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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‘During the mentoring year I found an agent based on a previous novel and Shelley has been extremely supportive over that big step.’
– Dorothy Judd, mentored by Shelley Weiner
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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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‘I was fortunate enough to work with Michelle for a year whilst I completed THE SACRIFICIAL MAN and both novel and author went through many improvements under her watchful supervision.’
– Ruth Dugdall, mentored by Michelle Spring
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