Family walk to my granddad’s memorial bench ❤️

The UK Ghost Story Festival is back in Derby this February and March. and what a line-up we have incoming for you for three days of ghoulish goings-on! www.derbyquad.co.uk/ukgsf/#derby #derbyshire #writing #writers #authors #ghoststory #ghoststories #gothic #fiction #ghosts

Realising Emma Thompson’s Sense & Sensibility is on has changed my afternoon plans 😁

Sometimes I’ll find a sentence in my MS that’s been there since the very earliest draft & realise it doesn’t really belong in the book anymore but I’ve just stopped noticing it. Kind of like an old piece of wallpaper when the rest of the house has been redecorated

My husband says keeping our Wordle starting words a secret is the last bit of mystery left in our marriage 🤣

As someone whose children were at Girl Guides Scotland, it impressed me that they were so open and welcoming. To see this change now, because of *one* parent (presumably backed by a bitter GC terf billionaire) is genuinely upsetting. www.change.org/p/allow-tran...

Just discovered something dangerous. You can have store-baked pastries as your Sainsbury’s meal deal snack option. As the SNACK. This means today I have had a Cajun chicken wrap and an enormous chocolate and hazelnut croissant as lunch 😬. I need to unlearn this information

Superman impression

We're thrilled to announce the highly acclaimed “queen of the psychological thriller” and bestselling writer Lisa Jewell as Programming Chair for the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. 👉 Find out more: bit.ly/3XiRnnu

The best sentence I’ve ever read in an editorial letter 🤣🥳. #Book5

Wonderful night at the @leicwritersclub.bsky.social annual awards

Decided to delete a detail about condoms in a cupboard from my WIP as it became irrelevant. Searched ‘condoms’ to delete all refs & now it’s in my search box permanently. Every time I bring up my chapter list or search for something else, I’m haunted by condoms. Opened a different doc & same 🤣

Took a break this evening from working on my stressful book and watched two stressful TV programmes and then a stressful film

Hello #Booksky and bookish pals! I’m working a gorgeous book which is a supportive guide for those with caregiving responsibilities and I would love to send some copies to UK-based writers and readers who fit the bill. Please let me know if that’s you?

My friend found this pic from when we walked the coastal path from Scarborough to Whitby a few summers ago. Yep that’s me on the floor

And today The Leicester Writes Short Story Prize Ceremony featuring Matt Cook, The Curve Theatre, Janine from Eastenders, a swingers club, and short story shenanigans. open.substack.com/pub/drewgumm...

Me messaging my husband from upstairs in my office. I am a writer, honest 🤦‍♀️

A tough morning’s work looking at pictures of Umbrian vineyards as novel setting research 😎

Just so you know, I actually really love short novels: as a reader, as a writer, and as an editor and head of an imprint. I don’t believe in boxing people in for what they’re writing. I’m publishing all lengths at @starsandsabers.bsky.social, long & short. Different readers want different things.

Chuffed to have a blog post on novel hooks published on the Writers & Artists Yearbook website. Look out for more of my blog posts there in the future on a range of writing topics! These may or may not be sneak peeks of a bigger project I’m working on 👀 www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/model...

Contents of a writer’s Notes app

Writing snack

Do you want to build a career as a writer? I'm once again running my hugely popular online Zoom workshops, sharing my experience as an award-winning author of 20+ trad published books and an editor and publisher for an independent imprint. Find out more and book here: www.garethlpowell.com/classes/

Tiny dad & tiny sister

Felt like a spiritual experience swimming out on this lake early this morning, with soft mist and nobody else around. Bliss!

@helencooperwriter.bsky.social Jane Flip flop has ran out of books... The signed copy says " I dare you Jane"... Watch this space

My 5-year-old nephew on our flight to New York last night Cabin crew: so are you excited to go to America, young man? My nephew: How do YOU know where we’re going?

Craigness #fallfriday "Neighbour downstairs with one eye" Had this as an Earworm since starting @helencooperwriter.bsky.social excellent thriller youtu.be/1jIoYNZaSMo?...

Does it get better.? A vegetarian cafe , a harbour, and a @helencooperwriter.bsky.social thriller....what a page turner

Speaking of couples caught on camera somewhere they shouldn’t be… (I definitely did it first 😁)

This is a truly wonderful anthology of horror stories from @starsandsabers.bsky.social. Let’s get it funded and share the terror!

Another day, another inexperienced but hopeful writer, announcing that they have “been offered a book deal” for £20,000. Turns out that the author is being expected to PAY THIS to the publisher, not the other way round. Folks, no publisher does this.

What an amazing weekend at #theakstonscrime 🍻We're out of the office today having a nice long sleep but we'll be back in on Tuesday and the Box Office opens as usual at 10am.  Thank you Richard Maude and Gerard Binks for the ace pics!

Harrogate 2025, at which I took barely any photos! Epic & exhausting as ever. Normal service resumed now with dressing gown on and cat on my lap

In some ways THE HOUSE AT DEVIL'S NECK is intended to be the ultimate closed-circle mystery. With that in mind, I had great fun putting together this list for CrimeReads: crimereads.com/top-10-close...

And that's a wrap! A MASSIVE thank you to our fantastic authors, wonderful audience, the Old Swan Hotel, our photographers for the great snaps and of course to our Festival sponsors Theakstons Brewery, and our Main Event Tent sponsors McCormicks Solicitors and the CHR Group.  See you in 2026!

Packing fail for Harrogate Crime Writing Fest. These are clearly not a pair 🤦‍♀️

Words I read (and write) in books but don’t actually know how to pronounce out loud: Wanly Dutifully Homage

Why has my cat got 5 legs all of a sudden?

One for most excellent holiday murder mystery writer @helencooperwriter.bsky.social 😂

New book in progress. 10,000 words always makes it feel like it’s really a thing

Singing into spatulas with my best friends in the Derbyshire hills. Bliss 😁

One day, one day I’ll beat my husband at the mini crossword

A reminder of my book tour dates. It would be lovely to see you if you are local to any of these places 💚

Sally and I are here for your literary needs today. Pop in or explore the website for your next read! - Michael

Came across a nice review for The Couple In The Photo from an American reader along with a list of foods I’d mentioned that she had to look up. UK-specific refs usually get flagged by my US copy editor but clearly Ribena, cheesy mash, Quavers, malt loaf & poppodoms made the cut!

My Darling Boy is still in the 3 for £7.50 deal at The Works but apparently selling fast! Pick it up for your hols and then send me pics so I can holiday vicariously www.theworks.co.uk/p/thriller-b...

Spinnable cat

Please enjoy this photo of our new kitten Bobby and our mostly confused dog Ralph