Shut up, this is important. There's a type of caterpillar called the Gum-leaf Skeletonizer and it wears a stack of its own heads-from previous moltings-on its head. It is also called the Mad Haterpillar. Okay, go back to whatever was less interesting than this.

Two magnificent new baubles on the tree this year. On balance I'd say the Green Lady bears slightly more resemblance to the real thing than Harry Styles...

One of the (many) terrifying aspects of the Gisele Pelicot rapists is how many cite porn as a factor in allowing them to see women as objects. On the whole these men grew up before porn was widely available to young boys on the internet. How much worse is it going to get?

We are calling for celebrities, publishers and agents to acknowledge the writers behind celebrity books, and calling for evidence from members with experiences of ghostwriting. Read more and take our short survey here👇 societyofauthors.org/2024/12/09/c...

Ho ho ho! Apparently my very dark, 'batshit' Christmas thriller, #DyingForChristmas is just 99p on kindle for the whole of December. Rude not to really. www.amazon.co.uk/Dying-Christ...

I know it’s wrong to want a fur lined cape like Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall but I really really do

At that stage of everything-going-wrong-at-once where I'm now convinced it has to be the precursor to some amazing stroke of fortune. I know how this narrative works. Expecting my Lottery win any second now!

If anyone was thinking of giving me some good news, now would be a great time

Tips on how to coax a stubborn dog into her brand new deluxe basket? I fear we are in for a repeat of The Great Doggy Paddling Pool Fiasco of 2019

Please share

Brilliant writing advice from the talented @laurasrobinson.bsky.social. I've written 17 novels and still have so much to learn!

We've revealed our first guests for @capitalcrime.bsky.social 2025! shorturl.at/5885B

Local Whatsapp Chat buzzing with news of break in 2 doors down at 11.25 pm. French doors at back smashed while owner slept upstairs. Have just remembered I heard 3 big bangs at around that time (I was still up) & thought 'wonder what that is' & then WENT TO BED! Neighbour of the Year!

I have been making a conscious effort not to start emails with the word 'Just...' ('just wondering if''just a quick message''just in case you didn't see my last email') but it is SUCH a hard habit to break

*Useful Starter Pack Alert*

And right on cue, the boiler packs up on the coldest day of the year. No worries though. All totally fine.

'Pssst, wanna be in my Starter Pack?'

Yesterday I didn't know what a Starter Pack was. Today I'm in a perpetual state of outrage that I'm not in more of them. Is there a Starter Pack for Insecure Neurotic Writers?* (*Trick question obviously - the entire internet wouldn't be big enough for THAT)

I need to write a new novel really quickly so I've been reading '2000 to 10,000' (recommended by @janecasey.bsky.social) hoping to improve my productivity (yes, that is 10K words PER DAY). So far today I've written a 150 word description of my dog for a dog sitter site, but determined to crack this!

Did you know that in the UK & Ireland authors get a small stipend each time their books are borrowed from a public library? The PLR scheme is a godsend to many authors.

Everyone seems to be introducing their pets, so here is Doris. She is a bonkers rescue dog. Half jack russell, half friesian cow, wholly neurotic. Loves people, suspects all other dogs. On this morning's walk she lay down outside our front door and refused to go further. Shoe fetishist.

Since watching Until I Kill you, I have had the Anna Maxwell Martin character's voice in my head delivering my inner monologue. It's disturbing. But fitting.

I've got that 'first day at new job' feeling. Going to lurk around in the office kitchen with a half-smile pretending I'm totally at ease and just watch what you guys do and then copy it

How is it that each and every day I swallow hundreds of times without even noticing it, but as soon as I see the hygienist's assistant reach for that sucky thing I become literally incapable of swallowing at all?

My first post on here, and it's a good one! Made my day to see #MurderUnderTheTuscanSun getting some book love courtesy of Kate at #thequickandtheread & Emma at @damppebbles.bsky.social