You can write, but can you READ like a writer? Active reading is a secret weapon; it enlarges the toolkit, and turbo charges your own writing. Join me and Sam Jordison at Arvon's loveliest house this May. Bring sticky notes and some work in progress! http://bit.ly/4qY1qdQ
Done this in a couple of sittings.
A great, great book. A savage and tender work of contemporary disquiet from one of the most distinctive voices in British fiction. Cheers to @markabowles.bsky.social @galleybeggars.bsky.social for sharing.
A Devil’s Alphabet by Annie Hayter has won The Galley Beggar Press short story prize!
It's a marvellous story,
Details in our newsletter:
www.galleybeggar.co.uk/campaigns/vi...
It begins!
The wonderful new novel from Mark Bowles: How Do People Stay The Same
LOOK OUT!
'All of these things & thoughts filled her up, pushed their way inside her. They made her feel bigger & bigger, inflating her body with an uncomfortable invisible enormousness.'
Thrilled to share The Appointment, published in RIC Journal, a story of appointments, wax.
ricjournal.com/2026/03/19/t...
Cause for celebration:
From the gen z side of things I'd say you're right, I don't know anyone who likes booktok anymore. It's associated with poorly written erotica and influencer scandals. I use tiktok pretty regularly but never for book content... And books are my entire life!
I wrote about BookTok - and why publishers need an escape strategy:
open.substack.com/pub/samj/p/b...
Feels like that from my precarious ledge on the inside too!
Thank you Max!
I wrote about BookTok - and why publishers need an escape strategy:
open.substack.com/pub/samj/p/b...
A few more words about our beloved Sirius here - as well as an interview with Álvaro Enrigue, a serious writer.
New episode alert! Lori and Sam talk to the brilliant Joanna Kavenna about her wonderfully inventive novel "Seven". www.buzzsprout.com/1728150/epis...
In case you missed our series of IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS yesterday:
We'll be reading:
Katherine Mansfield, The Garden Party and Other Stories
Jeanette Winterson, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
Philip Roth, The Plot Against America
Fran Ross, Oreo
George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo
Orhan Pamuk (trans. Erdag Göknar), My Name Is Red
We are proud to announce the shortlist of this year's Galley Beggar Press short story prize:
Fire! Fire! Or, Ascension by Kate Ansell
A Devil’s Alphabet by Annie Hayter
Clean Sheet by Kinneson Lalor
Also in our newsletter, a new novel by Alex Pheby. I said, A NEW NOVEL BY ALEX PHEBY.
The Picnic. It is extraordinary. More information soon.
Get ready.
Thank you!
More about my Rebecca West blue plaque obsession, with thanks to @samjordison.bsky.social of @galleybeggars.bsky.social for being my first and much appreciated proactive supporter.
Find out how you can help! 💙
open.substack.com/pub/autumnin...
This was great fun to do. My Writer’s Bookshelf, spanning from Sherwood Anderson to Sue Townsend, via Joseph Roth, the Usborne Guide to the Supernatural World, Peanuts, Toni Morrison and many others… Many thanks to @mathewlyons.bsky.social for asking me!
Thank you to everyone who responded to my Rebecca West post. You have all given me heart and courage.
I've written about what I'm up to here. Please forward this to anyone who might be interested
open.substack.com/pub/autumnin...
Hello Bluesky! I am looking for anyone who cares about/writes about/thinks about Rebecca West.
I've been on a 10 year mission to get her a blue plaque in London and am finally allowed to re-apply after it was last turned down.
I'd welcome help building a strong application.
Thank you 💙🙏
I’d like to help and think some of my authors might be happy to write something or sign something too.
This week, a fantastic interview with the vivacious, fierce, fantastic Álvaro Enrigue. (Also some heartfelt words about Sam's beloved dog Sirius and the aid dogs have given to literature over the years.)
www.buzzsprout.com/1728150/epis...
Thanks Erica!
Thank you! (I see your point too. I hate and love them, I think…)
Thank you!
