My Autumn Newsletter is out now! Includes news of a writing competition, a new pup and an evening in a castle library! bit.ly/4oE3PKb

An Autumn night at the castle! Join us for ‘Sparkles, Stories & Soul’ - an evening of music, stories, fizz and canapés inside Arundel Castle’s stunning (& rarely open to public!) library. Supporting local families via Home-start Arun, Worthing & Adur ✨ Tickets: home-startawa.org.uk/sparkle-stor...

Thanks to Issie for this photo from Waterstone’s Bridport. I really enjoyed chatting about Beast. Some lovely questions - the sort that open new views onto your own work. Thanks to all involved. @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social

Our Memoir Award is open for entries until 30 September! You could win a share of our £2,700 prize pot, as well as a mentoring package. Find out more about our writing competition at bit.ly/bp-memoir-award 🌎📝

We have created "Author Care: a Toolkit for Authors" to help you navigate a complex industry and empower you in your relationships, as well as find ways to support your own wellbeing. Download your copy from our website societyofauthors.org/resource/aut... #AuthorCare

'Will I ever write again? Family illness, heartbreak and other distractions ...' My Spring Newsletter is out now: tinyurl.com/IsabelAshdow...

I’ll be asking META to #DoTheWriteThing on Thursday 3 April ✍️ To help spread the word and protect writers of every kind, please join us in flooding social media with this important message! @societyofauthors.bsky.social

We are disappointed but not surprised that Meta has used millions of pirated books to develop its AI systems. As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting. But what can authors do? Read here: societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...

I’m spreading the word on #ProstateCancer awareness after my husband was diagnosed this January. Folks, pls encourage your loved ones: If in doubt, check it out! Find info & advice at @prostatecanceruk.bsky.social & @cancerresearchuk.org 💙 #cancer #CancerAwareness www.instagram.com/p/DG_RFggAkY...

Pals, I have sad news. This week our beautiful Len took suddenly ill, and yesterday we said goodbye to him at home with all the family around. He has been the softest, most daft and devoted dog, loved by many. We’re heartbroken and will miss him so much ❤️

Away for a quick writing break but making time for the intriguing Flight by @isabelashdown.com ... 💙📚 #beachread #onthebeach #amreading #amwriting #booksky

Show me your Senior Pooches! Here’s our 17-year-old Charlie having a little snooze after his bath last night ❤️

If BOOKS & DOGS are your kinda thing, here’s a lovely Starter Pack: go.bsky.app/Tpw1Zej

And the winner is … @sarahsbookishlife.bsky.social 🎉 Congrats Sarah - dm me your details and your prize will be in the mail early next week!

Happy Friday everyone!

Just one week since I signed up and already I’m loving the good feels of Bluesky. To celebrate, I have a signed copy of my latest book ‘One Girl, One Summer’ to give away. Share & like and I’ll pick one of you at random on Friday pm! 📚❤️ @orionbooks.bsky.social #BookSky

I coached a fiction writing student recently who expressed fear that family members might recognise passages inspired by real life. My advice: WRITE AS THOUGH NO-ONE’S READING. Stay true to your story & its authenticity will shine through. You can always make any necessary cuts later. #WritingTips

I work with the Royal Literary Fund on their amazing free Reading Round project. If you like the idea of discussing stories with other good folk, follow this 🔗 to see if there’s a group near you: www.rlf.org.uk/reading-roun... #BookSky

If you’re a developing writer you might like my newsletter and free ‘Getting Published’ guide full of generous tips from some awesome publishing insiders. Pls share with any interested bods! isabelashdown.eo.page/get-writing #AmWriting #BookSky

I just want you all to send me pictures of your dogs when they were puppies, OK? Here’s dachshund Len 👇

I haven't even been a part of #BookSky for two weeks yet, but I've found so many lovely new authors in that time, one of which is @isabelashdown.bsky.social! And I've already bought some of her books! Thanks so much Isabel 🥰💙📚

Mondays are always better with #bookpost! I'm so looking forward to diving in to these three by @isabelashdown.bsky.social ... 💙📚 #amreading #amwriting #booksky

I know lots of writers (me included) are struggling with positivity and motivation at the moment. So I thought I’d share a pic of serious Len to brighten your day, along with the reminder I give myself from time to time: this feeling will pass.

Fun fact: for 5 years dachshund Len was a Pets as Therapy dog, and together we’d visit a local primary school to listen to children read. At the end of each session, he’d offer a paw to his reader and they’d reward him with a treat 🥰 As you can see from the photo, he took his work very seriously.

Readers! Please share and point me in the direction of other WRITERS IN SHEDS for my new Starter Pack! Here’s my cabin this morning, after ‘I’d cleared a path to get to it ❄️ go.bsky.app/GVevt8T

Dog lovers, this is Charlie the Border Terrier. He’s 90% deaf and blind now … and in his 18th year!

OK, that's enough, you crazy dog-huggin' book lovers! My BOOKS AND DOGS Starter Pack is just about full to busting, and they won't let me add any more than 150. So here it is - follow all these great bods: go.bsky.app/Tpw1Zej

At a book event, someone in the audience kept calling me 'Kirkland Cocaine' over and over. Even though I'm teetotal (booze/drugs/Pringles), I admit I laughed. Scottish readers are the best.

At the signing table for my first book, about the early work beside my golden retriever search K9, Puzzle. Puz went on the book tour, sat beside me at the table. Her beautiful face IS the cover of that book. Reader in line, rubbing the ears of Puz's living self, asked, "Does the dog die at the end?"

A lady came to one of my booksignings and asked for her book to be signed by Ron Howard, the fictional ginger cat from my second novel. Me: (jokingly) Would you like me to sign it, too ? Lady: (staring back as if I’ve just suggested she eat the book) No. just the cat. Um, meow? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh wow!! One that stands out for me was just after my first YA was published, and a VERY regular customer at the library where I worked asked when I was going to write "a proper book for grownups." 🤨

Early in my writing career, I popped into a large Waterstones and offered to sign the stock they had of my books, as I was the author. The bookseller looked me up and down dubiously. 'Have you got any ID?' (Reader, I showed it to her)

Writers! Share your funny encounters. Mine: At one event a man told me at length about his plans to write a book. I asked what he liked to read & he gestured to my titles: 'Not books like these.' Me: 'And what kind of books are these?' He didn't reply so I asked: 'Books by women?' AND HE SAID YES.

OK, my BOOKS & DOGS Starter Pack is up and running for any readers and writers who also love dogs. To be added pls share and comment with a pic of your pooch! 🐾 go.bsky.app/Tpw1Zej

I'm compiling a ‘Books and Dogs’ Starter Pack of writers and readers who also love dogs. Pls nominate good bods or add your dog’s pic to this thread to be added 🐾 go.bsky.app/Tpw1Zej

I’m just dipping my toe into the Bluesky waters and already spotting so many fav bods from the early Twitter days. Here’s a blue sky pic from one of my coastal post-writing walks in Dorset this week. Connect with me if you love books, nature, dogs, creativity, laughter and kindness 👋