 Tamara McKinley, the former Anderida Writers Chairperson who lives locally, is the worldwide best-selling author of 12 novels set in Australia.
Her books have been translated and published in 20 languages, achieving around six million sales and excellent reviews.
Writing as Ellie Dean, Tamara has become a Sunday Times best seller with her much acclaimed series of novels set during World War Two on the south coast of England in the fictional town of Cliffehaven.
As the war escalates and evacuees arrive at Beach View Boarding House seeking shelter and solace, their stories unfold along with those of the family who live there.
Tamara lives locally in Jevington but was born in Tasmania, where she was raised by her English grandmother and two elderly great aunts.
She always had a love of books, but it wasen't until she was forty, that she found the time to actually try her hand at writing a novel.
Having finished her education in an English boarding school - which she hated - Tamara went on to secretarial college and subsequently tried various different jobs.
She worked for the local council's entertainment manager, for a fish supplier, a private school and a holiday camp - where she met Tom Jones and Gene Pitney who were just two of the many stars who came to the camp to entertain the holiday makers.
Tamara has supported Anderida for many years together with her husband Ollie.
PETER JAMES PATRON FROM OCTOBER 2015 TO FEBRUARY 2018
 Acclaimed international best selling crime thriller novalist, Peter James became our patron in October 2015, but stood down in February 2018 after moving with his wife Lara from East Sussex to Jersey.
Peter is a New York Times bestseller as well as having 12 consecutive Sunday Times No.1s and he is published in 37 languages, with number ones in Germany, France, Russia, Canada. he has written 35 novels, including the acclaimed series on Brighton-Based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, which have sold have sold 19 million copies worldwide.
Prior to becoming a full-time author, he was responsible for 25 movies.
In 1994 Penguin published his novel "host", on two floppy disks as the world's first electronic novel.
His novels have won numerous awards, including the coveted 2016 CWA Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence and he was publicly voted The Best Crime Author Of All Time by WH Smith.
Anderida President Tony Flood said: "I got to know Peter when I reviewed stage shows of his work for the Brighton Argus and I was delighted when he accepted my invitation to be Anderida's Patron. He made an instant contribution by raising our profile and acting as an inspiration to our members."
You can see more of Peter James on Youtube:www.peterjames.com/youtube
JEFFERY HOLLAND - PATRON FROM 2008 TO 2015
 Anderida Writers were honoured to have well known actor Jeffrey Holland as the club’s Patron from 2008 until 2015. Each year, he and his wife Judy Buxton came to Eastbourne to read out the entries at the club’s annual writing competition. This social evening attracts a large audience, who judge the stories and poems, enhanced by the professional spin that he and Judy delivered.
Jeffrey has made many TV appearances; his first speaking role was in ‘Dixon of Dock Green,’ then there was ‘Dad’s Army’; he played a footman in ‘You Rang, M’Lord?’ Cecil the stationmaster in ‘Oh, Dr. Beeching’ and appeared as a tax inspector living with his mum in ‘Coronation Street.’ But he is probably best remembered for his part as the lovable Spike in the iconic comedy series, ‘Hi-de-Hi’ which was all about life at Maplins, a fictional holiday camp.
He said, “It was this part that put me on the map, and I’m very proud of being involved in such a wonderful series. It was all filmed in a real holiday camp after the holiday season had finished. They had me wearing some amazing costumes. Often the weather was cold and we had to pretend it was hot and sunny. I loved doing ‘You Rang, M’Lord?’ which ran from 1988-1993. This was about the life of an aristocrat, Lord Meldrum and his servants.”
But Jeffrey’s first love is live theatre where he has appeared in many productions, such as ‘By Jeeves,’ ‘It’s Never too Late,’ ‘Spring and Port Wine’ and ‘Travels with my Aunt.’ In 2008 he made the bold decision to play Renee, the lecherous, but hapless, café owner, in the stage adaption of ‘Allo, Allo,’ where, in occupied France, the women want his body, the Resistance want his brain and the Nazis want his sausage, which is the hiding place of the valuable picture, ‘The Madonna with the Big Boobies.’
He has played pantomime dames for many years. Jeffrey continued, “I love it, absolutely, it is such a unique art form, it’s fun for all the family. I don’t go down the glamour female impersonator route, I am a bloke in a frock, a caricature.”
In 2013 he brought to the stage a personal and heartfelt tribute to Stan Laurel, one half of the celebrated comedy double act of Laurel and Hardy. Along with playwright Gail Louw, Jeffrey took two years to write this stage production called ‘…and this is my friend Mr. Laurel,’ which opened on the 21st August 2013 at the Upstairs at the Gatehouse Theatre, in Highgate, London.
Jeffrey said, “It wasn’t a difficult process for me to capture the essence of the man because I have felt as if I have known him personally all my life. I first saw Laurel and Hardy at the Saturday morning picture shows when I was a small boy, and they became my friends.”
“I would love to have a crack at playing Malvolo in Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’; he’s an iconic classic idiot, a complete fool. That would be a great part to play - whether anyone ever asks me remains to be seen!”
At the time of this interview Jefferey was 67 and insisted, “The thought of retirement appals me. As long as people want me, I’ll be there. It is better than working!”
- Elizabeth Wright – April 2014.
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