We Live Here Now by @sarahpinborough.bskyb.social is out in the UK today and it is superb. Pace, turmoil, fear, character, plot… I could go on. Everything about it works to perfection. Buy it and love it, and be prepared…it’s a read-in-one-sitting book.

It is now the law that when anyone uses the phrase 'When push comes to shove' you must interrupt them with 'I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my love.' If they are confused by this, show them where to buy tickets. Message ends. #Hamilton

@mrjamesob.bsky.social @lbc.co.uk Reflux, James, Reflux. The ideal name for a party that is bilious, corrosive and fundamentally unpleasant.

Boosting this for all authors who have had their work stolen by Meta. That's pretty much everyone, by the way.

Happy Birthday, The Matrix.

Yep, all of mine are on here. All stolen by Meta. And the other week, an article about Sam fucking Altman glorying in an AI written story that uses stolen quotes from other books. Still wonder why creatives find AI terrifying?

Perfection.

I am here to tell you that @sturdyalex.bsky.social’s description of JD Vance as Trump’s ‘chinless Nazi care bear’ will never be beaten. Message ends.

This is utterly lovely. Thank you, Paul, I appreciate it more than you know. We all have low days as authors, when the words won’t come, and this right here is why it’s worth carrying on.

Repost with your apocalypse skill. I am less annoying than Rick Grimes.

Something possessed me to watch Civil War last night and I just can't put my finer on what it was...

The Grapes of Wrath is an incredible book. But it's one I have ended up enduring rather than enjoying. It is an examination of desperation, the inexorable slide into poverty and exploitation, driven by the monster of capitalism And yet with the strength to go on even as the way out recedes.

Firstly, Heather is brilliant and if you aren’t following her, please do. Second, this letter is a depressing but necessary read, digging into Trump’s dismantling of so much that is good. Sadly, there are going to be plenty such letters…

Deactivated my Twitter account today. I am not showing even the merest molecule of support for a power drunk, ketamine-fuelled fascist. Or any fascist, obviously, but today, Musk in particular.

UM, I had NO idea facebook was tracking everything I did on the internet. EVERYTHING. I have diligently blocked and followed all ways to try to stop this messed up social media from taking from me, but this is the final straw… THESE JERKS! AGH! [screenshots on how to do it in the comments]

I met Denis Law at a dinner one night. He was on our table and he was utterly charming. Interested in everyone around him, didn’t want attention. A lovely man. RIP #denislaw

I'm using this episode becuase I'm listening to it now but honestly, you could take any episode. Origin Story is an outstanding podcast. The breadth of research is stunning and the presentation style, typical of Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey, is so engaging. I have learned so much. Sign up now!

And praying everyone else in the house was silent for the duration…

Can confirm Kate is 100% correct. My wife earns heaps more than me. This is because she is fucking amazing at her job. I am in awe of how she does what she does.

This is a typically insightful piece and I would urge you to subscribe to Ian's substack if you can. It allows him to continue writing this excellent column and keep it free for those who can't afford it.

At every step, when he could actually be a leader, Trump is going to fail because deep down, he is petty. He is a child staring at another's bag of sweets, drooling with envy. First example of this will be him ordering all US flags raised to full mast the moment he is inaugurated. #trump

We all have an emotional support dead famous guy and who he is says a lot about you

If Cristin Milioti does not sweep up everything for her performance in 'The Penguin', there is no justice. The lad Farrell wasn't too shabby either.

After careful consideration, giving the statement the respect it undoubtedly deserves, and weighing all the pros and cons, my full response is as follows: I do not agree with Roy Wood. #christmas

#joepickett on Amazon is brilliant. It unfolds beautifully amidst a beautifull landscape. Tight script, excellent performances across the board. Well worth your time...

I've watched the first three episodes of season ! of 'Arcane' and can confirm that, as my elder son said, 'It's the best animation series I've ever seen.' It is brilliant. #Arcane

I mean, universal proton decay is a tight timeline, but I'll give it my best shot.

So I was doing some WIP research today and the result is that if anyone wants to know about the multitude of jacket types for electrical wiring, I'm yer man. Until I forget.

It took a few moments before I got this one. I think you do have to be 'of a certain age', though. Well played, David.

Optimism, a new definition: Looking at the bag you've just pulled your outdoor furniture cover from and thinking, 'yeah, I'll be able to get this back in there no problem.'

This is a must-listen. A level-headed analysis with proper experts digging into the reasons Harris lost and where teh US, the UK and the world goes from here. It's refreshingly free of hyperbole and catastrophising and, while not in any way cheerful, is reasoned, realistic and informative.

With November 5th fast-approaching, I thought it was about time I shared a HIstoric Royal Palaces explainer in which I play teh part of Robert Cecil, the spymaster. It's a fascinating piece, punctuated brilliantly by a vast range of sinister facial expressions... l.threads.net?u=https%3A%2...

Thanks, Jules! Signed and now shared...

It's the 21st century and STILL we wait for the dishwasher that empties itself and puts everything back in the right place, too. What the hell?

Arthur's new 'Behind The Lines' podcast series is excellent. In depth analysis with experts. Each episode an education... highly recommended.

I had this brilliant idea for a movie where I'd be filmed for two hours working on anagrams of the phrase 'terrible cliched nonsense' but the studio went ahead and made 'Jurassic World: Dominion' and I therefore think I've had my IP stolen.

My full review of the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 campaign: Incredibly short, incredibly simple, incredibly disappointing and what the fuck with weapons caches round every corner? I agree with many others labelling this expensive piece of crap just a glorified DLC. #CODMW3

A magnifcently awful sci-fi, grandly titled, 'Troja: Dawn' in which almost everyone died and a man survived a spaceship crashing to the ground from orbit by being inside a lead cupboard. My grasp of physics and such is only slightly better today.

Magnifique!

It's that time of year... I play Robert Cecil, spymaster, in a video about the Gunpowder Plot for Historic Royal Palaces. A very enjoyable shoot and the result is a fascinating insight into this remarkable event and why the plot failed... www.youtube.com/watch?v=myJ6OFgBk6I

The Queen's Assassin a total bargain too, I hear you cry? Well, what are you all waiting for? (thanks for the heads-up, Susan!)

For all US readers out there, this is practically giving it away... Heart of Granite US ebook - $3.99

Alert! The Heart of Granite paperback in only £5.99 on Amazon right now. You need excitement in your life the way only Inferno-X can deliver it to you... I cannot paste a link... I do not know what a 'link card' is, Bluesky. What is happening? Anyway. Buy it. Please.

When you have an injury with a long recovery time, it's important to keep a diary, because, when the bad days happen, it's very easy to forget how far you've come.

This is an important thread becasue people do need to appreciate how the BBC is viewed, consumed and interpreted outside the UK.

WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME ABOUT SCHITT'S CREEK?

He's not for everyone but for those that find him as funny, incisive, smart and shocking as I do, Call Jonathan Pie (available wherever you get your podcasts...) is absolutely superb.

Hello #Bluesky #authors #writers. You have been an amazing support of the SAG-AFTRA strike, & against AI misuse. Perhaps you might lend your signature to the letter against Data3, which unlawfully used thousands of books (including mine) to train AI. (Link to open letter in article)

My lad, Ollie, wants to read 'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy' for his Year 8 reading project. I am absolutely explicably very happy about this and ordered it forthwith. And the other four in the series. What delights await him...