Today I am FINALLY going to visit the Waterstones comics pop up dammit! But first...many other bookshops. For it is the first day that the new Loki editions can be found out in the world!

Phantom trains thrum the rails. Unseen hands switch points in abandoned signal boxes. Our infrastructure is haunted not only by its disasters, but misremembered golden ages. Ghosted by long dead lives and a nagging sense that something has been lost. – George Kindred, Haunted Hookland

Of all animals in that collective wooden bestiary called pew end, my favourites are avatars of the Queen of Owls. Whether Fethrower or Owlpad, they manifest her mysteries. They give her eyes, give her carved eyes. They make even a church part of her kingdom. – Dr. M. Benn, 1982

So delighted for Claire - a well-deserved winner and also an @uvcompetition.bsky.social finalist! Go Claire!!! @claire.l.gordon.writes www.thebookseller.com/news/teacher...

My dad had this set when I was growing up and me and all more siblings read them - and then a few years ago he sold them in an auction without telling us. Gutted.

Top Of The Box - the story behind every single released by BBC Records And Tapes. I'm told it's as funny as it is informative and frankly I'll take that. Paperback or Kindle from here! timworthington.org/books/top-of...

Yes, exactly. I think it's because people secretly enjoy the opportunity of having a dig at the 'popular ones' They love you till they hate you, or something like that.

When I was asked to step-up and take on the organisation of UV 26, I thought it would be a fun way to give back, I had no idea! So worth it though on Saturday when we had our 12 shortlisted authors all together. Now you can read their amazing work too. Visit undiscoveredvoices.com to download.

It's a busy month for #UV24 debuts hitting the shelves 👏 Today it's the turn of Cinders and Stars, a stunning YA fantasy by Esther Scherpenisse. Congratulations and happy publication day, Esther 🥳 bookfinity.com/book/Cinders... @scbwi.bsky.social

These 12 remarkable story openings make up the latest Undiscovered Voices anthology - available to download or order from undiscoveredvoices.com from tomorrow. Thanks again to amazing panel of judges, team of readers and our fabulous honorary chair @louiestowell.bsky.social 🙏

Delighted to announce our #UV26 WINNERS!! 👏🥳🙌 @cmundywrites.bsky.social @rburrows.bsky.social @ivy-lin.bsky.social, Monica Gutierraz, Caroline Wigg, Zoe Dixon, Kirsty Hammond, Alicja Bagier, Claire Gordon, Dominic Yoboue, Claire Mowat and Alana Warbrick CONGRATULATIONS on your amazing stories ❤️

We told you April was going to be a busy month 😅 Congratulations and happy publication day to #UV24 alumnus Louise Austin whose hilarious debut Alex Abbott is [Un]dead is out today 👏

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... normally I’m a sucker for miniature things, but I could get on board with this.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle... I love this so much. But I think the Andrews doth protest too much.

www.bbc.com/travel/artic... This sounds amazing! Can we have this in the UK please?

When the history books look back at the burning questions that occupied the minds of early 21st century humankind, this one surely will be up there in the Top 5. Comparing Dark Chocolate to Cadburys is like comparing water to wine, right? thttps://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zc6sxg8

Just heard that my son’s sec. school is running a comp for the best poster designed using AI. They recently hosted an A.I. company who provided workshops to staff on using A.I. in PowerPoint. They are now offering a ‘deal’ to the pupils to use their version of A.I. at a discount. I feel queasy #AI

So sad to hear this! Jenni had the most wonderful voice that was instantly recognisable; like listening to golden syrup with a splash of lemon juice mixed in for vim. I interviewed her once at her home for a TV show and she was absolutely charming and very welcoming. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ooh yes, I like the sound of this.

I love Joe McLaren’s jacket art for my 2018 short story collection Help The Witch but when you remove the text from it and see the whole thing in widescreen there is a whole other level of beauty to it. blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...

Today is publication day for ‘Fairies: A History’ - so I’ve written a special free post over on ‘All Old Strange Things’ to celebrate 📚🧚 open.substack.com/pub/drfranci...

I feel like the BBC are pushing this Lying Author narrative a bit too far now. I believe many 'debut' authors leave a trail of self-published, half-finished, 'academic text-books' in the wake of the first book they get trad-published. industry,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj32vx61x6lo

Love this show.

If we made the green energy transition this war would be unthinkable and these authoritarians wouldn’t be in power — not in the US, not in Iran, not in Saudi Arabia, not in Russia. Hydrocarbons are killing our freedom and just plain killing us.

I would like to walk with crows. Any crows out there want to go for a walk today? I’ll bring flapjack.

Congratulations to Undiscovered Voices 2024 winner @johoward.bsky.social who has signed with @joannamoult.bsky.social at Skylark Literary Agency. Very excited to see what the future brings for you, Jo 👏

The wait is almost over for the #UV26 longlist announcement 🙌 Watch this space for news very, very soon... We know UV really does help writers' dreams come true. The first crop of #UV24 books are out this spring. Congratulations Louise Austin, @thatstephendaly.bsky.social and Esther Scherpenisse 👏

The #UV26 longlist is live at undiscoveredvoices.com/longlist 🙌 More than 250 of you entrusted us with your stories and the standard was very high - it was a thrill to read them. The longlist was chosen by our judges for their originality and quality of writing. Congratulations all 👏

Well isn’t that a splendid piece of Doctor Who news to wake up to!

Excited to announce the @uvcompetition.bsky.social longlist over on our website today! Huge congratulations to all the #kidslit writers who made it. We loved reading ALL the stories so much - loads of variety, laughs and great writing.

This is all great stuff - when a school has a budget to pay visiting authors and storytellers, or to put up a lovely new library in a garden shed. One sad story I heard this week was of a school in a deprived area that timetables an inset day every World Book Day, so that they don't have to do it.

Funny/Not Funny www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

The Shortlist for the #Carnegies2026 Medal for Writing is here! 📖 With subversive storytelling, reimagined folklore, and inventive verse and chronology, this shortlist has a story for everyone. 📚 Congratulations to the talented writers. https://carnegies.co.uk/2026-shortlists-announced/

I truly can’t tell you how delighted I am that the first Lizards book has been shortlisted for the @carnegiemedals.bsky.social I love writing these books sooooooo much; they’re just pure joy for me. Plus Tim Miller’s hilarious illustrations, it’s just utter pleasure. Made my day.

The most folk horror of holidays continues with Black Shuck’s paw marks on the door of Blytheburgh church

Or tote bags for that matter....

I mist go and see this exhibition soon! Having had to look at a lot of AI images recently for a work thing, to see these paintings - and their depiction of light and expression - is just the brain balm I need.

🥳 HAPPY WORLD BOOK DAY! I was lucky enough to chat to Sara Cox for the latest episode of Radio 2 Book Club, where we talked about all things WBD and Bunny Vs Monkey! You can listen to it on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social

New Review - Appropriately for World Book Day a fantasy story that all ages should have fun with. The 1980s, magic, secrets and did I mention the talking hamster? I strongly recommend Mystery of the Midnight Cartographers by @geeksyndicate.bsky.social www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/3/...

A good read.

Hello, book people! I am the book content editor for Reactor Mag and I'm looking for 2026 sci-fi, fantasy, horror, romantasy, and speculative books coming out in the second half of the year! If you have an adult or YA SFF/H book out July-Dec (or publicist), share the link/info here!

I love the look of this. Going to binge listen this week.

Latest episode of Total 90s Recall is about Scream, in honour of film 7, out today. We talk gore, final girls, slut-shaming and gaslighting, moral panics and VHS tapes, plus we ask, is this actually the most 90s film we've rewatched yet?? Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Our very own agent, Hattie is doing a 1-2-1 at the Bournemouth Writing Festival on 25th of April 👀. Book now! 📚 This is an opportunity you do not want to miss. 🌟 Book your slot here: BournemouthWritingFestival.co.uk

Happy Publication Day to Josh Hicks as ‘YOU VS The Poison Plot’ 📌 is out now!!! 🥳 Can YOU solve the case? Choose your suspect, choose your next move – choose the story! Buy your copy here: www.waterstones.com/book/you-vs-... #ChildrensBook #MiddleGrade #YOUVS #Mystery #Adventure

I started entering writing competition this year to take my mind off being on submission, but now the comps are letting me down by pushing back announcement dates and not sending acknowledgement emails. I love a deadline, but I need to know my work got through to at least the first round of judging.

‘There’s something about a compelling romance novel that tickles the same part of my brain as my favourite psychological thrillers.’ Yemi Dipeolu, author of Kiss Marry Kill, on romance novels to get your heart racing. faber.co.uk/journal/yemi-valentines-day-reading-list/

Faber is looking for a confident and creative campaigns marketer to help build our Children’s list. You will have a brilliant understanding of the Children’s market from ages 2 – 18, through picture books up to Young Adult fiction. faber.co.uk/careers/childrens-marketing-manager

My favourite thing on telly so far this year. Mackenzie Crook is a creative genius. But as someone who reads a lot of Middle Grade books I'm wondering if Small Prophets is Middle Grade TV for adults (Well, everyone actually!) And I mean that in a very positive way. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...