And who they didn't like

Bargain alert!!!

Check out the Gone Medieval podcast, out today, to hear me holding forth about QUEEN MACBETH! podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/g...

Read Reginald Hill's "Dalziel and Pascoe Hunt the Christmas Killer & Other Stories" + "A Candle for Christmas & Other Stories". Since Hill's death in 2012 I've re-read all the D+P novels/short story collections at least twice. Had no idea there were uncollected ones and the publication of these 1/5

In the Foreword to Reginald HIll's "Dalziel and Pascoe Hunt the Christmas Killer & Other Stories", @valmcdermid.bsky.social writes 'Re-reading is the greatest compliment I can pay to a writer. My shelves are stacked with titles waiting to be read for the first time, to choose to return for a 1/2

This is indeed up! Me plus @valmcdermid.bsky.social on the BBC’s Take Four Books. Merry almost Christmas (from a surprisingly chilly room in the National Library of Scotland :) www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Aye, the nights are fair drawin’ oot…

Join me in conversation tomorrow on @bbcradio4.bsky.social at 4pm. Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks to the writer and son of John Le Carré - Nick Harkaway - about his new book Karla's Choice and its connections to three other literary works. (I get to chip in...)

I mean, I already had high expectations for this afternoon’s festive book love-in with @valmcdermid.bsky.social, @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social, Alan Cumming and Paula Hawkins, but now my excitement’s off the scale... 🔥🔥🔥

Absolutely buzzing after a brilliant afternoon listening to @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social @alancumming.bsky.social @valmcdermid.bsky.social & Paul Hawkins talking books & reading Even managed to grab a couple of selfies with Nicola & Alan as well as a couple of books Best. Day. Ever 🥰

Should rivers have rights? Pleased to see Who Owns the Clyde? expanding their citizens' investigation 🌊 @louisewelsh00.bsky.social @judebarber.bsky.social petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...

Bedtime fun for the bookworm in your life...

Don't miss @valmcdermid.bsky.social and @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social talking all things books and reading with Paula Hawkins and Alan Cumming this Sunday! assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/867...

Most books do, I find! Enjoy the revisit

Please share

If you were thinking of donating to the NUJ’s hardship fund to support this action, Carole C is being a bit bashful and putting it at the bottom after all the rational reasons why you should. I’m content you do it irrationally, though, so here you are:

Spectator rebuked for calling Juno Dawson 'a man who claims to be a woman' The ruling is a rare finding of a breach by the press of the discrimination section (Clause 12) of the Editors' Code of Practice pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/new...

Still puzzling what to buy the reader in your life for Xmas? Pop along to In the Company of Books with me and @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social plus special guests Paula Hawkins and Alan Cumming to hear about our recommendations! Sunday 15th, 4pm, Assembly on the Mound. Good craic guaranteed

I never imagined growing up in Kirkcaldy that we would need such a thing. But we do. We really do.

Come along and join in; singing lifts the spirit and makes you feel physically more alive! An Evening of Carols 2024 | Trussell Book tickets for our Trussell Christmas carol concerts in London and Edinburgh. www.trussell.org.uk

Off to read the lesson @ St Giles Cathedral this evening. Now there’s a sentence I never expected to utter! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 to @Trussell for giving me the chance to support their food bank work.

If you fancy a signed & dedicated copy of The Good Father - and, okay, if you’re thinking quite far in advance! - you can preorder one from the very good people at Porty Books… 📚 www.theportobellobookshop.com/978180418697...

Without RLF I would probably not have been able to finish my latest book (due next year). They have been an absolute lifeline during some very tricky years recently. A writer's financial life is utterly unpredictable, and the RLF provide invaluable assistance when its truly needed.

It’s important to remember that many middle class women of a certain age grew up as working class girls who were, and are, fierce as fuck. With long memories.

Royal Literary Fund applications for hardship grants for professional writers rose almost five-fold to 400% in the first financial quarter of 2024. RLF makes grants to authors who have traditionally published at least two books who are experiencing “reduced income” or “a change in circumstances”.

NZ's first case of high pathogenic bird flu (H7N6 subtype, not the H5N1 type circulating among wildlife around the world) found on Otago egg farm; MPI briefing live stream now www.rnz.co.nz/news/country...

So excited that @valmcdermid.bsky.social and I will be joined by award-winning actor @alancumming.bsky.social and best-selling author of The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins for our festive books show. Final few tix are available here. Come and join us edwinterfest.com/edinburgh-ch...

Thrilled to reveal that Alan Cumming and Paula Hawkins will be stellar guests for In The Company of Books with me and Nicola Sturgeon, a festive blether about what we love to read. Sunday 15th December | 4pm | 60 minutes Assembly Hall, New College, Mound Place EH1 2LU edinburgh-christmas.com

A date for your January diary -- it's going to be a great weekend of conversations! pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/whats-on/val...

Had a very funny afternoon recording #BreakingTheNews with #DesClarke in the chair and fellow panellists #SophieDuker #DalisoChaponda and #JamieMacDonald. Catch us on BBC Radio Scotland Friday and Saturday, and on BBC Scotland on the TV and iPlayer.If you need a good laugh, this is where to find it

Jack Frost fingers…

Please note, people: @val-mcdemid01.Bsky.social is a fake account. They even nicked my official profile pic, the toe rags!

@val-mcdemid01.bsky.social This is a fake account!!!

Come along and join in; singing lifts the spirit and makes you feel physically more alive! An Evening of Carols 2024 | Trussell Book tickets for our Trussell Christmas carol concerts in London and Edinburgh. www.trussell.org.uk

Check out this chance to have a favourite first line handwritten by its author AND help a truly valuable cause: www.jumblebee.co.uk/thefirstline

It’s World AMR Awareness Week and I’ve spent the day @wellcometrust.bsky.social with a bunch of other creatives discussing how to raise awareness. If you’re puzzled, check this out:

An incredibly valuable piece of research has been published today by the British Arts Festival Assoc. It is absolutely key that the sector is recognised & supported appropriately. With huge thanks to @valmcdermid.bsky.social for lending her voice to the work www.artsfestivals.co.uk/festivals-me...

Birthday blue sky in Copenhagen with @profjosharp.bsky.social ❤️

And sometimes it’s ’you’ve got to be joking!’

More than a million pallets of unusable PPE has now been burned One million pallets Don't get me started 😡😡

The view of Tivoli in Copenhagen from our hotel room. Not too shabby…

#AlanMoore for free and in an #Accessibility friendly format! @ScottishBookTrust knocking it out the park for #BookWeekScotland #Books #Comics #Scottish #Scotland www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-sc...

And mumps. And rubella. And diphtheria…

Off for an indulgent weekend to celebrate the birthday of @profjosharp.bsky.social. Guess where we’re heading?