Here I am, sharing a table with @londonbessie.bsky.social as part of Whitby Library's Litfest display. So many authors, so many events...

Was there a story you read as a young person that transformed your thinking, ignited your imagination and stayed with you long after you turned eighteen? Learn how to write your own YA masterpiece with award-winning writer Liz Hyder. Book now: buff.ly/FYiu4Qh

I’m extremely proud of this. Proper science books for young people are a difficult sell, so it’s nice to get some recognition. Well done to brilliant writer Ben and all the team at DFB. (In case it’s not clear, I did the illustrations).

An Infusiast

A huge moment -- Melvyn Bragg steps down from In Our Time after over a quarter of a century. What a programme and what a legacy! Just a model for how to make great, clever, engaging radio, and a twenty-seven-year experiment that proves there's a huge global audience for smart, scholarly programming.

On July 23rd we have our first free workshop - writing children's fiction with Nero Book Awards Children's Fiction Winner, Liz Hyder @londonbessie.bsky.social. Register here to secure your spot: www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-ch...

Don’t consider yourself a writer? This relaxed and supportive workshop led by award-winning novelist Liz Hyder is perfect for those who want to try something new. 🔗 buff.ly/P5KWij3

Hope amongst the cracks.

This is, in large part, pandemic revenge. As far as these oligarchs are concerned, all science does is tell them stuff they cannot do. They can't keep spewing carbon. They can't keep businesses open as usual when millions are dying. They have concluded that research is the enemy of profit.

Every creative in the UK should read this. Horrifying…

Well-known rocks

Toot toot! Can’t wait for Oxford Lit Fest! x come and join us for bookish chat, inspiration, and much laughter!

Press freedom groups condemn targeted killing of two journalists in Israeli strikes

If your books are among the 7.5 million pirated works on #LibGen, the resource #Meta has been using to train their #AI, you can at least send Meta a letter (using the @authorsguild.bsky.social's handy template) to state that they are violating your copyright. actionnetwork.org/letters/auth...

Dr Darren Chetty and Professor Karen Sands O’Connor discuss their new book, Beyond the Secret Garden , which examines racial representation in British children’s literature. 25/3/2025 6:30 - 8pm Brixton Library, London SW2 1JQ Book a place at: eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...

The thing about AI training on pirated works is that Meta and Alphabet know all about licences. They know what intellectual property is and they would deny service to anyone who required a licence to use their products and didn't pay for it.

NEW: LibGen contains millions of pirated books and research papers, built over nearly two decades. From court documents, we know that Meta torrented a version of it to build its AI. Today, @theatlantic.com presents an analysis of the data set by @alexreisner.bsky.social. Search through it yourself:

Yeah, not interested in billionaires doing what they deem “good” with a small proportion of their wealth. Tax them out of existence and let’s have a society where the gap between the rich and poor is not so obscenely immoral.

Fantastic shortlists! Congratulations to everyone on here! Top reads! xx

Someone clever did this to a lamppost on Coverdale road and now I am disappointed that every lamppost doesn’t have one

There’s a sweary version of What3Words! Why did none of you fuckers tell me about it? Anyway, I am here. You are not.

Here, have some forest to brighten your day. Imagine the sound of chiffchaffs and coal tits, woodpeckers and robins…

Many people - some of them on this website - have bemoaned how expensive an FT subscription is, ignoring the fact you can simply buy the finest Weekend paper for £5 a week. HOWEVER we have listened! And FT Edit - an app which costs £5 A MONTH with 8 new reads a day - will include Jay's reviews!

Working on a thing! Looking forward to visiting schools and festivals and talking about the wonderful Welsh wildlife! The razorbills are back!

The Guardian, "Israel to cut off electricity in Gaza" Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which pertains to the protection of civilians in times of war, explicitly prohibits collective punishment Just waiting for all those supporting Ukraine to now also speak up for the people of Gaza

Bonkers and brilliant time at the Nero Book Awards on Weds eve. Still buzzing…

Giganticus flatbreadus…

W'v abndnd r strtgy www.ft.com/content/06b0...

Our judges cannot wait to share with you the 16 books they’ve chosen for the 30th #WomensPrize for Fiction longlist. Watch to learn more on how they've found the judging process: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-tqnwB3bV4

It's #WorldBookDay next week, and I know a lot of your children want to go to school dressed as my characters. So here are my tips for dressing as Peanut Jones and her friends. Hope they are of use. Do send me any pictures of your charges in their outfits on the big day...

IT'S THE LAST DAY TO DO THIS! Takes 20 mins with this help from the AOI which is easily adapted to others not just illustrators.

Our petition with @equityuk.bsky.social and @societyofauthors.bsky.social to Save Audio Drama at the BBC has reached over 10,000 signatures Help us reach the next goal! #SADatTheBBC www.change.org/p/save-audio...

SIGNED BOOK NEWS! CLOWN TOWN Mick Herron's new Slough House thriller is out in September. Limited edition signed Indie Bookshop editions (with their own unique cover), are now available to pre-order. And what's more, you can get one right here, from us! biggreenbookshop.com/signed-copie...

Wise words up on the wall of a Ludlow primary school. Lovely innit? x

Magnifique. Wyndham meets Nigel Kneale but it’s also very much its own beast. Truly superb. Unsettling, beautiful, funny and wonderfully strange. Superb.

‘What are you cooking mistress?’

Do you know any young writers within reach of Abergavenny? The annual Youth Writing Competition has extended its deadline to March 3rd. There's an award ceremony and mentoring sessions as prizes.

I know Stathis. He was a colleague of mine at the University of Chicago. He is a pretty buttoned-down scholar. For him to tweet this out is… something.

“I’m asking the British government today to protect the copyright of writers and artists in this country, and to understand that what we do is not just data.” www.thebookseller.com/news/jeanett...

My thoughts on the government’s proposal to allow AI into all of our houses of copyright to freely rob, recycle and resell our creative work unless we, the copyright owners, stipulate that everything within our respective houses are respectively ours. Links in profile to let your voice be heard.

👇👇👇💥

I’d recommend DuckDuckGo as an alternative…

#ukkidlit Artists and authors please email your MP about AI it’s all written for you, just add your details creativerightsinai.eaction.org.uk/MP

Great prize here for writers who are also carers. Please share :)

Here, have a green lane as the sun sets…

Post from a dear pal. Brilliant.

Had the most amazing week on @hayfestival.bsky.social Scribblers tour. An utter joy and privilege to meet so many brilliant young minds and to get to work with the incredible Polarbear aka Steven Camden. ❤️

The 2025 Henrietta Branford Writing Competition is open 📖 All young writers 8 - 18 can enter, with a story, poem or lyrics that - inspired by #BranfordBoaseAward winner Nathanael Lessore - will make the judges laugh! Find out more and get #Writing! booksforkeeps.co.uk/make-em-laug...

“Solidarity” is not an idea that often pops up in British newspapers, even to deride it. It’s no exaggeration to say that I have heard the word used more often in reference to a 1980s Polish trade union than as a value we might or should hold.

Please boost this post, ESPECIALLY if you’re a UK based visual artist, author or creative. What our government is trying to do is predicated on GREED and nothing more. If you love the arts then join us in trying to protect the livelihoods of those who create it. SHARE SHARE SHARE!