a pixelated image of a man making a face Alt: Nathan is having a perplexing, demotivating day. Right back at ya, buddy.

Strangely enough, motivation to work on a novel that won't be published until summer 2027 is hard to muster while someone with access to nuclear weapons is openly threatening genocide.

Thank you!! I’m so chuffed with it 😊

Four great thrillers to read this April This month’s picks include a new novel by Tom Bradby and and a courtroom drama with a twist

I’m so excited and grateful for my second novel (ONE OF YOUR NUMBER) to have been reviewed by John Dugdale in THE TIMES!!!

www.thetimes.com/culture/book...

Ah, thank you so much Caroline!! x

One week today! ONE OF YOUR NUMBER comes out on 9/4/26 - pre-order your copy now!

I can't wait!

I'm so excited to be launching One of Your Number at Book Space on Crwys Road in Cardiff on 9th April 2026! It would be so lovely to see anyone there who is able to make it.

I'm so excited to be launching One of Your Number at Book Space on Crwys Road in Cardiff on 9th April 2026! It would be so lovely to see anyone there who is able to make it.

Doors open in an hour.

Beyond them, more books than you could possibly imagine.

Unless, that is, you can imagine a lot of books, in which case you can disregard our initial statement.

SURPRISE! My new book is out RIGHT NOW!

THE COFFEE SHOP DETECTIVES is an exclusive Audible Original read by comedy legend Alison Steadman (Pamela from Gavin and Stacey).

Think The Golden Girls x Ocean’s 8

Link to listen www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0GLHZGK6...

Much needed

How did they redact abusers but not the victims? And they expect us to believe 40 nude photos went unnoticed?

That’s exactly why people think the DOJ did this on purpose, to shame these women for coming forward.

The fact @netflix.com did not renew this show is criminal.
These creators gave you DARK - widely regarded as the best Netflix original series of all time - and you didn’t renew their second masterpiece because of data? Why not have a mix of prestige shows and algorithm-friendly shows?

a woman with her eyes closed says that 's what makes people on netflix ALT: a woman with her eyes closed says that 's what makes people on netflix

1899 is the best series I’ve seen in ages! How have I not heard about this before? Titanic meets Marie Celeste meets Squid Game. It’s from the creators of DARK (Netflix original series)

Part 2!! open.substack.com/pub/ljshephe...

Part 2!! open.substack.com/pub/ljshephe...

Well I’m enjoying it

Thank you!

I haven't finished rereading the third one yet, and so far it hasn't asked me to do that (not that I always do what books want me to do). So far I'm loving the sheer imaginative scope and the very playful and inventive undermining of dogma - death rites, the afterlife, creation etc.

What The Traitors Can Tell Us About the Jury System Part 1

Some thoughts on what The Traitors can tell us about the justice system and how juries might operate behind closed doors… Part 2 coming tomorrow! open.substack.com/pub/ljshephe...

Underneath the name Charlie Hebdo is a pile of bloodied dead bodies representing US citizens killed by ICE. The pile of bodies are collected in one corner to represent the stars of the US flag and the streaks of blood caused by them being dragged across the ground form the red and white stripes. In the foreground an armed skinhead officer with an ICE vest is dragging his latest victim with multiple gunshots to join the pile. The world is watching in horror.

Wow.

The front page of tomorrow’s Charlie Hebdo magazine in France.

It's amazing - there's so much stuff in there that dismantles dogma but in a really creative way, e.g. God (the Authority) is just another. Creation as an accumulation of Dust is also very similar to the big bang theory. And the afterlife as a prison camp with no heaven! So inventive and subversive!

Lyra's a lovely name!! I always had a very slight prejudice against it though because it's similar to Laura and I wanted her to be called Laura 😂

My only reservation about the HBO series was that I didn't enjoy Will's story being introduced so early. I love Will's story but I think it's more exciting when it's introduced after the city in the lights discovery.

What The Traitors Can Tell Us About the Jury System Part 1

Some thoughts on what The Traitors can tell us about the justice system and how juries might operate behind closed doors… Part 2 coming tomorrow! open.substack.com/pub/ljshephe...

You won’t regret it!!

That's next on my list! I just love his writing and I definitely think it had an early influence on me in terms of my scepticism of religious dogma.

a pixel art of the aurora borealis over a snowy forest ALT: a pixel art of the aurora borealis over a snowy forest

I'm currently doing a re-read of The His Dark Materials trilogy for comfort and a couple of things strike me. Firstly, damn, they're good. Secondly, I forgot just how subversive they are. Gay angels? Of course. A bear eating his best mate's body as the highest honour? Sure.

Thank you!!

I'm so excited to reveal the title and cover of Book 2

ONE OF YOUR NUMBER 🇬🇧
WHEN THEY CLOSE THE DOORS 🇺🇸

Coming 9th April 2026!!