Let’s Talk Adult Non-Fiction with Helen Aitchison

£3.96 per person if booking online, £3 in person at the shop

Suitable for ages 16+

Join us at the Word for an engaging afternoon of non-fiction writing, featuring a multi-author panel, hosted by Helen Aitchison.

Sat 12 September, 1.30-3.30pm at The Word

£3.96 per person if booking online, £3 in person at the shop.

Meet the panel:

Rie Pearson

Rie lives overlooking the sea and describes herself as Being on the Edge! A police officer for 27 years with focus on policy, and how the police deal with partner abuse, Rie specialises in Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Safeguarding. Her post policing career has continued with directorships with several Community Interest Companies all focused on those specialisms.

Rie’s book, “Be Kind. No Excuses” is a guide for teenagers and parents to raise awareness of the red-flag behaviours that are a precursor to abusive behaviours in relationships. Her Mission is to flip the discussions on VAWG and talk about the real problem – the majority of abuse being perpetrated by men who are violent towards others: women, men and children. MVAWG!!!

Co-creator of WOW! Women Only Wellness Ltd, Rie creates safe spaces for women and girls to come together and step into their own power through learning that self-care is not selfish.

Jeff Stephenson

Jeff is an author from North Tyneside. His debut memoir, Duty, was released in 2023, documenting his life growing up in North Shields, joining the Royal Marines at seventeen and serving in conflict, alongside his extensive career in Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service. Jeff now works in the fitness industry, with a focus on mental health.

Coleen Greenwood

Coleen heralds from Leeds and is a proud Yorkshire lass. After a devastating time in her life she decided (along with her twin sister) to cathartically write the memoir “Playing With Fire’ which became an Amazon bestseller in its first month of release. This was followed by the sequel ‘Healing From The Burns’ and Coleen is currently working on the upcoming conclusion to the series ‘Living With The Scars’.

Her jaw dropping experience has been subsequently made into a number 1 rated BBC sounds podcast hosted by Vicky Pattison and several TV documentaries. She now uses her past traumas to help and empower others therefore turning her negative life experiences into a positive. Whether that be through public speaking, the many people who reach out to her or from donating a portion of all book sales to Women’s Aid.

Currently living a happier more peaceful life in a quiet North Eastern town with herlovely family and two rescue cats she is content and always keen to help others. As Coleen always says ‘Helping one person might not change the world but it might just change the world for that one person’.

Karen Crear

Karen lives in Chester-le-Street in County Durham. She is an author, over-sharer, and walking cautionary tale. Think: a sweary teenager trapped in the body of a menopausal woman. She worked for many years in banking, the Civil Service, and property management, or as she likes to call it, The Beige Trilogy. Then one day she found herself broke, baffled, and built entirely out of biscuit crumbs and unresolved trauma. So did what any sensible woman would do – wrote it all down and flogged it in paperback.

​She’s battled cancer twice, and her sense of humour is deeply questionable, but it’s kept her just about sane through grief, illness, love, lies, and everything else life has chucked at her. ​After years of procrastination (and one too many vinos), she finally swapped Pinot for a pen and now write jaw-dropping true crime memoirs and hilarious women’s fiction about women who’ve had enough, snapped slightly, and are thriving in spite of it all, usually with a glass in hand, some top mates, and a solid alibi.

A portion of every book sale goes to Women’s Aid, The Dragonfly Cancer Trust and Macmillan.

Helen Aitchison

Helen is the author of seven fiction books and a number of non-fiction books. Following a career in senior social care, she writes about community and experiences we can all have, as well as social issues — using her writing as a vehicle to raise awareness, and bring comfort and connection to readers.

Writing crime, psychological thriller, and uplifting fiction books, Helen is published with Cahill Davis Publishing, and has released a charity children’s book, alongside several non-fiction books with local storytellers.

Helen lives in North Tyneside and runs community interest company, Write on the Tyne — which aims to make creative writing inclusive, accessible, and therapeutic. Write on the Tyne also has a publishing house and has published local stories and authors.

Jake Rusby

A former journalist, Jake spent years writing for the national print media – in news and sport – and in TV, working for broadcasters including ITV and Sky Sports. His work has appeared all over the globe. He interviewed the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Sir Mo Farah, and of course a host of Newcastle United legends for his book ‘Newcastle United Match of My Life’.

Since leaving journalism, Jake has embarked on another project of passion – coffee, and has his own business, ‘Afuera Coffee Co’, in North Shields. Jake is originally from London but has lived in the North East since 2013. He is married to Frankie and has two children – Matilda and Zachary.

---

ABOUT WRITE FESTIVAL 2026

This event is part of The Word’s WRITE Festival which takes place throughout the whole of September. Enjoy a programme of unmissable events, workshops and performances! Find out more by viewing our full WRITE Festival programme.

By booking tickets for this event, you are agreeing to our booking terms and conditions.