What-Ifs and Maybes with Claire Daverley and Niamh Hargan

Silent longing, undeniable chemistry, and that unmistakable pull towards “the one”. Claire Daverley and Niamh Hargan’s latest novels use time and distance to build unbearable tension as the characters contemplate the impact of past loves on the present.

Claire Daverley was born in 1991 and has been writing stories ever since she was six years old. After graduating with a degree in Fine Art from The University of Oxford, she began a career in publishing, writing about books by day but penning her own by night. Her debut novel, Talking at Night, was nominated in the Debut of the Year category at the Nibbies and shortlisted for the Nota Bene prize. People in Love is her second novel. She lives in Scotland with her husband and spaniel.

Niamh Hargan was born and raised in Derry and is now based principally in Edinburgh. Niamh's debut novel, Twelve Days in May, was published in April 2022 and her second, The Break-Up Clause, followed in June 2023. Her latest novel, Nothing Good Happens After 2AM, was published in January 2026. All three of Niamh’s novels have attracted significant screen interest. In her capacity as a screenwriter, Niamh has recently completed a pilot script for The Break-Up Clause. Nothing Good Happens After 2AM is also in active development for upcoming screen adaptation. In addition, Niamh has recently been commissioned to develop an original comedy for television. Alongside her writing, Niamh is a qualified lawyer on both sides of the Atlantic, and specialises in entertainment law.

About the Festival
The Edinburgh Women’s Fiction Festival is back for 2026!

This year's festival will take place on Saturday 26 October 2026, returning to our lovely venue of Christ Church Morningside - just five minutes walk from Bruntsfield Links and a short bus ride from the city centre.

The Edinburgh Women's Fiction Festival is a literary festival celebrating writing for, by, and about women. We are an inclusive event and welcome everyone who finds joy in reading women's fiction - commercial, romance, historical, literary, book club and beyond. Our festival showcases authors of genres that are often overlooked, and our aim is to give readers the opportunity to connect with their favourite writers.

2026 Programme
Details of our full programme can be found on our website.

Our festival strongly believes in paying our authors, chairs, and workshop leaders the fee recommended by the Scottish Book Trust.