Dr Husam Zomlot, Head of Palestinian Mission to the UK, spoke movingly at the SNP Conference today. Well worth listening to his whole speech 👇 Very rarely is a Palestinian voice heard without bias and interruption on British media. (Video courtesy @broadcastscot.bsky.social ) youtu.be/dx-3t7yD36M

I was fortunate enough to be at Edwyn Collins's final ever Scottish gig in Edinburgh last night. www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy: www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Aifter the boombers cleck and the sodgers traik thro the skau there’s an auld air sterts up – bubblin and greetin. It’s a ballant mithers sing on their hunkers i the stour for a bairn deid. They ken it by hert. —Alastair Mackie, “Pietà” The Golden Treasury of Scottish Verse, @canongate.co.uk 2021

Voices for Gaza. An evening of poetry, music and hope, with love from Scotland to Palestine. On at the Catstrand in New Galloway this Saturday, to raise much needed funds for MAP. gcat.scot/arts

Busy final day at Wigtown! Come on down if you can. 😊

What a brilliant night. Back in The Citz for first time in 7 years, and the old lady is looking fantastic. And what a heart-rending, powerful, thoughtful and ultimately uplifting piece of theatre to open with. Congratulations & thank you to all involved.

It was an absolute pleasure, Ernie! I mean Olga...😄

Today at #WigtownBookFestival 📚 Alex Riley - Super Natural: How Life Thrives in Impossible Places Nicholas Sinclair-House - Fault Lines: A Neurocriminologist's Guide to Blame @mrewanmorrison.bsky.social - For Emma cont.. #Wigtown #DumfriesAndGalloway tickets.wigtownbookfestival.com/sales

We have £15 tickets to Black Hole Sign for NHS workers. Use code BLACKHOLE15 online or present your Blue Light Card to our Sales Desk 8-18 OCT https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event/black-hole-sign-autumn-25 A Tron Theatre & Traverse production, in association with National Theatre of Scotland

And why call it 'golden ticket'? Disgraceful language. These people have lost everything. Should they also lose their spouses and children? A reminder that last year 4,671 family reunion visas were granted. 4,671. Does anyone think this number is a major problem for the UK economy and society?

People thinking that Reform's suggestions of getting rid of legal immigrants will fix the NHS have no idea how much it will hurt healthcare. Immigrants & children of immigrants keep the NHS functioning. Same with social care.

Fascinating evening last night listening to @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social talk about her memory 'Frankly'. Warm, witty and candid. Back @wigtownbooktown.bsky.social this morning, chairing the mighty Chris McQueer. Come on down and join us!

Off to chair the extremely funny @olgawojtas.bsky.social this afternoon @wigtownbooktown.bsky.social . Pirates, Krakens, time-travelling librarians... Not sure what we're going to talk about. 😂 Hope to see you there!

An amazing surprise to see the cover of my wee book on the Stairs of fame @wigtownbooktown.bsky.social 😀 Festival is in full swing and the buzz is great. Chairing today, tomorrow and Tuesday, then my event is on next Sunday. share.google/gvJofcuU6HiM...

‘Time for Scotland to fight like hell’ If Yes parties win a majority at the next Scottish election that should be used as a mandate for independence. If London says No to a referendum then Scotland should vote regardless My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

This is an incredible opportunity! I won this fellowship and used the time to edit my first novel, You Will Be Safe Here. To meet and learn from writers in Aotearoa New Zaland and to gain valuable teaching experience. Previous holders inc Louise Welsh, Janice Galloway and others. Apply!

Last day in NYC. Thank you Big Apple. It's been a blast! 😃

Currently in the Big Apple for my husband's Big birthday 🎈. What better way to start the day than a stack of American 🥞 😊

Me too

It was absolutely tremendous to give the fascists of Glasgow such a miserable day today - topped off by the police clearing off the last of their dregs. One thing was notable, though. Scottish fash have moved to Trump, Charlie Kirk 😂 and American Christianity as their new 'cause' Zero identity.

Did you know September is the month with the most birthdays in the UK? Stuck for gift ideas? Buy a gift book subscription and let them choose! shop.scottishbooktrust.com/products/adu...

The longlists for the Saltires – Scotland’s national book awards for non-fiction, fiction, poetry, & research – have been announced. www.thesaltires.org.uk

Very proud of our trio of authors on the longlists for the Saltires, Scotland's National Book Awards! Karen Campbell's @writerkcampbell.bsky.social This Bright Life has been longlisted for Fiction book of the year, congratulations Karen!

So,so delighted to be longlisted for Saltire Awards! 😊

Applications for our current volunteer recruitment drive close in just one week! 👉 Find out more & apply! scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/jobs

Marisa and I will be talking about our favourite Scottish book, film and album at The Stand's new Glasgow venue on September 11 with the always effervescent @nicolameighan.bsky.social. www.thestand.co.uk/performance/...

Bella is supported only by its readers. We don’t have corporate backers and we don’t take advertising, so we rely entirely on your support. Please give whatever you can and support independent Scottish journalism: bellacaledonia.org.uk/donate

A stunning poem. One to linger, and spread its quiet ripples softly across far seas.

Yay, @peteralanross.bsky.social 's new book Upon a White Horse is out on September 11 & it will be terrific. This is the short opening chapter, Shrine. "The landscape seems tale-worn, shaped by legend as much as the slow grind of ice and wind: a warrior’s head on a crag....". Lovely stuff, as ever.

Tickets here if you're coming (please do) -- kicking off Monday morning with a bang: tickets.wigtownbookfestival.com/sales/events... (As many of you know I'm a massive JSS fan so expect frothing. I bonded with Tony Bennett over Sargent over lunch once. True fact.)

@becmcq.bsky.social Thank you Rebecca for your honest, humane, trenchant piece in The Herald today www.pressreader.com/uk/the-heral.... I'm so sick of all the hyperbole and lies generated around the subject of souls seeking asylum.

The Scottish Government has committed to providing free bus travel for people seeking asylum by 2026, but why is the initiative so important to people seeking refuge in Scotland

In this story for our Refugees Are Welcome Here series, several refugees speak to us about coming from professional backgrounds but facing no right to work in the UK. We hear from dentists, teachers, academics who want to contribute - but legally can't. www.thenational.scot/politics/254...

This is excellent!

Two of my favourites🫶! THE MIRACLE OF THE BURD AND THE FISHES ach sun jiss keepyir chin up dizny day gonabootlika hawf shut knife inaw jiss cozzy a burd luvur day yi ach well gee it a wee while sun thirz a loat merr fish in thi sea From: www.tomleonard.co.uk/online-poetr...

We’re holding free, multilingual info sessions for refugees struggling to find accommodation after getting refugee status in Scotland. People in unsuitable temporary accommodation or experiencing homelessness can join us on Zoom to learn about their housing rights and options. 1/3

I would if I could! I loved loved, loved, loved Bagpuss. Sadly too far away for me, but this sounds brilliant!

The Scottish Novel – book launch & seminar 5 Sept, Edinburgh – free, ticketed This seminar presents papers by contributors to The International Companion to the Scottish Novel (ed. Cairns Craig) with a focus on literature from the 20th & 21st centuries www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-scotti...

Heading to the Edinburgh Futures Institute tomorrow, site of the world's biggest and best book festival. I'm on at 8:30, chatting to Denise Mina about The Cracked Mirror and the forthcoming return of Jack Parlabane in Quite Ugly One Evening. www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

Be bold & submit your short stories & poems to our annual writing competition. We’re following #BookWeekScotland’s theme – FRIENDSHIP. Feel free to interpret the theme in any way you like. We can’t wait to be enthralled by your entries! Find out more: womenslibrary.org.uk/2025/08/01/b...

Really looking forward to my event with Leila Aboulela at Edinburgh Book Festival. Lots to discuss around compassion, hope and the need for community - especially at times when we feel alone . www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

#WritingCommunity! Submissions invited to NEW WRITING SCOTLAND 44! We want poetry & prose in English, #Gaelic, & #Scots from writers who are Scottish by residence, birth, or inclination. All successful contributors are paid – deadline 31 Oct! Submit free via Submittable 👇 nws.submittable.com/submit

This is so niche I can't believe I am asking, but does anyone know anyone who might be an expert in Protestantism in Italy during the Reformation? (Stranger things have happened). RTs welcome.

Please join us for the unveiling of our community made Stained Glass window at Platform on Thursday 24th July, 2pm. The latest in the Glasgow Libraries Stained Glass Trail. Keira Mclean & Joey Simons. #stainedglass #glasgow #scotland

WE HAVE JUST 3 SPACES LEFT!! Zipslide the Clyde this August in support of people seeking safety. Hear from those who took part last year and grab a space now while you can! 🔗 ow.ly/ZbXG50WphWO #partofthebiggerpicture 🧩

On my way to Manchester for a meeting with publisher and I believe we have some advance proofs of Drifting North for review now. If you are a journalist, bookshop manager or event programmer and want a copy let me know and we'll get you one.

Really sad new this. Very sorry to hear about the forthcoming closure of @404ink.bsky.social , but it sounds like they're remaining classy, right to the end.