our mentors

: Jill Dawson – founder

: Celia Brayfield

: Sally Cline

: Louise Doughty

: Susan Fletcher

: Midge Gillies

: Lesley Glaister

: Romesh Gunesekera

: Sarah Hall

: Kathryn Heyman

: Liz Jensen

: Jim Kelly

: Sarah May

: Andrew Miller

: Tim Pears

: Jane Rogers

: Richard Skinner

: Michelle Spring

: Lee Weatherly

: Shelley Weiner

: Andrew Wilson

Gold Dust’s mentors are writers at the top of their game. They are chosen for their writing and teaching accomplishments. We have a rule that all Gold Dust mentors must have published at least five books (often the figure is many more) and have won, judged or been nominated for major national and International literary prizes such as The Booker, The Costa, The Women’s Prize, The Folio, The Impac and others.

Click on an image to read more about an individual Gold Dust mentor.
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'Being mentored by Jill literally changed my life. I had just completed an MA in creative writing.... I was sixty and giving up hope.  
‘Gold Dust changed all that.  After the first meeting with Jill I felt empowered and full of ideas.  
‘Anyway, to cut to the chase, I’m now a sixty three year old novelist with a two book deal with HQ, an imprint of Harper Collins.'
– Rosalind Topps, mentored by Jill Dawson
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Many have been RLF Fellows, meaning they are particularly skilled at working one-to-one. In addition, all have taught on the best writing courses and many are, or have been, senior professors and course directors. These writing programmes include Creative Writing MAs such as UEA, Bath Spa, Goldsmith’s, Cambridge, Oxford, Sheffield Hallam, or for The Arvon Foundation, Guardian Masterclasses and The Faber Academy.
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‘What did Gold Dust do for me? Everything.’
– Rita Dallas, mentored by Jill Dawson
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