#writers countdown to Jan 1st

Congrats to Lucy Steeds - her novel The Artist has been named @waterstones.bsky.social Book of The Year She was shortlisted for The Exeter Novel Prize in 2020 for an earlier novel. The Exeter Novel Prize is open for entries until JAN 1st more details here www.wordkitchen.org.uk

newwriters.org.uk/competition/... We are accepting entries until New Year’s Day

Save the date Exeter folk 15 Dec Festive Fandango wegottickets.com/event/680763

"Each with a name, each with a story. That strips people of dignity before it strips them of life. That forces people to risk their lives to seek food. It is a famine that we repeatedly warned of. But that the international media has not been allowed in to cover."

They’re dangerous www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

@hedgehogpress.co.uk I’ve been trying to contact you re a poetry / publishing event at Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival on Sept 18th thanks

Passes on sale wegottickets.com/WordKitchen

#writers take a look at the Exeter Novel Prize now open for entries www.wordkitchen.org.uk/exeter-novel...

More pics from our event last night for The Exeter Novel Prize and launch of Cathie Hartigan’s The Luthier’s Promise

Glorious launch for the 2025 Exeter Novel Prize last night at Exeter Library more info on submitting here : www.wordkitchen.org.uk/exeter-novel... @exetercityoflit.bsky.social @exeterobserver.org @exetercouncil.bsky.social

Absolutely incredible turnout for Budapest Pride! So proud of all the organizers, including some old friends, who estimate hundreds of thousands— major embarrassment to Orban

If Jeff Bezos can afford to rent Venice for a $50 million wedding, he can afford to pay his fair share in taxes.

Entries go live July 1st at www.wordkitchen.org.uk/exeter-novel...

Hello February! The days are getting longer. Topsham sunset just after 5pm ...

@nickswiftwrites.bsky.social hi Nick our paths haven’t crossed yet but we do several events in Exeter over the year including some prose night open mics -you’d be very welcome

Three debut authors in conversation at Exeter Library March 15th 4pm Tickets wegottickets.com/event/647408 with audience Q&A

NEW: Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring. I'm very excited to introduce my new investigative podcast with @peterjukes.bsky.social & Ruth Abrahams about a Russian influence operation at the heart of the British establishment. 1/ the-citizens.com/2024/12/serg...

I received The Eagle and The Hart too

Happy Winter Solstice to all in the northern hemisphere. The turn of the year's tide, a pivot-point, a day of hope—when the dark stops rising & after which the Sun begins its slow climb back. A day I celebrate more than Christmas or New Year. Fiat lux! 📷 by @annieworsley.bsky.social

❄️This December we've got crafts, cabaret (TODAY), poetry, storytime, and a lovely bit of festive jazz🎷 #LoveLibraries

A book of the year - never more timely -lessons from history

@moderation.bsky.app why is booksky account run by an only fans account ?

A wonderful novel -one of my books of this year

Some of my books of 2024

Some more top reads from 2024

Secret Santa gift?

A few of my favourite books from this year

A book to which I return - wonderful on the craft of writing and very good on workshopping

This week’s column. A salmon pie and a mincemeat cake. 🎄 www.theguardian.com/food/2024/de...

Good morning. Lottie walked. Time for a brew.

Bluesky is proving well up to the task of providing helpful & informative Syria coverage. Some amazing footage around. Verification etc can only make things better moving forward.

Banned Book Clubs (a poem).

Blimey. Battery Rocks is in @theguardian.com 'best books' Thank you to Barry Sinton, of Barton Books for recommending my collection. I'm stunned. Battery Rocks 'sings of the joys, the fears, the chaos of life'. Battery Rocks is published by @serenbooks.bsky.social

Can thoroughly recommend this debut poetry collection by Edward Tripp -surreal ,saucy,clever

It’s interesting I mentioned gothic in a description of my novel in a post yday and now have two heavy metal bands following me ….

Unraveling the Christmas Lights

The first time I heard someone disgusted by Gregg Wallace’s behaviour was in *2008* and from a woman under 25. I don’t think I ever heard a good word about him in the intervening time. The idiotic entitlement on display with this ‘defence’ speaks volumes.

@moderation.bsky.app please can you deal with the fake account that’s been impersonating me -it’s been reported to your team by me before the weekend and several blue sky friends have done the same - yet I’m still getting reports of it from people on blue sky who I follow Thank you

@hamzajahanzeb.bsky.social hi Hamza I’m on here now too

I know EXACTLY what Aunty Jean would say to this. ‘Well. I go to the foot of our stairs!’ (Yorkshire people will get it!). I’m thrilled/honoured/delighted that The List of Suspicious Things has won #TheBerties2024 (I truly am!!!) thank you so much for your support #booksky

A massive privilege for me and Leon to be a small part of bringing books and families together. #prisons #prisoners #reading #books

I have now blocked and reported to moderators the ghoul who was trying to pass themselves off as me on here - so much for safe Bluesky

Someone has hacked me on here so watch out for message ‘how you doing ?’ Thanks to @anthonyshapland.bsky.social and @juliecohen.bsky.social for pointing it out

I write about books as a reader I write memoir and fiction I co- organise open mics for writers and poets I love opera I enjoy cooking and discussion about food