End of the month round up. Here’s my favourite books I read in June. (They’re mostly oldies this month)

And thus begins the US promotion of #FewAndFarBetween out in US last week of July and lovely to be an anticipated summer read at Our Cukture Magazine

My 35th stop on the indie bookshop world tour was bookstore on a boat, @holdfastleeds where bookseller, Victoria chose Sheila Armstrong’s Falling Animals as a favourite recommended read #SaintsAndWarriors #IndieBooksellers

Wanna know some of the books I’ve been reading and enjoying so far this year? Well, in my recent post I write about some of them. @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social @brunoredondo.bsky.social @tomtaylormade.bsky.social interminablerambling.medium.com/what-have-i-...

I should like to thank the gods of the BBC for nine uninterrupted weeks of Casualty in a row.

My 34th stop on the indie bookshop tour was specialist art, design and photography bookstore @villagebooks.co Leeds where bookseller, Sam chose Issue 4 of Boot Mag as a favourite recommended read #SaintsAndWarriors #indiebooksellers

My 5th Flannery O’Connor of the year and probably my most frequent re-read non-fiction book of all time. #MyYearWithFOC

Another new late payment record. Just got paid for events I did in April 2025… yup, you’ve guessed it, it was for a university.

Me and my wee copy of Flannery O’Connor’s Mystery and Manners made the Yorkshire Evening Post’s round up of Leeds folk enjoying the sun. Big thanks to @holdfastleeds for the sweet reading spot and parasol #MyYearWithFOC

Such a gorgeous (and very sweaty) morning wandering about down by Leeds docks where I got the warmest welcome (and a tiny little succulent) from the lovely folks @holdfastleeds This was my first experience of a bookshop boat and I’d thoroughly recommend if you’re in Leeds.

Ask not what the publishing industry wants to publish but what you absolutely have to write. Flannery O’Connor speaking the truth from 1960 straight into 2026

My 33rd stop on the indie bookstore world tour was @thebookishtypeleeds where bookseller, Emily picked Imogen Binnie’s Nevada as a favourite recommended read #saintsandwarriors #indiebooksellers

Read this. Surreal in parts but completely unputdownable. #booksky

Your annual reminder to start reading now if you live in the North and want an immersive experience of #TheFireStarters The book begins about now and this year, for the first time this year, you can listen to it on audiobook whilst pacing the flag-draped streets of East Belfast.

There's now a signed copy of Keshed in there if you're quick!

My 32nd stop on the indie bookshop world tour was the gorgeous The Grove Bookshop Ilkley where bookseller, Mike chose Elaine Garvey’s The Wardrobe Department as a favourite recommended read. #saintsandwarriors #indiebooksellers

A fabulous evening @ilkleylitfest talking about #FewAndFarBetween Beautiful venue, warm -in all senses- audience, excellent hosting from Becky and moderating by Naomi. Thanks also to the Grove Bookshop for selling books

Have barely left the house in a meaningful way since mid-May but i'm off out for a drink with the marvellous @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social tonight while she's in England for one night only. Her new one is outstanding 🙏🖤 www.penguin.co.uk/books/462948... #LiterarySchmoozing

Goodness, it’s been a few years since anyone came off the roof in Casualty. It used to be a monthly occurrence.

My 31st stop on the indie bookstore tour was @gutterbookshop Dalkey where, bookseller May chose Kaveh Akbar’s Martyr! as a favourite recommended read #SaintsAndWarriors #indiebooksellers

The 9th Hilary Mantel is her first short story collection. These feel like they’re very much in conversation with her memoir Giving Up the Ghost. They’re quiet, mostly domestic and punchily observed. Basically a great read. Still waiting for a substandard Mantel. #MyYearWithHM

And that’s a wrap on Dalkey Book Festival - it rained, it shone, there were lots of old friends, some new friends, a rake of great chats and Salman Rushdie (best thing of all)

Very excited to be reading from and talking about #FewAndFarBetween at the Secret Bookshelf in Carrickfergus this Monday evening. All the details are in the link. Please come and join us for a chat. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jan-carson...

We’re taking a holiday in July but our @mexico_and_below read for August is Alejandro Zambra’s The Private Lives of Trees. Translated by Megan McDowell. We meet Wed 19th 6:30pm @noalibisbookstore all welcome. Please read the book before coming along. You can purchase it 10% off in store.

Delighted to receive one of @hayfestival.bsky.social AirBnB #RoomToWrite residencies. These are flexible writing residencies perfect for writers with busy schedules and life responsibilities. Time can be taken in small increments in different places across the year. Such a helpful residency model.

The work requests in my inbox today are so widely varied it’s triggering an existential crisis. I’m not very sure who I am.

Thanks to all the gorgeous folk who came to the MAC this evening for Maggie O’Farrell in conversation. We had such a good chat.

Friends in the Leeds/Bradford area I’ve got a lovely event in Ilkley next Wednesday evening. Would love to see you there. ilkleyliteraturefestival-tickets.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

I haven’t said this for a long time but I really love Casualty. I think it’s the closest thing I have to a religion.

Fairly motoring through the Hilary Mantels (because they’re so bloody good). This is number 8. First time reading this grubby and glorious wee tale. Definitely won’t be the last #MyYearWithHM

Jan Carson por partida doble en Madrid (en @lib-parenthesis.bsky.social): club de lectura sobre su novela "Los incendiarios"/"The Fire Starters", hace unos días en español y mañana en inglés. www.eventbrite.es/e/readthewor... @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social @hojadelataedit.bsky.social

Will I ever actually enjoy reading Virginia Woolf and how many times should I read Mrs Dalloway before I set it aside and say, not for me? (Wish I was asking for a friend)

Jan’s dream commission - researched, written and, all being well, broadcasting on Radio 4 this coming Autumn. If only all gigs were as perfect as this.

He's just like me

This Tuesday I’ll be at The MAC, Belfast having the chats with Maggie O’Farrell about her new book, Land. Hope to see lots of you there for what’s going to be a fantastic evening

And that’s a wrap on Belfast Book Festival 26. So many amazing conversations, new friends, old friends, a stack of newly acquired books, an enormous amount of cheese, and a timely reminder that despite everything I would not want to live anywhere else. Thanks to all who made the last 8 days possible

If you feel a bit like me and massively helpless at the absolute fucking racist scumbaggery happening in NI right now, here’s something that feels like it’ll make a difference where it matters:

I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad to see torrential rain in Belfast. May it continue to piss down on their stupid heads for many hours to come.

All week, I’ve seen the best of Belfast at the Book Festival- welcoming, inclusive, creative, joyful- tonight we’re making sure all our lovely guest writers can get home safely through riots and burnt out vehicles and outpouring of hatred. It is such a shame. We are much better than this.

Day 5 at the Belfast Book Festival and the charming, funny and always interesting @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social talking about her latest novel, Few and Far Between and I’ll agree with the interviewer tonight, Heather Parry in calling it her best so far.

The utter mortification of arguing with someone that they’re sitting in your seat on the Enterprise only to realise that yes indeed they are but you’ve booked the seat for this day next month. #Idiot

Delighted to have a brand new short story published today on @theforge.bsky.social ahead of the US publication of #FewAndFarBetween

Damn, this is everyone from Sgt Pepper cover still alive

There are lots of powerful and beautifully written poems in Moyra Donaldson’s new collection but for some reason this one particularly spoke to me.

The shouty woman who usually collects the rubbish on the Enterprise isn’t on the train tonight and I’m not sure how to respond to a man who gently says “thank you so much” when I drop my crisp bag into his bin liner. It feels like too much kindness in a harsh world.

When I’m in a place, I want to read books about that place, and reading @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social The Fire Starters while in Belfast really made me think about my time there a few weeks ago and how we learn about the world. interminablerambling.medium.com/reading-jan-...

Today Belfast BookFest celebrated young Fighting Words NI writers and emerging writers via Irish Writer Centre mentorship and had packed houses for our zine fair, Sarah Moss, Doireann Ní Ghríofa and way more, all on a pay what you decide model. Ethical, inclusive, programming is the way forward.

Belfast Book Festival means reading only local authors and this by @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social has entranced me over the last 3 days. She creates characters so wonderfully and with such sympathy and understanding. The Ark is a great creation - magical but illuminating the legacy of The Troubles.

Annual meeting of the Harry Hill appreciation club at #belfastbookfestival2026 @ronanhession.bsky.social

It’s totally ok to buy a second copy of a book you love if you find one with a superior cover.