I painted this bookmark & decided to keep it for myself, then realised it was the ideal match for @sudhab.bsky.social's 'Nose Ornaments' @adhocfiction.bsky.social. The irony is I didn't need a bookmark; I read this gem in one sitting. I loved all 3 narrators, 82 pages of perfection. #art #AmReading

10 Sizzling Summer Reads open.substack.com/pub/flyonthe...

Just finished @fionamckay.bsky.social's #NovellaInFlash 'The Top Road' @adhocfiction.bsky.social . Beautifully written. Gripping as any top thriller - this kept me reading to the end. I cried for so many of the characters here, all believable and aching with humanity. #AmReading #WritingCommunity

It’s a very moving story and thank you @theliterarypig.bsky.social for the cover image inspiration

LitPig has already got his trotters on my contributor's copy of the Bath Flash Fiction anthology vol 9 (published by @adhocfiction.bsky.social). The title is taken from my #FlashFiction (p140) The Constancy of Woodpigeons, which is a great honour for me. @bathflashaward.bsky.social @adhocfic

Thank you, @bathflashaward.bsky.social, for including my story, To whom belongs the land, in volume 9. Loved the title story, The constancy of woodpigeons, by @theliterarypig.bsky.social .

Featuring Personal Anthology debuts for: Carol Farrelly @carolfarrelly.bsky.social relly.bsky.social Tracy Fells @theliterarypig.bsky.social ypig.bsky.social Alice Fowler @alicefwrites.bsky.social writes.bsky.social Hana Gammon Robyn Jefferson Ross Raisin So congrats to them!

We very happy to reveal the cover of the much-delayed BFFA 2024 anthology, which will be published in a few weeks. We’ve taken the title ‘The Constancy of Woodpigeons’ from a beautiful story by Tracy Fells @theliterarypig.bsky.social Thank you to all contributors for your patience

I am so honoured to have my story title 'The Constancy of Woodpigeons' chosen to name the BFFA 2024 anthology. This news, and that gorgeous cover, has made me cry this morning. #WritingCommunity #WritingAndBooks

One week until the release of "In the Dark" - and on 17th May, there will be a launch on Zoom. Should be great fun, so do come and join us. Me chatting with @theliterarypig.bsky.social , & an audience Q&A. Book your free ticket below! Thank you @bloodhoundbooks.bsky.social #books #readerscommunity

#IndiePressDay Some great short story collections by indie presses I have discovered via social media inc. Fauna by @davidhartley.bsky.social The Naming of Moths by @theliterarypig.bsky.social (@flyonthewallpress.bsky.social) The Museum of Shadows and Reflections by @clairedean.bsky.social

My anthology includes stories by @demimondaine.bsky.social (Robyn Jefferson), @theliterarypig.bsky.social (Tracy Fells), @carolfarrelly.bsky.social (Carol Farrelly) @alicefwrites.bsky.social (Alice Fowler) And from @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social

Just held a lovely "event plan" meeting with @theliterarypig.bsky.social for the launch of "In the Dark" on Saturday 17th May. It should be a really lovely evening... hope you can join us😁 FB event & discussion fb.me/e/3b78ASXNt Book your free tickets to get link www.tickettailor.com/events/dubli...

Our FlashFlood editors would love to see some humour, quirkiness, light or uncommon themes in the submissions!

FlashFlood is now open for submissions until Saturday 26 April. Flashes up to 300 words. Previously published accepted (2022 & earlier). Debut writer spots. Free to enter. For more details see here: flashfloodjournal.blogspot.com/p/submission...

#TheLostPassenger by @franquinn.bsky.social is the first book in a long time that I stayed up late to read then got up early to finish! Within pages I was hooked - laughing, crying & cheering along with Elinor. The Titanic scenes were well-written, felt authentic & heart-achingly real. #AmReading

Celebrate #WorldBookDay by reading a book! And why not support #indie #bookshops & small presses by buying a book from them🐷💖📚📚 Here's my #ShortStory collection published by award-winning small press @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social. Stories of myths, monsters and mothers. #AmReading #WritingCommunity

LitPig is celebrating #WorldBookDay with the latest psychological thriller 'Make Yourself At Home' from @bookouture.bsky.social. Out Now. He loves everything by @wendyclarke.bsky.social & can't wait to start reading. Trotters up from LitPig! #WritingCommunity #amreading

No more secrets! I'm so excited to announce that I'm a literary agent with @roseclifflit.bsky.social and I'm open to queries on Friday! Huge thanks to @jessicaberg.bsky.social for the encouragement and mentorship! MSWL below!

The @creativefutureuk.bsky.social Writers’ Award #WritingCompetition for underrepresented writers is officially open! ✍️⁠ Entry is free & 15 winners will receive £20k of prizes 🌟 This year's theme is 'Wild'. ⁠Find out how to enter and more: shorturl.at/70n8V [ #booksky 📚💙 #writingcommunity ]

Oo the bears have invaded @serenitybookshop.bsky.social Stockport ready for our Thursday launch with @johnironmonger.bsky.social (and host @davidhartley.bsky.social !) Join us for a life-affirming discussion & grab a copy of the limited edition book! www.ticketsource.co.uk/serenity-boo... #books💙📚

A gentle reminder that bloggers review books because we are passionate about reading. We don't get paid and do it out of genuine love. The best way to show your appreciation is to support us back. Promote our posts. Share what we do. Give back some of the love we give you.

Elizabeth Strout @lizstrout.bsky.social does it again. I didn't want to leave the, what felt very real, world of Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge & Bob Burgess. Oh so matter of fact prose, yet oh so profound. Wisdom, kindness & love in all its forms are here. #WritingCommunity #WritingAndBooks

On publication day for the life-affirming novel The Wager and the Bear by @johnironmonger.bsky.social , allow us to tell you where you can grab a copy of this compelling read from a shop or kindle near you... Paperback links uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-... www.waterstones.com/book/the-wag...

With thanks to @dublinwriter.bsky.social for letting me know the @retreatwest.bsky.social First Chapter competition longlist had been announced ... and ... Woohoo, my novel is on there! #WritingCommunity

Sat 22nd at 7pm I'm doing the first of 2 "Be Kind to Your Writing Self" Zooms for @retreatwest.bsky.social This one is "You Are You and You Are Good Enough" - all about the way we see ourselves as writers, what stands in our way, and exercises to get past it. 😊 www.tickettailor.com/events/retre...

With thanks to @judehwriter2.bsky.social, here's my interview about joining the @bathshortstory.bsky.social reading team. Stuff about my collection & other writing, with some tips for subbing #ShortStories for good measure. #WritingCommunity

Read my interview below with new @bathshortstory.bsky.social team member @theliterarypig.bsky.social for excellent tips about writing short stories & info about her own books The Naming of Moths & Hairy on the www.bathshortstoryaward.org/2025/02/17/t...

I've written something new! 100 words is a start for 2025, and just in time to enter the @natflashfictionday.bsky.social Micro Fiction competition ... closing 15th Feb 🐷❤️📚#WritingCommunity #FlashFiction #AmWriting

Words To Live By Number 179

FIRST PLACE in the Welkin Mini 2025. "Nine One One" by @sfreligh.bsky.social. Congratulations, Sarah. A micro that exists on the periphery of the real and the dream, all of it building in such a way that spoke to me on a deeply personal level: www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-prize...

Always a pleasure to visit @waterstones.bsky.social #Worthing where there's now a newly signed copy of #TheNamingOfMoths, my #ShortStory collection, available in the #bookshop. From @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social (I forgot to take a pic so this is one I took earlier in 2024). #WritingCommunity

LitPig loves book post! This gorgeous book arrived today. Out 27th February #TheLostPassenger by @franquinn.bsky.social, one of my favourite #HistoricalFiction authors. It jumps straight to the top of my TBR pile. With thanks to @bookpublicist.bsky.social for sending. #WritingCommunity

Hi all! We reckon now's as good a time as any to promote our first #AMA happening next Thursday! Send through your queries about the world of agenting / submissions and we'll select a few to answer! [ #booksky #writingcommunity ]

Support a local #Bookshop & order/buy books from @bookshop-org.bsky.social. Check out the @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social loves Magical Realism page uk.bookshop.org/lists/magica... which lists some excellent books including my collection #TheNamingOfMoths. Tales of myths, monsters & mothers.

Looking forward to settling down with the latest #Psychological #Thriller from @wendyclarke.bsky.social out 5th March & available to pre-order now! My copy is ordered & LitPig will have the posh biscuits ready for this one. #MakeYourselfAtHome from @bookouture.bsky.social #WritingCommunity

Important! We do not support the new exception to copyright in a consultation launched by the govt. Current copyright laws must be respected & enforceable. Pls write to your MP using the following link with letter. #AI #Writingcommunity #Publishing creativerightsinai.eaction.org.uk/MP?mc_cid=bd...

Just had to show off a beautiful Amazon page for @johnironmonger.bsky.social - #books💙📚 are a team effort so big thanks Ed Bettison illustration, @inpressbooks.bsky.social and the amazing endorsement writers & novelists in their own right @shelleyharris.bsky.social #carysbray & @essiefox.bsky.social

Step #1 towards achieving my 2025 writing goal is seeking representation. The first agent queries are going out for my Devon-set, female-led #CrimeFiction novel with dark humour. To be continued ... #amquerying #writingcommunity

Exciting news! I first came across @ruebaldry.bsky.social's writing when she won the Commonwealth Short Story Award (Europe & Canada). Her novel 'Dwell' will be a terrific read! Congratulations, Rue 💖 #WritingCommunity @northodoxpress.bsky.social

#Authors! You'll have seen the government's plan for #AI announced today. Many authors, agents and publishers are deeply concerned by the plan to change the UK's copyright regime. *This is a disaster!* The existing law is fine and a licensing model is already emerging. Please email your MP 👇

Our Novella-in-Flash Fest is 1 month away and sadly @danbillyc.bsky.social can no longer join us (we’ll miss you Dan! 💙) so @dublinwriter.bsky.social is running a session instead. Join her for "Emotion and The Brutal Truth in the Novella-in-Flash" to get to the heart of your story.

🧵🧵🧵🧵 Hey storytellers we have oodles of opportunities for you to get published in WestWord! Check them all out in this submissions info thread and tell everyone you know! 👇👇👇👇 #shortstory #flashfiction #submissions #amwriting

I'm struggling to run outdoors during these cold/dark/wet mornings so now have a treadmill. When I run outside I like to stay alert & don't listen to music but indoors I'm finding podcasts are a great distraction. Any recommendations for good literary/bookish podcasts? Thank you! #WritingCommunity

My #Reading stats for 2024: 45 books read, 2 DNF Top: 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow' by Gabrielle Zevin (with thanks to @wendyclarke.bsky.social for lending me her copy) New author discovered: Taylor Jenkins Reid, & backlist devoured with 'Malibu Rising' my favourite so far. 1/2

Look what we found at 10% off preorders on @theguardian.com 's bookshop?! @johnironmonger.bsky.social guardianbookshop.com/the-wager-an...

Yep, this is my vibe for the rest of the year. LitPig and I want to wish all our followers a creative, book-filled and peaceful 2025 #NewYear2025🐷❤️📚 #WritingCommunity

It's trotters up from LitPig for @scooterwriter.bsky.social 's 'A Tricky Dance'. This heartfelt #NovellaInFlash made me laugh ... & I cried a few happy tears too. With each story I could hear Diane reading in my head! Now I just want to know what happened next for Elspeth & Rory. #AmReading

In 2024 my #novel was Highly Commended by @dianabeaumont.bsky.social in the @iaminprint.bsky.social Crime Writing comp & then later shortlisted in @flash500.bsky.social Novel comp. Now my 2025 goal is to find a home for this Devon-set #CrimeFiction series with dark humour & characterful mysteries.

It’s brilliant. If you love short stories don’t miss this!