Petition: Cancel Trump’s state visit Stop Trump Coalition

stoptrump.org.uk/petition-can...

And who they didn't like

Bargain alert!!!

The Real Lady Macbeth with Val McDermid Podcast Episode · Gone Medieval · 07/01/2025 · 37m

Check out the Gone Medieval podcast, out today, to hear me holding forth about QUEEN MACBETH!

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/g...

Read Reginald Hill's "Dalziel and Pascoe Hunt the Christmas Killer & Other Stories" + "A Candle for Christmas & Other Stories". Since Hill's death in 2012 I've re-read all the D+P novels/short story collections at least twice. Had no idea there were uncollected ones and the publication of these 1/5

In the Foreword to Reginald HIll's "Dalziel and Pascoe Hunt the Christmas Killer & Other Stories", @valmcdermid.bsky.social writes 'Re-reading is the greatest compliment I can pay to a writer. My shelves are stacked with titles waiting to be read for the first time, to choose to return for a 1/2

BBC Radio 4 - Take Four Books, Nick Harkaway James Crawford speaks to writer Nick Harkaway about his new book and its three influences.

This is indeed up!

Me plus @valmcdermid.bsky.social on the BBC’s Take Four Books.

Merry almost Christmas (from a surprisingly chilly room in the National Library of Scotland :)

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Aye, the nights are fair drawin’ oot…

Join me in conversation tomorrow on @bbcradio4.bsky.social at 4pm. Take Four Books, presented by James Crawford, talks to the writer and son of John Le Carré - Nick Harkaway - about his new book Karla's Choice and its connections to three other literary works. (I get to chip in...)

I mean, I already had high expectations for this afternoon’s festive book love-in with @valmcdermid.bsky.social, @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social, Alan Cumming and Paula Hawkins, but now my excitement’s off the scale... 🔥🔥🔥

Stage with Christmas tree. Nicola Sturgeon, Val McDermid, Alan Cumming & Paula Hawkins sit on various chairs in conversation

Selfie of me in a white jumper and Nicola Sturgeon in a red blouse

Atmospheric selfie of me and Alan Cumming. I'm wearing a white jumper and AC is in a black top and round black glasses

Three books on a table. Queen MacBethad by Val McDermid, The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins and The Trick is to Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway

Absolutely buzzing after a brilliant afternoon listening to @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social @alancumming.bsky.social @valmcdermid.bsky.social & Paul Hawkins talking books & reading

Even managed to grab a couple of selfies with Nicola & Alan as well as a couple of books

Best. Day. Ever 🥰

'If woman can survive...'

My son (aged about 7 at the time) once returned from holiday saying, 'I bought you a present.'
Me: 'That's lovely.'
'Do you want a clue?'
Me: 'Yes, please.'
'Think about grating cheese...'
Got it in one.

We learned from the locals in NZ that this had led to significant positive changes for the Whanganui River so let’s do it for the Clyde!

Petition: Grant Scottish rivers, including the River Clyde, the legal right to personhood Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to grant the River Clyde, and potentially other rivers in Scotland, the legal right to personhood by: * adopting the Universal Decla...

Should rivers have rights? Pleased to see Who Owns the Clyde? expanding their citizens' investigation 🌊 @louisewelsh00.bsky.social @judebarber.bsky.social
petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...

Guaranteed!

Bedtime fun for the bookworm in your life...

Book of the Month competition: A pile of signed books! We are excited to offer a pile of signed books from a selection of authors – three of our previous New Writers awardees and our Patron, Val McDermid – in our December Book of the Month competition!To

www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-of-the-...

Watch: A festive reading of The Very Hungry Caterpillar We are a national charity bringing the benefits of reading and writing to everyone in Scotland.

www.scottishbooktrust.com/reading-and-...

Don't miss @valmcdermid.bsky.social and @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social talking all things books and reading with Paula Hawkins and Alan Cumming this Sunday! assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/867...

You were such a receptive and generous audience!

Most books do, I find! Enjoy the revisit

Januread A new four-week coaching to help you set and achieve your reading goals in 2025.

mailchi.mp/scottishbook...

Please share

If you were thinking of donating to the NUJ’s hardship fund to support this action, Carole C is being a bit bashful and putting it at the bottom after all the rational reasons why you should. I’m content you do it irrationally, though, so here you are:

Spectator rebuked for calling Juno Dawson 'a man who claims to be a woman' The Spectator has been reprimanded by the press regulator IPSO for calling author Juno Dawson "a man who claims to be a woman".

Spectator rebuked for calling Juno Dawson 'a man who claims to be a woman'

The ruling is a rare finding of a breach by the press of the discrimination section (Clause 12) of the Editors' Code of Practice pressgazette.co.uk/the-wire/new...

Looks pretty good to me!

Afterwards!

Don’t drink it all at once!

Still puzzling what to buy the reader in your life for Xmas? Pop along to In the Company of Books with me and @nicolasturgeon.bsky.social plus special guests Paula Hawkins and Alan Cumming to hear about our recommendations! Sunday 15th, 4pm, Assembly on the Mound. Good craic guaranteed