Casting no shade here on the many extraordinary people who have written books but ... not many professional authors are headlining at 'the world’s leading festival of ideas'.

Will be speaking about The Matchbox Girl @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @walterscottprize.bsky.social on 7th May 7.30 - 9.30 at The First Thursday #painswick Gloucestershire. Novel is about Dr Asperger - his pioneering research, his shocking crime. www.firstthursdaypainswick.co.uk/event-detail...

Talked to Ken Barrett of Brainland podcast about history of autism research in 'The Matchbox Girl' @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social Ken is a neuroscientist turned artist. Episode before mine is the legendary Dame Uta Frith - first translator of Asperger's work. open.spotify.com/episode/1FbU...

Police to resume Palestine Action arrests due to staggering rise in terrorism that has so far seen zero casualties Tax payers foot the bill — the same tax payers who can’t get a police officer to come out when they’ve been burgled @normalisland.co.uk www.normalisland.co.uk/p/police-to-...

Reserve your place at the panel celebrating the shortlisted authors and presses of this years Queen Mary Prize for Small Press Fiction ⬇️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/queen-mary...

Northern #BookSky folk are reminded you can come see me being interviewed by the amazing Naomi Booth next Weds. More info a tickets here. www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/stu-hen...

Only a month since publication and we're already talking about being ready to hit the reprint button. Eternal thanks to all who've bought, read, shared, reviewed, come to events and been so generous in engaging with Keshed. Word of mouth is critical for writers like me, you're all brill #BookSky 📚

In conversation with Rosie Goldsmith, Austrian Cultural Forum Tuesday. 'Matchbox Girl' is about early pioneers of #autism research. Historical fiction always a lens through which to view our own times. @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @walterscottprize.bsky.social www.acflondon.org/events/the-m...

The logic of and widespread support for a wealth tax may be approaching a tipping point. @patmillsuk.bsky.social

The Society of Authors has launched a 'Human Authored' scheme to 'help identify works written by humans in a market increasingly flooded by AI-generated books' 👇#BookSky

I hope she sues them into oblivion 💜

Such an accurate, magical, honest book ...... A seriously talented writer.

“In 2024 the UK’s creative industries contributed £145.8 billion to the economy while the entire AI sector contributed £11.8 billion.” www.thetimes.com/article/8561...

Just when you think that you could not be more ashamed of your country.

My review @theguardian.com of debut novel from @weatherglassbooks.bsky.social 'Gloria Don't Speak' by Lucy Apps. Book is now on the long list for @womensprize.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/books/2026/m...

Republic of Consciousness Prize (now the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize) news alert. The SHORTLIST is out. therepublicofconsciousness.substack.com/p/the-queen-...

I get asked to show up to book clubs, online and offline. Here is why from now on the answer is always "no." If you think this might have something to do with "AI" ruining yet another thing for everyone, you're absolutely 100% correct. whatever.scalzi.com/2026/03/03/i...

@alicejolly.bsky.social compared Keshed to Hubert Selby Jr in her amazing @thetls.bsky.social review of the book, and @leebrackstone.bsky.social reffed him in his cover quote too. Fucking great novel and writer of singular voice. It's on The List 🤘 uk.bookshop.org/lists/how-to...

Thank you to the nearly 1,000 people who've already registered to host a screening of the People's Emergency Briefing film in their community, and the many others who've done the same via our partners - and to the many organisations planning screenings. Incredible momentum building. #NEB2025

Speaking with Sally Bayley Oxford Writers House 8th March 3.00 - 5.00. Sally will be speaking about her new book 'The Worm in the Bud' pub New Menard Press. I will speak about 'The Matchbox Girl' @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @walterscottprize.bsky.social www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writing-wo...

It is a very good morning. What I know is that literally hundreds of Green Party volunteers from all the country got behind this ...... Amazing people who are showing what can be done ......

Eager to see what lessons Labour draws from this.

Speaking about The Matchbox Girl @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social with Rosie Goldsmith at The Austrian Cultural Form 7 pm on Tuesday 17 March. Book is about Dr Asperger and his colleagues (and the rise of fascism). Book is on @walterscottprize.bsky.social longlist. www.acflondon.org/events/the-m...

This is just a taste of what @profpaulbehrens.bsky.social warned about at the National Emergency Briefing 👇. It’s time for the Government to brief the nation and take emergency action to avoid serious prolonged food shortages. Has your MP signed yet? www.nebriefing.org/parliamentar...

Absolute shocker of a rights grab - academics may want to push back hard

The majority of earth's scientists now believe we are headed for at least 2.5°C of warming. We're in a climate emergency. No time to wait. #ActOnClimate #climate #energy #renewables #go100re

"We are asking for a WW2 level of leadership". Professor @mikebernerslee.bsky.social at the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster. Has your MP joined the Parliamentary Call for Gov to make a televised emergency briefing to the nation? Check here: www.nebriefing.org/parliamentar... #NEB2025

Yes. This is a really strong first novel.

Faith & love, friendship, community, environmental questions, nature & the post-&-foreshadowing of war, fisticuffs, fairgrounds, beer & a good deal of saltiness, brilliant protagonists, someone make this into a film please!

Defend Our Juries Co-Founder Tim Crosland explains what the High Court ruling showing over the Palestine Action ban means in real terms. He adds a renewed call for a meeting with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to discuss the harm that has been done since this ban was introduced.

Well done to @patrioticmillionaires.org for getting out and about and taking the time to visit York University. Students fully engaged and significant majority agreed with the motion 'This house supports a wealth tax.' Great work. @stephenstroud.bsky.social

Since #bbclaurak is trending, let’s remind ourselves that ONE MONTH ago, the BBC invited Mandelson on for a soft-ball interview on her show. While HIS CLIENT , Palantir’s Louis Moseley appeared as a pundit Both, as I wrote at time, were ‘abject failures of journalism’ 1/

Very excited that 'The Matchbox Girl' @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social is on this list. Thanks @walterscottprize.bsky.social and many congratulations to all the other amazing novelists who have been longlisted.

Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again. #Pinks #ProudBlue

🚨🧵The 2024 UCU General Secretary was so corrupt that @vickyblake.bsky.social + I are fighting a Certification Officer case to re-run it, 10 Feb. Grady won by 182 votes from 114,310 members, turnout 15%. In secret, Grady ordered UCU managers to "Re-elect GS" +said she'd "destroy" her opponents...

The current lack of interest in V.S. Pritchett is odd - but I am sure his time will come again. #shortstories

I will be speaking about 'The Matchbox Girl' @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social with Rosie Goldsmith at The Austrian Cultural Forum (London SW7) at 7.00 on 17 March. Would love to see you there. www.acflondon.org/events/the-m...

“four-fifths of farmers are concerned about not being able to make a living as extreme weather conditions reduce productivity every year” Climate impacts are hitting harder than expected. UK plans are inadequate. We aren’t ready. It’s time to brief the nation. www.nebriefing.org/parliamentar...

Reading Stu Hennigan's KESHED and feel like I've been beaten up outside a flat-roofed pub, which is a GOOD THING in a literary landscape dominated by tastefully buttoned-up bougie fretting. Looking forward to the online launch on Thursday with @stuhennigan.bsky.social & @regretteruane.bsky.social

If your organisation send out newsletters, would you consider including a request for people to ask their MP to sign this Parliamentary Call for Government to stage a televised emergency briefing on the #climate and #nature crisis please? www.nebriefing.org/parliamentar... More below 🧵 1/8

Tamsin Allen, Bindmans LLP, will chair a panel at our upcoming conference on 18th March. The conference will have a focus on policing. Through frontline perspectives and in-depth discussions on corruption and reform. Tickets: zurl.co/MK99P #OffTheRecord #PJNow #BindmansLLP #MediaLaw

You've heard about the "loneliness epidemic." But what's really driving today's profound alienation problem? How do we rebuild connection? On Feb 2nd, Byline Times cracks open THE LURE OF LONELINESS at the Cockpit Theatre. Tickets: www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/the_lur...

Stalin notorious for making sure you could walk to the shops

Who wants to #GetKeshed with me and @judecook.bsky.social at Bard Books in London on 12th March? Cos tix are onsale as of this afternoon 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 www.wearebardbooks.co.uk/event-detail...

Whether you're writing or reading #memoir, @lilydunn.bsky.social's #IntoBeing is a must. Here is Lily's recent interview on @davidnaimon.bsky.social's podcast. To ask Lily your own questions, come and join us for our @womenwritersnet.bsky.social interview of 22 Jan at 6 pm!

Thanks @marinabenjamin.bsky.social

Dear All, Just a reminder that I will be @bookhaus.bsky.social on Wednesday next week 14 January 18.00 - 20.00 talking with @lilydunn.bsky.social about memoir in the age of AI. Very excited about this. Hope to see you there! www.bookhausbristol.com/events/#e143...

Post-winter break, I'm still working through the contents of my inbox and finding some great things to read. I enjoyed this piece by @judecook.bsky.social, which asks if 'politics and fiction make for uneasy bedfellows? Does one, as it were, fatally undermine the other?'

The queue for the National Emergency Briefing went around the block. Over 1,200 influential people gathered to hear from experts about the climate & nature crisis. Now it’s time to take it to the people, please support our #crowdfunder 🔥 #neb crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-peoples-…