Simon Sylvester is an acclaimed writer, traditional storyteller, and filmmaker based in Kendal, Cumbria. His atmospheric debut novel, The Visitors (Quercus), won The Guardian’s prestigious "Not the Booker" Prize and the Book Box Prize, earning praise as an assured, genre-defying mix of myth and modern thriller.

A prolific short fiction writer, his work has been featured in celebrated literary journals like Gutter, Smoke, and Dark Mountain, with his flash fiction even broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music. Beyond the page, Simon is an award-winning screenwriter whose short horror film Maggie achieved global success on the international film festival circuit.

A practiced performer of his own work, he has headlined major spoken word nights and literary festivals across the country, including the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Bloody Scotland, and Kendal Calling, alongside his dedicated work teaching popular creative writing courses. At The Sondering you can expect both performance and creative expression workshops from Simon.