Brilliant book reviewers and behind-the-scenes readers 🎉📖 @steveblackman.bsky.social Jayne Leadbetter, Laura Jones, Lauren Marples, Cat Ould 🌟 And a very special thank you goes out to @stephaniebuosi.com who created the gorgeous front cover for this new issue 🌟

VERY exciting book post today! I can't wait to dive into DIRK JONES IS NOT THE CHOSEN ONE, by Gatlin Perrin. It's promising to be fun, spooky, nonbinary, and Welsh – all excellent things. Out October 9th. Thanks @fireflypress.bsky.social

Have wiser words ever been spoken?

I took a cab in the Lakes at the weekend. Our excellent driver revealed that he's a passionate gold panner. In Scotland! And the (plentiful) gold there is heavier, and more valuable than normal. Now my brain can't stop creating plots for stories featuring gold-filled Highland rivers.

The @paperboundmag.bsky.social team keeps raising the bar. This new issue is STUNNING! I loved reviewing the latest YA – Live – from uber-talented writer and poet Luke Palmer. Music, 3D characters, a propulsive plot, and important themes. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me sing.

It was such a pleasure! Can't wait to see the new issue.

It was such a joy to see Julia Armfield talking about her new story Private Rites at Backstory this week. Her extraordinary prose has a Schrödinger effect on me – making me want to give up writing (knowing I’ll never be that good), whilst simultaneously inspiring me to go and write immediately.

I just finished listening to ALBION, written and read beautifully by Anna Hope. It's stunningly lyrical yet accessible, filled with urgent, essential themes. I sobbed at the end, which the book deserved, but the people in the coffee shop around me didn't. Thanks, Tom Rowley, for the recommendation.

Hang on. I wasn't worried being eaten by trolls before...

Excellent book post today! Thank you, @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social for sending me this gorgeous copy of The Binding Spell by Marisa Linton @mlinton.bsky.social. Full of dark academia, folk horror and the supernatural, you say? Count me in!

Writers’ dubious web searches #324: What is the best animal urine for tanning leather?

You know it’s an early start when you’ve finished your coffee before the #5amwritersclub

It’s 0700 in London. The sky’s a deep blue, and there’s a bright dot low in the western sky that I *think* is #Jupiter. It’s so far away, but so clear, and it’s giving me that vertigo feeling of looking out into space. It’s a lot for a Friday morning.

So much fun last night with @trientertainment.bsky.social @royalalberthall.bsky.social. Gregg Wallace, Nitro, bookshelves and the World Cup of Christmas tunes. I can’t lie, I was hugely disappointed it only ran 25 minutes over! Thank you, Marina Hyde, @richardosman1.bsky.social and the orchestra.

Yesterday, over the annual family Christmas lunch, my brother, nephews and I agreed to play #Whamageddon. I officially lost at 18:37 today.

So, I wasn't able to join #NaNoWriMo this year, but I started a new story today, and have given myself until New Year's Day to complete a first draft. (Yeah, I know.) I'm calling it #ChrimboWriMo. Hop on board if you like; there's loads of room on the magical story sleigh.

You know what would **really** disrupt the publishing industry? Fair contracts and decent pay for authors. No AI training without the creator’s consent. Artists and translators on the cover. No NDAs for ghostwriters.

ITS A SCAM! Publishers DON’T charge YOU to make YOUR books, they PAY you. These guys aren’t tryna “Disrupt” anything, they’re depending on people who are desperately looking to be published to part with their money. It’s far cheaper to learn to write or self publish.

Thank you, Chicken House, for today's exceptional book post. That's my reading needs sorted for a little while! Can't wait to dive in to: THE ZOMBIE PROJECT @alicenuttallbooks.bsky.social and THE WILDERNESS OF GIRLS @madelineclaire.bsky.social. Reviews to follow!

I was attacked in the street a moment ago! Out of nowhere my head was nudged hard from behind, and something scratched my scalp. I turned, just as the raven that had flown into me fluttered past and landed on the ground. The stink-eye he gave me made it clear he thought it was my fault. Bully.

Well said John Bothwell from Durham. Well said indeed! 😆

I’m writing while listening to the @mynoise.bsky.social soundscape of The Name of the Rose. I’ve set my earbuds to ‘immersive’ and it is like I’m there! Thanks @joannaoldman.bsky.social for the intro.

...our cover artist Rachael Robertson. A big shout out to our book reviewers too: Maisie Fish, @steveblackman.bsky.social, Diane Englert, Lauren Marples, @wydobson.bsky.social and Laura Jones. We are new here on Bluesky, so if we've missed tagging you, let us know! Happy Reading!

We don't seem to be taking this seriously enough. And it's not enough to say "just publish good books" - we do that...loads in fact. We have to make sharing books then reading books independently not just a 'nice' thing but a vital thing. Like "5 A Day" did for healthy eating awareness.

Trying not to feel existential at the urgency needed to turn everyone's attention to the gradual decline in reading evidenced through tons of data about children's reading - and now even the children who are reading will be fed crap from platforms like this. If not this lot then something else.

This isn't disruptive. It's a cynical reframing of vanity publishing but on a digital platform. Depressing and irritating. Was their brief to the photographer: 'try to make us look as much like a stock photo as possible'? tinyurl.com/e5rv3d66

It's always such a treat to be involved – even in a tiny way – with this glorious magazine, and this issue (Chaos & Calm) is a stunner. As always it's filled with the best writers and illustrators; hope you enjoy my review of Brian Dungan's action-packed new book Wintour's Game.

🔥😎OUR CHAOS & CALM ISSUE IS OUT NOW😎🔥 Packed full of new author interviews, #illustrations, #BookRecommendations, #WritingTips and more, we're delighted to share this brand new issue - FREE - with our readers here👇 paperboundmag.com/issues

I love names that are also sentences, so was delighted to have proof that Harriet Waters (in Silo). Does anyone have evidence that Jeremy Irons, or that Britney Spears? Any others?

Still buzzing after seeing Juno & the Paycock at the Gielgud yesterday. The entire cast was on its A-game for the final day. Mark Rylance in particular gave a stunning performance as the malingering Captain Jack – masterful physical comedy that was also quietly heartbreaking. Much like the play.

Take a moment to subscribe to Kesia's newsletter and receive absolute gems like this one. Go on, you deserve it.

Is there a word for the feeling you’re left with when you read a widely-loved story but really don’t understand what all the fuss is about? (Apart from disappointment?)

Why has there never been a Four Weddings sequel: Four Funerals and a Wedding?

Breaking news. Bristol’s amazing! End of report.

My hope is that we can retain a corner here that’s filled only with kind people and bookish chat. Much like life, really.

Such a treat to hear Andrew O’Hagan discussing #CaledonianRoad at @BackstoryLdn. But the real joy was the wider discussion about London, knitting, Drill, and writing on his shirt. Like his stories, Andrew is full of insight, humour, generosity, and a great love for people.

Right then. Let’s try this again, shall we?