INKPOTS & Friends
Behind every great story is a writer, and behind every writer is a great team.
Writing is often a solitary craft, but every writer needs colleagues, mentors, and creative allies. At Inkpots, we believe in building a space where writers can grow, connect, and find support.
Meet the people behind Inkpots – the writers, workshop hosts, and mentors who bring their expertise, passion, and encouragement to help others thrive.
The people we like to drink tea with.
Inkpots
Toria Thompson
Inkpots Founder
After 25 years in finance and leadership, Toria swapped calculator for quill and took a leap into the world of words, storytelling, and creativity. She is now writing upper middle grade children’s books, working toward her dream of seeing them in print. Toria’s stories have their hearts in family and their adventures in space, all with a huge dose of nature thrown in the mix.
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Kirsty Applebaum
Inkpots Workshop Host
Kirsty has had a varied career including bookselling, railway re-signalling, and even putting lids on perfume bottles, all before becoming an award-nominated children’s author.
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Kathryn Clark
Inkpots Workshop Host
After a career that included aromatherapy and selling wallpaper, Kathryn turned her focus to writing and graduated with distinction from the Bath Spa MA in Writing for Young People.
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David Freedman
Inkpots Workshop Host
David has been writing and show running for nearly 30 years for clients including Aardman, Disney Channel, Universal and adaptation work for Studio Ghibli.
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Kate Wilkinson
Inkpots Workshop Host
Kate is the author of Edie and the Box of Flits and Edie and the Flits in Paris, published by Piccadilly Press, and a graduate of the MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University.
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Maddy Woosnam
Inkpots Workshop Host
Maddy discovered the magic of storytelling during midnight feasts at boarding school, where she entertained a captive audience with after-lights-out tales. Since then, she has woven storytelling into every part of her career, whether encouraging dyslexic children to write subversive stories, penning pantomimes for local theatre, or earning her MA in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University (Distinction).
Read moreTogether, the Inkpots team brings a wealth of experience across storytelling, publishing, and creative coaching ~ helping writers at every stage of their journey.
& Friends
lime tree work shop
Coworking Space
Lime Tree Work Shop offers space to work, and room to write.
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Kathryn Clark Mentoring
Mentoring & Editing
Kathryn is a writer, mentor, and long-standing Inkpots friend.
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Beyond the Kitchen Table
Website Design
Marie builds websites with personality. Made by humans, for humans.
Read moreInkpots has never been a solo journey. Along the way we've found spaces, mentors and collaborators who've helped shape what we do. A small circle of genuine connections we'd love to share with you.
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean."
Ryunosuke Satoro