“If we want our children to love reading, we have to let them choose for themselves” #JenniferKillick in this great piece in @thetimes.com on the popularity of #horror among young readers, featuring @dansmithauthor.bsky.social's terrifying series #TheNightHouseFiles: bit.ly/4tYbLsa
And the next gruesome instalment of @dansmithauthor.bsky.social's #TheNightHouseFiles series is out 7th May 2026. Learn about it from the author at youtu.be/nU1o_k0hs3w.
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Ooh! Enjoy 😄
On the left, The House of Horrors by Dan Smith, illustrated by Luke Brookes, the dark cover of which shows a car being pursued by a truck at night. On the right, Bobby Bains Ain’t Playing by Bali Rai, illustrated by Daniel Duncan, the cover of which shows Sikh Bobby in sports gear shouting through a megaphone and raising his fist, with four friends behind him who also have raised fists.
The most enormous thanks go to Poppy @barringtonstoke.bsky.social for sending House of Horrors by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social and Luke Brookes and Bobby Bains Ain’t Playing by @balirai.bsky.social & Daniel Duncan.
Both out 07/05 for 11+ and 9+ readers!
#KidlitUK #UKKidlit
Oh! So proud that The Deadsoul Project won the Brilliant Book Award 2026, as voted for by the readers! Glad to know there are lots of horror fans out there 😱💀 Congratulations and thanks to @lukebrookesart for the amazing illustrations.
Excuse me … THREE horror films.
Ha! That’s true 😄
Maybe you’ll be tempted to try another now that you’ve seen one you enjoyed 😄
Great to see a couple of horror films scooping a few Oscars this year.
New book incoming… The Nightwatchman has sent me another file and it's the most horrifying case yet. Listen here to find out more about The House Of Horrors - coming May 2026. youtu.be/nU1o_k0hs3w #TheNightHouseFiles
The Nightwatchman has struck again! And it's the most horrifying case file yet. Listen to @dansmithauthor.bsky.social introduce #TheHouseOfHorrors here - coming May 2026. youtu.be/nU1o_k0hs3w #TheNightHouseFiles
Ooh, Resident Evil Requiem, you look very pretty ...
Ah, thank you for saying that. It feels like a long time since I wrote them so it’s good to know that someone out there is returning to them.
Thanks so much for reading them. Strange how parts of them feel relevant today …
@dansmithauthor.bsky.social I reread Child Thief and Red Winter. Two of my favorite books. Ever. Thank you. Reading them, I couldn’t help thinking about what it must like fighting in Ukraine 2026.
Watched 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things'. I'm confused.
Oh wow that’s awesome! Honoured to see The Deadsoul Project among those other great stories 😄
Front covers of the longlist of titles for the TMWS Book Award 2026. They are (left to right) The Foundation by Melinda Salisbury, The Witch in the Woods by Jennifer Killick, The Beck by Anthony McGowan, What Happens Online by Nathanael Lessore, The Boy in the Suit by James Fox, Let's Split Up by Bill Wood, Birdie by J P Rose, Running My Own Race by Abena Eyeson, Murder at Wintertide by Fleur Hitchcock, Mondays Are Murder by Ravena Guron, The Deadsoul Project by Dan Smith, The Boy I Love by William Hussey, The Nightmares of Finnegan Quick by Larry Hayes, The Zombie Project by Alice Nuttall and Jellybean by Eve Ainsworth.
We are delighted to announce the longlist for the TMWS Book Award 2026. This is for the best book written for young people in the last academic year, as chosen by TMWS students. Congratulations to all those on the longlist. We will be narrowing it down to a shortlist over the next few weeks.
Already up to date on the Night House Files? Never fear. The Nightwatchman has delivered another file. Keep your eyes peeled for details.
Sounds exhausting.
Thank you!!!
These are brilliant 🤩
Thank you!
Need something scary in yer life?
Well, that was wonderfully bloody and bonkers.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts. The next file is going to take you to some very dark places … 😱💀💀
Ahhh, we love this series!! 😍
The second of The Night House Files by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social (pub. @barringtonstoke.bsky.social) is the Wintermoor Lights, where some kids start behaving strangely after seeing lights in the sky. I won't tell you what happens but what a reveal it was at the end!
Seven years ago today, I was hosting a remembrance event & had a crazy idea to work alongside the Victoria Tunnels & have an author read a section of their war related book 55 feet underground. Who would be mad enough to help me? It was always the legend that is @dansmithauthor.bsky.social