Authoritarianism is not predetermined. The defeat of Viktor Orbán in Hungary shows that even entrenched strongmen can be removed by democratic means. Hope shines bright in Europe tonight.

Hopemaxxing...

#Caturday! Lady Lucy revels in being the only cat in the household.

From Shelf-Stealing to Spreadsheets: The Realities of the Romcom Life Welcome to this month’s update. They say being an author is a marathon, not a sprint, but sometimes it feels more like a series of moderately embarrassing hurdles. This month involves a bit of light shelf-reorganisation in…

Okay... just one point to make. Do you remember when you used to reach the end of a feed on a social media platform? Yeah, a long time ago...

The greatest sickness in modern life is the rise of performative cruelty. Many no longer hide their sadism but revel in it. It’s not hard to trace the root cause. The book is an empathy machine. It’s no surprise the decline in reading has been accompanied by a spike in inhumanity. It’s hand in glove

I live in hope that someday, soon, we will finally see sense and get rid of the monarchy.

Just awful...

Author Update: Highland Romcoms, Vampire Micro-Dramas and Bittersweet Goodbyes Latest news from Emma Baird: Highland romance novels arriving in Waterstones and Waitrose Scotland, a new vampire micro-drama and an update on Highland Proposal.

The Highland Books have had another cover glow-up! These are my favourite covers so far... #BookSky

I had an amazing day on set today. 🥰 We just wrapped up filming episode 9 & we are prepping to shoot the 10th (and final) episode. In season 1, I got to meet my interdimensional doppelgängers & explore the vast fantasy world of my novels. I can't wait to unleash this wacky show upon the world! 💙📚

Just been emailed by a company I use asking if I'd like to take part in its social media offering for authors at the bargain basement price - get this - of $597 dollars. What's that, you say. For a year, in thanks for almost seven years of paying a subscription to them? No. A month. A month!

sales of tofu and other plant-based protein are up 12 per cent in the last year, says Tesco www.tescoplc.com/plant-based-...

554 years ago, on the 20th of February 1472, Orkney and Shetland were transferred to Scotland by Norway in the marriage of Margaret of Denmark to James III. #otd #history 🗃️

He was the most wanted man in the country. She was a Pinkerton detective and she wanted him more than anyone else. www.amazon.com/dp/1919444408 Looking for a new series of 19th-century mysteries for Valentine's Day? Full series available. ✨On KU "Full of dry humor" "Clive Cussler meets Outlander."

#Caturday! Cancer cat enjoying a bit of rare sunshine on his back.

Highland Fling is in a real life Waterstones promotion which feels both thrilling and weird. 25% off the paperback if you pre-order with code FEB26 (17–20 Feb, online only). Small Scottish village ✔️ Grumpy man ✔️ Emotional healing disguised as gossip ✔️ Link: www.waterstones.com/book/highlan...

Emma Cooks the Books There are many ways to cope with heartbreak in the Scottish Highlands. Long walks. Fresh air. A stern chat with yourself in a lay-by. Or, if you’re in Highland Fling, the time honoured method is tea and shortbread. This recipe is the one that quietly appears throughout the…

Magnificent...

#Scotland #6Nations #CalcuttaCup oh, happy, happy days! Celebrating the cheer of Scotland's win with my Valentine's gifts from the cat.

#Caturday! Our cancer cat is now so spoiled, he gets to eat tuna (tuna!) on the bed...

Colleen Hoover's emailed me - she wants to connect! So far in the scam author marketing emails, I've had messages from Sebastian Faulks, Nick Spalding and now Colleen (which is at least on-brand for what I write). Plus the hundreds of similarly worded emails from folks claiming to be book marketing

#Questpit #W #Q #My #A #HFic 1870s Scotland. British colonial interests brings a violent criminal to Glasgow. The Black Heathers, a female gang, finds an unexpected ally in the detective investigating a fake heir and a sighting of a murderous monster. ✨ Undiscovered history ✨ Unwritten perspective

#WeeknightWriters Set in Glasgow, Forever, Maybe is funny, poignant and emotionally sharp — perfect if you love honest stories about long-term love and reinvention. #WomensFiction #GlasgowNovel

Announced yesterday, the twelve fantastic books on the longlist for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2026 @walterscottprize.bsky.social #WalterScottPrize #books #historicalfiction #booksky

Marvellous...

I’ll admit this—as a HEAVY social media user We were better off when it was on the computer and the computer was in a specific location and that location was in the home.

Decoding the Moon Release Key Takeaway Countdown Week 4! What is the mountain you have climbed or want to climb? My mountain has been the obstacles I've been conquering at GRIT Obstacle Training. Tell me about your mountain in comments. @edusky.bsky.social @booksky.club

It's the dream, right? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Wowsers...

#Caturday... my poor wee guy has been diagnosed with a tumour on his pancreas. We've decided against further treatment as a) it might not work, b) it's super stressful (our vet agrees), c) it's £3k plus. So, we're giving William his best life. Sleep, all his favourite food, loads of head rubs. Ach.

For young readers: open.substack.com/pub/storyexp...

Writing places for the year via @caronallanfiction.bsky.social caronallanfiction.com/2026/01/07/n...

Some great recommendations here if you're looking for something to read: lucyjanes.blog/2026/01/06/w... @lucyjanes.bsky.social

Happy New Year 2025: Plot Twists, Book Deals and Carrying the Heavy Bits...

My dad was a long-term tenant farmer, who had to put up with shooting parties. Soon as he had enough money to buy the farm, he stopped allowing the shooters on it.

#Caturday! Cat recovering from pancreatitis (and serious weight loss). Favourite blanket on sofa? Tick. Food options x three? Tick. Food and water nearby? Tick. Litter box in the living room (despite the stink). Tick as well.

God, me too... first thing I look at these days when deciding whether or not to go to the cinema is, HAS THIS DIRECTOR GONE ALL PETER JACKSON?

Rom-Com Author vs The Real World Real life, as it turns out, has the audacity not to care about plot. I normally show up here with sparkle: punchlines, pink things and over-enthusiastic exclamation marks. But today’s post is different. Same author, same typing posture (slightly hunched), but fewer…

If you're like me and suffer from Xmas blues, my stories might cheer you up!💙📚 They feature characters facing insurmountable odds, standing up against the Abyss/Void, fighting unspeakable cosmic horrors, or trying to outrun a living, reality-erasing Darkness...😚 www.louiseblackwick.com/en-US/books

A series of 6 covering Sci-Fi, mafia bride, time-slip, period drama, MI5 and MI6 spying. Start with book One Listen to the audiobook on Amazon amzn.to/3YJDwY7 If you have Audible, it's adbl.co/4jzzPfn Free on Kindle Unlimited as follows, UK amzn.to/3KlJabp USA amzn.to/3R5XCIC

The Ultimate Skincare Guide for People Who Think Double Cleansing Sounds Like Hard Work (and Who’d Rather Spend Their Cash on Books) Let’s be honest: skincare is confusing, expensive and suspiciously reminiscent of homework. Every time you open Instagram, a 22-year-old tries to convince you you…

Christmas in the Highlands was meant to be relaxing but between the gossiping locals, surprise guests, leaking secrets and a baby who refuses to cooperate, Gaby & Jack’s holiday is a festive disaster in the best possible way.

Possibly my favourite story today: www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...