Many thanks to Colin Sackett of Uniform Books for my copy of 'done' which is an excellent example of 'scriptio continua' (or perhaps that should be 'scriptiocontinua' and youseewhatIdid there).

Thinking about the 130 or so British librarians killed in WW1. Their colleagues raised funds to create a lasting memorial to their sacrifice. Sadly, the tablet they commissioned is now displayed behind the scenes at the British Library, visible only to staff. #fwwhist #PubLibs 💙📚

Congratulations to David Szalay. Booker judge Roddy Doyle said of 'Flesh' that the novel ‘homes in on a working-class man, which ordinarily doesn’t get much of a look in.’ www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n... Examples, please, of contemporary novels that feature working-class men.

This is an intriguing teaser campaign in the run-up to the publication of the novel in June 2026: a series of acclaimed authors each reading a passage from 'The Coast of Everything' by Guillermo Stitch. Has this ever been done before?

So it's a jobshare?

It's been a decent week for @cdrose.bsky.social . First, he picked up the @goldsmithsprize.bsky.social for his wonderful novel We Live Here Now, and now he gets to read a passage from my forthcoming novel The Coast of Everything. Preorder at thecoastofeverything.com

Celebrate Richard Burton's 100th birthday today by admiring to his pitch perfect delivery of Robert Graves's unsettling poem 'Welsh Incident' www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLaf...

"Vera Brittian"?

The Barbellion Prize celebrates and promotes writing that represents the experience of chronic illness and disability. Since the re-launch laste week we've raised 10% of our target, so there's still a way to go. Pllease support this unique literary award barbellionprize.org Thank you!

if you see this, post an album cover with a motor vehicle on it.

Thursday 20th November at the Poetry Society in Covent Garden. Four fine authors and myself together for the first time, bringing you some beneficial shocks. Free, but you have to register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/more-abund...

Pleased with myself for recognising that the drunk who appears briefly in the bar in 'The Producers' (1967) is William 'Bill' Hickey, who also plays the preacher in 'Wise Blood' (1976).

Ok… this is a BIG DEAL. Published back in 2020, Seven Nights at the Flamingo Hotel by the unsurpassable @drewgum.bsky.social was our first novel… and as a consequence of us going to into hibernation for a while, it’s sadly been out of print. NOT ANY LONGER!!!! IT’S BACK!!!!

The Barbellion Prize is a very Good Thing: a book prize for chronically ill and disabled authors. Find out more here: barbellionprize.org/our-story/ And please consider making a donation to support its future. It takes only a click or two, and you'll feel good about it for the rest of the week.

'mean-spirited'

In a separate presentation at Foyles last night M. John Harrison was belatedly presented with the 2020 Goldsmiths Prize trophy for 'The Sunken Land Begins to Rise Again'. Here he is with Chris Power (left) and the trophy designer Megan Lim.

The 2025 Goldsmith Prize trophy, here cradled by winning author C D Rose, was designed by Cherrie Tong from the Goldsmith University Department of Design. It's based on the twirling pattern of Corporal Trim's walking stick in 'Tristram Shandy' (and 5th November is also, happily, Tristam's birthday!)

Congratulations to @cdrose.bsky.social, winer of this year's Goldsmith Prize for 'We Live Here Now' publsighed by Melville House Press. Good work Chris!

Inspiring eloquence. This is true leadership. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOQT...

Soot-Covered Prince Andrew Begging On Street For Child To Molest https://theonion.com/soot-covered-prince-andrew-begging-on-street-for-child-to-molest/

This painting by John Bratby features in 'The Horse's Mouth' (1958, dir. Ronald Neame), adapted from Joyce Carey's novel. Does it still exist?

A round of applause for @jgoldsmith.bsky.social following tonight's relaunch of The Barbellion Prize, which he founded. You can donate to this unique and essential literary award here: barbellionprize.org/donate/ Thank you! (You may wish to note the above)

A showcase for five European authors published by New York's Sagging Meniscus Press. Free, but you have to register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/more-abund...

My sixth or seventh viewing of Wise Blood (1979, directed by John Huston, and based on the novel by Flannery O'Connor). It's available on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzNs... Some screenshots follow. Rich and strange. I expect David Lynch was a huge admirer.

This Thursday! Do come. Free but booking required 👇

Man alive but I miss The Guardian's Steve Bell. Physical Cartoonist Brant from The Daily Telegraph was a subtler political satirist. www.youtube.com/watch?v=50HK...

Very excited to attend the @indiepressnetwork.bsky.social Marketing Day for Small Publishers in London this Friday! Looking forward to meeting fellow small presses, and learning more about the fine art of marketing books! 📚 Article from @thebookseller.com #IndiePressNetwork #SmallPresses

No come-uppance I can imagine is too humiliating for this rotten clot.

Spotted at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead last week - a fine Patrick Caulfield print entitled 'Two Whiting' (1972). See www.paintingsinhospitals.org.uk

Thanks to all those who joined us yesterday evening for the relaunch of The Barbellion Prize, a book prize for chronically ill and disabled authors founded by @jgoldsmith.bsky.social. Our generous audience raised more than £400 on the night! You can donate here: barbellionprize.org/donate/

A round of applause for @jgoldsmith.bsky.social following tonight's relaunch of The Barbellion Prize, which he founded. You can donate to this unique and essential literary award here: barbellionprize.org/donate/ Thank you! (You may wish to note the above)

Online tonight from 7pm (GMT): the relaunch of the Barbellion Prize, hosted by founder @jgoldsmith.bsky.social. All welcome! If you haven't already received an invitation and would like to join us please email me via my website davidjcollard.wixsite.com/my-site More details here: barbellionprize.org

An excellent snapshot of Bernard Spencer (1909-1963), best known as one of the so-called 'Cairo poets' (alongside Lawrence Durrell). He published just three collections: 'Aegean Islands' (1946), 'The Twist in the Plotting' (1960) and 'With Luck Lasting.' (1963). He should be better known.

Bernard Spencer's poem 'Behaviour of Money' appears in his debut collection 'Aegean Islands' (1946) and speaks directly to our times. Especially stanza 4.

Online tonight from 7pm (GMT): the relaunch of the Barbellion Prize, hosted by founder @jgoldsmith.bsky.social. All welcome! If you haven't already received an invitation and would like to join us please email me via my website davidjcollard.wixsite.com/my-site More details here: barbellionprize.org

Trump (on top of everything else) is preposterously camp.

The annual Hallowe'en screening of "The Old Dark House( dir. James Whale, 1932) is all set. It's hard to believe this preposterously enjoyable entertainment is over 90 years old. What a cast! Karloff, Laughton and the immortal Ernest 'Have a potaahto' Thesiger. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl7b...

Hallowe'en haul the Oxfam Bookshop Muswell Hill. The owner Oliver Low was a Cambridge undergraduate during the war and these pristine first editions offer a snapshot of his taste: Seán Jennett, Anne Ridler Raymond Preston (very early 'Four Quartets' commentary), J. C. Squire and Bernard Spencer.

Hard agree!

Outstanding. The graphic equivalent of perfect pitch!

A personalised email from Stephen Fry (we've never met) inviting me to join humanists.uk and also to share his message via the fascist billionaire Musk's toxic platform 'X' (formerly Twitter). This is really not a good look, given the stated Humanist values of kindness and tolerance. I'm out.

For Hallowe'en this year I am a sexy Gill-man as seen in 'Creature from the Black Lagoon'

City Lights, a San Francisco Institution founded by the late great Beat Poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, has banners posted for this time in history

Words fail me. No-budget film 'A Couple of Beauties' (1972) features Manchester drag queen Bunny Lewis and a cameo appearance by Colin Crompton and Bernard Manning. Colin tells a joke about a toilet brush.

Pretty much how I felt writing it. @cdrose.bsky.social interviewed in @newstatesman1913.bsky.social because We Live Here Now is (quite rightly) up for the Goldsmiths prize. Thanks to him and to you for reacting to this by immediately preordering The Coast of Everything at www.guillermostitch.com

If you see this, post 4 female characters you love.

The Barbellion Prize (barbellionprize.org) is relaunched online on Saturday 1st November at 7pm London Time. The event is hosted by prize founder Jake Goldsmith with some very special guests. If you're not on my mailing list and want to come please email me via: davidjcollard.wixsite.com/my-site

Finally, and quite late in life, the former Duke of York has found a worthwhile role, and one that benefits the country as a whole. He's single-handedly brought the monarchy into terminal and inescapable disrepute. Good work fella!