Silja Swaby, half Jamaican, half Finnish, is a marine biologist and author. Funded by Arts Council England, she has won competitions, and been placed in prizes and awards. She is working on a series of futuristic thrillers, featuring a female biologist whose quiet academic life takes a drastic turn. Silja has taken creative writing courses at Cambridge University and more recently Yale University, USA.

Silja tutors writers, gives workshops, and provides a critique service. She is happily unmarried and lives in deepest Somerset, UK.


Silja Swaby is pronounced Sil-yah Sway-bee.

November 01, 2017

Hardy's Cottage and eidetic memory

Whether eidetic or just a good memory, a guide at Hardy's cottage believed his genius came from having access to lots of books - courtesy of his visionary mother Jemima. He understood story from reading.

Pot luck Writing tips