Front cover of The Children of Men by PD James. Image is a kind of X-ray of a child

Sunday morning re-reading

Very sorry to miss this last night but I have ordered the book!

"I think it's good, now and then, to remind ourselves that art isn't a job we do well - it's a job we do uniquely, as only we could do it"

--George Saunders

Saul Leslie discusses A Working Title I Want To Change | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about Saul Leslie discusses A Working Title I Want To Change today.

My friend and neighbour Saul Leslie isn’t on social media. His debut novel is out soon, the launch is at @waterstoneslpl.bsky.social on 21 April. It’s called A Working Title I Want To Change. It’s brilliant. He’s in conversation with @davidhering.bsky.social
www.waterstones.com/events/saul-...

Very sorry to hear this. Saw Clannad play in '88. They were my gateway into folk music.

The cover of Nicholas Royle's 'Finders, Keepers: the Secret Life of Second hand books' published by Salt: https://www.saltpublishing.com/products/finders-keepers-9781784633417

Author and publisher Nicholas Royle and part of his magnificent Picador collection.

On Thursday (16th April) join me and author @nicholasroyle.bsky.social for a live online conversation to mark the publication of 'FINDERS KEEPERS: The Secret life of Second-hand Books.' Free, and all welcome. If you haven't already been invited contact me via davidjcollard.wixsite.com/my-site

Salò Press are now publishing short stories under a new imprint named Infidelities (with poetry distinct under the Flirtations imprint). The first five are up for pre-orders (including my short story, The Good Men), available individually or in a bundle. Check out the link: www.salopress.com/store/

Just a quicky update about Blurred Edges, my forthcoming collection from @ballerinibookpress.bsky.social. I'm really chuffed to say that as things stand, publication is still set for 20th May, with a launch either at that time or shortly after. I'll say more things are firmed up.

Scratch A4 short story competition is open for two more weeks!
More info here:
www.scratch-books.co.uk/scratcha4com...

The cover of Thin Places in Hard Concrete with a floating brutalist staircase and a pale blue to purple gradient.

A quote from Rose Ruane, author of Birding: “Ray’s books are masterpieces of uncanny atmosphere, claustrophobic, tautly plotted, exquisitely evocative prose, written with an artist’s eye for detail and architecture, an M.R. James or Robert Aickman of crumbling concrete and civic buildings. His incredible eerie tales of the urban weird will haunt you in the most welcome way.”

My new collection ‘Thin Places in Hard Concrete‘ is out on 30 April as an eBook and paperback with 10 brand new weird stories.

Pre-order the eBook here 👉 www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DC5PL7T4

On new flash fiction: Norman A new piece of flash fiction titled ‘Norman’.

New story on the blog. Link below if you’d like to read. Cheers all! kieranstorieswriter.wordpress.com/2026/04/09/n...

“There are as many way to collect books as there are books to collect.” #finderskeepers #nicholasroyle One of the best things for a reader is when a favourite author produces a new book (or at least I think so!) I was therefore very excited to discover that Salt Publishing were bringing out a new no…

On the Ramblings today my thoughts on the third in a series of books about books by @nicholasroyle.bsky.social from @saltpublishing.com Hint: it’s brilliant! kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2026/04/08/t...

Get involved! Follow this new Bluesky account for the 2026 Barbellion Prize. @thebarbellionprize.bsky.social

Coming soon: The Haunted Archive - A Ghost Story Manuscript of M.R. James A beautiful annotated facsimile manuscript edition of M.R. James's classic ghost story 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad'.

M. R. James and #WeirdFiction and #GhostStory people might be interested in this Kickstarter, which is to help fund a print run of annotated manuscripts of James's most famous stories. You can find out more on this project at the website, crumpledlinenpress.com

The Write A Short Story Festival starts TODAY!

Come write the best goddamn story you've written so far. We've got soilpunk, we've got the archeology of fiction, we've got parallel lives, we've got editing, we've got publishing WE'VE GOT IT ALL GANG!

writershq.co.uk/festivals-ch...

Glen Baxter cartoon. Picture shows a batsman, wicketkeeper and fielder on a perilous mountain path. Caption reads: One or two of the grounds were not quite up to test match standard

Very sorry to hear that Glen Baxter has died. One of my favourite cartoonists

Nightjar publisher writes plays shock. Two short black comedies. More info linktr.ee/thunkpresents

Really enjoying Paris Fantastique short stories by Nicholas Royle - strange/everyday, often witty, often set in Paris locations I know. Recommended! @confingopublishing.bsky.social

"Mystery and Melancholy of a Street" by Giorgio de Chirico features a young girl running with a hoop, set against a stark, elongated shadow in a sunlit piazza, invoking a sense of unease and introspection. Capturing the essence of the metaphysical art movement, the painting contrasts light and architecture to create a dreamlike atmosphere.

Mystery and Melancholy of a Street www.wikiart.org/en/giorgio-de-chirico/my...

Special offer: order the four new Nightjars from the website & we’ll throw in two backlist titles. Offer lasts until end of March. Like or respond to this post to get the offer. As well as placing an order obvs.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hitchin-au...

Shoplifting, sex shows and sheepdog-breeding: great artists and the side-hustles they did to get by John Cage appeared on an Italian quizshow. Jean Genet stole rare books. Emily Carr reared bobtails. And Kathy Acker did X-rated acts with her boyfriend … we explore the unlikely sidelines of strugglin...

Interesting to read about John Cage's stint on a quiz show. I've applied to go on several but never heard back from any of them.

News Spring is here – although it appears to be snowing in Manchester as we write these words – bringing with it four new Nightjars: we welcome back David Rose with a new story, ‘Heimat’ , and we...

New Nightjars now available nightjarpress.weebly.com/news

Story of the Month, March: ‘A More Interior Life’ by Mike Fox The Lonely Crowd will feature a new short story by a different author each month throughout 2026. For March, we are delighted to publish a new piece by Mike Fox. Gwen awoke to the rustle of leaf mu…

‘She loved the forest. It contained her spirit. In the unshielded open, vividness was everywhere, and crowded in.’

Don’t miss @polyscribe70.bsky.social’s #shortstoryofthemonth about Gwen John, ‘A More Interior Life.’

thelonelycrowd.org/2026/03/06/s...

My story, ‘The Crossing’ is out there as a ‘Little Uncertainty’ – one of 12 little books being given away by @uncertainstories.com just to spread the love of short stories!
Get one by ordering a book from their website, or grab a free copy from one of the bookshops distributing them.

Three copies of a book: “The Crossing” by David Frankel, part of the Little Uncertainties series from Uncertain Stories. Cover features a drawing of a figure standing in the snow in front of trees.

The latest Little Uncertainty is out this week. It’s a very fine short story and it’s completely free! Copies are on the way to bookshops across the UK right now so keep an eye out and grab yourself a copy if you see one…

Four new short story chapbooks from Nightjar Press: Murder by Paul Green; Heimat by David Rose; Halls of Residence by Dan Lockton; and In Splendid Isolation by RL Doughty

New Nightjars! @nightjarpress.bsky.social

ZOMG postman’s been and bound proofs are in! #phantomatthefeast #writinglife
Looking great No Exit Press @bedsqpublishers.bsky.social — thank you! 🙏👏🫡✊
(Publication date 18 June ‘26)

Shortlist for the 2026 Best First Novel Award | The Authors’ Club Since 1891 The Authors’ Club is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2026 Best First Novel Award, now in its 72nd year. Lucy Popescu, chairing the judging panel, commented: “We are delighted to announce…

Delighted to reveal the shortlist for the #AuthorsClub #BestFirstNovelAward #BFNA2026, now in its 72nd year. Congrats to: #RupertDastur, #ChristinaFonthes, @juliakellywriter.bsky.social, @michaelpedersen.bsky.social, #ThomasPeermohamedLambert, #XenobePurvis, www.authorsclub.co.uk/shortlist-fo...

Leicester missing a penalty at Vicarage Road reminds me of something . . .