Good morning. We are open. 📖☕️

💜We have put the @womensprize.bsky.social in one place, see our online shop! As a woman-owned small business, supporting women’s writing means everything to us. Don’t forget - 15% off any longlisted book (see the page for the discount code) www.foxlanebooks.co.uk/women-s-priz...

I've put a few original drawings from recent cartoons up for sale on my website: www.tomgauld.com/art-for-sale

"Lee's prose wields Angela Carter’s baroque Gothic sensuality and Ottessa Moshfegh’s deadpan brutality," writes critic Yooj Chun. Read “'Even an Angel Would Smell Like Grilled Meat When Burnt in a Fire': Heejoo Lee’s 'Holy Boy'" here: buff.ly/6HEvN9E

FREE ONLINE WRITING WORKSHOP! ✍️

Somehow, suddenly, I have an 11-year-old 💖🎂😭🥰

*NEW BLOG POST* Paper Sisters by Rachel Canwell lotuswritingtherapy.com/2026/02/16/p... @squadpod2021.bsky.social @northodoxpress.bsky.social #PaperSisters #HistoricalFiction #Booksky #BookReview #LincolnshireAuthor #squadpodfeaturedbook

Paper Sisters has been out for a week today and the response has been overwhelming 🥹 A record breaking seller for us thus far, grab your copy of Rachel Canwell's extraordinary debut novel now: share.google/7T2cubuLy6h7...

Happy publication day Catriona! thebooktrail.com/horror-set-i... @catrionaward.bsky.social @viperbooks.bsky.social

#ThrowbackThursday My review of the atmospheric, intriguing & sensuous Venetian Vespers by John Banville, longlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction 2026 #books #bookreviews #historicalfiction ⏳️📚 #booksky 💙📚 #WalterScottPrize wp.me/p88ZiK-c8E

I can't quite believe that my little business is turning 5! I'm so lucky to have a job that brings me genuine joy, and I'm incredibly grateful to my wonderful clients, as well as everyone who helps spread the word about Elspells. Thank you 😊 Here's to the next five years! www.elspells.com

Now taking bookings for March! www.elspells.com

#BookReview #InGlassHouses by Edel Coffey Set in New York amidst the glitz & glamour of the elite, Edel Coffey takes us into a much darker side Packed with shocking reveals & head-spinning twists Fast-paced read w/ high voltage drama Read my full review: www.swirlandthread.com/in-glass-hou...

Today is the last day to read this piece for free. It might work quite well as an intro to my writing for people who only know it via Bluesky. P.S. It's much better if you read it all the way to the end. I mean, I would say that, but I promise: it really does. www.tom-cox.com/once-upon-a-...

I still have spaces on my FREE online workshop on Saturday 28th February - come and join us! Aimed at new writers but all welcome - lots of practical exercises but NO requirement to share your work with the group! Email me to book your spot! More info: elspells.com/2026/01/04/e... Please share🙏

Now taking bookings for March! www.elspells.com

3 books published today - can’t wait to read!! Huge congratulations to you all!! 💚🤍💚 The Barbecue at No 9 @jenniegauthor.bsky.social (me waiting patiently for the paperback) Keshed @stuhennigan.bsky.social Paper Sisters - Rachel Canwell @ortacpress.bsky.social @northodoxpress.bsky.social

This is my latest novel. If you are in the UK you can get a signed (& personalised, if you like) hardback direct from me for cover price plus p&p, AND you'll get a free handmade linocut bookmark by my mum. Just drop me an email: [email protected] & let me know where to send. More info in thread...

I can't quite believe that my little business is turning 5! I'm so lucky to have a job that brings me genuine joy, and I'm incredibly grateful to my wonderful clients, as well as everyone who helps spread the word about Elspells. Thank you 😊 Here's to the next five years! www.elspells.com

Gentle reader, it appears the Ton is rather full of felines this season...

#BookReview #SecondChances by @roisinm.bsky.social Bittersweet novel Sincere & tender story of love in all its many guises Another warm hug of a novel from Roisin Meaney Pub. Feb 5th w/ Hachette Ireland www.swirlandthread.com/second-chanc... #booksky

For the first Saturday in the month: Six Degrees of Separation – Flashlight to Dreamland alifeinbooks.co.uk/2026/02/six-... #BookSky #AllWelcome

This week is our birthday! 🎂 Come celebrate with us in person or online.

I've got a couple of slots left for Feb & am taking bookings for March now - get in touch if you're after affordable, helpful, honest feedback on your full or partial manuscript ✍️ Lots more client testimonials on my website www.elspells.com

Me: "You know you said there's a school disco on Thursday?" 10yo: "Yeah?" Me: "It's not a disco. It's an information evening about SATs." 10yo: "Oh. So basically the exact opposite of a disco." #mumlife

A three-year-old brought me a bit of black paper. "Look", she said, "I found a piece of night!" We're all born poets, but slowly we forget.

Delighted to say that The Boy from the Sea is Waterstones Fiction Book of the Month. Thank you to the Waterstones team and I look forward to meeting some of you in England in the next few days.

Your nine day countdown to this fine read! It's inspired by the author's family story and it is utterly fascinating!! www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/... @bookbound2019.bsky.social @northodoxpress.bsky.social

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐈𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 ✨ 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐬 & 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 👇🏻 yorkshirecarly.wordpress.com/2026/02/03/t... #BookSky

Want something wonderful to look forward to this September? Join me and the brilliant @ruthabrandt.bsky.social for a Yorkshire writing retreat where we'll write, laugh, think, learn, play, question, daydream, and write some more. 8th – 14th September 2026 www.mattkendrick.co.uk/writing-retr...

I've got a couple of feedback slots left for February & am taking bookings for March - get in touch! Lots more client testimonials on the website: www.elspells.com

Writers, come and join us for the next session of Elspells Writing Workshops on Saturday 28th February! It's online, it's FREE, aimed at new writers but all welcome! We'll be looking at Gathering Ideas & Planning. Email me to book your spot - please spread the word!

Just finished a Writing Workshop by @elspells13.bsky.social on zoom (1st session) It's so amazing and productive! I wrote 4 pages in a span of 2 hours and I'm very proud 🥲 Anyone interested in joining in for the next session, just @ her. Below are a few pages I've written (mind the handwriting 🫣)

Starting in two hours! Let me know if you want to hop on and do some writing with us this morning!

Another absolute cracker from this month's @squadpod2021.bsky.social #SquadPodBookClub line-up! Welcome to my review of the incredible literary debut #BlankCanvas by Grace Murray. Out now from Fig Tree @penguinbooksuk.bsky.social 💙📚 brownflopsy.blogspot.com/2026/01/blan...

And the @squadpod2021.bsky.social January #SquadPodBookClub scorchers keep coming... 🤩 Welcome to my review of #TheIceAngels by @carolinemitchell.bsky.social - the first part of a cracking new crime series! 💙📚 Out now from @penguinukbooks.bsky.social brownflopsy.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...

A great big boost to open up my Public Lending Right (PLR) statement - thank you so much to all the wonderful libraries & readers - I love libraries - this means such a lot 💙📚💙 #books #BookSky #libraries @norfolklibrariesuk.bsky.social @leedslibraries.bsky.social

Just finished Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts. It's extremely well written. Much courage shown by Virginia Roberts in working to get her story heard. Epstein/Maxwell others. Wicked, entitled, selfish, cruel. Abuse at scale. An important book.

These sessions are incredibly valuable to writers! I learned so much.

If 2026 is the year you start/get back into writing, kick things off with my FREE writing workshop this Saturday! 👇👇👇

Spaces still available for my FREE online workshop on Saturday - aimed at new writers but all welcome! ✍️

There are still spaces available on my FREE online workshop on Saturday 24th January - more info here: elspells.com/2026/01/04/e...

Here's what Elspells is up to in 2026: ✍️ 1:1 Zoom coaching - monthly sessions for only £40/hrs ✍️ Affordable feedback on your writing ✍️ FREE online workshops for new writers ✍️ Speaker at Bournemouth Writing Festival www.elspells.com I'd love to be part of your writing journey this year!

Getting through January with pops of colour 🩷💛💚🩵💜

This time next week I'll be launching the first Elspells Writing Workshop of 2026 - come and join us! It's online, it's FREE, and everyone is welcome. Email me to book your slot!

There are still spaces available on my FREE online workshop on Saturday 24th January - more info here: elspells.com/2026/01/04/e...

We have a recurring problem in our kitchen with an eagle who occasionally swoops in when the kids are at school & finishes off a particularly tasty packet of biscuits or even cheekily steals a few of the kids' sweets - 8yo has taken measures...🦅

Books to Look Out For in February 2026: Part Two alifeinbooks.co.uk/2026/01/book...

New post: my review of Blank Canvas by Grace Murray, out next week with Penguin Fig Tree Many thanks to the publisher & the lovely @squadpod2021.bsky.social for my review copy of this sharp, fresh debut novel! Highly recommend. elspells.home.blog/2026/01/07/r...

Elspells 2026 is looking good! I have writing coaching slots available: monthly 1:1 Zoom sessions for only £40/hour! I'm also taking feedback bookings for February, so if you have a full or partial MS that you'd like honest, helpful, affordable feedback on, get in touch. Please spread the word!