Delighted to share that the Department of #DigitalHumanities @ucc.ie will host a digital artist as part of the first @artscouncilireland.bsky.social Digital Artist in Residence pilot programme. Applications are now open! Enquiries to @stephenroddy.bsky.social artscouncil.ie/funding-oppo...

This was one of the main reasons why I wrote Wanderers, and why I continued with Way Makers. There is *so* much evidence of women active in all sorts of spheres, including the outdoors. Some evidence is so ludicrously easy to find, not seeing it has to have been a choice. Time for better histories.

It’s been a week. But yesterday I led an adult nature writing/walking class that involved five grown women rolling down a hill (literally), lying in heaps giggling; a kingfisher; an encounter with bull rushes; a meeting with a juvenile mistle thrush; and three mergensers plus heron. So that was ace.

Well, I guess it speaks to the effective advocacy against medical misogyny that @pollyrowena.bsky.social and others are embarked upon that, in the middle of an agonising invasive procedure this afternoon, when I got told off for wailing, I felt able to shout back *and* I got the extra drugs I needed

It’s official at last: I am now Senior Lecturer at University College, Cork, with the snazzy job title of Director of Creative Writing. I’m thrilled by the opportunity to work with such a dynamic group of colleagues. I’ve been made so welcome. Given how my last 18 months have been, some thoughts 1/n

Hello lovely folks. I’m looking for top tips/tricks/techniques for working with rookie nature writers. What has worked well for you? And anything I should avoid doing 👀??? Cheers, oh mighty #BookSky

One good thing about being made redundant has been, by necessity, making much more of being based in the Tweed valley. It’s led to some wonderful opportunities, such as being commissioned to write for a new literary trail. And then this: findraclothing.com/blogs/journa...

Lovely skeeters, what would be on your must-read list for nature and travel writing past and present? And what about professional resources for newbie writers? I’ve got my thoughts but would love to hear your thoughts/recs/shameless promotion Hailing the mighty #BookSky on this one.

Confronting the barriers that stand between mothers and walking the land. My review of the inspirational Pathfinding: On Walking, Motherhood and Freedom, by @kerriandrewsuk.bsky.social in @resurgencetrust.bsky.social

For me it was the wonderful Professor Bill Overton at Loughborough University, who taught the first year poetry course. I’d never understood poetry and therefore hated it, until Bill taught me how to analyse and enjoy it. And he did a course on 18th century women poets that legit changed my life

Who do you picture when you imagine hikers? @kerriandrewsuk.bsky.social (Pathfinding) and Roger Clough (Oldenland) had a fascinating discussion at #EdBookFest about how walking and writing can inform a way forward for life, whether you're in your older years, or in the maelstrom of motherhood.

I keep getting asked for my salty thoughts about the Salt Path as my position on nature cure narratives is v clear! A mere fraction of those thoughts published here @literaryhub.bsky.social, with thanks to @bookwormvaught.bsky.social and @nicwilson.bsky.social for their earlier pieces linked below.

Well, Materialists sucked. Walked out well before the end. Why, Pedro, why??

Lovely Blueskyers, where would you suggest someone with an evident gift for crochet and other crafting takes it if they’re interested in university/making a profession of their skill? I know there are some amazing places but their names have fallen out of my head. Ta!

Wonderful to see Kerri Andrews and Roger Clough at #EdinburghBookFestival today. An insightful discussion of our changing relationship with walking through motherhood and growing older  📚 Discover @kerriandrewsuk.bsky.social#EdinburghBookFestivalbook on one of Scotland’s best-loved walkers 👉 https://edin.ac/4oNm9kT

Just a few days until my turn at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Tix available-come say hi if you’re in the area!

Thinking today of Alison Hargreaves, who died 30 years ago on K2. So much vitriol for her after her death for daring to climb while being a mother. For taking risks. For not staying home. Yet home is often the most dangerous place for women to be. Here’s to the right to choose the dangers we face.

Exciting times here! Next Monday I’ll be at the Edinburgh Book Festival for the first time. Tix: www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival... And on 17 October I’ll be at the Cheltenham Book Festival alongside the wonderful @helenmort.bsky.social Tix: www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/events/pathf... #BookSky

Had a blast at the opening day of Ed Int Book Festival. Saw @sarasheridan.bsky.social and @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social , who have both added recklessly (and delightfully) to my tottering TBR pile. Accidentally saw Amitav Ghosh in the chillout room, and a man dressed as a giraffe. Both also delightful

Between Labour doing multiple idiotic and immoral things, LLMs hallucinating, at enormous expense to the planet and at the expense of all that’s good about humanity, plus 🌮 , plus a genocide and huge suffering, what do we do? It’s all just so horrible. Hi @infinitescream.bsky.social I guess?

About to go on Radio NZ talking all things Pathfinding, dear #BookSky so if you’re up and in the area (or perhaps if you fancy listening on line) check it out. @eandtbooks.bsky.social

I’ve donated to individuals and I have been giving monthly to charities for a while now, and I still feel like I’m doing less than nothing. I don’t understand how something so evil can happen with so many watching, and while my own government keeps supplying weapons for this genocide.

Impressed by/concerned for the guy continuing to mow his lawn as the yellow-warned rain begins hammering it down in the Scottish Borders.

In the midst of a busy and strange week I hadn’t managed to share the link for this: tonight! I’m really looking forward to this! #BookSky adventurequeens.co.uk/events/aq-bo...

I did a thing, #BookSky Loved doing this commission. Come to the Scottish Borders, learn about Dorothy Wordsworth, Mungo Park and more! www.gotweedvalley.co.uk/words

This won't be meaningful to many people, but three weeks post-op for longstanding carpal tunnel syndrome, I remain incredibly grateful for the simple miracle of sleeping through a whole night without waking once. It feels like I've been given back my body in several small but important ways.

Haha accidentally made butter last week when I whisked cream that had been out of the fridge for an hour for a pavlova. Stiff peaks blazed past in a blink and we were into curds before I could stop my mixer. Come to me for more cooking tips!

Again, apropos of…something, if you fancy a categorically non ‘straight line from x personal difficulty to y improbable physical accomplishment’ story, you could do worse than grab a copy of Pathfinding, where I manage not to walk the West Highland Way 🙃 www.samreadbooks.co.uk/product/kerr...

A propos of… something. A wonderful list curated by @pollyrowena.bsky.social I’m delighted to have two books here, but this list also demonstrates the wonderful depth and richness of contemporary nature writing beyond the marquee stars. Fill your boots, #BookSky uk.bookshop.org/lists/nature...

Graph of British Rivers

Getting one of these made loads of things possible. Light touch first phase, supportive funder should life throw pandemics or similar at you. I wonder tho if the biggest gap in research is now the staff crashing out of the academy, with all their training and knowledge. Can funders support them?

Currently enjoying Heads of State waaaaay more than I expected. Nice way to round off a big day.

Hello #BookSky. New event incoming… www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kerri-andr...

Amazing annual catchup with my rather louche gastro consultant re my #Harmochrotosis. On the significant and longstanding cardio symptoms: ‘it’s clear you’re very sensitive to anything that’s not normal’. ‘I don’t think being left faint and breathless is sensitivity so much as something being up’ 🙄

I would adore this. I’ve been a little in love with Richard E Grant since he started in The Scarlet Pimpernel-and if you haven’t seen it, and have even the teensiest love of France in the 1790s, you must. Wishing I was in beautiful County Cork this year: wishing all those who are the best festival.

Our media sponsors @irishexaminer.bsky.social have an incredible competition for you! Win a night in Maritime Hotel Bantry on Sat 12 July & tickets for WCLF that day (including sold out events: Wake of the Whale on Whiddy & Richard E. Grant) Closing date 4 July www.irishexaminer.com/competition/...

This has made my day. Wanderers has flown in Germany, and I am touched and grateful it has found so many walker-readers there.

Lovely #BookSky folks with knowledge of the Irish uni and arts funding scene, what streams/opportunities are there for creative writers connected to universities to seek funding for their work? Names of funders and programmes would be *super* helpful. Ta lovelies.

My personal journey through the never-ending crisis in higher education got weird today: seeing my former employer advertise my old job (downgraded, obvs) because (as I warned them) they ended up with one person to teach the whole UG + PG curriculum 🙄

I love that the Carnegie do this. I will forever treasure the memories of being 15 and *super* into books and being taken seriously for that by cool adults like Anne Fine and Melvyn Burgess as a shadower with my school. A brilliant, brilliant scheme.

Apparently there’s a limited time deal on Pathfinding at the moment. Buy it for the pretty cover, get some walking history too. #BookSky www.amazon.co.uk/Pathfinding-...

Eighteen years ago since I climbed my first mountain with these legends. Snowdon, in the mist, left behind by the menfolk. A formative experience for both good and bad, and a key driver behind the writing of what would become Wanderers #BookSky

It’s official now I’ve signed the contract (and met my first student): I’m ecstatic to say that I am going to be teaching the Nature and Travel Creative Writing MA at Bath Spa for the next 8 months. I’ve been so welcomed. What does it say, tho, that I was *relieved* to be back on a uni intranet??!

That’s a wrap on the Borders Book Festival. A lovely experience again-perhaps the best welcome for authors of any festival-and a generous audience. Bonus was sharing parenting eye roll moments with Stacey Dooley as she scoffed her lunch and I prepped for my event. Never change, BBF, never change.

It’s been a mad week of amazing things but I’m not sure the sighting of a young hare, a bit confused in the gloaming last night, wasn’t the most splendid of the lot.

There’s still time to get tickets for my event on Saturday at the fabulous Borders Book Festival. See below: #BookSky bordersbookfestival.citizenticket.com/events/borde...

Depends on the book as some are harder to resist than others, but yep, this is often me. What about you, #BookSky?

What a day: did a wonderful event with Merryn Glover in front of a small but perfect audience all about Nan Shepherd and the magic of words, then watched the matinee of Nan Shepherd: Naked and Unashamed, then dinner by the Tay. And how did my day start? By shaking Alan Cumming’s hand, that’s how.

This year's @edbookfest.bsky.social features lots of E&T authors! Even more reason to head to Edinburgh this summer. ⭐Nicola Kelly, Anywhere But Here ⭐Polly Atkin, The Company of Owls ⭐Kerri Andrews, Pathfinding ⭐Paul French, Wallis Simpson ⭐Candice Chung, Chinese Parents Don't Say I Love You

Today has been properly mad in the best ways. Tonight I got to be at the programme launch for the Edinburgh Book Festival where I mingled* with the stars. And then THE Alan Cumming does a skit with my book to promote tomorrow’s talk 🤪 *stood nervously nearby too scared to talk to my writing heroes