This looks like it will be great. Thanks to @shirleyannemcm.bsky.social for the heads up

Children’s Writers! Hold the date for conference in Belfast!

For #DayoftheImprisonedWriter, Lauren Groff has written a letter of hope to imprisoned Algerian poet #MohamedTadjadit. Join us in sending Mohamed your own message of solidarity. 💌 Read Lauren’s letter and take action here: www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...

Fantastic workshop tonight in Derry with students from the Lycée Français de Madrid school. They’ve used Guard Your Heart as a novel to learn about Northern Ireland - and even visited places in the book on their tour here! (Most excellent goody bag too…)

Attended this excellent workshop today run by @suedivinwriter.bsky.social in the very beautiful @shhomeplace.bsky.social I’m feeling very inspired. 😊

Just popping in here to formally acknowledge the great news that I got some funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland towards promotion of my next novel, Runaway Road, in 2026.

#Mexico: PEN International condemns the killing of journalist Miguel Ángel Beltrán Martínez, found dead in Durango after going missing on 23 Oct. We urge the Mexican authorities to conduct an immediate investigation. (@penamericas.bsky.social) www.cbsnews.com/news/journal...

Really brilliant morning in Armagh library as part of NI Libraries week. @librariesni.bsky.social So many great questions from enthusiastic readers and writers from local schools. Chuffed to be invited back to the library where I grew up.

Vote for your favourite books! www.irishbookawards.ie

Free Irish PEN @irishpen.bsky.social event in Belfast. Tickets open now on Eventbrite. Irish PEN is a human rights organisation for writers of all levels. Why not consider joining? www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ilhan-sami...?

Thanks @belfasttelegraph.co.uk weekend supplement for mentioning that my novel Truth Be Told made it into the Junior Cert English Curriculum in Ireland! Happy to post a free novel to any school in Republic of Ireland thinking of using this text. www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/weekend...

#China: We join RSF in a coalition of 90 civil society organisations demanding the immediate release of poet, bookseller and PEN member, Gui Minhai. Read more ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/china-j... #FreeGuiMinhai

Delighted that @waterstones.bsky.social have picked my new book ‘Runaway Road’ to be available at 25% off RRP on pre-orders until midnight this Friday! Book due out in May 2026. Cover reveal soon… Hoping teens and adults will love Ezra and Evie’s story. www.waterstones.com/book/runaway...

#Georgia: We condemn the sentencing of poet and translator Zviad Ratiani to two years in prison and urge an end to the politically motivated prosecutions of protesters in Georgia. Read our joint statement with PEN Georgia ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/georgia...

24 hours left to support our campaign and help protect persecuted writers. In 2025, threats to writers are more urgent than ever. Across the globe, voices are being silenced, and your support today can offer the protection they desperately need. www.justgiving.com/campaign/sum...

#Türkiye: We’ve joined 14 organisations in condemning the 21-hour social media blackout in Istanbul during protests at CHP HQ, cutting people off from vital info and undermining democracy. Read our joint statement ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-...

My huge thanks to the Society of Authors and the Authors’ Foundation who have awarded me a grant towards the current editing phase in 2025 of my forthcoming novel in May 2026. @societyofauthors.bsky.social

Hello! We are Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann, an all-island body in Ireland. We: promote literature in and about Ireland; defend worldwide the right of writers to responsible freedom of expression as defined in the PEN Charter; foster international understanding through the appreciation of literature.

Me encanta imaginarme a la chavalada irlandesa leyendo y estudiando esta novela tan importante de Sue Divin en los próximos años. Bravo por quienes han decidido incluirla. Ojalá algún día llegue también a la chavalada española, claro. Más detalles del libro aquí 👇 wheekerbooks.com/truth-be-told/

A tad excited… and happy-shocked! Truth Be Told is on the Junior Cycle (age 12-15) curriculum in Ireland!What a list to be on! If you’re teaching it, or thinking of teaching it, please contact me via www.suedivin.com Until I run out of stamps, I’ll post a free copy to any school in Ireland…

#Belarus: While we welcome the release of writers after immense suffering, we utterly condemn their forced exile and call for their rights to be upheld. Read our joint statement with penbelarus.bsky.social ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/belarus...

Loved calling in to the wonderful Elk Books in Warrenpoint for the first time today. Great to have an independent bookshop in this stunning part of the world.

Definitely worth polishing up that manuscript.

Writing YA novels or young protagonists in adult novels? Delighted to be facilitating this course in the John Hewitt International Summer School in Armagh next week. A few places still available. marketplacearmagh.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

Spotted in Limavady library 😀 @librariesni.bsky.social are the most wonderful places! Do take the young people in your life to use them.

Just finished reading this beauty by @garrettcarr.bsky.social Pure Donegal. Loved it. Favourite moments? Calamari on a fishing trawler and a Casserole dish in a kitchen.

SAVE THE DATE. Full details 8 July. Submissions open 1 August. The Irish Writers Centre International Debut Novel Competition (IDNC) You may have known me as Novel Fair 😉 #internationalwritingcompetition #debutnovelist #writingcompetition #writingcommunity #novel #writer #literature

Hey online world… anyone with a heart to support recovery from substance abuse? My friend Gaz does incredible work through ARC (Addiction Recovery Coaching) in Derry, N.Ireland. Funding is tight. If you have a spare £10 please help or repost: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/arc-fitnes...

Submissions are open for the next issue! 💙 We can't wait to see your work 😍

Great supporting Independent Bookshop week at the amazing @littleacornsbooks.bsky.social in Derry. The enthusiasm of young writers is sooooo encouraging.

Calling any 11-18 year olds in the Derry area interested in creative writing and reading! Free workshop at Little Acorns this Thursday 4pm. Details and registration in the link below: www.eventbrite.com/e/into-writi...?

Great evening launching Barren in @littleacornsbooks.bsky.social with @suedivinwriter.bsky.social and there are some signed copies available in the bookstore... Treat yourself to a visit there! #booksky

Can thoroughly recommend this!

BIG NEWS! 34 writers have been chosen for the 2025 Irish Writers Centre #NationalMentoringProgramme 🥳 The awardees will receive one-to-one mentoring from an established writer, offering invaluable creative and professional guidance over the coming months. irishwriterscentre.ie/34-writers-s...

Lovely book launch of @byddi.bsky.social ’s book Barren tonight @littleacornsbooks.bsky.social.Great discussion questions by @suedivinwriter.bsky.social Can’t wait to start the book 😊

It's been far too long since I was in Derry - I can't wait to go to @littleacornsbooks.bsky.social this week and chat about Barren with the amazing Sue Divin @suedivinwriter.bsky.social If you're in the Northwest, please pop in to say hello! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launc... #derry #booksky

Class weekend at at Belfast Book Festival this weekend. Pleasure to be on a panel with @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social facilitated by Damien @eatthestorms.com and also to hear more on the work of @literatureireland.bsky.social through Clara Ministral and @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social

Do come along if you’re in the NW of Ireland.

This will be a great panel Sunday week in @crescentarts.bsky.social Belfast Book Festival- useful for emerging writers exploring how writing journeys progress and the work of @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social Do come along! belfastbookfestival.com/whats-on/iri...

#Mexico: PEN International condemns the legal harassment of journalist and writer Héctor de Mauleón. Authorities must uphold the right to report on matters of public interest without fear of reprisal. Read our statement ➡️ www.pen-international.org/news/mexico-...

#Türkiye : We stand with Kurdish PEN member Mehmet Dicle and ZİZ Publishing House and urge authorities to stop initiating ludicrous terror-propaganda cases based on fictional literary writings. Read our statement ➡️ www.pen-international.org/news/trkiye-...

The John Hewitt Society & Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann present our Freedom To Write 2025 project for emerging writers, focusing on ecology/nature writing. June-Oct 2025. Read more/apply shorturl.at/gfmdv by 17:00 on 02/06/2025

Statement on Gaza, from Irish PEN/PEN na hÉireann @irishpen.bsky.social. Please share: thank you.

#UK: PM urged to act as Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s mother nears death in hunger strike. PEN International joins 31 organisations calling on the UK government to urgently intervene as Alaa remains arbitrarily detained in Egypt. Read our joint letter: www.pen-international.org/news/uk-prim...

Delighted to be part of this on Thursday in Belfast. It’s a free event. Registration and details below. www.qub.ac.uk/events/whats...

Last day for early bird tickets 🦜 for the Discover Irish Children’s Books Symposium on Saturday 21st June @dculibrary.bsky.social Join us in the beautiful DCU Cregan Library, Drumcondra. Check out the @childrensbooksireland.ie collection while you are there!

Truly it does a heart good to see so many Irish kids books in today's Sunday Times including Gerry Daly & Erika McGann, and @amyclarkinwrites.bsky.social. With thanks to Childrens Books Ireland #DiscoverIrishKidsBooks