The Hampstead ponds have REPEATEDLY voted to include trans women. But the officious pricks at Sex Matters don’t care what other women think and are forcing a public consultation anyway. Throw the ponds some support.

Hell yes.

This was Len’s 8th event in 8 days - with Bristol, Crickhowell, Bath, London and Aberdeen all coming up over the next week, and more thereafter. Almost the whole tour has sold out, including all the English and Welsh events. Not bad for a Scots poet south of the border…!

“Sauron and Saruman meet to discuss peaceful resolutions to the war in Middle Earth”

Imagining a parallel world in which 22 billion was injected into the UK arts industry.

I remember this speech when Jon Stewart gave it. It was powerful. And urgent. And 100% true. And like too many things over the last many years, it wasn’t taken nearly seriously enough.

This book has already had such a huge impact on readers over the last decade - and sadly is almost more relevant now than it was in 2016. Exceptionally proud that we’ll be republishing it at Canongate, in time for its 10th anniversary.

Really enjoyed this from @damianbarr.bsky.social Such a good understanding of how social class doesn’t just influence lives, but also silences voices. Damian unions how that works, and how it feels.

Two democratic lawmakers and their spouses were shot in their own homes three months ago. School shootings are so epidemic there’s an “industry” around them. But won’t someone please, oh please, think of Jeremy Clarkson’s freedom to be racist? deadline.com/2025/09/jere...

Truly the AI writing post we all needed.

The fact this statement is both so weak and - even worse - anonymous, speaks volumes. The presence of a woman who actively called for hotels full of people to be set alight isn’t irresponsible, it’s abhorrent. Why isn’t every major politician and news outlet denouncing it?

Tour group on my train, heading to York. Enjoying the guide’s frankness: “You’ll see a lot of Harry Potter in York. Being honest, I don’t know what the connection is…” The answer, of course, is that there is none. People decide the Shambles look like Diagon Alley and the tourist machine kicked in.

Huh. Is that…optimism, I can feel?

So very sad to hear the news about Jonathan Main. He was a truly brilliant bookseller and a champion for so many writers, who created such a wonderful community around @booksellercrow.bsky.social. Sending condolences to Justine and the whole Bookseller Crow family.

Such a beautiful review: “[A] moving meditation on art, love and home. … Barr mingles comedy and tragedy with wonderful fluidity.”

A great month of events coming up at Serenity Booksellers! Super excited to meet Damian Barr and Len Pennie and hear them discuss their work with two of my faves - Andrew McMillan and Terri White! Utter highlight of the year though is getting to welcome the wonderful Nadia Shireen to Romiley!

We have tempted @damianbarr.bsky.social to FORUM’s pulpit to celebrate his new book The Two Roberts & we’d love you to join us 🩵🩷 🗓️ 8th Sept 🎟️ www.ticketsource.co.uk/forumbooks/f... @thecrackmagazine.bsky.social @canongate.co.uk

“When the facts of our lives can never be fully known there isn’t just room for fiction, there is a moral imperative for it. To write it. To paint it – to light a candle in the dark then pick up your pen or brush. Even, and especially, when the world is ending.”

I’m not sure it should be allowed for an author to do not one but two UK-wide book tours, while still eligible for a 16-25 railcard. It’s very helpful for my budget, but my god it hurts on a personal level.

It’s been almost 2 months since I last made this journey - the longest stint in some time. Is it odd that I’ve missed it?

Amazing work here from The Trainline. How did they know that “surprising or inaccurate” information is what I’m almost always looking for in a customer service situation? (To be fair to them it was, as advertised, utterly useless.)

Meanwhile, Starmer’s government is in talks to buy AI access for the whole of the UK - when, not only is internet still not a universal service, but child poverty in the UK is on the rise and services/benefits are being slashed. Cool.

Two articles have run this week already mentioning All Fours. The first, in the Times, defines "the Miranda July effect" as the phenomenon of recently divorced women in their 40s discovering a new lease of (sex) life with other women. The second, in the Guardian, talks about a dance troupe...

Remember how she posted last week about eggs making a woman and now we find out male birds are laying eggs. Perfect. No notes.

So Between the Covers is officially gone after eight series - what exceptionally sad news. After all, it's not like there's a wealth of book-focused content on TV right now... Is The Big Scottish Bookclub the last man standing? www.tvzoneuk.com/post/between...

So trans men will just…no longer have the right guaranteed to use public bathrooms? Or changing rooms? Or single sex services of any kind? Could it be any more obvious that this guidance is founded in discrimination and bigotry, rather than any actual attempt at workable policy?

Someone in my building is playing Christmas music - Slade, to be precise - loudly enough that I can hear it at the back of my flat. I don't quite know how to process that information...

Great opportunity here for Black writers and writers of colour based in Scotland. Do take a look and consider applying if you meet the criteria!

Well, I guess LinkedIn’s algorithm *sort of* got it right in advertising this to me?! More info on this job, and the Publicity Assistant role we’re also advertising, at www.canongate.co.uk/jobs.

My new novel will throw its arms around you a month today. I can’t wait for you to meet the Two Roberts. It’s based on two real artists and it’s all about love & art & class & queerness & Scottishness & all that hot stuff. It’s set 1933-1962. Thanks for supporting! buythebook.online/the-two-robe...

Jobs in Canongate's Publicity team are like buses: nothing for years, then two come along at once... Excited to be on the hunt both for a new publicity assistant (entry level role) and for an experienced publicist interested in joining the team on a year contract. Please do help spread the word!

The new Observer keeps commissioning features I actually want to read (and somewhat wish I’d written), eg @danzep.bsky.social on the joy of aerial photography and flying in a Tiger Moth over the beautiful Northumberland coast observer.co.uk/style/travel...

Sitting in a local cafe; space is limited, and two of the four tables are taken up by people who finished their coffees at least 20 minutes ago. They show no signs either of leaving, or ordering anything else - despite people clearly standing waiting for tables. People are fascinating, aren’t they?

Most excellent review of The Fathers in today’s Guardian www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j....

People can’t find food in #Gaza to feed their families. The current distribution of food by the Israeli-American system does not work. UNRWA proved it can provide food safely and at scale. The Israeli Authorities are blocking us from doing our job. Lift the siege.

“My inescapable conclusion has become that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” writes Omer Bartov, a professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University. “I have been teaching classes on genocide for a quarter of a century. I can recognize one when I see one.”

Oh hell no. WeTransfer now claims access in their T&Cs, in perpetuity, to your content to “improve the service and our technologies (and develop new ones)”. I used to use them to transfer large manuscripts, but looks like I’m jumping ship. Other large transfer sites are recommended in the comments.

2 days ago I went for a walk along one of the sunken green paths that cross Edinburgh and spotted 3 badgers, ducking in and out of the their sett and the undergrowth. Today, I'm working in my kitchen, window open to hear the sound of swifts screaming overhead. Sometimes life is stupidly magical.

Yesterday Palestinian mums & kids were queuing at a clinic to get nutritional supplements when Israel attacked. At least 15 people were killed, including at least 9 children. James Elder from UNICEF tells how one of those young children had spoken their first word that morning - mama

Oh this is such sad news! 404 Ink has made such an impact on not just the Scottish publishing landscape, but the UK one too. They publish with creativity and integrity, and a huge amount of passion; I’ll be so sorry to see them go - but am glad at least part of the list will live on with Saraband.

Every time I talk about @nivenj1.bsky.social’s new novel, The Fathers, I make the point that - while you know John’s work will be brilliantly funny and laced with darkness - what hits you hard is the vulnerability with which he handles difficult subjects: class, grief, masculinity, infertility… >>

This is a great thread. The pressure for a “redemptive narrative” can be all too strong in publishing. >>

🚨🚨 NEW AMY LIPTROT BOOK KLAXON 🚨🚨

Over the moon to see this glowing shout out for @lilyking.bsky.social’s Heart The Lover in this week’s Bookseller, referring to it as “one of the best novels I have read all year”. Many thanks to @laurenrbrown95.bsky.social!

Love that @edbookfest.bsky.social are offering discounts and free bookable spaces for book clubs - such a great idea! Full info at mailchi.mp/edbookfest/i....

Delighted that 2 of these 25 titles are published by @canongate.co.uk - and to see several favourites from other houses in here too. Support your indies, folks!

Couldn’t be more excited for Damian that The Two Roberts will be hitting the airwaves this September, as part of the BBC R2 Bookclub. Hot stuff!

My opinion on the Bob Vylan / Kneecap controversy is that the IDF just bombed a seafront café

Arrived late at #MPConf and already finding myself in awe of the talented publicists and marketers that fill this industry. But just a quick shout out to @alisonbarrow.bsky.social, whose session I watched online - and who is SO DAMN RIGHT that we should talk about author support, not care. >>