Album cover of Purple Mountains by Purple Mountians

Album cover of sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit by Courtney Barnett

Album cover of MJ Lenderman by MJ Lenderman

Album cover of In Memory Of by Catholic Action

I’ve submitted my selections for Richard Shaw’s polls to find the best debut albums of 2015-19:

1. Purple Mountains: s/t (2019)
2. Courtney Barnett: Sometimes I Sit and Think… (2015)
3. MJ Lenderman: s/t (2019)
4. Catholic Action: In Memory Of (2017)
5. Kamasi Washington: The Epic (2015)

The facade of East Bristol Books

Delighted that East Bristol Books has taken a few more copies of my short story collection, TERMINAL. I'll provide extra content to anyone picking one up there, so if you know folks…

Independent bookshops are key supporters of interesting new writing. Please support EBB and your local bookstore!

Thanks! I can't commend RLS's Fables, or David Constantine's work, highly enough!

Call of the Isles Call of the Isles – A Scottish anthology

Preorders for Call of the Isles, including my story, Teller of Tales. The book is a new Scottish short story collection linked by the islands.

tantallontir.com/product/call...

Ricky Monahan Brown: From Law to Literary Inspiration Discover Ricky Monahan Brown's journey from lawyer to writer after a life-changing stroke. Explore his unique literary influences and works.

I really enjoy the Tantallon Tìr Author Spotlights. Answering the Qs is a fun way to shine a spotlight on one’s own process, and reading other writers’ answers gives an interesting insight into how they do it. tantallontir.com/author-spotl...

See replies for a pre-order link for Call of the Isles.

🚨 TODAY!!! 🚨

National Lampoon Politenessman badge: THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THIS BUTTON!

I do rather enjoy the way Trump ends his Truth Social posts in the style of the National Lampoon’s Politenessman

Flyer for The Graveyard Shift poetry and music night at Diggers Leith on Bernard Street on Monday, 23 March, 2026, 7pm-9pm, featuring Gabrielle Tse, Ricky Monahan Brown and singer-songwriter Cici Chen. 4-minute open mic spots available – apply to DiggersGraveyardShift@gmail.com

Join me and the Graveyard Shift team to celebrate World Poetry Day (observed) in Leith tomorrow!

Ricky Monahan Brown - Drawer of Letters | Broken Sleep Books Drawer of Letters by Ricky Monahan Brown is a wry, elegiac and formally varied collection that navigates illness, grief, intimacy and reinvention with intelligence and bite. Mixing elegy, haiku, lyric...

I wished a poet a happy birthday on World Poetry Day, then spent the day being more of a dad than a poet.

But! Here’s one I prepared earlier, if you like poetry. Or the world. Or days.

www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...

Ricky Monahan Brown - Drawer of Letters | Broken Sleep Books Drawer of Letters by Ricky Monahan Brown is a wry, elegiac and formally varied collection that navigates illness, grief, intimacy and reinvention with intelligence and bite. Mixing elegy, haiku, lyric...

I wished a poet a happy birthday on World Poetry Day, then spent the day being more of a dad than a poet.

But! Here’s one I prepared earlier, if you like poetry. Or the world. Or days.

www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page...

Album cover of Viva Hate by Morrissey

Album cover of When In Rome, Kill Me by Cud

Album cover of Surfer Rosa by Pixies

Album cover of George Best by The Wedding Present

Just posted my picks for Richard Shaw’s poll of the best debut albums of 1985-89. w/apologies to Blue Sky, they are:

1. Morrissey: Viva Hate 88
2. Cud: When in Rome, Kill Me 87
3. Pixies: Surfer Rosa 88
4. The Wedding Present: George Best 87
5. The Wonder Stuff: The Eight Legged Groove Machine 88

As a [wise?!] man once said, “Stare at its imperfections, fix them, expunge them, do whatever you need to do, but finish it.”

You’ll be so glad you did this bit.

Flyer for the next Graveyard Shift event: poets Gabrielle Tse and Ricky Monahan Brown and singer-songwriter Cici Chen at Diggers Leith on Bernard Street (tram stop: The Shore), Monday, 23 March, 2026, 7-9pm. 4 minute open mic slots available: email the organisers

I’ll be reading from my poetry pamphlet, Drawer Of Letters (pub @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social), in Leith with the good folks of The Graveyard Shift on MONDAY.

Details on the flyer 👇

🎶 People looking for shoegaze Twitter to the left of me, people looking for Fugazi Albini Blue Sky to the right… 🎶

Neil Sedaka - "Solitaire" (1972) YouTube video by Lance The Scorpion

A hugely talented Brooklyn guy is gone. I always enjoyed seeing Neil Sedaka’s plaque on the Celebrity Path @brooklynbotanic.bsky.social, not least because of my love for this magnificent song.

youtube.com/watch?v=U4-u...

Album cover of LCD Soundsystem by LCD Soundsystem

Album cover of Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend

Album cover of Bang Bang Rock & Roll by Art Brut

Album cover of The Age of the Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets

Just posted my picks for Richard Shaw’s poll of the best debut albums of 2005-09:

1. LCD Soundsystem: s/t (2005)
2. Vampire Weekend: s/t (2007)
3. Art Brut: Bang Bang Rock & Roll (2005)
4. The Last Shadow Puppets: The Age of the Understatement (2008)
5. The Horrors: Strange House (2007)

Call of the Isles Call of the Isles – A Scottish anthology

I'm in the new anthology from Tantallon Tìr: tantallontir.com/product/call...

"From St Kilda to Samoa, Call of the Isles sails into islands beset with grief, violence, hope, regret, and recovery. A stunning set of stories from the best Scottish and Scotland-based writers in the world."

You’re both very kind, @junegemmell.bsky.social and @deneholm26.bsky.social. Thanks for reading! 🙏

Duilleagan - Scottish Mountaineering Press

My first attempt at poetry in Gaelic (together with my English translation) has just seen the light of day. Thanks to Scottish Mountaineering Press for the prompt and opportunity.

scottishmountaineeringpress.com/creatives/pu...

Album cover of Scott by Scott Walker

Album cover of Jacques Brel et ses chansons

Album cover of Songs of Leonard Cohen.

Album cover of Are You Experienced by the Jimi Hendrix Experience

Just posted my 5 debut albums of the 50s & 60s for Richard Shaw’s latest poll:

1. Scott Walker: Scott (1967)
2. Jacques Brel: Jacques Brel et ses chansons (1954)
3. Leonard Cohen: Songs of LC (1967)
4. Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced (1967)
5. The Velvet U’ground: The VU & Nico (1967)

Covers for The Grey Coast, The Serpent and Blood Hunt all by Neil M. Gunn and publishing on the 21st May 2026 from North House Press.

We're delighted to reveal the covers for three titles by the great Scottish novelist Neil M. Gunn, including a centenary edition of his remarkable debut, The Grey Coast.

Read more about each book and pre-order information on our website:

www.northhousepress.co.uk/books

#Booksky
📚💙

Album cover of Slanted And Enchanted by Pavement

Album cover of Gallon Drunk by Gallon Drunk

Album cover of Pod by The Breeders

Album cover of Grace by Jeff Buckley

Just cast my votes for Richard Shaw’s poll for the best debut albums of the period 1990-94:

1. Pavement: Slanted & Enchanted (1992)
2. Gallon Drunk: You, the Night… and the Music (1992)
3. The Breeders: Pod (1990)
4. Jeff Buckley: Grace (1994)
5. Babes In Toyland: Spanking Machine (1990)

Brilliant live, and Fontanelle was a cracker, too. I must be getting old… 👴

Knew I’d miss something from that fertile period!

*quickly amends vote*

Very much looking forward to participating in this discussion of poetry, language, languages and style at the Edinburgh Literary Salon on Tuesday.

Copies of DoL will be available for purchase, signing and dedication.

Come along! Have a chat!

I was right the first time, @junegemmell.bsky.social. Looks like I'm slated to talk about DoL and poetry with some other poets at the 27 Jan Salon!

Or, it’s the one after. I’ll have to check my correspondence, too!

Such a privilege to have readers who are willing to journey into a poem with you.

Thanks, June. That means a lot, not least since I think it’s even more important for poetry than (most) prose that the reader is willing to enter into a collaboration of sorts with the writer.

I *think* that I might be talking about language, particularly, with some other poets at the next salon… 🤔

Jimmy Nail Ain't No Doubt YouTube video by minkepouss

Thanks to whichever end of year show earwormed me with this deathless banger youtu.be/4iF47M3YDlg