I’ve a short story in this anthology by @hobeckbooks.bsky.social of winning stories from competitions run by @presshenshaw.bsky.social. Available for pre-order now: www.hobeck.net/product-page... Proceeds go towards buying books for schools.

The judging process for the Inclusive Voices short story competition run by Calibre Audio is underway. I’m really enjoying reading the shortlisted entries for the 18-25 & 26+ categories. Well done to everyone who created a story for the competition.

Enjoyed a special treat with a space-themed 10-course tasting menu at Six by Nico. And, yes, it was out of this world! Lots of inventive & creative dishes. It included a ‘black hole’ course with blindfold & headphones.

Very grateful for this 5-star review of #TheMargaretCode 🙏 I particularly love the prompt that “everyone should read it” 😍 It’s available from any bookstore or library if you could all form an orderly queue 😁

How far would you go to fit in with your new surroundings? The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley is atmospheric & haunting as narrator Gillian becomes bewitched by the troubled Claybourne sisters. It’s a gripping read about class, mental health, manipulation & betrayal.

Finding peace in nature at RHS Garden Bridgewater in Worsley.

It’s heartening to know readers with family affected by dementia have enjoyed #TheMargaretCode. Thank you to book blogger rendezvous_with_reading for this 5-star review & for highly recommending it. “This novel has moments that are heartbreaking, but can also be funny & downright thrilling.” 😍

The Inclusive Voices short story competition run by Calibre Audio is now closed for entries. Judging is underway & I’m looking forward to meeting with the fellow judges to discuss the stories.

Frankie Boyle was on top form at Laughterama comedy festival at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl last night - outrageously funny! Also enjoyed sets by Jamali Maddix, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Ania Magliano & compere Kiri Pritchard-McLean.

My 4th year of attending Laughterama comedy festival at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl & another great set last night including the madcap Sam Campbell & razor-sharp Rhys James. Looking forward to seeing headliner Frankie Boyle tonight.

Get your entries in to this super writing competition with cash prizes up for grabs. The closing date for the Southport Writers’ Circle Short Story Competition is 31 Oct 2025. Link in the comments for more details.

Mossley Market Place became an open-air gallery of colour with the Flags of Hope Exhibition by @globalgrooves.bsky.social & Cabasa Carnival Arts. 100 hand-painted silk flags were on display during the monthly farmers market - sharing stories from the community.

Had a day in Holmfirth looking for the last of the summer wine. And some 90s nostalgia with Teenage Fanclub at Holmfirth Picturedrome. Like the newer songs but it’s the 90s tunes that have my heart.

I enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club film. Was curious as to how they’d fit in all those characters, twists & plot, but I think they did a good job & captured the intrigue, wit & fun. Impeccable acting as you’d expect from such a top cast. 🤩

Beautiful Tatton Park, with bear hunt.

Just over a week left to get your entries in to this creative writing competition. I’m looking forward to reading the stories & discussing them with the fellow judges. Link in the comments

Everything zen. Enjoyed a Japan-themed treat at Tatton Park with a tour of their unique & authentic Japanese Garden, which is more than 100 years old, followed by a Japanese-influenced afternoon tea. 🇯🇵

Next door’s cat is a little long in the tooth & not in the best of health, but called round to say hello on #caturday.

Proud to have a short story in this anthology, now available for pre-order. ‘Santa is for life and not just for Christmas’ was placed in one of Henshaw Press’ competitions, the last one I entered before focusing on #TheMargaretCode.

The many faces of Margaret. Here in her different guises: UK hardback, US paperback, German edition out on 13 Nov & UK paperback out on 29 Jan. Whichever version, it’s “an absorbingly unusual murder mystery” 😁

We are driven to support writers and new writing - and any profits we make go to buying books for school libraries. We love being able to provide books for schools ❤️ Enter our current competition now: henshawpress.co.uk #writing #BookSky #writer #stories

Relived my 90s youth with The Lemonheads at O2 Ritz Evan Dando was as loveably shambolic as ever: falling off a skateboard, missing cues, knocking a mic over Played (most of) the Come on Feel album, which was great, but felt short-changed by the abrupt ending & lack of greatest hits that was billed

Colour swap! Margaret’s had a makeover to be fresh-faced for the UK paperback edition of #TheMargaretCode. Due to be published on 29 January. Available now in hardback, eBook & audio.

I don’t condone vandalism, but these traffic lights near Mossley always make me smile when I go past. Sad face for stop. Smiley face for go. Rules to live by!

Margaret arrives in Germany on 13 November & is looking forward to a warm welcome 🤗 A new title & cover for #TheMargaretCode in Deutschland: The Day Barbara Died. It’s published by DTV & translated by the brilliant Susanne Goga.

Delighted to be judging this year’s Southport Writers’ Circle Short Story Competition. I was proud to be placed twice in previous competitions & it’s a privilege to return as a judge. I’m looking forward to reading the entries. Link in the comments for more details.

This week marks 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Jocelyn Simms’ poetry collection Tickling the Dragon contains stunning work on the nuclear age & the atrocities. I was fortunate to visit Japan & reading them at the sites was a moving experience.

We are proud to announce the winning writers for Summer 2025: henshawpress.co.uk AMAZING work by our winners! Prizes are on their way - and the winning stories will appear in our next Henshaw anthology by the fabulous @hobeckbooks.bsky.social - can't wait for that! Meanwhile, HUGE CONGRATS! 🥂

3 comedy legends are brought back to life in The Last Laugh, at Manchester Opera House. The actors’ portrayals of Eric Morecambe, Tommy Cooper & Bob Monkhouse are uncanny in this poignant play. As you’d expect, lots of gags but also touching & nostalgic.

Love this review of #TheMargaretCode especially from a reader who doesn’t normally read whodunits 🔍 The best thing about publishing is readers sharing their response & I’m so grateful to everyone who’s taken the time to leave reviews & get in touch about the effect the novel has had on them 😍

Congratulations to Gordon Simms on the publication of the French edition of Open Strings. I’m proud to have an endorsement included in this poignant novella that captures childhood & its joys & conflicts. The English edition is published by Cinnamon Press.

I don’t usually post photos of food but enjoyed a treat at Six By Nico with an Alice in Wonderland themed meal, so that’s book related, isn’t it. The Mad Hatter’s Experience is inventive, creative & playful. All 6 courses were delicious. There, I’m now a restaurant critic! 😁

Blimey, The Midnight King by @tariqashkanani.bsky.social is dark! It’s also gripping, taut & original. Twisted & twisty! The story of a serial killer, the impact of his horrific crimes on his family & the race to find a missing girl. It’s also an interesting study of fear as a driving force.

Here’s the third part of my chat with @superlativelit.bsky.social about my work in progress. It was great chatting with Ross & I’m grateful for the support from the Superlative team. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXfF...

Caught a piece of the Manchester International Festival with Liberation at @rxtheatre.bsky.social It dramatises the Fifth Pan-African Congress held in Manchester in 1945, a key moment in the fight against colonial rule. It’s brilliantly acted, educational & a lot of fun.

Here’s the second part of my chat with @superlativelit.bsky.social about my writing journey that led to the publication of #TheMargaretCode www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wyK...

Still time to get your entries in for this super creative writing competition being held by Calibre Audio. ⏰ Deadline 5 Sept ✍️ 550 words max 🏆 Great prizes 🇬🇧 Open to all UK residents Link in the comments

Here’s the first part of my chat with @superlativelit.bsky.social about #TheMargaretCode Thank you for the support, Ross & the team. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJc6...

I’m very grateful for this review of #TheMargaretCode, not least as it comes from a reader with experience of Margaret’s condition. It’s reassuring to know they thought it was sensitively handled & really enjoyed the book. Similar reviews have praised it as a realistic portrayal ❤️

Now then Mardy Bum - are tribute bands a pale imitation or even better than the real thing? 🤔 The Antarctic Monkeys played a brilliant gig at O2 Ritz Manchester & were spot on as the Sheffield indie stars 🌟 It’s just great to hear those songs performed live in an amazing atmosphere

Love this review of #TheMargaretCode from bookstagrammer Tyler: 5-star! 🤩 Thank you so much, Tyler, for posting such an amazing review 😊 Tyler posts on Insta as @tylerssbooks

June is almost over - hope you had a great month 🌞 It means the 99p time-limited Kindle offer for #TheMargaretCode ends tomorrow ⏰ Grab a bargain while you still can! 😁

Last night we were at The Made in Stockport awards and we’re incredibly thrilled and honoured to win the Capturing Stockport category! A huge thank you to all our wonderful customers for you continued support - we love you! #BookSky 📚💜

Honoured to be a judge for Calibre Audio’s Inclusive Voices short story comp. The charity provides audiobooks to anyone with a disability that makes reading print difficult. Free comp, 4 age categories, prizes. 550 words max on theme of audio, braille or community. Link in comments.

Loved Cloudless by @rupertdastur.bsky.social about a Welsh farming family battling their demons as they anxiously await their soldier son’s return from Iraq. Beautifully written: poetic in its descriptions of the landscape & nature, & characters with great depth. Deeply moving.

Tried something different by going to GobeFest in Cathedral Gardens, an European folk & culture event. Manchester summer of sun & rain! Enjoyed the vibrant & colourful traditional folk music & dances. And chimney cakes, a type of sweet bread, are delicious.

A box of American Margarets! 🥳 Thank you so much to Union Square & Co and Hachette for sending me US copies of #TheMargaretCode 🇺🇸 Thrilled to see what a wonderful job they’ve done with my debut novel. 😍

Just a little reminder that our current writing competition is still open - but not for much longer! - 2k words - No theme - Feedback available - Deadline 30th June - Prizes - and publication - to be won! Send us your words! #writer #WritingCommunity #BookSky

Happy #IndieBookshopWeek! We’re celebrating by having a great bunch of special offers throughout the week to say thank you to our wonderful book-loving community! Today’s Offer: BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON ALL BOOKS!* *T&Cs apply. Instore only.

Price drop! Just a reminder that #TheMargaretCode is only 99p in a time-limited Kindle deal. You can’t even buy something in Poundland for that!