Emma Smith-Barton is an author, teacher and creative writing mentor from South Wales. Growing up between cultures has heavily influenced her writing and she’s interested in exploring themes of identity and belonging. Her debut YA novel, The Million Pieces of Neena Gill, was published by Penguin Random House and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Award, the Branford Boase Award and the Romantic Novelist’s Association Debut Romantic Novel Award.
She has a BA in English and Creative Writing from the University of Warwick and a Creative Writing MA from Bath Spa University. She was one of ten writers selected for the Hay Festival Writers at Work programme 2023 and a judge for the Wales Book of the Year Award 2023.
“Literature and wellbeing are my two major passions, so I’m really excited to have this opportunity to enhance my knowledge and skills to develop projects that combine these to make a real difference in people’s lives. I’m passionate about using literature to improve mental health – both for children and young people and adults – and I’m looking forward to learning from leaders in this field. Now, more than ever, projects like this are vital.”