THE BIO

• Writes books.

• Gives the odd talk.

• Creates a few articles and speeches for other people.

• A ragamuffin founder with a tale to tell.

Andy Smithyman writes books and gives the odd talk. There's a rumour he's also a speech and ghostwriter, but he keeps those projects secret. He has an interest in social justice with a coffee-stained Masters Degree in Narrative Theory.

Always seeking imaginative ways to tell stories, in 2018 Andy finally fell down the rabbit hole, setting up a different kind of publishing company. This 'curiouser and curiouser' venture is all about putting the magic and wonder of storytelling at the centre of the publishing process. Named in honour of one of his favourite authors when the writer was learning his craft, Boz Publications Ltd embraces discovery, experimentation and fun, all through the lens of bespoke print and ethical praxis.   

With the release of PARADOX, Andy re-imagined 'A Christmas Carol'. Drawing upon how Dickens blended social commentary with fictional creativity, this Fiction Social Thriller travels between present day and Victorian Britain. It tells the story of how a failed writer finds himself transformed into the living stories of Charlies Dickens, coming face to face with the reality that the Dickensian landscape of poverty and social injustice is still in existence today. Just like Scrooge, the inspiring movement of redemptive change begins with ‘self’. This reimagination continued with the accompanying tour, redefining the format of book promotions. Set within homes and creative spaces, each event invited people to explore the world of Paradox over food and drink. It also gave the opportunity for people to talk with Andy, share ideas and quiz him on his writing process.

Over the years, Andy has worked with many types of organisations; local, national and global. He is currently co-developing an awareness programme around culture change with The United Nations, alongside a narrative framework to track systemic change with an international charity. Andy also works with an international production house, helping to develop storytelling arcs and impact tracking tools around social change messaging. Drawing from his background around strategic development of social and cultural movements, he comes alongside individuals and organisations to help them explore and measure authentic impact.

Andy co-developed a multi-national charity focused upon community engagement and cultural paradigm shifts. Through the ethos of working below the radar, this approach enabled the Distribution of Resources, Development of Relational Networks, and the Creation of Shared Learning Practices. Over its lifespan, this specific charity distributed ￡57m, with an internal operating budget of 6%.