Congrats Martina!

So looking forward to this…

To celebrate 10 years of awesomeness, we want to answer your questions about the submission process, editorial decision-making, and all things lit mag. Our managing editors @saracrowley.bsky.social and @sarahstarrmurphy.bsky.social will be hosting an AMA here on 3/20, 7-8 pm EDT (11PM UK). Ask away!

Story of the Month, March: ‘A More Interior Life’ by Mike Fox The Lonely Crowd will feature a new short story by a different author each month throughout 2026. For March, we are delighted to publish a new piece by Mike Fox. Gwen awoke to the rustle of leaf mu…

The Lonely Crowd will feature a new short story by a different author each month throughout 2026. For March, we are delighted to publish a new piece by @polyscribe70.bsky.social

Painting: ‘Street at Night, Meudon’ by Gwen John (National Gallery of Art)

thelonelycrowd.org/2026/03/06/s...

Really honoured to return to the wonderful @fictivedream.bsky.social with a new story, Creatures of Our Time. Just now and then, the muse needs toning down a bit to become credible fiction…

I’m supporting #ReadItForward2026!
If you buy my books Black Gables, The Midnight House or Welcome to Dead Town Raven McKay during February bookshop.org will donate 10% to @booktrust.org.uk and @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social
#KidLitUk
#supportindiebookshops

A Personal Anthology | Jonathan Gibbs | Substack A weekly guest-editor picks and introduces a personal anthology of twelve favourite short stories. Click to read A Personal Anthology, by Jonathan Gibbs, a Substack publication with thousands of subsc...

Such a pleasure to take time re-reading and thinking about these special stories, each of which beguiles and haunts me in a different way. Thanks to Jonathan Gibbs @jonathangibbs.bsky.social for the opportunity to take part in A Personal Anthology. apersonalanthology.substack.com

Fantastic news! So looking forward to it. Congrats Martina

Beyond excited to share the news that my first poetry collection, Midnight at the Saltmarsh, will be published by @thegallerypress.bsky.social in May 2026! 💫✨

Great news Mike. Congrats! Looking forward to your collection

Utterly delighted to be joining Ballerini Book Press, with a new story collection, Blurred Edges, planned for publication in the first half of 2026. Huge thanks to Renée Ballerini for this wonderful opportunity.
ballerinibookpress.ch/author-signi...

Great to see The Midnight House on this fabulous list of the best Cork books of 2025. Thank you @marjbrennan.bsky.social @irishexaminer.bsky.social 📚✍️✨ www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ar...

This was the 300th edition of the project, which means that the archive website now presents over 3,500 individual short story recommendations!

And who's been picked the most times? I hear you ask.

Announcing The Scratch Winter Sale!
For two weeks before our festive break buy all our titles with 25% off.
For all the readers and writers in your life!

www.scratch-books.co.uk/shop

CHRISTMAS OFFER! Buy SHOO! (for 3-6 years) or THE DANGEROUS LIFE OF OPHELIA BOTTOM or THE INVISIBLES (8-12 years) and I'll send you a signed and dedicated bookmark! Just leave your details and who you'd like the book dedicated to via my website susiebower.co.uk

The 2026 lit mag rankings are now available from my website! They include an overall ranking, as well as separate rankings for fiction, flash fiction, non-fiction and poetry. If you find these helpful, please show your support by liking & sharing 🙏

Creepy green lake. Black rose. Floating black silhouette. Midnight blue sky. Full moon,

Green, black, blue. School on shore of eerie lake. Leaves. Black rose. Floating figure in black. Blurb of book in white.

Black & white photograph of author.

Green & yellow Carnegie nomination board

#BookHaiku a day Totally Gothic
a chilly mist crawls across
a lake of secrets

Beside a spooky
school with creepy staff,
fragile memories

trapped, set new pupil
Rosella on Edge ,
eerie Black Roses #CarnegieMedals
#Gothic

Absolutely thrilled that Black Gables has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing.
Huge thanks to all the librarians and readers @carnegiemedals.bsky.social
Special thanks to @everywithwords.bsky.social and Silvia @pfd
Congrats to all the nominees!
#Carnegies2026

Short Story Submission Opportunities at The Fiction Desk Information on submitting short stories to the Fiction Desk.

We’ve updated our submissions pages with news of our winter call, and info on the new ghost story call:

Michael Longley #halloween

I'm so happy to be doing another fiction workshop, this time with the wonderful @munsterlitcentre.bsky.social in Ireland - online, join from anywhere (timezones permitting)! munsterlit.ie/fiction-work...
7 pm IST, 2 pm EDT, 9 am PDT, 1 am WIB / 4 am AEST / 6 am NZST (for the keenest beans 😍)

A selection of children’s books for reading at Halloween on a purple background with a white moon and flying bats.

I’ve updated my Halloween book recommendations blogpost, adding in some recently published titles.
Happy spooky season reading!
#UkKidLit

vsviewfromthebookshelves.home.blog/2025/10/25/h...

Spooky Season Recommendations … Over the last year, I’ve read lots of books that are just perfect for spooky season so I thought I’d bring together some of my favourites. I’m sharing them in the order I read the…

Lovely to see Black Gables on this fab list! Thanks @bookcraic.bsky.social 👻🏫🍁🖤💀🍂🧌
bookcraic.blog/2025/10/11/s...

Children In Read is now LIVE! The largest signed book auction in the world. All proceeds are in aid of @childreninread.bsky.social
Delighted to have three signed spooky books with bookmarks in the bidding!
www.jumblebee.co.uk/childreninre... 📚✍️✨

Background image shows an open notebook and pen on a wooden table. The text reads: Publishing Your Work - October 2025, Poetry & Writing Submissions - Journals, Competitions, Bursaries, Residencies. www.thisiswordbox.com

Over 160 calls for literary competitions & submissions including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, art, photography, & more - contests, literary journals, residencies, bursaries etc - open or with deadlines in October 2025. Please share & best of luck!
www.thisiswordbox.com/wordbox-blog...

Thank you Sarah!

Great to see Black Gables included in this fab round up! 📚✍️
#BlackGables

Delighted to have been awarded a 2025 Mentorship in Fiction Bursary with Frank O’Connor fellow @laurajeanmckay.bsky.social
@munsterlitcentre.bsky.social