frères Schiller won the Grand Prix RTL-Lire, le Grand Prix de la Francophonie and the Prix Nessim Habif and was translated into English and published An Unfinished Business. In 2012, he was named winner of the Prix du Roman Arabe for his novel Rue Darwin, but the prize money was withdrawn due to Sansal's visit to Israel to speak at the Jerusalem Writers Festival. Boualem Sansal is brought to you by the Embassy of France.

Nikil Saval

Nikil Saval is an editor-in-chief at n+1 and a PhD candidate in English at Stanford. He co-edited Occupy and contributes to the London Review of Books, Etiqueta Negra, and n+1. He lives in Philadelphia.

Nikil Saval is an editor-in-chief at n+1 and a PhD candidate in English at Stanford. He co-edited Occupy and contributes to the London Review of Books, Etiqueta Negra, and n+1. He lives in Philadelphia.

Lionel Shriver

Lionel Shriver is a novelist whose previous books include the Orange Prize–winner We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Post-Birthday World, A Perfectly Good Family and The New Republic. Her forthcoming novel Big Brother is due to be published mid-2013. She is widely published as a journalist, writing features, columns, op-eds, and book reviews for the Guardian, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the Economist, Marie Claire, and many other publications. She is frequently interviewed on television, radio, and in print media. She lives in London and Brooklyn, NY.

Lionel Shriver is a novelist whose previous books include the Orange Prize–winner We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Post-Birthday World, A Perfectly Good Family and The New Republic. Her forthcoming novel Big Brother is due to be published mid-2013. She is widely published as a journalist, writing features, columns, op-eds, and book reviews for the Guardian, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the Economist, Marie Claire, and many other publications. She is frequently interviewed on television, radio, and in print media. She lives in London and Brooklyn, NY.

Anne Spudvilas

Anne Spudvilas is a multi-award-winning illustrator of children’s books and an established portrait painter who also works as a courtroom artist for the Melbourne media. Her portraits have been selected in major portrait competitions and she has completed public commissions for the City of Melbourne and the Victorian State Government and her work is in collections in Australia, USA, Europe and Asia.

Anne Spudvilas is a multi-award-winning illustrator of children’s books and an established portrait painter who also works as a courtroom artist for the Melbourne media. Her portraits have been selected in major portrait competitions and she has completed public commissions for the City of Melbourne and the Victorian State Government and her work is in collections in Australia, USA, Europe and Asia. Her first picture book The Race was awarded the Crichton Award for Illustration and CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Honour Book. In 2000 she won CBCA Picture Book of the Year with Jenny Angel, which was also shortlisted for the NSW Premiers Award. In 2008 The Peasant Prince won the NSW Premier's Award (Patricia Wrightson Prize), the Australian Book Industry Award for Younger Readers and the Queensland Premiers Award. Anne Spudvilas' visit is supported by the 'Hello from Australia!' exhibition, funded through the CAL Cultural Fund (Australia).

Megan Stack

Megan Stack is Beijing correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and author of Every Man is this Village is a Liar: An Education in War.

Megan Stack has reported on war, terrorism, and political Islam from the Arab world, the Middle East and Southeast Asia since 2001. During a decade at the Los Angeles Times, she was based in Jerusalem, Cairo, Moscow and finally Beijing. Her first book, Every Man in This Village is a Liar, was drawn from her experiences covering the war on terror, and was one of the four nonfiction finalists for the National Book Award in 2010. For her coverage of Iraq she was awarded the 2007 Overseas Press Club’s Hal Boyle Award for best newspaper reporting from abroad, and was a finalist for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in international reporting. She lives in Beijing with her husband, and is working on her next book – a novel set in contemporary Moscow.

Tao Wang

Tao Wang is the executive director of Center for Energy-efficient Computing and Applications and an associate research professor at the School of Electronics Engineering and Computing Science at Peking University. He is an IEEE Senior Member (Computer, Communications) and previously served as the assistant dean of the College of Engineering at Peking University.

Karin Tidbeck

Born in 1977 in Stockholm, Sweden, Karin Tidbeck lives and works in Malmö. Currently a project leader for a writers' interest organization, she has worked as a freelance writer for role-playing productions in schools and theatres, written articles on gaming and interactive arts theory and occasionally teaches creative writing. She has published short stories and poetry in Swedish since 2002, and in English since 2010. Her English debut, the story collection Jagannath, has received rave reviews from NPR, Tor.com, Wired and Locus, according to which she is ”one of the most distinctive new voices in short fiction since Margo Lanagan”.

Born in 1977 in Stockholm, Sweden, Karin Tidbeck lives and works in Malmö. Currently a project leader for a writers' interest organization, she has worked as a freelance writer for role-playing productions in schools and theatres, written articles on gaming and interactive arts theory and occasionally teaches creative writing. She has published short stories and poetry in Swedish since 2002, and in English since 2010. Her 2010 book debut, the short story collection Vem är Arvid Pekon?, has become something of a cult classic; the experimental dystopian novel Amatka was released in 2012 and has received acclaim from both mainstream and genre reviewers. Her English debut, the story collection Jagannath, has received rave reviews from NPR, Tor.com, Wired and Locus, according to which she is ”one of the most distinctive new voices in short fiction since Margo Lanagan”. Karin Tidbeck is brought to you by the Embassy of Sweden.

Justin Torres

Justin Torres grew up in upstate New York, where his acclaimed debut novel We the Animals is set. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a recent Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford, he was the recipient of a Rolón Fellowship in Literature from United States Artists and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, Granta, Tin House, and Glimmer Train. Among many other things, he has worked as a farmhand, a dog walker, a creative writing teacher, and a bookseller; he is now a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard.

Justin Torres grew up in upstate New York, where his acclaimed debut novel We the Animals is set. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a recent Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford, he was the recipient of a Rolón Fellowship in Literature from United States Artists and the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, Granta, Tin House, and Glimmer Train. Among many other things, he has worked as a farmhand, a dog walker, a creative writing teacher, and a bookseller; he is now a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard.

Wang Xiaofang

Wang Xiaofang was born in 1963 in Shenyang, northeast China, and was private secretary to Shenyang Deputy Mayor Ma Xiangdong from 1997-1999. Ma achieved infamy for gambling and losing millions in public money in Macau’s casinos, and was later sentenced to death for his crimes. Wang Xiaofang was found innocent of any involvement and left the service in 1999 to begin a career as political fiction writer. He has published thirteen novels of political fiction in China, and his works regularly top the bestseller charts. This is the first of his books to be published in English.

Wang Xiaofang was born in 1963 in Shenyang, northeast China, and was private secretary to Shenyang Deputy Mayor Ma Xiangdong from 1997-1999. Ma achieved infamy for gambling and losing millions in public money in Macau’s casinos, and was later sentenced to death for his crimes. Wang Xiaofang was found innocent of any involvement and left the service in 1999 to begin a career as political fiction writer. He has published thirteen novels of political fiction in China, and his works regularly top the bestseller charts. This is the first of his books to be published in English.

Adam Williams

Adam Williams was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Greater China and Japan. He speaks fluent Mandarin and is the fourth generation of his family to work in China. A former journalist, he has lived and worked in Mainland China since 1985. He is currently the China Group Chief Representative of the 180-year-old trading house, Jardine Matheson. He combines business with novel writing and since 2003 has published four historical novels, including a China trilogy: The Palace of Heavenly Pleasure, The Emperor’s Bones and The Dragon’s Tail. His latest publication, for which he is currently writing a sequel, is The Book of the Alchemist, a historical novel set in the Spanish Civil War and 11th Century al-Andaluz. He is married to the Chinese novelist, Hong Ying.

Adam Williams was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Greater China and Japan. He speaks fluent Mandarin and is the fourth generation of his family to work in China. A former journalist, he has lived and worked in Mainland China since 1985. He is currently the China Group Chief Representative of the 180-year-old trading house, Jardine Matheson. He combines business with novel writing and since 2003 has published four historical novels, including a China trilogy: The Palace of Heavenly Pleasure, The Emperor’s Bones and The Dragon’s Tail. His latest publication, for which he is currently writing a sequel, is The Book of the Alchemist, a historical novel set in the Spanish Civil War and 11^th Century al-Andaluz. He is married to the Chinese novelist, Hong Ying.

Anne Witchard

Anne Witchard is Lecturer in the Department of English, Linguistics and Cultural Studies, University of Westminster. She is the author of Thomas Burke’s Dark Chinoiserie: Limehouse Nights and the Queer Spell of Chinatown, co-editor with Lawrence Phillips of London Gothic: Place, Space and the Gothic Imagination and editor of Chinoiserie and Modernism. Lao She in London is her latest book.

Anne Witchard is Lecturer in the Department of English, Linguistics and Cultural Studies, University of Westminster. She is the author of Thomas Burke’s Dark Chinoiserie: Limehouse Nights and the Queer Spell of Chinatown, co-editor with Lawrence Phillips of London Gothic: Place, Space and the Gothic Imagination and editor of Chinoiserie and Modernism. Lao She in London is her latest book.

Ed Wong

Ed Wong is a China correspondent for The New York Times. Before moving to China, Wong was the Times’ main correspondent in Iraq. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Journalism, he has reported from, among other places, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, North Korea, Myanmar, Mongolia, India and Vietnam. Wong received the 2005 Livingston Award for International Reporting for his Iraq coverage and shared a 2010 Feature Writing prize from the Society of Publishers in Asia for a series about China's growing influence in the world.

Ed Wong is a China correspondent for The New York Times. Before moving to China, Wong was the Times’ main correspondent in Iraq. A graduate of the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Journalism, he has reported from, among other places, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, North Korea, Myanmar, Mongolia, India and Vietnam. Wong received the 2005 Livingston Award for International Reporting for his Iraq coverage and shared a 2010 Feature Writing prize from the Society of Publishers in Asia for a series about China's growing influence in the world.

Luke Wright

Luke Wright was born in London in 1982. The Observer called him "one of our best young poets.” His work has been widely published, appearing in The Sunday Times, Magma, The Spectator and The Big Issue. His poetry stage shows have won awards and completed sold-out runs in Edinburgh and London. He is the author of six solo poetry stage shows, which have toured all over the world. Wright also hosts and co-programmes Latitude's Poetry Arena, the largest single poetry event in Europe, makes verse documentaries for Channel 4 and writes topical verse for Radio 4's Saturday Live. His debut collection Mondeo Man will be published in 2013.

Luke Wright was born in London in 1982. The Observer called him "one of our best young poets.” His work has been widely published, appearing in The Sunday Times, Magma, The Spectator and The Big Issue. His poetry stage shows have won awards and completed sold-out runs in Edinburgh and London. He is the author of six solo poetry stage shows, which have toured all over the world. Wright also hosts and co-programmes Latitude's Poetry Arena, the largest single poetry event in Europe, makes verse documentaries for Channel 4 and writes topical verse for Radio 4's Saturday Live. His debut collection Mondeo Man will be published in 2013.

Alice Xin Liu

Alice Xin Liu was born in Beijing but left for London at the age of 7, returning when she was 21. She is a graduate of English Literature, Durham University, but her Chinese cadre grandparents were the main force behind her education. She has translated poems by Sen Zi for the Chinese poetry anthology Push Open the Window (Copper Canyon Press) and has an ongoing contract with a Chinese publishing house to translate The Letters of Shen Congwen. Her translations have been published on Granta.com, Chutzpah!, Words Without Borders and Asymptote. She is the managing editor of Pathlight: New Chinese Writing, a new literary journal produced jointly by Paper Republic and People's Literature magazine.

Alice Xin Liu was born in Beijing but left for London at the age of 7, returning when she was 21. She is a graduate of English Literature, Durham University, but her Chinese cadre grandparents were the main force behind her education. She has translated poems by Sen Zi for the Chinese poetry anthology Push Open the Window (Copper Canyon Press) and has an ongoing contract with a Chinese publishing house to translate The Letters of Shen Congwen. Her translations have been published on Granta.com, Chutzpah!, Words Without Borders and Asymptote. She is the managing editor of Pathlight: New Chinese Writing, a new literary journal produced jointly by Paper Republic and People's Literature magazine.

Yang Jisheng

Yang Jisheng was born in 1940. He worked for many years at Xinhua News Agency, until his retirement in 2001. From the early 1990s onwards Yang interviewed survivors and collected records of the Great Famine (1959-61), eventually accumulating some 10 million words of testimony. This was published in Chinese originally in two volumes (the English-language edition is edited down) and has been widely acclaimed as the book that not only preserved many extraordinary and terrible stories but also broke a widespread official silence on the subject. He lives in Beijing.

Yang Jisheng was born in 1940. He worked for many years at Xinhua News Agency, until his retirement in 2001. From the early 1990s onwards Yang interviewed survivors and collected records of the Great Famine (1959-61), eventually accumulating some 10 million words of testimony.  This was published in Chinese originally in two volumes (the English-language edition is edited down) and has been widely acclaimed as the book that not only preserved many extraordinary and terrible stories but also broke a widespread official silence on the subject. He lives in Beijing.

Zhang Lijia

Zhang Lijia (张丽佳) is a factory worker turned writer, journalist and talk show host.

Zhang Lijia (张丽佳) is a factory worker turned writer, journalist and talk show host. Her articles have appeared in many publications, including South China Morning Post, The Guardian, Newsweek and The New York Times. She is the co-author of China Remembers. Her memoir Socialism Is Great!, about her decade-long experience working at a rocket factory in Nanjing in the 80’s, was first published in the US in 2008 and has been translated into numerous languages around the world.

Zhang Yueran

Zhang Yueran is one of China's most influential young writers. She has published two short story collections: Sunflower Missing In 1890 and Ten Tales of Love, and three novels: Distant Cherry, Narcissus and The Promise Bird.

Zhang Yueran is one of China's most influential young writers. She has published two short story collections: Sunflower Missing In 1890 and Ten Tales of Love, and three novels: Distant Cherry, Narcissus and The Promise Bird. She is the chief editor of the prestigious literary magazine Newriting and has received many awards, such as the Chinese Press Most Promising New Talent Award, "MAO-TAI Cup" People's Literature Prize and the Spring Literature Prize. She is currently studying for her doctoral degree in Ancient Chinese Literature.

Zhu Wen

Zhu Wen was born in Fujian Province in 1967 and spent his childhood in Jiangsu. After graduating from Dongnan University with a degree in engineering, he worked for five years in a thermal power plant (a subject he later revisited in the short story "Ah, Xiao Xie"). He began publishing his poetry in 1989. In 1994, Zhu Wen left his day job to become a full-time writer. Since then, he has published six collections of novellas and short stories, two collections of poetry and one novel. He first gained fame with his 1995 short story collection "I Love Dollars." Zhu Wen is also an accomplished screenwriter and director: his directorial debut Seafood won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2001 Venice Film Festival, and his second film South of the Clouds was awarded the NETPAC Prize at the 2004 Berlin Film Festival. He currently lives in Beijing.

Zhu Wen was born in Fujian Province in 1967 and spent his childhood in Jiangsu. After graduating from Dongnan University with a degree in engineering, he worked for five years in a thermal power plant (a subject he later revisited in the short story "Ah, Xiao Xie"). He began publishing his poetry in 1989. In 1994, Zhu Wen left his day job to become a full-time writer. Since then, he has published six collections of novellas and short stories, two collections of poetry and one novel. He first gained fame with his 1995 short story collection "I Love Dollars." Zhu Wen is also an accomplished screenwriter and director: his directorial debut Seafood won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2001 Venice Film Festival, and his second film South of the Clouds was awarded the NETPAC Prize at the 2004 Berlin Film Festival. He currently lives in Beijing.