Sculpt #wip

I didn't realise that Israel has no constitution. I also didn't know that in a series of decisions, the Supreme Court ruled that the 'Proclamation of Independence does not have the validity of a constitutional law'. Source jewishvirtuallibrary.org

And just like that, Adelaide Writer's Week has been cancelled.

Yes, one letter is decimating Adelaide Writers Week.

Since this ruination will keep happening to writers festivals across Aus we must establish a festivals fund - a large trust - managed by artists/writers/small presses etc to enable freedom from sectarian interests. Government should be secular, but it isn't, so there'll be no respite from this.

GERMAN PRESIDENT STEINMEIER: “.. the United States has broken with the values that it helped to establish .. “.. we have now moved beyond the stage where we can lament the lack of respect for international law or the erosion of the international order; we are far beyond that, I believe.”

There's lots of negative stuff about #dementia on #bluesky because of trump & thoughtlessness. The other day I watched my Mum (has alzheimers) talk gently & kindly to another resident who kept interrupting our visit. The conversation made no sense, yet Mum's kindness and respect was profound.1/3

Morning in #brisbane

Wild that it's just normal now for entire industries to despise the source of their revenue.

I have annexed The country Whose resources I wanted And which you Were probably Hoping I could identify a giraffe It was the best clock Anybody drew I like McDonald's Hey look, a bird

You too can help #ai CEOs and investors understand the complex literary works they've purloined so the slop generated isn't as sloppy and can generate real $€£ for investors and users but not the authors of the complex literary works.

GUYS GUYS MY BROTHER MADE ME THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL BUSTS

We need a literary version of the TV documentary series Seven Up, where we track a book from its inclusion in "most anticipated" lists to "end of year" then its journey through awards season and then review it every seven years to see how it holds up.

The richest 10% of Australian households get more money from the capital gains tax discount than the government spends on Jobseeker, the childcare subsidy, government schools or higher education - nearly $4.5bn more than it would cost to include dental in Medicare.

Mellon! #strangerthings #somanymoviereferences

Good overview. Longish.

I see alot a lot and abit quite a bit. #editing #booksky

Prediction for 2026. The world's artists conduct the greatest art heist in history by creating and selling 'perfect prompts' for their own work. Investors pump billions into 'perfect prompts' which the artists then use to crush data centres, reclaim the environment and house and feed everyone.

My Mum had and still has regular cognition tests to check the speed and progress of cognitive impairment (she has #Alzheimers). The lion, giraffe/simple graphics tests are used when the cognitive impairment is well progressed. You do not 'pass' these tests.

Mother in the nest with her chicks. Cladonia #lichen with a little nearby Juniper Haircap Moss. Northwest Territories, Canada. #fungi #fungifriends #moss #bryophyte #botany

Be cool. We’re only devaluing people with *these* skills, not *those* skills. (At least for now)

It is true. AI is already here in publishing. There has always been something horrifyingly wrong with the 'let's be more productive/efficient' narrative though. The productivity prize is free labour, cheap inputs and big profit for a few. A scam at best, colonialism at worst.

I'm impressed. 'The Books Council of Wales’s Distribution Centre provides a wholesale distribution service for the book trade in Wales. Our purpose-built Centre houses an extensive stock of Welsh-language books and Welsh books in English.' #booksky

Some books entertain you. The good ones stay with you long after the last page. What's a book you still think about years later? #booksky #reader #author

In my standard talk on technology and publishing, I used to have to introduce Sam Altman. I guess more recent events have shaved a few minutes off that. If nothing else, I can always say I clocked his odiousness pretty early on.

Copies have been dispatched to readers in Barcelona, Boston, and Broadbeach. You have only until Christmas Eve to grab your copy at the sale price and I'll send one your way, even if you live somewhere that doesn’t start with a ‘B’.

We're looking for an Election Researcher to help prepare election materials & cover election results. You’ll help manage key databases, produce research materials, and dive into electoral research. This is a unique elections and data role at ABC News Full details: careers.abc.net.au/en/job/50515...

Congratulations to all those on the Indie Book Awards 2026 longlist - where Aus indie booksellers nominate their favourite Australian books of the past year. #booksky

BBC books (yes, that national broadcaster) is owned by Penguin Random House which is owned by Bertelsmann. #booksky

ABC books (yes, the national broadcaster) is an imprint of HarperCollins which is owned by Murdoch. #booksky

A tiny while back I edited a @simongroth.com book. Chapters would be printed in any order, so it had to make sense whatever order, with half a billion possibilities! ExLibris is about an underground group working to restore books/knowledge in a world overcome by capitalism & propaganda.

Only a few more weeks of the Ephemeral City boxed edition on sale before the price goes back up. www.simongroth.com/ephemeralcity

I'm going to do a little thread on how the money from books works for traditionally published authors because people have questions, and this is always useful info to share IMO. First, a big disclaimer that every contract is different, and there are a million factors that can change things. 1/

Nominate your favourite Australian children’s picture book of all time

Watched #Frankenstein Visually pretty but emotionally shallow. Victor’s backstory 🙄 The castle workshop reveal was comical. Elordi’s performance had depth tho, esp in scenes with David Bradley. Victor is the monster, but the ‘you’re the monster Victor’ bits weren’t subtle. Costumes+props🎉 No AI 🎉

Bertelsmann gobbling up IP. #booksky

Applications for #DinoConUK 2026 vendor stalls are off to a very impressive, if not slightly scary, start. Rest assured that our Birmingham 2026 vendor hall is going to be very exciting, and also busy. We're still accepting applications until March 2026: www.dinocon.co.uk See you July 25th-26th!

I love that forms of the verb ‘be’ include ‘is’ and ‘are’. There be giants!

Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days

When #booksky folk ask why publishers focus on big names, chasing breakout debuts etc, this is the reason. PRH is part of a large media conglomerate on a revenue growth path, which means earning more than the €19 billion the company earned in 2024. Revenue growth = bigger return for investors.

Latest works in progress + legs.

Submissions for the 10th year of the Jhalak Prize are open 👇 #BookSky

PW is now accepting panel, program, and speaker submissions for the sixth annual U.S. Book Show, to be held June 2–3, 2026 in New York City. If you have an idea—or would like to propose yourself or a colleague as a speaker or workshop leader—please submit your information.

What is literary fiction? That is the question.

Editing tip: Language changes in real time, for complex reasons. Eg ‘on the nose’ can mean something stinks or is off in some way, while it can also mean something’s spot on. Just be clear how you’re using aphorisms so intent is clear for the reader.

Traditional owners have filed a native title claim over Melbourne. What does this mean for the city?

Open AI loses copyright case in Germany. Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."

We are delighted to announce that Jennifer Mills has been appointed Chair of the ASA Board of Directors. Outgoing Chair, Sophie Cunningham, will remain on the Board as Deputy Chair, continuing her valued contribution to the ASA. www.asauthors.org.au/news/asa-welcomes-new-chair-jennifer-mills/

Did someone say performative reading?

Point. We haven’t suddenly or even slowly entered a post-truth world. We have new challenges for sure -esp with AI. Propaganda, misinformation, disinformation is as old as empire though. The fight to out truth is perpetual. My guess is the BBC also still doesn’t know what tribal means.