We love this photo from Ross MacRae showing his workspace for Mat o' Shanter, from initial sketches to the finished book itself 😍 Mat o' Shanter: A Cautionary Tale by Simon Lamb, illus. by Ross, publishes tomorrow!! www.waterstones.com/book/mat-o-s... @bouncemarketing.bsky.social #poetry

When you get a bit overexcited about a book and accidentally pre-order it twice... 🤦‍♀️🐈‍⬛🦇📚 Totally worth it and an Xmas gift sorted! Grimogen Darkstar is the fab new #kidlit chapter book from the talented @finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social for ages 7+. Perfect for Halloween! @tinytreebooks.bsky.social

Happy #PublicationDay, @finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social! ✨ Grimogen Darkstar: Bat-Cat-tastrophe is out today! 🦇🐈‍⬛⚰️ Perfectly spooky, delightfully quirky, and full of gothic charm, you can get your copy here 👉 bit.ly/3Txdq7M

Yes, fantasy scares the pants off me! Though I think I'd write the food scenes well :) #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

Maybe I should rethink! #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

I'm always terrible at this question, but I always imagined Priyanka Chopra when I was writing Dr Patel in #WinLoseKillDie! #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

I'd love that to happen, but even if it was in the pipeline I wouldn't be able to tell you! I'd love for them all to be, but I do think #SignedSealedDead would make a good 90 minute movie, if @netflix.com are reading... #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

Less than a month until #DVpit, a pitch event for marginalized creators looking to find an agent & get traditionally published! Here's a reminder of the rules! For more guidelines & info go to dvpit.carrd.co See you all at DVpit on October 8th, 2025! #writersky #booksky

Next #ukteenchat will be on Tues 23rd September 8-9pm BST with the fabulous @colmthewriter.bsky.social, who will be chatting all about his new book - Uncle Zeedie, the second in The Blood Texts. All welcome to come and join in the chat 🙂 #TeenFiction #YA #writing #writerslife

That hour has just whizzed by! Thank you so much for being such a wonderful guest as always @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social, you're more than welcome anytime on #ukteenchat 😊

Don't compare yourself to anyone else! It's so hard and I still do it sometimes, but comparison really can be the thief of joy. Write what you want, how you want. And finish the bl**dy book! #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

10, Do you have any writing advice or tips you’d like to share? @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social #ukteenchat

No! Sorry... I am just finishing some edits and it is coming sooner than planned ... it's very, very weird but has been my favourite part of this year and an absolute joy to write. I can't wait to share it, I just don 't know when that will be! #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

9, Can you tell us anything about what you’re currently working on? @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social #ukteenchat

No real rituals, but I have a lovely home office. This year we got a pergola for the garden, so I've spent many happy hours out there! My office is my favourite room though, it's hot pink and full of books, skulls and other weird objects. #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

I think they'd be more boing and I'd be disappointed. #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

8, Do you have any writing rituals or a favourite place to write? @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social #ukteenchat

Holding a finished book and meeting readers is the BEST. I get very 'in my feelings' during drafting (I never seem to remember how to do it until it's written) and I do like editing, but sending it out into the world is so wonderful, even though it's terrifying too. #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

7, What’s your favourite part of being a writer, is it the initial idea, drafting, revising, seeing early reviews, interacting with readers? @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social #ukteenchat

Noooooooooo. Too much regular socialising for me! And I'd probably forget to go and get kicked out anyway. Plus I'm TERRIBLE at keeping secrets. #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

That used to be my brain but now I do have to write things down. But notes on my phone or a notebook help, especially at the beginning of a book! #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

6, Do you think you would like to join a secret society? @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social #ukteenchat

I love Chloe's arrival at Morton for second year. She knows everyone is screwing her over but she just plays along and has quite an unhinged inner monologue. There's a lot of awful people so it was very fun! #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

5, Without being too spoilery, is there a scene or moment, or character in Keep Your Friends Close that you particularly enjoyed writing? @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social #ukteenchat

Yes. I had to, because there are so many moving parts between this and the subplot in #WinLoseKillDie so I had to be faithful to that AND create a whole new idea. Do not recommend haha! #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

4, Did you know from the beginning who the murderer(s) would be, or did the identity shift as you wrote? @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social #ukteenchat

Oh, yes. Yale have a 'secret' society called Skull and Bone that I looked into, also Old Josef is a reference to The Society of OddFellows. There's also a lot about class systems in there! #KeepYourFriendsClose #UKTeenchat

3, Did you draw on any real boarding/academy schools, or stories of secret clubs/groups? @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social #ukteenchat

Yes! Cults - the what/why/how of them. I find it fascinating how anything could be. cult - including the popular clique. Also #WinLoseKill Die had a lot to do with it, as I was exploring a backstory from that book. #UKTeenchat

#UKTeenchat Right? 26 years is historical I guess!

2, Was there anything in particular that inspired Keep Your Friends Close? @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social #ukteenchat

It's set at Morton Academy from #WinLoseKillDie but it's 1999. Chloe, our MC, goes back to school and her role of Head Girl (and are boyfriend) are stolen by frenemie Nikhita Patel (aka Dr Patel from WLKD). Chloe quickly realises something murderous is afoot and that she's on the hitlist.#UKTeenchat

1, Could you tell us a little bit about your new YA, Keep Your Friends Close, please? @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social #ukteenchat

Hi everyone at #UKTeenchat! Thanks for having me Emma :)

Please be kind to others during the chat, #ukteenchat is an inclusive discussion for writers or those interested in books 🙂

Welcome one and all to tonight's #ukteenchat, featuring the fabulous @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social Have your questions at the ready and give us a wave if you’re here 🙋‍♀️ Remember to use the # so your questions don't get missed 😀

The fabulous @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social will be joining me tonight - Tues 16th Sept 8-9pm BST for #ukteenchat. Cynthia will be chatting all about her dark academia YA - Keep Your Friends Close. All welcome to come and join in the chat, held here on BlueSky 🙂 #writerslife #writingcommunity

The fabulous @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social will be joining me tomorrow - Tuesday 16th September 8-9pm BST for #ukteenchat. Cynthia will be chatting all about her dark academia YA - Keep Your Friends Close. All welcome to come and join in the chat, held here on BlueSky 🙂 #writerslife #writingcommunity

I’ll be here tomorrow night! Get your questions ready 💙 #ukteenchat

#Discoveries2026 is opening for entries TOMORROW! Make sure you’re signed up to our Writers’ Room newsletter to be the first to learn who’s on our 2026 judging panel and more: womensprize.com/sign-up-to-o... #writers #writingcommunity #writerscommunity

Yay Grimogen will be winging her way into bookshops this week! 🐈‍⬛🦇 ideal for younger fans of Wednesday! #GrimogenDarkstar #kidlit #childrensbooks #reading

🦇✨ Out this week! ✨🦇 Grimogen Darkstar isn’t like other grim reapers: She’d rather rescue magical animals than spread doom and gloom! Unfortunately for Immi, Bat-Cats are little monsters, and chaos is never far away Get your copy 👉 bit.ly/3Txdq7M @finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social

Next #ukteenchat will be on Tues 16th Sept 8-9pm BST with the fabulous @cynthiamurphyya.bsky.social - who will be chatting all about her new #YA - Keep Your Friends Close. All welcome to come and join here on BlueSky 🙂 #KeepYourFriendsClose #writerslife #WritingCommunity

The Homecoming is Zoë Apostolides’s debut novel. Quietly disturbing, it tells the story of Ellen, a young ghost-writer sent to record the memoirs of an elderly woman living in a remote Northumberland manor. Elver House is dilapidated, its faded beauty fading to ruin.

Hello Bluesky! My new book is out this week and I just wanted to show you how pretty she is 💙 #KeepYourFriendsClose

Our September books of the month Fiction: Everything Amplified by Sarah Lippett and Ziggy Hanaor Nonfiction: The Incredible Pop-up Frog by Ben Hoare, illustrated by Jasmine Floyd Picture book: Oh Dear, Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury 📚 schoolreadinglist.co.uk/new-book-rel... 📚

Thank you to @tinytreebooks.bsky.social - my copies of Grimogen Darkstar Bat-Cat-Tastrophe have arrived! Here's my unboxing video of my spooky little Grim Reaper 🤩📚 Out on the 18th September ✨🐈‍⬛🦇 #GrimogenDarkstar #childrensbook #spookyseason #reading #kidlit #WritingCommunity #writing #halloween

Well done all #WriteCBC entrants! I really enjoyed reading all of your entries! @cbcreative.bsky.social Hope to see some of you on the Romantic and Commercial fiction course in October! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Ooh, it's me! Chatting about my book! 😃👇🎙️🎧🐶 #kidlituk #EduSkyPrimary #podcast @tinytreebooks.bsky.social

#WriteCBC task from @rowancoleman.bsky.social: One way to imbue authenticity into a character is to discover their secrets. What memento do they keep in their beside drawer? Write a scene involving this memento. What subtle secret does this reveal? What does this tell you about the character?