Thank you, Angela. Sending love from Dartmoor.

I'm making one last push to let people know about this online talk -- sponsored by the British Library in conjunction with their current exhibition on fairy tales. The live stream starts at 7:30 tonight, but if you buy a ticket *before* the event you can watch it any time over the next 7 days.

Fairy Tales for Grown-Ups | British Library Fairy Tales have an older and darker past as stories for adults as well as the young. They were often sensual, bawdy, unflinchingly violent, sophisticated

This amazing online event is happening tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21st. Susanna Clarke, @amalelmohtar.com, Gregory Maguire and I will be talking about fairy tales, fairy lore, and fairy tale literature for the @britishlibrary.bsky.social. Please join us!

events.bl.uk/events/fairy...

Sending love to you and yours, Jeanie. ♥️♥️♥️

I always love Jeanie's work, but this one is a visual expression of precisely how I'm feeling. The world is troubled, my family is grieving a loss, and life is hard right now...but also joyful, tender, filled with the earthly beauty of a Devon spring. The heart expands to contain it all.

On Learning to Read Generously - Reactor What does it mean to be a generous reader, and is it a skill you can practice?

I've been referencing this essay by @mollytempleton.com a lot lately in conversations about reading fantasy and other literature. Templeton's piece includes a discussion of Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's useful ideas about 'paranoid' and 'reparative' approaches to reading. reactormag.com/on-learning-...

Photograph: Our 3-year-old spaniel in early morning light, lounging sleepily on a chair.

Good morning to you, Charles, from me and sleepy Lotite.

Secrets of the Selkies YouTube video by Fay Hield

This was one of the side-projects: an evening of music, imagery and spoken word inspired by selkie folklore.

youtu.be/olt0YbRUVWk?...

Modern Fairies: The Gatherings at Sage Gateshead YouTube video by Fay Hield

The whole Modern Fairies Project was wonderful! It ran for a year (2019) and was one of the most creatively inspiring things I've ever been involved with. There were also good side-projects coming out of it afterwards, all sadly ended by the Covid pandemic. 😥

youtu.be/ERZu7_lGngQ?...

The Book Supplement, Vol. 4 Manil Suri, Dur a Aziz Amna, Angela Pelster, and Anne Enright.

The fourth edition of The Book Supplement is here! This week we have a memoir, a novel, and two stunning new essay collections. Please read and subscribe *for free* to support independent book criticism 🙏📚. No paywall.

I love Mat's process videos; I love this folkloric hare image; and I love the song he uses here: Hare Spell by Fay Hield, from her magical album Wrackline. I was lucky enough to witness the process of the song's creation as part of Fay's Modern Fairies Project: modernfairies.sites.sheffield.ac.uk

It's an excellent book, and I'm glad that readers are finding it. May your sales figures continue to grow.

Lordy, yes. There is so much going on in my family now, so many people to be supported through so many things, while maintaining my own health and (barely) keeping up with work, that just getting through each day without collapsing is an achievement. Hugs and solidarity to all experiencing the same.

Authors Are Suing Grammarly—and the Stakes Go Far Beyond One App - The Authors Guild Grammarly, an AI-powered writing and editing tool used by millions, is facing a class action lawsuit on behalf of hundreds of authors whose names were used by Grammarly without their consent. Grammarl...

Also, an update on the Grammerly lawsuit:

authorsguild.org/news/authors...

Authors Guild Statement on Use of AI in Publishing and New Model Contract Clause - The Authors Guild The Authors Guild is concerned about reports that some publishing professionals are uploading manuscripts and authors’ personal information into consumer-facing AI systems for uses such as generating ...

Useful advice on dealing with AI in publishing from the Authors Guild in the U.S.:

authorsguild.org/news/use-of-...

Cover of Hellebore no.15: The Green Issue, showing a woman communing with nature

In The Green Issue you’ll find pieces by
@pjrobichaud.bsky.social @kjsoar.bsky.social
@drfrancisyoung.bsky.social
@verityholloway.bsky.social
@unheimlichmanvr.bsky.social
Nick Freeman
@mjpcuervo.bsky.social.
Art by Lorenza Dapra and Sam Freeman.
👉🏼 helleborezine.com/products/the-green-issue

I'm sorry your page was caught up in this. I always love your posts. ♥️♥️♥️

Highly recommended:

Bluesky was hit by a DDoS attack. They say: "The attack is impacting our application, with users experiencing intermittent interruptions in service for their feeds, notifications, threads and search."

“Human Written.” Why Sarah Hall Put a Maker’s Mark on Her New Novel Helm is my tenth work of fiction, and the front jacket of the novel will feature a Human-Written maker’s mark—one of the first in the book trade. I’m not exaggerating when I say this novel took dec…

Via @mollytempleton.com:

lithub.com/human-writte...

This has really touched me deeply this morning.
Thank you @marlinhoister.bsky.social

Thank you, Charles. It's still a tough time for my family due to the sudden loss of my husband's brother, but we're slowly pulling through. I hope all is well with you and your loved ones.

The Book News Isn't All Bad - Reactor Some bookish headlines can be dire — but it’s important to note the good stuff, too.

this week's column is entirely the project of how badly I needed a break from the prologue discourse, the imported Threads drama, the phrase "performative reading," and ... just so many other things

National Poetry Month is upon us! Our staff pulled together a list of can't-miss new poetry collections to celebrate. Read and be changed. ✨ orionmagazine.org/article/12-n...

Labyrinth: Muppets, Bowie, and the Pain of Impending Adulthood - Reactor Name a better musical fantasy movie about our fear of growing up.

1986's Labyrinth is iconic for many reasons: Muppets! Music! David Bowie's pants! It is also, of course, a lovely coming-of-age story that assures children that they don't have to leave fun and imagination behind them as they grow up

Pre-ordered (via Blackwell's in the UK). Can't wait!

Pencil drawing of a robin.

Good morning.

As a reason the boss will accept for me being late into work, I know that: 'My favourite tree was exceptionally talkative today' won't fly. It might be entirely true, but it won't be accepted. Still, some things are too important to ignore. – Toby Bazeley #VOH #ThickTrunkTuesday

Yesterday I visited the First Cemetery of Athens and paid my respects to the grave of children’s literature and fantasy author T.H. White. More photos and full report in this new piece: dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/finding-th...
@uofgfantasy.bsky.social @uofgartshums.bsky.social

Walking the Weirdstone ( Online talk ) Archaeology and the Works of Alan Garner - an online lecture plus Q&A presented by Dr James Wright

Our online talk WALKING THE WEIRDSTONE on Alan Garner and Archaeology, with @jpwarchaeology.bsky.social this Saturday at 8pm is so popular that it sold out.

So we extended the event capacity and made more tickets available!

Book now while you can at

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walking-th...