book guests

learn about our new bookish guests for 2025’s con

A brand new feature for 2025’s con – we’re teaming up with Pigeon Books, The Bookish Mindset, and Portsmouth Creates, as part of In Our Words 2025, a literary celebration across Portsmouth! We will have a pop-up bookshop in our Artists Alley, plus a roster of exciting authors to chat to, and a range of workshops and talks!

pigeon books

Pigeon Books was founded in 2019 to provide Portsmouth with a much-needed independent bookshop – and although the last few years have been somewhat of a rollercoaster, they’re still going strong.

Pigeon Books are currently between shops, but while they look for a new space, they’re excited to be able to get involved with more outside events throughout the summer. They will be at Portsmouth Comic Con all weekend selling books from the guest authors, and will also be bringing along a selection of fantasy, horror and sci-fi favourites.

“Our focus remains on under-represented authors, diverse children’s books, fiction, poetry and LGBTQ+ representation – but we’ll always have something for everyone!”

The bookish mindset

The Bookish Mindset began as a page on Instagram during the pandemic in 2020. Owner Nikki had been a bookworm from a young age and adored the incredible bookish community that the app offers. Sharing recommendations and helping people find incredible books was always her passion. Nikki’s goal is to provide brilliant book recommendations, whilst sharing incredible diverse authors and other bookish joy with you! She will be attending Portsmouth Comic Con and hosting panels and workshops across the weekend.

author guests

Lewis Hancox

Lewis Hancox is a film-maker, comedy creator and now illustrator and author from the North West. His first book – a graphic memoir called Welcome to St Hell is published next week, but Lewis is also known for his online impersonations of his Mum “British Mum” and sassy lass “Prinny Queen”. He also co-founded “My Genderation” – an ongoing film project celebrating trans lives – with trans activist Fox Fisher.

Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson is a Sunday Times Bestselling author and the inaugural winner of the Future Worlds Prize. Her debut novel, The Principle of Moments, was published in January 2024, garnering a TikTok Book award nomination for Best British and Irish Novel. She regularly interacts with her audience of 25,000+ fantasy readers and writers across social media, and sits on the Board of Trustees for a UNESCO City of Literature in the south of England. Her work primarily focuses on those living at the intersection of identities, whether that's here in our world, or in others. She holds a BA in English Literature and Classical Studies from the University of Exeter.

zen cho

Zen Cho was born and raised in Malaysia and now lives in Birmingham. She was a finalist for the Astounding Award for Best New Writer for her short fiction and won the Crawford Award. Her debut novel, Sorcerer to the Crown, won the 2016 British Fantasy Society Award for Best Newcomer. She is also the author of The Friend Zone Experiment and the fantasy titles The True Queen, Black Water Sister and Spirits Abroad.

Salomey Doku

Salomey Doku is a self-taught freelance author-illustrator from Leeds, England. An ardent lover of kids books and bubble tea, she is inspired by her diverse community, the natural world, and all things bright and beautiful. Salomey has illustrated two picture books for Sir Lenny Henry, and her debut graphic novel, 'Brielle and Bear: Once Upon a Time', was published in September 2024. She is currently working on her second graphic novel to follow in Spring 2026. When she is not drawing, she is either daydreaming, going on long walks around Yorkshire, jetting off on international city breaks, at church, or talking to her pet hedgehog Strawberry.

stephanie burgis

Stephanie Burgis grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, but now lives in Wales with her husband and two sons, surrounded by mountains, castles and coffee shops. She writes wildly romantic adult historical fantasies (including The Harwood Spellbook series, over 20,000 self-published copies sold) and has had over forty short stories for adults and teens published in magazines and anthologies. She also writes fantasy adventures for children and has had seven published so far, including The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart, which has been translated into seventeen languages.

Claire Linney

Claire Linney worked in marketing for over twenty years, until stumbling across Black Tudors: The Untold story inspired her to want to bring the too often hidden stories of Black British history to life for the next generation. She is passionate about the need for more stories highlighting people of African descent throughout British history and advocating for diverse representation in children's literature. Her debut children's book Time Tub Travellers and the Silk Thief won the Ink Book Prize and was highly commended in the Selfies book awards 2025.

Check back soon for our schedules!