Posting some photos from Friday's archive launch event at The Linen Hall Library. Feeling very privileged and extremely honoured to have been granted Honorary Membership. Thank you to all who came. Here's to libraries, the backbone of civilisation, and to more days like this.

Thanks to @martindoyle.bsky.social for this piece in today’s @irishtimes.com, ahead of Friday’s event at The Linen Hall Library, Belfast. Here’s to libraries everywhere, all the time. @librariesni.bsky.social

Writers based in Northern Ireland- Support Scheme now open at Irish Writers’ Centre: irishwriterscentre.ie/opportunitie...

The upcoming Writing Workshop with Bernie McGill is now SOLD OUT! 📅Saturday 28th June ⏰10.30am 📍Moyola Hall and Sensory Garden We look forward to welcoming all of those who secured a place. Don't forget to bring your writing materials and an open mind, ready to create! @berniemcgill.bsky.social

On Sunday 1st of June the three 2025 #curae prize winners are announced. May I ask you to share and support on that day, during the week and all through the coming year. It’s a unique literary prize for unpaid carers. Share posts across socials too. #carers

Giving this a little boost - just 3 places left.

Am so happy that this new series starts this weekend. Thanks so much to all the writers who submitted - we were blown away by the quality & precision of the work. The Prompt on @rteradio1.bsky.social Sunday 7.30pm. Info on here on the first ep w/ Mike McCormack: www.rte.ie/culture/2025...

Lovely to bump into @rosieschaap.bsky.social today in No Alibis Books, Belfast, as we signed copies of our books (while accidentally colour-coordinating with the covers).

Just got my hands on this - my first short story collection, Sleepwalkers, newly republished by No Alibis Press. The original launch was twelve years ago on a boat on the Lagan (picture attached). Available from the most splendid No Alibis Bookstore Belfast.

Thank you for the invitation @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social and all the very best with the rest of the festival.

Booking is now open for this writing workshop in the Sensory Garden at @shhomeplace.bsky.social on Saturday 28th June (10.30 am - 1.30 pm).

Today is 2025-04-21, the sun sets at 19:36:32 (20:36:32 with DST!) and the grand auld stretch tonight was 3 hours, 30 mins and 49 secs. #GrandStretch #SpringStretch

Looking forward to being back at Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy on 28th June for a writing workshop in the Sensory Garden. Full details in the link. Check out the Summer Programme of events: seamusheaneyhome.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

Congratulations @byddi.bsky.social. x

Happy #ALCSDay to our members! We’re so proud to have once again paid more money, to more members than ever before.

Today is 2025-03-24, the sun sets at 18:45:44 and the grand auld stretch tonight was 2 hours, 40 mins and 1 sec. #GrandStretch #SpringStretch

Short Story Workshop at The River Mill a beautiful place run by @pmaddern.bsky.social FINE TUNING THE SHORT STORY: one day workshop with Leone Ross Location: The River Mill (43 Ballyclander Road, Co Down, BT30 7DE) Date: Sat, April 19th Email [email protected] to book www.the-river-mill.co.uk

"Children’s Books Ireland are currently looking for two young readers to help select the next KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards shortlist, longlist and winners 2026." childrensbooksireland.ie/news-events/...

The first Dromore Book Festival, hosted by @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social is happening this year from 5th-10th May. I’ll be taking a writing workshop on Monday 5th (2pm-4pm). Booking for all events here: www.ticketsource.co.uk/bridge-books

Fabulous night at the Edge Hill awards at London Review Bookshop. Congratulations to Alma Lilja, winner of the PGR Prize, Malachi McIntosh, winner of the Debut Collection Prize, and Tessa Hadley, 2024 winner of the Edge Hill Prize.

Delightful evening listening to @berniemcgill.bsky.social read from her @edgehillprize.bsky.social winning collection This Train Is For at Edge Hill tonight. Looking forward to whatever comes next ❤️

We’re opening Scratch A4 competition in March so wanted to give writers a chance to get Reverse Engineering in readiness! These brilliant two books explore HOW the best authors wrote their stories. Use COLD20 at the checkout for 20% off! www.scratch-books.co.uk/shop

Second surprise pick from @bridgebooksdromore.bsky.social and I’m loving it. I know not everyone likes short stories but I’m a fan and these are beautifully written. Stories of love and loss with the occasional dark twist and a very strong sense of place. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We’re in Manchester this Wednesday 5th Feb to give a workshop on writing shit-hot short stories. We gave it a better title than that I’m sure. Details here… happening.altogetherotherwise.com

A rare chance to meet @berniemcgill.bsky.social this side of the Irish Sea. www.edgehill.ac.uk/event/bernie...

Liverpool folks, treat yourself to hearing Bernie read from her excellent, Edge Hill prize winning short story collection 'This Train is For' (and / or buy a copy!)

Today is 2025-01-31, the sun sets at 17:06:24 and the grand auld stretch tonight was 1 hour, 00 mins and 41 secs. #GrandStretch #NewYearNewStretch

Looking forward to this event at The Arts Centre, Edge Hill University on 19th February. Grateful for any shares. @edgehillprize.bsky.social www.edgehill.ac.uk/event/bernie...

Don’t forget the 21st-23rd February is The Limerick Literary Festival in Honour of Kate O’Brien. We have fantastic speakers coming to join us. Our full programme will be announced on 23rd January in O’Mahony’s Bookstore at 5.30pm launched by celebrated Limerick Actor Myles Breen. Come and join us.

Books newsletter: Kate O’Brien Prize shortlist revealed. a preview of tomorrow’s pages and round-up of the latest news. Naoise Dolan is inaugural IPUT writer in residence in Dublin; Corn University Press centenary www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

Tonight! Come join us to talk about writing permissions, habits & taboos & find out how you might be getting in your own way. Can't make it live? Ticketholders get a recording afterwards: www.tickettailor.com/events/tania... #AmWriting #poetry #shortstories #flashfiction #fiction #CNF #hybridwriting

Join us for an inspiring film screening of Mrs Robinson, a powerful documentary about the remarkable life of Mary Robinson - from her groundbreaking presidency to her role as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and her ongoing advocacy for climate justice. 📅 Sunday 16th February 🕑 2pm

We can't wait to read your debut novels! ✨ Our submission period opens tonight Friday 1/10/25 at midnight PT (technically Sat 1/11/25 @ 12:01 am PT) and stays open until Sunday 1/12/25 @ 11:59 pm PT. See full guidelines, FAQ, and how to submit your work at the link! tinhouse.com/book-submiss...

Please share and share again - the demise of twitter definitely stops us getting the word out more. The second #curae literary prize - a special literary award for unpaid carers - has just opened for a second time. thecuraeprize.uk You’ve got until 1/03 to enter!

Wrote about the advice I give but don’t take, coming back to a project after a long break, & all the different versions of ourselves we run into when we go home substack.com/home/post/p-...

Hello. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you should have received an email giving you a code for 20% off most products on the website. If you don't, the code is NEW20. Why not spend this weird post-Christmas/pre-New Year period browsing for a new book? www.bridgebooksdromore.co.uk

The Grand Stretch is Back baby!

A priest who gets a man to impersonate him at mass while he shags his wife; a man who needs a haircut so badly he’s outgrown his only hat—and a novel of brassy blondes and leprechauns. I picked some of the best reissued classics of 2024, from Appelfeld to Zweig, via Colwin, Frame, Montale and more.

There’s a whole stack of newly-signed copies of This Train is For (2023 Edge Hill winning collection) at No Alibis Bookstore Belfast. Someone you know might love one for Christmas. (If not, they have a lot of other books. And booksellers who really know their stuff.)😄

Over 160 calls for submissions of poetry, fiction, flash, non-fiction, art, photography & more - competitions, literary journals, residencies, bursaries etc - open or with deadlines in December 2024. Best of luck & pls share! www.thisiswordbox.com/wordbox-blog...

Reposting this for the thousands of you who have joined this place since we made it. And do keep your recommendations coming! (Sorry for the delay in updating, we have to give everything a listen first…) go.bsky.app/61TpUxy

A few new spots open for the READING ROUND group I run in Edinburgh, through the Royal Literary Fund!!! An amazing, rich, fun, literary delight, this group meets a few times a month in Central Library to discuss one poem and one short story. NO PREP, NO HOMEWORK, FREE. It's been magical so far!

This makes me very happy. Pictured with Susannah Dickie, just after she won the inaugural Pen Heaney Prize for her collection, Isdal, from Picador. She's a wonder. The ceremony was hosted by the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen's University.

We're new here. But we're not new. We've been around for 20 years. For those that aren't aware of us, the following will answer some questions we hope: www.abridged.zone/abridged-fre...

The new issue Submission Call is now open!

We are pleased to bring the world of Seamus Heaney HomePlace to Bluesky. Join us for updates on our exhibition, events, and insights into the life and works of the Nobel laureate, Seamus Heaney!

We heard that starter packs are a thing on BlueSky so here’s our UK Book Festival pack! Please share and let us know who we’ve missed 💙📚 #BookSky go.bsky.app/9a6rt7M

We are delighted to announce the dates for #DingleLit2025 📚 Dátaí do do dhialann - 21 - 23 November | Samhain. Lock it in agus Bígí linn 🙌 #FéileLiteartha #GaeilgeBéarla

The Discoveries writing development programme and prize for unpublished women writers in the UK accepts novels in any genre of adult fiction, with entrants invited to submit the first 10,000 words of their novel and a synopsis

Starter pack of non-massive accounts that you should really be following, because they will teach you things and/or make you laugh go.bsky.app/UStkBW1