And what an honour on #worldbookday to be appearing on this fascinating podcast that is discussing and archiving literature that does not shy away from addressing #Covid - do check out pandemic pages on Instagram, TikTok and Spotify!

Happy World Book Day! Here’s to anyone reading or writing any kind of truly human-made book. Let’s turn up the dial on empathy, awareness, connection and let’s celebrate the quiet, simple pleasures. Let’s rediscover the humanity of sharing in inspiration, imagination and craft. #worldbookday

As ever, the powerful and the power hungry machinate and manoeuvre and murder, raining hell and hypocrisy while the vulnerable and helpless and the environment suffer. Evil puts on the cloak of righteousness to fight a rival evil. Nothing happens out of or in isolation. The ripples roll out.

Oh, those grapes are particularly sour, aren’t they?

Oh such good, good news. Go Hannah! A win for hope, a win for empathy, a win for real, grounded representation. And for aware, tactical voting.

Oh such good, good news. Go Hannah! A win for hope, a win for empathy, a win for real, grounded representation. And for aware, tactical voting.

The stuff of writerly dreams!

Someone in publishing went on a business course in the early 2000s and got very excited by one particular principle…😁 youtube.com/shorts/6h3k9...

A swirl of news and analysis. But top of mind for me, the survivors. All survivors of cultures that consume and discard the vulnerable.

BOOK BARGAIN ALERT! We have no idea how long this offer will last but The Portrait Girl by Nicole Swengley is now only a fiver on Waterstones’ website! Described as “a throughly engaging mystery” by the FT, this gorgeous paperback is also the perfect #BookClubRead.

Ah. Robert Duval. So reliably, quietly, masterfully good. Fondly remembered. What an innings.

We couldn’t be more delighted that Figgles & Flo, so sensitively written by Antonia Blackmore, beautifully illustrated by Sarah P Sharpe and created for the charity Families in Grief has been named a Finalist in the Little Peeps Award by Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media. #kidlit #chlidrensbooks

When things haven’t quite gone as hoped or up to (unrealistic) expectations, I say to myself, “well, you did your best.” And that’s probably true. But then I go and add, “but what if you overdid your best? Yes, you being you, you probably went and bloody overdid it.” Perfectionist’s curse. #toomuch

I do not even want to dignify that monstrosity out of the festering cesspit of the White House, but I cannot let it pass without expressing both (obvious) outrage and solidarity with black and brown people everywhere.

Thanks indeed! #booksly

Where the bloody hell is Jeremy? ;) #booksky

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free

Yes! I took a fictional punt that human art was much older than we currently had evidence for and I have my 74,000 year-old heroine in my novels making cave art. I love how all the new genetic and archaeological evidence keeps rewriting our story… #booksky www.newscientist.com/article/2512...

Ukrainian-born French artist and designer Sonia Delaunay, Rythme colour, 1946 #womensart

Here’s that passage that I had to imagine for my character up at an Arctic research station in The Fire In Their Eyes… so thrilled that I was able to experience the northern lights for real in Cornwall last night! #northernlights #booksky

It’s hard being human sometimes, but then there are moments to remind you of your place in the universe when you can share in joy and wonder and humility. So thankful for this experience and my Cornish neighbours who shared pictures and texted me to come outside! #northernlights #bucketlistathomeb

I have never read anything quite like this book, and I can pretty much guarantee that you haven’t either…

Thanks indeed, Hannah! And North Manchester FM…

If you are not yet familiar with the humorous musings of Zena Barrie, we highly recommend you familiarise yourself with a free #extract from her hilarious and surreal collection, Two Similar Looking Men With Umbilical Hernias, now up on our #Substack… substack.com/home/post/p-...

Almost embarrassed to keep posting this stuff, but hey, I worked hard for it and it would be ungracious not to be thankful? So, of course I’m “thrilled” to have also progressed as a Global Thriller Finalist in the Chanticleer Awards with the Fire In Their Eyes! #booksky

Thrilled to get further recognition for The Fire In Their Eyes, and this time for “Visionary Fiction” - thanks to The Independent Press Awards for a “Distinguished Favourite” badge! Maybe all that daydreaming hasn’t been a waste? @breakthroughbook.bsky.social #booksky

If you don’t hear from me, odds are house has landed somewhere on a witch. An orchestra of creaks, groans, thuds and whistles going on. And that’s just me. The worst thing? Dog has ghastly wind and I can’t open a window. Hope everyone in the path of this weather bomb is keeping safe. #stormgoretti

The gifts of winter. Sunrise to moonset. #booksky #inspirationfromnature

Yay! So glad to see this heartwarming and sensitive book for families and children navigating any kind of loss, getting the recognition it deserves!

Shall I see if my neighbours can spare a bit of gold? #winterrainbow

Have been #oneofthetwo for six years. Raising a glass to all the others as we enter year seven… I see you, I thank you. I hopefully honour you in my book.

What a year! Six books, one award win, a new webshop and a few free short stories on our Substack! But we’re getting ahead of ourselves… #HappyNewYear #YearInReview #ThankYou #BookLife

I have been so looking forward to this particular Christmas present, and isn’t it exactly what Twixtmas is for? #booksky #jamesbypercivaleverett #amreading

Some pre-Christmas llama drama in my neck of the woods! Hoping the woolly one gets home safe, it has a sleigh to pull tomorrow night after all…

Watching the solstice at Newgrange live streamed… lovely heritageireland.ie/visit/newgra...

Great news! Boots has solved climate change! Oh, no. It’s just that my order has left the warehouse.

Just a wee reminder if you’re looking for the ideal present for the adventurous bookworm, who might be into an award-winning, yet unusual, speculative fiction thriller! Available to order wherever books can be ordered… #booksky #booksforchristmas #giftsforbookworms

If you fancy blissing out for a couple of minutes, please check out this gorgeous composition and video by a friend of mine… www.youtube.com/watch?v=138w...

Free short story from me, if anyone is in the mood…

Thoughts with all caught up in the horrific violence in Sydney. I’ve heard from family who are okay, but how devastating for all involved and for the whole community. But they will rise. Such dear memories of Bondi, and it will rise again to be a place of joy and celebration. But for now, we mourn.

Well, this is nice! The Fire In Their Eyes makes a Top 20 book pick in a holiday gift guide… @breakthroughbook.bsky.social #booksky #booksforchristmas #giftsforbookworms

Oh, don’t you just love being patronised and infantilised by an algorithm? Or spending your day being nagged, alarmed and prompted by any number of beeps and bells and bings. Grumpy old luddite here that wishes her working life was not dependent on so-called smart machinery.

Oh come on, it’s not #Christmas without #books as gifts? And if you’re doing the right thing by the ones you love, why not support ethical indie businesses, while also getting a fantastic read? Whether that’s an award-winning literary thriller, YA fantasy with brilliant world building…

Our first Substack post is live! It’s a general introduction to who we are and what we do, with much more to come. So for all our latest updates and bonus content, please consider subscribing! open.substack.com/pub/breakthr...

Lovely article about a great read!

Wow, Train Dreams is a very special film. Reminiscent of the meditative style of Terrence Malick and Nick Roeg. Joel Edgerton can say so much by doing so little. The movie made its essential points subtly yet beautifully. I love stories of both natural hermits and the interconnectedness of all.

Starting to think, or even panic about, the Christmas shopping? Don’t forget books make wonderful presents! And for a thought-provoking, award-winning, fictional thrill-ride for the bookworms in your life, look no further… #booksky #giftsforbookworms @breakthroughbook.bsky.social

Quite a few years on from the first book, it’s wonderful to see new reviews appearing for BONE LINES and people starting The Children of Sarah series! Always so grateful for both readers and reviews! #booksky

Ah Jimmy. Cross that river in style now… #ripjimmycliff Thanks for the tunes.

Oh, I love this, and yes I kind of hint at such things in my books and yes, I can completely imagine my prehistoric characters enjoying both their art and music in such sacred spaces… #booksky www.newscientist.com/article/2502...