My 2017 novel (which was recently republished by Virago) is this week’s selection at Small Distractions / Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds. Nice to see it having a second wind.

Sad to hear this news. RIP Tony Harrison.

She's not on here but my pal Terri White has made this powerful and moving documentary about child poverty full of heart and muscle. Please watch it, we should all watch it – vital viewing: www.theguardian.com/society/vide...

Heading to Leeds next month for Small Distractions Literary Salon, where I’ll be in conversation with Amy McCarthy. Come one and all. www.seetickets.com/tour/small-d...

'Her outrage, in the act of expression, seems to feed on itself. If a point is conceded, she finds another hair to split, by return of post.' Gwendoline Riley on Muriel Spark’s irrepressible creative drive

Calling all scholars of Punk…

The fierce new paperback cover of Base Notes has just landed courtesy of @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social -- and is now available to preorder at your local independent bookshop. If you squint, you’ll see ‘Clive Loves Dawn’ written on the number plate… store.whiterabbitbooks.co.uk/products/bas...

Roll up for signed editions, defaced and scribbled on just a few weeks ago.

A balanced (long-form) view of the Constance Marten trial, far better than the sensationalist take on this case that has appeared in so many places.

A helpful guide has just been published by the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain for those writing nonfiction (concerning legal, defamation and copyright etc). It’s free and available here> writersguild.org.uk/wp-content/u...

Heard Laurie Anderson play this on her 6Music show and was stopped dead in my tracks. Not sure if it ever had an official release. Lou wrote it for their wedding day. It’s sublime. m.youtube.com/watch?v=0RDc...

Looking forward to the inaugural Whitby Lit Fest in November, where I'll be discussing Bram Stoker's Dracula at the Working Class Library Podcast's live event... It's a great programme with loads of interesting writers holding court. Tickets here: whitbylitfest.org.uk/event/the-wo...

Starting work on the paperback edition of Base Notes, due out in February. The new cover is smoking hot and I cannot wait to share it. Soon, I hope? If you're curious, there's an extract from the Old Spice chapter @caughtbytheriver.bsky.social... www.caughtbytheriver.net/2025/02/adel...

Wow. This is quite something. A mushroom burial. I approve. Via @luketurner.bsky.social

Well done, Jeff! Read the first chapter of this last night and it blew my socks off. Tremendous writing.

We’ve Just opened our first open submissions window for working-class writers. We’re looking for stories that capture something about being working class in Britain in 2025. Can be fiction or non-fiction, & 500-3000 words long. Please pitch us. Details here: thebeemagazine.com/open-call-fo...

Berlin, 1971. Opening night. Ben's new novel has been announced today. I've read it, and think it's his best. A wild ride through the deranged mind of Klaus Kinski, and a writer who is grappling with this most impossible subject.

🚨🚨 NEW AMY LIPTROT BOOK KLAXON 🚨🚨

A century after his death, BBC R3 have produced a special feature on the composer Erik Satie, the subject of Ian Penman's latest book. Listen to the episode here and find ERIK SATIE THREE PIECE SUITE on our website: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

I'll be heading to the splendid Mrs Lofthouse's Emporium in Scarborough on Saturday 5 July with @benjaminmyers76.bsky.social to sign books, drink tea and loiter with intent. If you are in the vicinity, pop in and say hello. We'll be there from midday for an hour or so...

"Tender, bittersweet... I loved this memoir and have never read anything quite like it." Thanks to @steelydass.bsky.social at RNZ for her thoughtful review of Base Notes. This really made my day. www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro... @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social

Delighted to see Joe Brainard’s I Remember being reissued by Daunt. If you know, you know…

Outstanding performance in Manchester last night. This is how it’s done.

Since when did it become acceptable to take your mobile phone into the swimming pool? Because every time I go, there are people posing and trout-pouting, Turkey-teething it for the camera — and… heavy petting! Have they never read THE RULES?

A top afternoon with literary (& publishing) greatness at @leedslitfest.bsky.social and always good to have a quick catch up with @stuhennigan.bsky.social 😎

Superb interview with Adam Curtis. Sally Rooney, Burial, Cafe Oto under discussion. After watching Shifty I feel like my memory has been re-programmed. Incredible piece of film making that hits hard for anyone born in the 1970s. Nice one @fergalkinney.bsky.social theface.com/life/adam-cu...

Fresh, seething, punk as f*ck. Loved this collection of short stories, its raw energy and verve. One of my favourites this year (I have a penchant for Latin American literature that refuses to budge)...

Only a handful of tickets left for this now. I'll be in conversation with David Keenan, Lee Brackstone and Stu Hennigan @leedslitfest.bsky.social on Saturday afternoon at Leeds Central Library. Come one and all!

And for those who would like to read my interview with Cosey online... crackmagazine.net/article/prof...

I wrote about @adellestripe.bsky.social's wonderful olfactory memoir, Base Notes, in this week's TLS @thetls.bsky.social @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social www.the-tls.co.uk/regular-feat...

“When we first started out, we never tried or wanted to fit in. We lived for the now, never thinking or worrying about the future.” Was a pleasure to interview @coseyfannitutti.bsky.social for the June issue of @crackmagazine.bsky.social >> Her excellent new album 2T2 is out this week ⚡️

Beautiful review of Base Notes by James Cook in today’s TLS. It’s many years since I read Bennett. To be compared to him is an honour. In Leeds we don’t fuss & splother about ourselves, so allow me this moment to break local rules. @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social www.the-tls.co.uk/regular-feat...

Lots of good stuff coming up @leedslitfest.bsky.social, including… Our showcase with @adellestripe.bsky.social & @reversediorama.bsky.social, Sat 21st www.leedslitfest.co.uk/events/white... We’ll also be part of Small Distractions literary salon, Thurs 19th www.leedslitfest.co.uk/events/small...

The most incredible writer.

Solstice special. See you there.

The mighty Cabaret Voltaire are back to play a small run of 50th anniversary shows this year. I sat down with Chris Watson and Stephen Mallinder for their first return interview. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

This brilliant book was a huge influence on Ten Thousand Apologies (alongside Ian Hunter’s Diary of a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star). Godspeed Andrew Matheson ⚡️

These two are total stars. As is Jordon Scott Kennedy.

When I'm not writing books, I sometimes write bios for record labels. It was a total pleasure to work with Bob, Pete & Sarah on their final long player, International... heavenlyrecordings.com/artist/saint...

🖤

I’m back in Manchester this Thursday May 29th in conversation w/Austin Collings about all things Volcanic Tongue. P3 Annihilation Eve ~ 70 Oldham Road, Manchester, M4 5EB {Season 3 of AD England}. Free entry. 7pm. manchesterwire.co.uk/p3-annihilat... @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social

Had an interesting chat about scent & memory, translated literature and how writing memoir provokes a particular type of insanity for Paperback Perfumes… www.paperbackperfumes.com/episodes/mem...

I’ll be tutoring a 4-day advanced memoir writing course alongside Dr Jenni Fagan at Arvon Lumb Bank in October. Looking forward to this a great deal. www.arvon.org/writing-cour...

I’ll be joining Stu, Lee Brackstone & David Keenan at Leeds Central Library on June 21st for a White Rabbit Books showcase — part of this year’s Leeds Lit Fest programme which is looking fly.

This is a great piece about the Sycamore Tree case by Andrew Hankinson observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

New fave telly show. Landmark Trust showing how it's done at Calverley Old Hall, a crumbling medieval manor on the edge of Bradford. Can someone offer me a job as a Tudor paint restorer please? www.channel4.com/programmes/h...

Today sees the launch of @beelitmag.bsky.social — a new magazine, website and podcast for working-class writers supported by New Writing North and Michael Sheen. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Great interview. Enjoyed reading this. #queenpat

Tune into R4’s PM (right now) to hear me talking about The Bee, a new working-class literary magazine that launches on Monday.