Penny returns with fourth novel at Loughborough Literary Festival

Penny at Loughborough Literary Festival 2025 holding her fourth book The Woman Next Door and she is smiling.

Alumna and author Penny Batchelor came back to Loughborough University at the end of last term as part of this year’s Literary Festival.

The event, organised by the University’s MA English students, featured Penny discussing her latest novel, The Woman Next Door. It was published last month by Embla Books.  

Penny is the author of psychological thrillers including The Reunion Party, Her Best Friend, and The Perfect Sister. She provided insights into the publishing industry, gave advice to aspiring writers and talked about the ADCI Literary Prize which she co-founded.  

Penny graduated with a degree in Information and Library Management in 2005. She was one of four alumni who contributed to the festival. Gabrielle Rickwood who was part of the postgraduate team hosting the festival, Kathryn Cookrill Woolard, who specialises in short stories, and Ricardo Uribe-Victoria, author of sci-fi and fantasy fiction, also shared their insights. 

Check out Penny’s new book The Woman Next Door.