A throwaway sentence in Bill Bryson's Shakespeare biography started it. A pesky little brother threatening the Bard's street credit in London? STORY GOLD!

My mission to find cool photo shots for books I'm reading on my trip continues. @sjpoyton.bsky.social @catherinerandall.bsky.social

Love me a pirate story! This one is ace!

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I am an enthusiastic reader of books, particularly historical fiction, as well as a writer. A massive shout out to @catherinerandall.bsky.social who has pulled off a fantastic story. I read #TheGreatBearBreakout outside and actually bear enclosure today.

Any other #Shakespeare fans here? I bought the picture just before starting my first teaching job. When @societyofauthors.bsky.social gave me a work-in-progress grant, I set to work on a kids' novel about Shakespeare's youngest brother. And now it's HERE! THANK YOU @luathpress.bsky.social!

And today in headlines I never expected to read

New #Adventuremice video! Learn how to draw an ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MOUSE ✍️ @philipreeve.bsky.social @dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social

Right! Convince me that Bluesky works! I am getting pretty low engagement, though I love how the platform looks/feels. I left Twitter for here, but I'm clearly not getting the hang of it. For info, I live in the Highlands of Scotland and write kids' books, mostly historical, and adult non-fiction.

Make friends with reenactors, authors! 😊

Thank you, @waterstones.bsky.social @waterstonesargyle.bsky.social for giving Goodbye Day Job TABLE SPACE, and for stocking so many of my kids' books too. 😊🙏 @luathpress.bsky.social

Love me a pirate story! This one is ace!

Aww, I LOVE THIS! I visited this school recently. They are reading The Boy, the Witch and the Queen of Scots!

Just watched Enemy of the State, decades too late - excellent film!

Back from a couple of days on the road, taking in @wlstjohns.bsky.social and Clifton Hall School near Edinburgh, chatting about Mary Queen of Scots, the Jacobites and the Wars of Independence!

Thank you so much for having me!

Wee walk near Edinburgh Airport after school. Tomorrow's author visit is a school hereabouts. 😊

Today's drive to visit @wlstjohns.bsky.social Primary for an author visit about Mary Queen of Scots. They offered me coffee and I was happy!

Who loves historical adventure, teleporting and her dog Merry? It's Barbara Henderson aka @scattyscribbler.bsky.social, of course! Find out all about her exciting writing in our interview. Plus a brilliant writing tip that also applies to parties. virtualauthors.co.uk/2026/03/17/1...

For loads more printable book posters to liven up your library or classroom, go to timetunnellers.com/2026/02/25/w...

Teacher! Librarians! Book shop owners! @slj.com @aaslala.bsky.social @melrose-bookshop.bsky.social @readingagency.bsky.social @booksfortopics.bsky.social @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social

I love these gorgous posters from the @timetunnellers.bsky.social

@robinscottelliot.bsky.social tells it as it is. 😊 For downloadable and printable author quote posters like this one, go to timetunnellers.com/2026/02/25/w...

Happy International Women's Day! Here is a video I made about the women who inspired my first published book, Fir for Luck. #HighlandClearances youtu.be/1oxYBGERKh4?...

Very much looking forward to this event in Irvine. Do come along and design and name an ice cream. The winning ice cream flavour will be made by Vanilla Joe's!

Boring walls in your school library? Instant library makeover in time for World Book Day! Step 1: Go to timetunnellers.com/2026/02/25/w... Step 2: Print off as many of the free author posters as you need. Step 3: Watch the Wow effect as kids enter on the day.

Teachers! Librarians! Fancy giving your classrooms or libraries a refresh for @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social? The @timetunnellers.bsky.social have just published 16 book quotes from children's authors as downloadable posters and/or images for use to promote reading! timetunnellers.com/2026/02/25/w...

Teachers! Librarians! Fancy giving your classrooms or libraries a refresh for @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social? The @timetunnellers.bsky.social have just published 16 book quotes from children's authors as downloadable posters and/or images for use to promote reading! timetunnellers.com/2026/02/25/w...

Woke up shaking and crying. Nightmare. Dreamt that the council had closed all the libraries overnight, indefinitely. In my dream, I sobbed as I painted protest banners. Third world problems, I know, but the RELIEF, realising all was well! 😅

I needed a bit of sunshine! Finally. The River Ness, Inverness.

Been a tough week, so we cheered ourselves up with a trip to Loch Glass and the pink house off the Traitors.

What do you think of some of our display @scattyscribbler.bsky.social @lrsfalkirk.bsky.social @stjosephsps.bsky.social #thestjoesstory

As someone who has written about Mary Queen of Scots, I was so keen to see the @natlibscot exhibition of her last letter at @perthmuseum.bsky.social. Better still, they asked me to deliver school workshops about #MaryQueenofScots and #RobertBurns, and I got a look at the exhibition a day early! 😊

#RobertBurns - an action hero? Not quite the image we all have of the Bard, but perhaps we do not have the full picture. I loved putting together this video for the Time Tunnellers a few years ago (no grey hair then!). Maybe it will shed a new light on a well-kent face! youtu.be/j9mEACnKTDo?...

Hot water bottle prep. 😊

I have been fortunate to have been awarded a @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social Author Residency at Stornoway Primary School. Last month's trips fell victim to the weather with all ferries and flights cancelled. This time I was on my way. Youngsters, stories, and wide open skies! Score!

Books are like buses, and 2026 is definitely front-loaded for me. First up, THIS. I feel so honoured that these people have chosen to share their stories with me. Strap in for a real life, warts and all account of what REALLY happens when people walk away from the day job to pursue their passion.

Buzzing: a historical adventure for 8-12 year-olds, featuring the Bard, his much younger brother Edmund, and Elizabethan London. Out in April. @saaupdates.bsky.social @shakespearesglobe.bsky.social @shaxbull.bsky.social @nashaxpodcast.bsky.social @shakespeareandcompany.com

Thank you so much, @lindasbookbag.bsky.social ! @luathpress.bsky.social !

Played some seasonal games at school today. Kid drew this for Pictionary. Any guesses? Honestly, these are the moments I became a teacher for!

On this day in 1542, Princess Mary Stuart succeeded her father, James V, and became Queen Mary I of Scotland, at 6 days old.

Treetops from daughter's and son in law's 3rd floor flat. Good morning, all.

Happy birthday to #MaryQueenofScots, and to ME too! The fact that we share a birthday made me doubly determined to write about Mary. On the off-chance that you are still looking for a good deed to do today, leave a review for one of my books online? Thank you to all who already have!

I'm loving the KILTS (Kidlit Scotland) book covers advent calendar. Updated daily at kidlitscotland.wordpress.com/book-cover-a...

Just stacked a *literal* ton of wood, tag-teaming with the man. Off to meet a pal for a wee breakfast at the garden centre now. Preparing myself for the onslaught of artificial cinnamon scent and animatronic snowman harmonies...😫 🎅🎄

You know what? I miss Twitter - how it used to be. I miss the immediacy and the connections and the simplicity. I miss my old network of teachers, writers and librarians. I quit the day after the US election. If you are interested in kids' books, Scotland, history and kindness, let's connect.

Current view. Waiting for a train home. Thank you, @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social, for part funding today's school visit.

Train sunrise over Perthshire.

Another early train. Quite like Inverness's 'festive but forsaken' look. There's a story in there, right?