Nothing says 'man of the people' quite like a politician calling a by-election at public expense on the issue of whether or not he should have the right to secretly take donations from Thai-based crypto billionaires and a convicted fraudster

Breakfast of champions

Hello, I’ve an event for my Muriel Spark biography next Weds (15th) at Waterstones Liverpool. We’ve sold barely any tickets, however, and it might be cancelled as a result. Please get a ticket if you’re nearby - it’ll be a lot of fun, and I’ll bring badges! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstone...

Spain game a bit of a damp squib though the village chaps around me have had a cracking mix of beer, wine, unnamed liquor, black coffee and enormous calamari baguettes.

And if you decide to, you can sell your book to someone else, or give one as a gift, or lend it to someone who might enjoy it, and *no one can stop you*!

I gather the football’s moved. Fear not, it still doesn’t clash with the World Cup Final that England are actually playing in. Lord’s 15:30 BST, England v. Australia. 🏏

Beautiful everyday Ladybird things. The cotton-reel tank/tractor (Toys and Games to Make, 1966) Artist: Robert Ayton

Voting for Shed of the year 2026 closes 14th July open.substack.com/pub/unclewil...

I saw the #BayeuxTapestry last year and the thing I did before I saw it that really enriched the experience for me was buying Tanya Bentham’s book on Bayeux Stitch and learning how to do the stitches. It gave me a link and appreciation of the work and the people (women) making it.

Wuthering Heights First Edition Breaks Emily Brontë Record at Christie's www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine-books-n...

Eileen's book about Rydal Mount is worth a read, and she's right about that headline.

Doing something on Edward Gorey. Apparently, his dad ran off with Corinna Mura who was the woman who sang La Marseillaise in Rick's in Casablanca.

Very sorry to hear about Simon Trewin who was very encouraging to me when I first ventured into the world of letterpress printing.

A great issue @finebooks.bsky.social ! Am sharing multiple articles with various people in my life, sparking conversations and even making plans for a future visit to Poster House and the Eric Carle Museum. Was also inspired to purchase another sci-fi "pop-up" book. #RightToRead #ArtAsResistance

Giving Bsky one more chance to show me the path here before I start bushwhacking my own way through the literature

I'm after a photo or artwork from #Birmingham, the #BlackCountry, #Worcs or #Warwicks, to make the perfect front cover for a forthcoming book. Something with a real sense of place, intriguing and witty. Of the last 50 years, perhaps especially 90s/early 00s. Any pointers to artists/photographers?

Friday. 📷 Toni Frissell.

The modern world in old Ladybird books. “Fleet Street - the Street of Ink” (The story of Newspapers, 1969) Artist: Ron Embleton

I visited NYC's oldest library to see what's new after their latest revamp. It was full of writers writing when I stopped by!

Yes, obviously it is suspended, but is it operating or not? Useless TfL app.

Haha, nice one @privateeyenews.bsky.social !

Can confirm this is very enjoyable.

Charles Dickens's writing hut saved for the nation www.shedworking.co.uk/2026/06/dick...

Another entry in my ongoing series "Photos of my books taken by other people that are much better than mine", this time The Philosophy of Sheds by the fine folk at @wealddownmuseum.bsky.social

I'm really looking forward to being a judge for The Conversation Prize for writers 2026, in partnership with Faber Books and Curtis Brown. There's still time to get your entry in! Submit your 2000-word article and book idea by Sunday 5 July! theconversation.com/entries-now-...

Shed Coverage : Welsh sheds this time, Public voting opens for Shed of the Year 2026 as shortlist revealed www.wales247.co.uk/public-votin...

"A terrific new book" is how editor Phillipa McGuinness at the excellent Openbook magazine in Australia describes my recent When Books Go Bad published by @blpublishing.bsky.social

I co-edit a book series for Boydell & Brewer on "The Urban World in the Middle Ages." Open to *BOOK* proposals c. 800–1600, covering urban life, societies, or cultures in Europe, Mediterranean, or Islamic world. For more info, email me, [email protected]. Happy to hear from 1st-time book authors.

A Shropshire man’s ingenious garden retreat has emerged as an early frontrunner in the annual Shed of the Year competition, which is celebrating its milestone 20th anniversary this year.

Got tickets for the final day of the Test match on Sunday. Bit nervous.

Sheds are for everybody, but if you're wondering what to get for that special person on Father's Day then this would not be a terrible choice. Unless they hate sheds.

Great image of Britain.

Get your hands/paws/barghesty claws on a copy here: shop.bl.uk/products/hau...

It’s time to wheel out that most hilarious of dad jokes, that my England top seems to have shrunk a bit since the last World Cup.

Voting opens for Shed of the Year competition www.shedworking.co.uk/2026/06/voti...

Especially since Cadbury's was founded by Quakers.

This is a must read thread if you’re concerned about what AI (or the perception of AI) is able to do to intellectual labour & academic work

"Ich askid ChatGPT," Well Ich askid the stones, and the forest, and the starres, and the mountaynes, and the moone daunsinge above, and what thei seyde was learninge, and dreames, and growinge thinges, and makinge art, and a worlde wher we talke to each othir and care about each othir.

I'm always on the lookout for contributors to apersonalanthology.com. Do you love short stories? Can you communicate that love in words? Can you bear to pick just 12 of them? Then get in touch! The substack has 2,500+ subscribers. The archive has 3,500+ individual entries. Help me build it!

New book alert celebrating my home and the great city of New York!! I authored ‘An Opinionated Guide to New York Architecture’ for the fantastic Hoxton Mini Press, with write ups on over 70 sites I think represent the diverse history of local design. Available now in the UK & for preorder in the US

This Sunday, going to be a real treat!

As expected, a glorious weekend @montylitfest.bsky.social. Enjoyed my session with @shedworking.bsky.social, catching up with dear friends and being thumped AGAIN in the legendary festival quiz. Here are the winning team in their moment of victory. Next year, comrades…

Thanks to the marvellous new Toppings bookshop in York for giving my latest book The Philosophy of Sheds published by @blpublishing.bsky.social a good showing in their new premises

I’m back in the small market town in Shropshire where I grew up (well, to 13). Full nostalgia rumpus.

Other work by the Ladybird artists. ‘A lane in midsummer’ (1945) Artist: SR Badmin

To Wales

Tthe original untitled script for the film Annie Hall (1977) owned by Diane Keaton has just sold at Bonhams for $394,200.

This is tomorrow! Should be a fun chat with Alex about his fascinating and very entertaining romp through a century of Welsh literature. So much to chew over, and all in the care of the truly brilliant @montylitfest.bsky.social. Best cakes on the circuit.

Corn Marigold, Corn Mint, Hemlock Water Dropwort, Feverfew British Wild Flowers, 1957 Artists: Edith and Rowland Hilder