This has been the busiest 18 months for Emma Simpson.

Since her book was published in hardback in March 2025 (which was then published in paperback in April this year) she has spoken at more than thirty festival and events including the Bridport Literary Festival, Appledore Book Festival and Kendal Mountain Festival, and had been published in the Telegraph, the i Paper, Platinum Magazine, Outdoor Swimmer Magazine and the Women’s Prize blog. She has been on BBC radio and several podcasts.

Her book has taken her From the Outer Hebrides to Dorset and so many places in between.

And the lessons? There are many.

One of the biggest themes to emerge from Emma’s author journey to date is the power of networking and being open to new people and possibilities and seeing the extraordinary things that can follow as a result.

In our In Conversation event, Emma will talk about how she has built not just an audience for her book, but a supportive community and even new creative and business opportunities as she is now a creative writing mentor and judge as well as a co-host of a creative writing retreat.

We're particularly thrilled to be hosting Emma for this event as she found her agent at one of Byte the Book's Agents Tables events. We’ll discuss her route to publication and how the first year of publication has gone. The highs and lows. The expectations which were surpassed, and those they didn’t turn out the way she thought.

Emma is an inspiring speaker and this session will be invaluable for anyone on the path to publication, or for those who need an injection of fresh energy, inspiration and ideas to take their book further.

About our speaker:

Emma describes herself as a wild swimmer and life-long hobbyist writer specialising in narrative non-fiction. Having spent a couple of decades being distracted by a career as an air traffic controller and experiencing two life-wrenching events, she rediscovered my pen and my passion for storytelling. Her first book, Breaking Waves, was published in 2025.

Emma is currently working on her second book ‘Chasing Ice’ which is about being on the cusp of her daughters flying the nest, and pursuing her dream to go to Antarctica.

About breaking Waves:

A warm, reflective and uplifting memoir about healing wounds, reclaiming a voice and discovering freedom through the open water.

The open water. To the uninitiated, it represents the unknown, an expanse of mystery and uncertainty. But to those who brave the wild waters, it is so much more. A space to heal. A place of communion. A balm to quieten the mind, soothe the soul, and allow you to reconnect with the world and yourself.

Emma Simpson discovered wild swimming after a period of immense pain. Lost in grief, disillusioned with life, and feeling increasingly untethered from the world, she instinctively felt the pull of the water. There she found an unexpected source of hope and strength, a profound sense of connection, and a glorious sisterhood of women - each with their own remarkable stories to tell.

Interweaving the tales of these inspirational women with reflections on her own experiences, Emma explores themes ranging from devastating loss to birth and rebirth, and from chronic illness to body confidence. Whether describing the taste of an iceberg or a kiss from a baby whale, Breaking Waves is a love letter to womanhood and the open water. It's also a celebration of community, renewal and the power of writing your own life story. Above all else, it is a joyous celebration of going with the flow.

Please find Breaking Waves here!