Performance Management (PM) Ah, is there any other two word phrase designed to invoke a mixture of fear, disgust and feelings of inadequacy in a teacher than 'performance management'? The process involves looking at your performance (clues in the name!) over the past academic year. It is meant to…

The grind starts… So I had some feedback from people1 reading this and as a result, I'll do less footnotes this week, promise. Okay, with that out of the way, let's get on with the grind. You've been back in school three weeks. What's that? No, really, you have. The summer seems a lifetime ago…

Open Evening and other shenanigans Ah open evening - one of the highlights of the academic year1. Children come to look around 'big school' and get excied about the range of activities teachers have cobbled together to show them. These activities are designed to get the children to be students, so…

The first week A school year starts something like this: Day one: 9am start (earlier if you're really unlucky). You've just had the worst night of sleep you've had in the last six weeks, possibly ever. You turn up early, because you want to set a good impression1. The staff room/hall/wherever…

Last Days No, this isn't a review of the splendid Adam Nevill book... Today is my last day at a place I have worked since January 2005. I have taught for 31 years, so two thirds of my career has been in one place. To say today has be emotional would be an understatement of biblical proportions.…

Top Book Picks for 2024: A Reader’s Review Better late than never, right? The endless cheese fog has lifted and I'm gearing up to returning to work tomorrow - the same day my eldest leaves us to return to university. Normal life will resume, which is depressing enough, and I'm doing dry-ish…

Some book post Cold Eternity, the latest SciFi Horror from S.A. Barnes and @torbooks.bsky.social And The Way Up is Death, complete with my review quote from @danhanks.bsky.social and @angryrobotbooks.bsky.social

Looking for some online horror workshops? Or even group feedback sessions? Then Fears of the Dark this Feb and March has you covered… www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fears-of-t...

I guess this means the algorithm is working, or perhaps its Amazon's way to say 'dude, stop obsessively checking your book'... #horror #werewolf #trilogy #amreading

Shadow of the Hidden has now made it onto 3 different people's favourite reads of 2024 lists. Blimey! Honoured! Here's the latest from the mighty @davewatkins.bsky.social david-watkins.com/2025/01/05/t... #BookSky #HorrorBooks 📚😱

Top Book Picks for 2024: A Reader’s Review Better late than never, right? The endless cheese fog has lifted and I'm gearing up to returning to work tomorrow - the same day my eldest leaves us to return to university. Normal life will resume, which is depressing enough, and I'm doing dry-ish…

One month later and no response, and I still can't open the app on my galaxy 22 ultra. Anyone want to help @support.bsky.team?

@nighttidemag.bsky.social look back at 2008's Pontypool and find a very different kind of zombie film, and @davewatkins.bsky.social sits down with @horrortree.bsky.social to answer the #SpookySix interview questions. Happy reading, friends! 🎄🦌☠️

I did an interview with The Horror Tree and Willow Croft. Fun was had, even if Willow seems to actually like spiders, which is, well, wrong. horrortree.com/the-spooky-s...

I did an interview with The Horror Tree and Willow Croft. Fun was had, even if Willow seems to actually like spiders, which is, well, wrong. horrortree.com/the-spooky-s...

There is no power on earth for authors like word of mouth. Especially with the death of Twitter, so many of us have lost huge chunks of our reach. So please, if you love a book, tell your friends and talk it up on your social media. No voice is too small, every single word counts. And thank you!

"I Killed My Boyfriend is a fast, fun, fulfilling read, infused with laugh-out-loud dark comic escapades, some unexpected horror hijinks, and a romantic journey that’s as surprisingly sweet as it is unorthodox." gnofhorror.com/oops-i-kille... 💙📚

The Original's Rage has been out just over a week! 10 reviews so far for an average of 4.5*, which is a massive relief. Anyway, who wants some werewolves in their life? And not those cuddly, ripped ones either... #BookSky mybook.to/originalsrage

Anyone else having an issue with the app on Android? I have a galaxy 22 ultra, but when I open the app, I can't select the keyboard. Have tried clearing cache and data, but same problem persists. Super annoying as I was just getting to grips with this place. @support.bsky.team

Every Friday, we meet a BFS member. This week, we celebrate the man who celebrates others: @davejeffery.bsky.social, a former mental health nurse turned king of dystopia, who'll be a key guest at tomorrow's Mental Health & Writing day for the BFS. britishfantasysociety.org/meet-dave-je...

👻 HAPPY RELEASE DAY 👻 The Original’s Rage by @davewatkins.bsky.social has now hit the world 😱 A fabulous series. Go grab it 💙📚

I have no idea why that link says it's not Katy Perry. If I click on it, it goes to the preorder page. Anyway, book is out in a couple of hours, excited and nervous author here!

The Original's Rage is sitting in 46 preorders and is out tomorrow! The maths geek in me really hopes that hits 50 for a nice round number.. Werewolves on the rampage - what's not to like? Mybook.to/originalsrage

Dave is amazing, and the Originals series is - guaranteed - one of the best werewolf stories you'll ever read

#HorrorWritersChat Hello I'm Dave, and I'm kind of new in these parts, but not new to writing. My fifth book is out on Friday (eek!) and can be summed up as: Angry werewolf out for revenge Hopefully it's better than that makes it sound. Mybook.to/originalsrage

Two more days until Rage is released! What happens when a werewolf wants revenge? What if it were the God of all werewolves? 'What have you done?' Jack Stadler is back.... mybook.to/originalsrage

I interviewed a bunch of the UK's best and brightest in indie horror (including @davewatkins.bsky.social, @tcparker.bsky.social, @danhowarth20.bsky.social, @kevharrison.bsky.social, @stephellis.bsky.social) for the next issue of the BFS Journal. Keep an eye out for it!

A short blog about my new book The Original's Rage. Out on Friday! david-watkins.com/2024/10/08/p...

A lovely review of my personal favourite of my own books. If you're interested, you can read more here, including a preview. Mybook.to/exeter