Today on #BooklingsChat I talk to Sam Prentice-Jones about his great graphic novel, Arcana: The Lost Heirs! Listen here! t.co/yIcpjU3lq4 @hotkeybooks.bsky.social

We're excited to share that Lucas Maxwellwas on the amazing podcast, Circulating Ideas with Steve Thomas, to talk about his new book, Roll for Adventure, Dungeons and Dragons and school libraries! Listen below 👇 https://ow.ly/Tl7o50XWE7w

This is a huge opportunity for aspiring children's authors! @dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social and @arvonfoundation.bsky.social are inviting unpublished writers to submit their work for the chance to win a publishing contract with DFB, plus access to an Arvon writing course. Info: davidficklingbooks.com

I really loved talking to Tara and Darren Kloss about Victor Kloss' amazing Royal Institute of Magic series! Listen here! glenthornelrc.blogspot.com/2026/01/book...

Thank you @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social for this! Pre-order here! www.waterstones.com/book/a-milli... @waterstones.bsky.social @waterstoneskids.bsky.social

It was great to be on the Circulating Ideas #podcast talking about #dungeonsanddragons and my new book, Roll for Adventure! glenthornelrc.blogspot.com/2026/01/circ... @facetpublishing.bsky.social

I'm on the blog tour It's my turn on the blog tour of the fantastic Royal Institute of Magic series by Victor Kloss! Read it here! t.co/OnrU48KMl2

My #library newsletter is up, every month I post new ideas and events: glenthornelrc.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-... @sadieturner.bsky.social

A #readingforpleasure challenge for older students as part of the #NationalYearofReading2026 glenthornelrc.blogspot.com/2026/01/6-in... #goallin

Thank you @waterstones.bsky.social for this great review of A MILLION TINY MISSILES ALL AT ONCE! Pre-order here! www.waterstones.com/book/a-milli... @waterstoneskids.bsky.social

I write a little blog about writing and the process and things that work and don't, I try to update it every Friday, here's my latest post! www.lucasmaxwell.co.uk/blog-1-1

Thank you @thebookseller.com for featuring my debut novel, A MILLION TINY MISSILES ALL AT ONCE as one of their Editorial Team's Top Picks for 2026! You can pre order it here from @alligatorsmouth.bsky.social ! shop.thealligatorsmouth.co.uk/products/a-m... @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social

It's the national year of reading in the uk in 2026. Instead of asking "why don't kids read any more", ask "how can I help them find the stories (and non fic) they will fall in love with". Less "get off my lawn whippersnappers" and more "come, sit on the lawn, here's a comic".

That looks very interesting! I’m currently reading The Experiment by Rebecca Stead, out today & just finished Escape from the Child Snatchers by @sufiyaahmed.bsky.social out at end of Jan. @lucasjmaxwell.bsky.social’s debut is excellent as is @hollywebb.bsky.social’s spy adventure

Every week I post a short blog on writing and the things that have helped and hindered me as I go into the world of publishing. I hope it's helpful! lucasjmaxwell.squarespace.com

I've started a little writing blog where I talk about the things I've been doing to get the writing done. Spoiler alert, it's to not be on a phone. You can read it here shorturl.at/yvTdF

Huge thrill and an honour to be delivering the National Horrocks Leadership Lecture for Dalhousie University in February. This lecture recognises outstanding leadership in librarianship and I am very grateful for this recognition. Free tickets to this event here: events.dal.ca/event/5162-d...

Thank you to the Norfolk Children’s Book Centre for featuring A MILLION TINY MISSILES ALL AT ONCE on their list of YA fiction they are excited for in 2026! uk.bookshop.org/lists/ya-fic... @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social

@eliothochberg.bsky.social Long time listener first time caller, just wanted to say congratulations, man! Amazing news, have a great trip. 👍

I'm very grateful for these kind words about my debut novel, thank you! @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social

The brilliant school librarian @lucasjmaxwell.bsky.social uses #MyBookbuzz with his students - and he's giving us a sneak peek at his Bookbuzz diary! In this first instalment, he's sharing how he uses the launch pack to create a buzz around reading for his students 👇 https://bit.ly/3XuwkhC

Today's review...'Wolf Crown' @pierstorday.bsky.social Fabulous sequel to the equally fabulous 'Midnight Treasure'! www.throughthebookshelf.com/reviews/wolf-crown

"Beautiful, moving, funny and wise with a perfect balance of tension and humour and love." Thank you Lesley Parr for this wonderful review of A MILLION TINY MISSILES ALL AT ONCE! lucasjmaxwell.squarespace.com @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social

I finished this last night. Beautiful! Very moving, funny and with characters who get to your heart. If this doesn't AT LEAST make the @carnegiemedals.bsky.social nominations list I'm going to have a very large strop. #kidlituk #booksky @lucasjmaxwell.bsky.social @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social

A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once is an extraordinarily brilliant debut novel from award-winning librarian #LucasMaxwell. Thank you @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social for my proof copy. #UkKidLit Here’s my review👇 vsviewfromthebookshelves.home.blog/2025/11/13/y...

Thank you @vonprice.bsky.social for this amazing review, I am very grateful for it! vsviewfromthebookshelves.home.blog/2025/11/13/y... @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social

Ivy & Bearlock Holmes is a perfect book and should be read by everyone - @grainneobrien.bsky.social & I loved it - listen here! podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t... @magiccatpublishing.bsky.social

I have a new web site, you can check it out here! lucasjmaxwell.squarespace.com

For the past 8 years our students have run their own book award they call The Bookling. This Friday I’ll be announcing the 8 shortlisted books!

We are BEYOND delighted to have two nominations for the 2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing! A FIX OF LIGHT and SOLO! Huge congratulations to YA debut authors Kel Menton and Gráinne O’Brien! @kelmenton.bsky.social @grainneobrien.bsky.social @carnegiemedals.bsky.social #Carnegies2026

Thank you to @foulkeswrites.bsky.social for this idea! 🤣❤️

This little display got a lot of attention. Mainly kids asking, why, sir, why would you make this.

An excellent article. Young teenage boys are incredibly underserved in the current publishing market an Nathanael Lessore’s books are incredibly important in filling that gap, and in allowing boys to see themselves and their lives represented in books in a realistic way.

It's friday! And not just any friday! HALLOWEEN! So what's made you smile a creepy rictus grin this week? What's made you through your head back and laugh a sinister laugh? What's shaken your skeleton bones with joy? (What's your good news, that is?)

This message is really amazing to hear, thank you Tia! @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social linktr.ee/lucasjmaxwel...

A quirky, creepy, laugh-out-loud mystery full of carnivorous plants and missing fingers! THE HALLOWEEDS is perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket or David Walliams this Halloween 🎃

Thank you @whatsfsaid.bsky.social for this!! There are many way to pre order my debut and one of the best is through @kennysbookshop.bsky.social with worldwide shipping and great service! Check it out here! www.kennys.ie/shop/a-milli...

Tonight our D&D club ran a #DungeonsandDragons adventure they wrote specifically for the British Library’s Secret Maps exhibit. It has been a really amazing time. It’s one of my favourite events of the year.

A proof of @lucasjmaxwell.bsky.social's YA debut (out 09/04/26) and it's VERY good. @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social

Thank you Sarah Govett for this great review! “Nuanced, poignant, funny and life affirming. This is a short book that will stay with you for a long time.” More details here! linktr.ee/lucasjmaxwel...

I'm a few chapters into this. It's very good. @lucasjmaxwell.bsky.social @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social

It was so good to talk to @lucasjmaxwell.bsky.social! He’s the best of the best!

Today is the last day to vote for the @booksaremybag.bsky.social awards! My co host @grainneobrien.bsky.social is up for her stunning YA verse novel, SOLO. Vote here!! www.nationalbooktokens.com/readers-awar... @littleislandbooks.bsky.social @kennysbookshop.bsky.social

Important piece from @booktrust.org.uk and @openuni-rfp.bsky.social about the value of book choice for pupils and how to help promote it in the classroom. Do have a read! files.booktrust.org.uk/docs/documen... @teresacremin.bsky.social @richardruddick.bsky.social

Thank you to everyone for the kind words about the proof copies of my debut novel! All details can be found here along with pre order links! linktr.ee/lucasjmaxwell

All info here to preorder: www.chickenhousebooks.com/books/a-mill...

👀 It's here: the enormously raw, emotional and gritty YA debut of 2026! A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once by @lucasjmaxwell.bsky.social launches April of next year from @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social

@meabhmcdonnell.bsky.social’s YA debut ‘Any Way You Slice It’ has been shortlisted in the Irish Book Awards’ Teen and Young Adult Book of the Year category!   Vote for ‘Any Way You Slice It’ at www.irishbookawards.ie 🍰 @irishbookawards.bsky.social

A brand new episode of the #10MinuteBookClub is now up! Today @grainneobrien.bsky.social & discuss KICK FLIP by @ldlapinski.bsky.social !! podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t... @orionbooks.bsky.social

It's friday! Time for the weekly good news thread! What's YOUR good news from the week? What's made you smile? What's brought some light into your life?