Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.

Jilly Cooper, author of Rivals and Riders, dies aged 88

🚨You have just ONE WEEK LEFT to enter the 2025 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize! Open to entries in Poetry, Fiction, and Life Writing, including translated work, this prize is awarded to individuals who have not yet published a book-length work in English. Submit your work:

I didn't want to talk about Kneecap this week, but here we are. On what we choose to be horrified by, and what those choices say about us. www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle-co...

Interesting UK-wide initiative to tackle under-representation of working class writers www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Regrettably we’ve had to cancel this year’s festival due to (literally) unforeseen circumstances but will be back next year with an absolute belter. See you then xx

In a year, all that’s happened in the ‘refurbishment’ of Stoke Newington Library is that scaffolding has gone up, been taken down, another lot put up and now this. No actual refurbing at all. What’s happening, @hackneylibs & @hackneycouncil?

In a year, all that’s happened in the ‘refurbishment’ of Stoke Newington Library is that scaffolding has gone up, been taken down, another lot put up and now this. No actual refurbing at all. What’s happening, @hackneylibs & @hackneycouncil?

We do love a books & reading statistic. Latest research shows that mercifully, only 2% of respondents organise their books alphabetically. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Is 2025 the year for submitting your writing? If so, our friends @WasafiriMag are currently accepting submissions for the 2025 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize. You know what to do... www.wasafiri.org/writing-priz...

LAUNCHING TODAY! I am beyond delighted to announce that I am the new regular, weekly, actual Sunday Times Magazine beer columnist! Today's is ten great pubs. www.thetimes.com/life-style/f...

Him Indoors @petebrownbeer has a new regular piece in the Sunday Times magazine. This week, he’s undoubtedly getting people frothed up about the best 10 ‘proper’ pubs in the UK. www.thetimes.com/life-style/f... @thetimes.com

Please sign the petition to stop some greedy developer closing the Prince Charles cinema. It’s irreplaceable. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...

Amazon UK has said that it will cease selling Bloomsbury’s print and e-books from midnight on 23rd January, saying negotiations between the giant retailer and the publisher had broken down 👇 #BookSky www.thebookseller.com/news/amazon-...

Are you in the US? YOU MAY NOW KILL THE BRIDE is just $1.99 on Kindle this week on Amazon. So if you've been wondering if you might like to read it, now feels like a great time! Offer ends on the 26th January 👰❤️🔪 #bachelorette #thriller www.amazon.com/You-May-Now-...

Very sad to hear about Geoff who took part in our A10 project a couple of years ago. An inventive mind and a lovely soul. Condolences to his family and friends.

A belated couple of ground rules. It is patently supposed to be spelled ‘booktokkers’ and there is no such thing as ‘hence why’.

@sarahpettegree.bsky.social Pork pies, you say? It’ll be difficult to convince @petebrownbeer.bsky.social to switch from Percy Turner’s from Jump but we’re happy to give it a go! Where in North Norfolk are you?!

Has Musk just gone on a massive twelfth night Baileys, Celebrations & cheese binge?

New Writing Prize here with some fabulous judges - includes writers from UK & Ireland and is for novel, play or screenwriting. Please share :)

In October, I had a very long chat with Alan Moore. On magick, sci-fi, the perils of ecological doomerism, the joy of occultist pranks, the psychogeography of Stoke Newington, the invention of the taser - and much more! As a Christmas treat here it is IN FULL. seamas.medium.com/its-a-rabbit...

Tributes are pouring in for Nikki Giovanni, a world-renowned poet and key figure of the Black Arts Movement

Stand down everyone. Mildred’s supervising the Great Guinness Shortage of 2024 and certainly at the Auld Shillaleagh, it’s all sorted.

If you needed a nudge to follow @theneweuropean.bsky.social, this is surely it ❤️

Calling aspiring authors of fast-paced and filmic, action-packed adventure stories! There's still time to enter the Action! Prize 💥 Find out more on the Faber website: www.faber.co.uk/journal/fabe...

Wise words.

Novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford dies aged 91

Soup. You invented tomato soup.

Another 4 tech bros - sorry, ‘disruptors’ who can, frankly, fuck right off. www.thebookseller.com/news/new-pub...

Shop open again, hoping to add some Christmas treats and bundles later this week: www.404ink.com/shop

Had a handful of homophobic/transphobic messages here today because I’ve created a Starter Pack supporting LGBTQIA+ writers. Please follow and share this pack to help keep Bluesky the positive place it promises to be. go.bsky.app/UD2Hf7W

Have you seen our latest story yet? @petebrownbeer.bsky.social has written a wonderful piece about malt. You should care more about malt. It's important. www.pelliclemag.com/home/2024/11...

Snort-aloud thread about irresistible knobhead Baxter.

Just to bring new followers up to speed, @petebrownbeer.bsky.social doubles up as a writer AND Him Indoors.

@favlitfest.bsky.social 👋🏻

Living for this

Would read a novel about a writer who gets included in a Starter Pack with a load of other writers he considers inferior.

'Nothing is pleasanter to me than exploring a library' — Walter Savage Landor

Found one - here’s a fledgling list of indie bookshops, mainly UK but that’s not the point.

Anyone have one of those special packs for indie booksellers / libraries please?

Almost exactly a year after the UK voted to leave the EU Luke Turner found the experience of watching Kraftwerk play live acquired an unexpected melancholy aspect. Do we Brits no longer deserve their European futurism? #ThePortal 50 Years of #Kraftwerk's 'Autobahn' Special https://buff.ly/3WIKufQ

I think it’s fair to say this is the best thread on Bluesky at the moment AND it’s happening (or not) right in the heart of Stoke Newington. #solidaritywithgromit

@anitasethi.bsky.social Hello there you are! 👋🏻

Another account also worth following..

John Osborne has some new poems out and you should all buy them. johnosborne.bandcamp.com/merch/to-mak...

Just took a look over on the other site. Force of habit after 15 years. Lozza Fox is suggesting people should take axes to the the police. Over here, I saw someone post they have written their Christmas cards. Incredible.

I fished a fruit fly out of my sherry earlier and it’s following me round the kitchen. I think it’s my pet now. #traumabonding

I’m trying to round up the book publishers as they join Blue Sky, please tag any I’ve missed in the comments and I’ll add daily 💙📚 go.bsky.app/LFrEmFR