Hello!
“I’m Holly, I’m an author, games writer, journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist. Using creativity, education and a bit of panashe, I am making work to help others understand me and people like me.”
Holly Swinyard is a pop culture and games writer with a love for telling stories both real and fictional.
They have worked on many gaming projects including board games, chose your own adventure RPGs, table-top roleplaying and, most recently, indie video games.
On top of this have written for multiple national publications including PLAY magazine, The Guardian and Marvel UK, as well as having worked with the BBC and Channel 4 discussing pop-culture, costume and gender.
Outside of writing, Holly works as freelance LGBTQIA+ educator with charities, schools and businesses, as well as being an all-round pop culture enthusiast volunteering at comic cons, running cosplay events and competing in national and international cosplay competitions (yes that is a thing).
At a Glance:
Editor and Founder of The Cosplay Journal, an annual diversity in pop culture publication
Author of A History of Fans and Fandom, A Guide to Film and TV Cosplay, A Guide to Manga, Anime and Video Game Cosplay
Co-Host of I’m A Fan of That podcast
Creator and writer of LGBTQIA+ sci-fi podcast Ray Gunn and Starburst
Staff Writer and contributor for PLAY Magazine, Games Radar, The Chap Magazine, Vintage Woman Magazine, The Guardian Online, Marvel UK/Panini, Down The Tubes, and Women Write About Comics
Freelance Writer and Contributor for Steamforged Games and Cubicle 7
LGBT+ Work:
LGBTQIA+ panellist and speaker for Stonewall, Switchboard and Sapphic Events
A Guide to Film and TV Cosplay and A Guide to Manga, Anime and Video Game Cosplay Published with Pen and Sword Publishing/White Owl Books
Guest/Expert featured on BBC Radio 4 Front Row, You and Yours and Radio 5 Live
Featured Articles:
https://thechap.co.uk/2017/12/11/non-binary-fashion/
https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2017/01/how-to-visualise-identity-looking-for-nonbinary/
https://downthetubes.net/making-a-difference-special-effect-the-gamers-charity/