I love reading novels. I’m always amazed by folks who don’t read fiction. There is nothing better, to me, than being in the middle of a book that you can’t wait to return to. It’s like living two lives at once.

On #worldartday, we follow an impressionist painter to the woods in the heart of Brittany, where she would not paint people but violets. Or does she? Read her story in our 46th #darkspringtide tale below. 🎨 Edouard Manet "Berthe Morisot With a Bouquet of Violets" (1872)

Delighted to share the #cover art & design for Olga Bednarski's new release, 'The Anatomy of Freedom.' We enjoyed working together on this - in her words: 'You are not broken. Nothing is missing. Freedom is already within you, waiting to be unlocked.' tinyurl.com/AnatomyofFre...

Diving in to 'From the Earth to the Moon & Around the Moon' by Jules Verne. I visited the Jules Verne Museum in Nantes last October, it was great to see all his books, so beautifully designed, posters of his work. I'm excited to read this!

We were never consulted on Palantir gaining access to our health data. But we've since made our views known. And in just 4️⃣ DAYS, MPs will debate activating the break clause in Palantir's NHS contract. Tell you MP to do the right thing 👇 www.amnesty.org.uk/get-involved...

Scotland Tomorrow I'll be back. Looking forward to discover this mystical stretch of land again. #landscapephotography #landschaftsfotografie #fog

Very sad to finish Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - absolutely brilliant. My daughter read it last year then made me watch the movie. Loved the movie so I read the book. It is even better than the film. Love the cover; the photo, type, colours are gorgeous. The book is beautifully typeset too.

I wrote and posted this to Instagram a couple of days ago and it became my most-read poem ever. I’m honored I get to feel big feelings alongside you all. I’m posting it here too and want to use this space more consistently. Hello friends ❤️

Beautiful story of a man bonding with a robin.

What a lovely - and well-deserved excellent review of Paul Brookes' new poetry collection, Hedgerow of Voices! Paul's book is £5.99 paperback, or £2.99 eBook: tinyurl.com/laythewords #newrelease #poetry @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social

Censorship by any other name. The books they wanted to ban also include Michelle Obama's Becoming, because it mentions racism and politics. Mediocre white men getting their y-fronts in a twist. Do read for disturbing info about the trust that runs this academy. open.substack.com/pub/politica...

Absolutely loved this. The authors have done their research and created an absolutely gripping historical crime story - brilliant sense of time & place, old Edinburgh, loved all the science & the tension between Raven and Sarah 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

after the rain fog lifts and wisps on the south side of the canyon

So excited to watch the Artemis II launch happening in about 30 mins on NASA live!!! Are you watching this @martiandiaries.bsky.social ? www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaJk...

For #PoemsAloud, a short film for my poem in the Unwhispered Legacy anthology, published today by @paulwritespoems.bsky.social 🙏 My poem questions the concept of a 'Fait accompli.' It asks, what if things were different? What if that initial action could be reversed? What if there was another way 💙

🥺 www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/lif...

"Fantasy, abandoned by reason, produces impossible monsters; united with it, she is the mother of the arts and the origin of marvels."  Francisco de Goya was born #otd 1746 🎨  "Disparate de miedo”, Folly of Fear

I'd prefer to ask a library ghost for help too ✨️

Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing. - Camille Pissarro Have a wonderful day gentle souls. #bloomscrolling #photography #nature #imageandverse #bluesky

Paying it forward by reposting book publication news, great reviews, nominations & awards, poetry readings & book signings, and work in magazines, journals & anthologies. Also see: @writingcommunity.bsky.social @literarycommunity.bsky.social @literarybulletin.bsky.social @literaryreport.bsky.social

Last night, poet Paul Brookes brought Hedgerow of Voices to life. He took us on an inspiring journey through time & space, from many viewpoints. Thank you to very special guests @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social @lawrencemoore.bsky.social @coastalpoet.bsky.social @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social

I loved working on Paul's collection; each poem leads into the next. Paul draws your attention to overlooked details of life. Thanks to Rhona Greene for her glowing foreword and Paul Connolly's thoughtful cover blurb. It really takes a team to put a book together. I'm grateful for the support.

On Sunday, I enjoyed attending one of the most thought-provoking book launches, Paul Brookes' collection, Hedgerow of Voices. Here's a poem & some lovely endorsements from: @thepaulconnolly.bsky.social @rhonagreene.bsky.social #LiftToTheSky @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social @janecornwell.bsky.social

If folk would like to come along tomorrow 19:00-21:00 to the Zoom launch of my latest collection "Hedgerow of Voices" please DM me for details:

I'm looking forward to this! Please DM Paul or me for the Zoom link ✨️

A powerful US spy-tech company linked to genocide in Gaza, ICE deportations, and Trump’s war with Iran is now expanding across Europe into our hospitals, police and data systems. We must expose it and stop its expansion action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-03...

I'm enjoying 'The Way of All Flesh' by Ambrose Parry. The cover and internal design are beautiful, I love the Victorian title font and illustrated drop caps. An exciting tale too!

Dear Friends, AN ANNOUNCEMENT: My first poetry collection will be published in the Spring of 2027 by Broken Sleep Books. I am simply delighted - and immensely grateful to @godzillakent.bsky.social and everyone at @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social #poetrycommunity #poetsonbluesky #poetryislife

Seven days to the beginning of The Wombwell Rainbow's Eighth Annual April Ekphrastic Challenge with 16 authors responding to 90 artworks by 3 artworkers. 3 a day for 30 days. An example by Molly Ovenden below:

Delighted to share my cover art & design for 'Nuts About Love' by Melody R. Green. Melody is a joy to work with; she is keen to work with human artists to create original concepts and artwork inspired by her stories.

Authors: file your Anthropic Settlement claims! Really! 1. They should have paid you! 2. Even if you would not ever have licensed your material to these people, this is a chance to take /real cash/ out of their pockets -- not speculative valuation on some invented multiple, /currency/

Britain's Small Press Day – championing self-publishing, DIY culture, and grassroots comics across the UK and Ireland, and the internet – returns on Saturday 25th July 2026. https://downthetubes.net/small-press-day-returns-on-saturday-25th-july/?utm_source=bluesky&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Project Hail Mary is packed with hard science. An astrophysicist breaks it down buff.ly/m7YYTsi A very readable post which concludes "Project Hail Mary reminds us how important our world is – and how vital science is to our continued existence on it." #ProjectHailmary #Space #SpaceExploration

This is utterly jaw-dropping. A school that bans Atwood, Zadie Smith, Terry effing Pratchett and *literal George Orwell* is actively harming its pupils. www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/03/scho...

Regardless of the madness in human affairs, the celestial ballet continues. Venus and the moon following the sun towards the horizon.

On World Poetry Day, here’s a reminder of the power of poetry and its potential to change the world.

Sharing 'In The Cradle of a Whisper' by Susan Richardson, from her collection, Tiger Lily. Susan's poem was written in response to my watercolour painting of my children 💞 #worldpoetryday

For World Poetry Day, I'd love to share this beautiful poem by Samantha Terrell, from her new chapbook, For, On or After. I've got this pinned up on my wall 💞

Sharing 'Huddled' by Paul Brookes, a sonnet about ladybirds from Paul's collection, Othernesses. #worldpoetryday

Sharing 'By Phonelight' by Lawrence Moore, from his collection, 'The Breadcrumb Trail.' My pencil illustration of Lawrence's poem. #WorldPoetryDay

Sharing 'To America' by Merril D. Smith, from her collection, Held Inside the Folds of Time. #WorldPoetryDay

Sharing 'Sail Away,' by Aidan Parr, from 'Why It's Better To Be Struggling Half-Way Up A High Hill On Your Own.' '...where sadness has no hold/ and the bright horizon awaits...' ✨#WorldPoetryDay

Seriously, one of my favorite little niche genres are fairy tale retellings these have been retold like a billion times and I still love the new versions.

Part of being an author is knowing that pretty much every story has already been told. Some people find this depressing, but I find it freeing. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel, I'm putting spinners on it. Huge rims and low profile tyres. Maybe find a way to make it glow.

Would you like to join us for an evening of poetry? Paul Brookes will be reading from his new collection, Hedgerow of Voices. Sunday 29th March 19.30 on Zoom. All are welcome to join in and share your writing, or to listen and enjoy. DM Paul @thewombwellrainbow.bsky.social or Jane for the link!

These ChatGPT girlfriended weirdos think that art is the final product, and just want to be rewarded for that. Art is how you get to the final product. It's the learning the craft, is the self doubt, the editing, painting the same thing five times or scrapping a piece and trying again.

A few pics from the Forth and Clyde Canal. It's been really foggy first thing. So I've been marking progress by the position of the heron, 2 squirrels and the crows. Back to 30min 5K after some bugs and minor foot injury so I'm happy.