(Amsterdam, 1989) is a writer, columnist and radio presenter. She was only 15 when asked to write for the adolescent website Spunk. The clear and candid way in which she sketches the world of adolescents caught the eye and NRC Handelsblad asked her to publish her columns in the paper too. A compilation of her best pieces appeared in book form under the penname Überpuber. Her columns often deal with sex, drugs, traumas, discrimination, boredom and other daily discomforts. It wasn't only praise she got. Her bravura and arrogant attitude earned her death threats too. Since 2008 she has been a regular columnist for the daily Metro. Hadjar Benmiloud has a Dutch mother and an Algerian father. She grew up in Paris, Amsterdam, Hollywood (where her father lives) and Zutphen. In 2008 she wrote the script of the theatre production Na mij de zondvloed (Tomorrow we die) together with director Janwillem Slort, played by the Poldertheater. Until August 2008 she presented the music programme Lijn5 on NPS. Since 2009 she has been doing a radio training with BNN. One of her reports was nominated for the RVU Radio Award 2009. www.hadjar.nl.

(Great Britain, 1974) grew up in Ghana. During his studies in Manchester he joined Commonword, a group of visible-minority writers who discuss one another's work. He writes prose, poetry, articles, and the occasional rap, and regularly performs at literary festivals. The Dutch translation of his first novel, Tail of the Blue Bird (De Blauwe Vogel), was published in 2010, a crime novel about a Ghanaian village where a hunk of flesh is found and the police must figure out what exactly it is. Gorgeous descriptions of Ghanaian nature alternate with sharp passages about Ghanaian police corruption. The book was nominated for the Commonwealth Prize. Recurring themes in Parkes' writing include power, cultural conflict, love, family, and the friction between capitalism and humanism. He performs at poetry festivals around the world and is a regular commentator on BBC radio. He has recorded two CDs of poems: Incredible Blues and Nocture of Phrase.  In 2011 he published The Parade, a children's book about the spider Anansi, under the pen name K.P. Kojo.

(Afghanistan, 1992) came from Afghanistan to Amsterdam-Noord in 1998. From the age of 19 he has been creating a distinct profile of himself as a journalist, rapper (as Kidson Jones) and producer. In 2011 he was the youngest writer ever to make his debut with Contact publishers. The stories in his anthology Toen God nog in ons geloofde (When God still believed in us) are interwoven and can therefore be seen as a novella. Like his rap texts his prose is about youngsters trying to determine their place in society. Hutak draws from his own life, but also brings along Dostojevksy and Nescio as sources of inspiration. In a maze of storylines and characters Hutak in his debut deals with a great number of issues, from biblical dilemmas to the situation in Afghanistan. Hutak's style is refreshing and surprising. Sometimes hardboiled, then again sensitive. As is clear from the title of his debut Hutak likes to play with reversed perspectives. Thus a boy in one of his stories kills children because he wants to guard them from the misery in the world. See also: http://mr--jones.hyves.nl/

(1976, Nijmegen) is a journalist and presenter. She has worked for television and radio programmes of NTR, VPRO, the Dutch World Service and Radio West. In addition to her work in broadcasting Nicole hosts and leads varying meetings: from debates and congresses to literary festivals and other cultural events. She completed three studies: Journalism at the Hogeschool van Utrecht, Religion and the Philosophy of Life at the Free University in Amsterdam and a Master's Degree in Journalism in a Crossmedial News Surroundings at the Media Academie.