A cloud in the shape of a dove, wings outstretched.

If we look, we see what we need.

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Joe Lillington. One of his straightforward illustrations in black & orange for A M Dassu’s Wild Journey, 5 stories about kids in 5 countries who see starlings flock & begin their own journeys. @headofzeus.bsky.social 6 Nov @joelillington.bsky.social @amdassu.bsky.social

Sky, hill, pale rocks, sun coming through clouds on left side , glinting off a strip of sea.

Because sometimes you have to stand on a hill and hope. X

I love the concept of bloom scrolling. Thank you!

Two autumn colour leaves.

So autumn crept up on me.

Tomorrow it’s go slow on 6+so we ask how cheese types emerged from different places.We also hear about Caedmons Hymn+ Chaucer’s Alison-a great new history book-Catherine Clarke. @bbcradio6 . ps rajars were magnificent for both my shows bbc 6music and radio 2 blues. Thank you so much 4 yr company x

October Monster 5: The Don’t Don’t

The murmuring spirit of a long dead bird. “Don’t,” it whispers. “Don’t”. Sure, you could try to draw a picture, or write a story, or make a film, or write a song. But why bother? You’re going to be extinct soon anyway. Sadly, the bird is very persuasive.

One of my favourite places to walk is the Belgian Promenade, Porthaethwy/ Menai Bridge, built by Belgian refugees as a thank you gift to the small town that had welcomed them.

Oil painting - Landing of the Belgium Refugees - Folkestone Museum Learn with Objects Landing of the Belgium Refugees 1914. Oil painting by Belgian refugee Fredo Franzoni. Presented to the town of Folkestone in 1916 in thanks for their kindness

Seeking refuge in 1914: "They came in fishing boats, coalers (coal ships), and anything that could float..."
#Folkestone #Belgium #migration #refugee #history #heritage #asylum #WW1 🎨
learn.folkestonemuseum.co.uk/objects/oil-...

To be a writer, you only have to do one thing: write.

Not break into a big magazine. Not publish a bestseller. Not get an extravagant book tour.

Struggling with discouragement? Rejection? Bad reviews? These are normal. They don't disqualify us.

If you put words to the page, then we are peers.

Dream job!

Blackberries on a plate.

A week of writing, swimming, watching the rain… and picking blackberries.

Blackberries on a plate.

Plump and delicious!

Children’s books in a bookshop window.

Last July my first novel was published and was in Waterstones window… a year later, no agent, no deal but I have finished the last chapter of a new novel about women who sea swim. We write because we write. Finding the final words that are just right has been very satisfying.

One year ago today, @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social became our Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate.

Since then, he hasn't stopped fighting passionately for all children to experience the transformative benefits of reading.

Find out more about the #ReadingRights campaign:

bit.ly/4evFTo7

Bookshop with red door and books displayed in window.

‘A good bookshop is not just about selling books from shelves, but reaching out into the world and making a difference.’
— David Almond
writingforwellbeing.co.uk
#writing #WritingCommunity #WritersCommunity

A beautiful account of one of our summer evening nightjar walks from @cduigan.bsky.social - one of our wonderful trustees.
nation.cymru/feature/lett...

Head up to our Cors Bodgynydd Nature Reserve, near Capel Curig, and you might just hear one for yourself!

After last week I needed this 💙

A child A book A read A chat. This is the way the mind grows. Not with a test but a tale.

#MondayMotivation
#MondayThoughts
writingforwellbeing.co.uk

Sparkling sea, cove with castle on cliff.

This afternoon I’m working on my novel about four women who swim, set on Ynys Mon, Anglesey. Cold water, another chapter, nearly there.

Wild grass seed heads and yellow buttercup flowers in a meadow lawn.

Because sometimes you need to look at the small things and hope that the grass will grow and the flowers will be allowed to set seed.

Welcoming refugees with respect and kindness: 80 years of the Moomins by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp This year is the 80th anniversary of The Moomins and the Great Flood, originally published in Swedish in 1945 by Finnish artist, illustrator, and writer Tove Jansson. And this…

The Moomins are the mascot of World Refugee Week! And we’re celebrating their 80th anniversary today on our website, discussing the cultural phenomenon #Moomins #refugee #kidlit

worldkidlit.org/2025/06/16/w...

This. My mum left school at 14. Reading changed her life. Her grandma always gave her a pfennig to borrow a book from the library.
It made a difference.
All children having reading as part of their lives is not something we should need to fight for. But we do.
#readingforpleasure
#kidlit

A pair of sparkly red shoes left with give away second hand clothes in a college hallway.

It’s nearly the end of term and Dorothy has definitely left the building…

I had the nicest rejection this week. It almost felt as good as a yes.

Long grass with buttercup flowers.

All green fields should be yellow in June… this is what a lawn can be!

Beach, sea, clouds.

Storm clouds, a safe harbour, the sea.
Cullercoats last Friday.

Living only a mile from the sea, I felt obliged to write something for @worldoceanday.bsky.social #whitleybay #Cullercoats #seaside #tynemouth

I love a big pile of books to read and I love it that my book’s on your to read stack! I hope you enjoy it.

10 Ten Books I Want to Read in June 2025 Left on the Shelf Book Blog Book Reviews Book Information Recommendations Writing Reading Books for Children Books for Adults Books for Teens Fiction

On the blog today is my book list of 10 books I want to read in June.

#authors @vaseemkhanuk.bsky.social @asakoyuzuki.bsky.social @pamlecky.bsky.social @karonalderman.bsky.social and more.