Julia Roberts narration of the BBC TV adaptation of Leonard and Hungry Paul @ronanhession.bsky.social is in the can as they say. Transmission date is confirmed and I'll let you know very, very soon. We established BM in Nov 2005 and now our second book is made into a TV drama. Bloody Magic!

Thanks to the Failing Writers podcast for having me and other writers on to chat about indie/snall press publishing. Give the episode a listen! open.spotify.com/episode/5Gxx...

Considered publishing through a small press? Click the link in our bio for all the skinny in our doublebill on indie publishers. In part 1 we talk to happy customers: @cwmcguinness.bsky.social @kazbarwrites.bsky.social #lukepalmer @stgenevieve.bsky.social … then … 1/2 🧵

For those of you just waking up in the UK, sitting down to lunch in Goa, or enjoying your afternoon in Sydney, you'll be the first to read Issue 89 of SmokeLong Quarterly! www.smokelong.com/issue-eighty...

Cripes. Against all expectations we seem to be finalists in 4 categories of the Independent Podcast Awards.🧐(Checks the email again) Yep. Still there. Best dig out some gladrags! 😃🤯😭 #podcastawards #jingleoftheyear #books #selfimprovement #thearts

Yay! It’s arrived! Thanks @thelibbiegrant.bsky.social Look forward to getting stuck in! 🫶

Red Dwarf. The Chicken Song. A children’s book called Sin Bin Island. What kind of brain comes up with all that? The brain of @dougrdnaylor.bsky.social of course! 🧠 We talk #ideas, #writingcomedy,#RedDwarf, all sorts. Check the link in our bio.

Just found this classic summer single in the garage! Anyone remember the first 4 genius lines? No cheating!

This week we talk to the inimitable @benaaronovitch.bsky.social. About spending 30 years doing the wrong thing, his new Rivers of London book, and finally learn the secret, magical ingredient to enormous surefire success* Link in our bio. *write a really good book that lots of people want to read.

The article by @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social that inspired today’s fantastic chat with him… 😬 Listen and weep. And then laugh. And then go write your book anyway! 😁 Linx in our bio

Boop the link in our bio for the best-ever natter with Jessica Knappett. ❤️

We ❤️ to give props to our listeners’ writing. So we’re starting a new feature. Each ep, we’ll big up a writer whose poem / 1st 3 chapters / flash / story we love - and share it with the 🌍 Details in the latest ep (link’s in bio)

Tomorrow’s guest is WHO???!!!

What we working on today folks? Or is it a day-job getting in the way of our one true calling-type-day? 🤨

Ever stuck with your writing? Then reach out to us for a pep talk! It’s what we did in our 2 most recent eps… Thanks @thomastaylor.bsky.social & Samia Rida, you really helped! Click on the link in our bio 👆 And get yourself some of those juicy words o wisdom!

I haven’t been on a podcast this fun in a long time. Check out my interview with the Failing Writers Podcast! www.failingwriterspodcast.com/episodes/epi...

Let us know how you think we performed at an open floor poetry night, in the latest ep. 😬 Smooth sailing👍, or hard failing👎 😄 Link’s in the bio.

Writery people… need your help. In a future ep we want to look at the experience of publishing through small/indie publishers. All experiences from good to very very bad and inbetween welcome. We want to present a true reflection of what’s out there. Please get in touch! Thanks!!!

And we're off! Start a 2-week deep dive TODAY into a favorite online flash journal older than 10 years and get your name in the hat to win $400! Please share at least 1 flash daily (up to 4) and tag SmokeLong so we see you! Get on it! www.smokelong.com/the-archive-...

I'm doing the @smokelong.bsky.social archive challenge somewhat — I won't be online every day in the next two weeks, but it's still fun to read flash! I'm reading The Citron Review and found this gem written by Megan Jones in 2009 WHO WAS 14 at the time. citronreview.com/2009/12/10/h... #WritingSky

Ever considered going to an open-floor poetry night? Then have a shufti at the latest episode! Find out what it’s all about, how we got on, and more importantly, whether we’d ever consider doing it again! Link’s in the bio. #poetryslam #poetrynight #poetry

Adding ‘scene-setter’ & ‘magic duster of creativity’ to my bio. Apparently we are now fashionable? #ukpoets www.thetimes.com/life-style/f...

#writers. For a brilliant, fool-proof way of structuring your story, so your character arcs are rounded and riveting and your through-line is gripping and satisfying, you can do a lot worse than listen to our episode with @thelibbiegrant.bsky.social You honestly won’t regret it. Link’s in the bio!

This week we talk to @thelibbiegrant.bsky.social about writing with structure and freedom simultaneously, how to ensure your stories are as well considered and satisfying as they can possibly be and... pants. You know you want to... Link is in our bio...

I have a new book out today!! It made Cressida Cowell laugh out loud!! It’s illustrated by the amazing Tim Miller!! And I really think it’s one of my best-ever books! Hope you like it!

👀

Want to know a sure-fire way of reaching your writing goals for 2025? Dare to share them below! We might just mention them in next week’s ep, and then, well, you’re committed aren’t you?! Don’t forget to make ‘em achievable, with a deadline. Ready? Go!

This episode, one of our more evil questions threw up some very amusing answers: “What’s your most embarrassing writing success daydream?” But what’s YOUR answer to it? 😁 Be honest!

This week we join the mighty Mur Lafferty, to help us face our demons. You know, those noisy, pesky, doubt-engineers that want dominion over our creative endeavours. It’s truth sharing time. And sometimes the truth hurts! Link’s in the bio. @mightymur.bsky.social

On May 31, at 6:30pm, join the CWA, the Reading Agency, and Bodies in the Bookshop, Cambridge for the in-person launch of National Crime Reading Month! We will also announce the winner of this year’s Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition.

A big ole thanks to SCRIVENER for sponsoring the podcast this season! They’ve been lovely to us over the years, but are now our main sponsor. (Only down side: we had to promise to use every penny on promo & advertising, and not on beer & cheese Doritos 🤨.) Listen to this week’s ep for 20% off code!

It took Adam Buxton 5 years to write his first memoir book, and another 5 to write “I love You Byeee”. THIS possibly explains why… 😁 Join us for our delightful and insightful chat about writing - Link’s in the bio. #AdamBuxton #memoirwriting #writingcommunity

Love this 😄😻 (I think it totally counts Jennie!) x

Wives. An invaluable source of writing advice since forever.

👀 Join PodGod #AdamBuxton, chatting about writing #memoirs - The joys and dangers of looking back, how you represent the past as truthfully as you can & how you deal with terrible, exploitative AI versions of your biography appearing on Amazon. (Not really that well.) Enjoy! Link is in the bio.

Slight delay on the promised Parker deep-dive episode with John Connolly. It's coming, I promise - but this week i'm gonna give you the audio from a nice live event I did with @unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social and Michelle Paver.

This June, we're going to hold your hand and kick your butt through starting, middling and finishing your novel. Also! The best writing community this side of the internet. OBVIOUSLY. Aww yeah! Come write some amazing words with us ❤️ See the full line up here writershq.co.uk/the-writers-...

Songs about books? Yes please! check out Paul Armfield's album - Between the Covers - and marvel not just at the title, but the luscious music too! He’s on tour this month and next. We had a lovely chat with him about books, songs and lyrics on the pod. Have a little shuftie - Link’s in our bio.

This week we shoot the breeze with the brilliant 🤩@cjtudor.bsky.social, and find out being a massively successful author isn’t always the anxiety-free life we might assume. Link in bio. #horror #thrillerbook #writers

😳

Birthday present from ‘friend’

Want to be a better writer? Don't we all. Not long now til the 5th Season of The Failing Writers Podcast! Subscribe now so you don't miss it. bit.ly/3FxLOvO

What evil is rising in Yorkshire? How many coffees will Arthur need to keep up with the spirits this time around? Pre-order THE SWORD AND THE HOUNDS by A. B. Finlayson and get ready to find out! B2R🔗 zurl.co/ixMG

Pre-order discount on buythebook_ie - buy your signed copy before 10th April if you live in the Republic of Ireland www.buythebook.ie/product/barr... #booksky📚💙 #irishwriting ☘️