#Writers, the Hilary Mantel Prize offers an exceptional new opportunity. The late author, who twice won the #WalterScottPrize, was committed to championing emerging talent, and the winner receives a cash award plus mentoring. Submissions are open through 31 December. See https://loom.ly/NFsTZjE#Writers

Thanks @authorsguild.org for this vital update on the #Anthropic settlement. As Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger says, these are billion-dollar companies stealing from people with a median income of barely $20,000 a year. Learn more authorsguild.org/news/what-au....

A glorious day with friends helping me welcome PITCH YOUR BOOK into the world! We had gorgeous weather here in Pencaitland and took shelter in the on-brand orange umbrella. Thanks to Louise Kelly especially for the phenomenal chocolate orange cake! #PitchYourBook #amwriting

Rosa James Galway with an unnamed delphinium, possibly the Pacific Giant series. This rose doesn't have much fragrance, but each mesmerising head has over a hundred petals. #floweraday

Luscious Oriental poppy I've waited years to see flower: tissue paper petals and gloriously fuzzy wuzzy buds. #floweraday

Writers looking for a literary agent, if you'd like to be hand-held through the process of writing a query letter, you can now take an on-demand masterclass with me -- including a review of your query. www.sheilamaverbuch.com/downloads/pi... #GetAnAgent #GetPublished #queryletter #amwriting

Joanne does SO MUCH to support books and authors-- thank you for this feature about PITCH YOUR BOOK!

A crowd of 150 people and great ideas and camaraderie today at #NoTyrants protest at #Edinburgh US Consulate: including calling out racism, voting with your purchases, writing to reps, using Resist Bot and Five Calls, & above all remembering that PROTESTS WORK. #notyrants #nokings #Scotland #resist

Rose de Rescht having its moment of flawlessness, with linaria pupurea Canon de Went, which isn't purple but rather pink. #floweraday

Reader reviews of PITCH YOUR BOOK are starting to come in. Thomas, a querying author, says this on Goodreads. Read the full review: www.goodreads.com/book/show/22... #PitchYourBook #amwriting #amquerying

Double white peony, here with geranium Patricia planted for my mum, and wild Maine lupins. #floweraday

It's the red cabbage that I find most bewitching right now, even though the rest of the garden is taking off. #growyourown

I'm going to be closing to queries for the summer starting this Friday, so if you want to query me, now's the time! #amquerying @andreabrownlit.bsky.social

Please share your case studies of impact, including about how libraries of all types sustain economic growth #LibrariesChangeLives dcmslibraries.blog.gov.uk/2025/06/04/j...

This!

It's #PITCHYOURBOOK publication day! I owe so much to the literary agents who gave me their time and expertise during our interviews, as well as everyone else who supported me and this project. Learn more: bit.ly/SMApitchorder

Rosa damascena, the Damask rose, glorious this morning. I've been travelling off and on for over six months, all the time working on PITCH YOUR BOOK, which launches this very day. I missed most of May in the garden, but I'm home again. #floweraday #pitchyourbook

#PitchYourBook has hit the top 100, coming at 58 of the best-selling books about Books and Publishing. Thanks to you who've pre-ordered! The fact that it's coming in ahead of a writer's craft book I love, Writing The Breakout Novel by #DonaldMaass, is incredible. Learn more: bit.ly/SMApitchorder

Calling unpublished children's writers in UK & Europe -- do you know about the #UndiscoveredVoices opportunity? Learn more here, including the #UV26 masterclasses; sign up for this year's classes and you could win THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EDITING YOUR NOVEL by the fab Sara Grant, or PITCH YOUR BOOK >>

Writing a query letter is so difficult, so why not practise on books you didn't write? In PITCH YOUR BOOK, out 3 June, I take you through the process of writing a #queryletter by using brilliant novels like Gail Honeyman's ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE as examples. bit.ly/SMApitchorder

Thrilled to discover @traceybaptiste.bsky.social's BOY 2.0 in the #Nantucket Public #Library. Middle grade #scifi forever! It's about a boy who develops the power of invisibility. Just began it and am immediately hooked. @hachettechildrens.bsky.social #middlegradebooks #libraries

Fiction writers looking for an agent, check @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social for this feature on reasons to be cheerful -- even when the statistics around querying make it seem impossible to find representation. Read the article at bit.ly/SMAsbt25 #PitchYourBook #GetPublished #GetAnAgent

Honesty, magnolia, rhubarb, and a red cabbage flaunting gigantic leaves. #floweraday

US friends looking for a literary agent: you can win a copy of my new book, PITCH YOUR BOOK: Write the Letter that Hooks an Agent on your Novel. Giveaway runs through 2 June 2025: visit bit.ly/SMApitchgive #giveaway #booktok #amquerying #amwriting #pitchyourbook #findanagent

'Pitch Your Novel' Masterclass with @sheilamaverbuch.bsky.social 👀 What? Learn how to craft your 250-word synopsis and a compelling 35-word pitch. Who? Author/ coach Sheila M. Averbuch When? Thu 5 June, 7.30pm How? Sign up at tinyurl.com/4tjm6m9r #UV26 @scbwi-bi.bsky.social Pic: Rob McDougall

If you are a children's writer in the UK looking to get an agent and get published, you are in luck because this is an #UndiscoveredVoices year! Learn more and sign up for the #SCBWI masterclasses beginning with mine on how to prepare your submission on 5 June www.scbwi.org/events/webin...

Percival Everett wins the #PulitzerPrize for JAMES, his retelling of Huckleberry Finn set in 1861 Missouri. This is one of the books I use as a model in PITCH YOUR BOOK. It's an astonishing novel and must be on your shelf. Have you read it yet?

UK-wide initiative launched by @newwritingnorth.bsky.social @clairemalcolm.bsky.social to tackle marginalisation of working-class writers. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

This weekend -- join us if you're free and want to chat about how to submit to agents. #pitchyourbook

Excellent update on all things @uvcompetition.bsky.social from committee deputy chair @maggiewomersley.bsky.social in the latest issue of @scbwi-bi.bsky.social Words and Pictures including: 👉 Meet the judges 👉 Masterclass details 👉 Info on limited FREE places tinyurl.com/nhcj48y4 #UV26

@katiescribbles.bsky.social Thank you, Katie!

Writers, if you're almost ready to submit your novel to agents, you might want to join my next online Q&A, 4 May 2025, 7:00 p.m. UK time or 8:00 p.m. Vienna time, hosted by the Sunday Writers Club. Book now >> sundaywritersclub.com/product/meet... #amquerying #amwriting #getanagent #PitchYourBook

Getting a literary agent is a challenge, but this is the biggest misconception I've come across: that you must know an insider, or have a friend who works in publishing. You don't have to know someone. But you do need to know your story. #PitchYourBook is out 3 June bit.ly/SMApitchorder

Today for you I have tulip Clearwater, a flawless white egg. Here with blossom of peach Avalon. #floweraday #springgarden

A new home for the annual writers’ *ahem*pitch - 28th March from 9am to 9pm. Looking forward to reading some fresh new ideas! #scotwriterpitch2025

Writers, you can now pre-order PITCH YOUR BOOK! It publishes on 3 June – explaining the proven method for writing that letter that can hook an #agent on your novel. Pre-order at bit.ly/SMApitchorder Looking for tickets to my masterclass? You can still book a place at bit.ly/SMApitch263 #amwriting

Writers, join me on 26th March for my #PITCHYOURBOOK masterclass! Book now at bit.ly/SMApitch263. The class starts 7pm GMT and is ideal if you're trying to find an #agent for your novel. We'll discuss the most common mistakes in #queryletters and the four elements you really must include.

Authors! Translators! Friends who care about authors and translators actually having an income! The govt consultancy on AI and copyright is open until 25th Feb, and @alcs-uk.bsky.social has a really helpful guide to completing it: www.alcs.co.uk/news/your-ri...

Today's video talks about what a comp title is and why, if you're trying to find a literary agent, your #queryletter to them should mention two. youtube.com/shorts/xgZZV... One thing I discuss is Edelweiss: learn more at edelweiss.plus. My new book, PITCH YOUR BOOK, comes out 3 June #amwriting

#Middlegrade book lovers, buckle up: I'm hitting you with my master list of middlegrade #scifi reads in honour of @erinentrada.bsky.social winning the Newbery for her marvellous THE FIRST STATE OF BEING. It's my favorite genre - do you have other recommendations? Lmk! youtube.com/shorts/TAc6r...

@cindyschwind1.bsky.social It's so good to see folk I remember here. Hi Cindy!

New newsletter now out! 📘 How to pitch a novel to agents 📘 Give your views on AI in Society of Authors survey 📘 What I'm reading -THE PRETTIEST by Brigit Youn To see the current and past issues, see eepurl.com/i8gk9E #amwriting #amquerying #tbr

Today for you I have this silken hellebore with its delicate parasol blooms. #floweraday #wintergarden

@storysnug.com Thank you so much Catherine for sharing!

@suewallman.bsky.social Thank you Sue! I am half planning a trip to London in April if you will be around?

Dear #querying writers seeking a fiction agent: what are your burning questions about query letters? I'm writing a book called Pitch Your Book, sharing everything I learned about querying when I got my agent. If this book is for you, tell me what you hope to see in it. #queryletters 👀

Oh my gosh, this looks amazing.

Are you a fan of Haymitch, Katniss’ mentor? Wait until you meet Haymitch the teenage tribute… it’s the Second Quarter Quell, the fiftieth Hunger Games. Fear is gripping the streets of Panem. When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

Still time to enter the book giveaway for FRIEND ME, for #middlegrade readers in your life who love a sci-fi thriller >> www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho... Enter before 28 Nov. (US/Canada only, sadly. I wish Goodreads would extend these to more international users again).

Vegan Biscoff cheesecake that was just oh my. A tiny slice is enough but it freezes so well. Hit me up if you want the #recipe link.