My review of Patrick Gale's new novel. 'Welcomes readers to its pages with warmth and empathy ...'

Guest review by Nick Hodges: MEMOIRS OF A FELLWANDERER by Alfred Wainwright

Nick Hodges enjoys Alfred Wainwright's Memoirs of Fellwanderer, finding many a contradiction in 'AW', beloved companion on many a hike or ascent. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/04/gues...

Bookseller feature: Sam Barnes of Books & Ink, Winchcombe

Latest indie bookseller feature: Sam Barnes of Books & Ink, Winchcombe, talks about her settings, specialities & plans. And a beautiful holiday let above the shop! reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/03/book... #bookshops #indiebookshop

At last! The government consultation on 'trail' hunting is open. Everyone who's sick of wildlife crime masquerading as tradition, please respond! You can save & continue if you need to. consult.defra.gov.uk/defra/trail-... @leagueacs.bsky.social #TrailHuntLies

Guest review by Jane Rogers: THE MATCHBOX GIRL by Alice Jolly

Regular contributor Jane Rogers admires Alice Jolly's 'extraordinarily ambitious' novel: 'a truly heart-breaking coming of age story' set in 1930s & 40s Vienna. #Nazism #neurodivergence reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/03/gues... #Vienna #WorldWar2 @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social ##greatreads

Guest review by Cindy Jefferies: FORBIDDEN NOTEBOOK by Alba de Céspedes

Guest @cindyjefferies.bsky.social finds much to ponder in FORBIDDEN NOTEBOOK. 'I found Valeria in turns heroic, pathetic, irritating & impressive ... a woman of her time, in a country that's lost a bruising war'. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/03/gues... #Rome #Italy #1950s

Bookshop Feature: PANDA'S BOOKS AND RECORDS in Levenshulme, South Manchester, by Paul Magrs

A lovely bookshop feature today: how @paulmagrs.bsky.social & partner Jeremy saved their local bookstore. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/02/book... #indiebookshop #Manchester #Community #PandasBooksandRecords #independentbookshop

Guest feature by Jamila Gavin: the research and influences behind MY SOUL, A SHINING TREE, Nero Prize category winner

Welcome and congratulations to Jamila Gavin, winner of the Nero Book Awards children's prize with MY SOUL, A SHINING TREE. Here Jamila talks about her inspiration & influences, and how a short story became a novel. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/02/gues... #FirstWorldWar #IndianArmy #WW1

The time for change is now: end fox hunting Hunting was supposed to be banned over 20 years ago, but the hunts have carried on chasing and killing wild animals with dogs like the law never changed. This government was elected on a promise to fi...

If you haven't done so already, please sign this open letter to the prime minister. It's time to consign fox-hunting to the past - there is irrefutable evidence that 'trail' hunting conceals wildlife crime. Please share. you.38degrees.org.uk/p/end-fox-hu... #bloodsport #cruelsport #TrailHuntLies

An important reminder that #RSPB was founded by women in response to the horrific trade in birds' feathers and skins to supply the Edwardian hat trade. Read more in this review by @lindanewbery.bsky.social

My turn @writersreview.bsky.social - I commend ETTA LEMON to anyone interested in birds, conservation, social history, protest, activism or feminism! “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Mead)

What are short stories for? I’VE been asked if I shape my material to serve political purposes, and the answer is I hope I never do. To quote the greatest short story writer of all time, Anton Chekhov: The role of the artist is ...

Excellent article by our regular contributor Jane Rogers on Fire-ready. Does she shape her material for political purposes? 'I hope I never do. To quote the great short story writer Anton Chekhov: the role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them.' morningstaronline.co.uk/article/what...

Have you seen, or are you thinking of seeing, H is for Hawk? To tempt you, or for comparison after seeing it, here's Nick Manns' excellent, thoughtful review for the blog. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2024/09/gues... #HisforHawk #NickManns #WritersReview #filmandbook #falconry #grief #bereavement

Congratulations! 👏

Let's do it! 💚

Guest review by Nicki Thornton: THE IMPOSSIBLE THING by Belinda Bauer

Welcome to new contributor Nicki Thornton, bookseller-turned-author. She chooses Belinda Bauer's 'masterpiece of storytelling ... so much humanity, dealing with big, tricky subjects as well as a mystery plot.' reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/01/gues... #BantamBooks #NickiThornton #crime #mystery

We've published 4 books now, with 3 more (so far) coming in 2026. If you read & enjoy one of our titles, we'd really appreciate a review or mention on Amazon, Goodreads or elsewhere - every kind word helps them to reach readers! More about our books & authors at www.writersreviewpublishing.co.uk

Drama on 4 - The Goblin King and Me - BBC Sounds A story about a real-life encounter with David Bowie, marking ten years since his passing.

We welcome Paul Magrs to the blog in March, talking about his new bookshop, Panda's Books and Records. Meanwhile here's his radio play to mark 10 years since the death of #DavidBowie, based on a real-life experience ... recommended! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... @paulmagrs.bsky.social bsky.social

This sounds like one for my list!

Special feature by Paul Dowswell: THRILL POWER - in praise of 2000 AD

Something different this week! Paul Dowswell reassesses 2000 AD after finding a stash of the comics in his attic, and explains why he finds it more appealing than Superman, Spiderman etc. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/01/spec... #comics #superheroes #PaulDowswell #JudgeDredd

SPECIAL FEATURE Q&A: David Breakell talks to John Case about THE ALCHEMIST OF GENOA

First guest of the year! Lawyer-turned-author David Breakell, talks about the motivation and inspiration behind his first historical novel. "It took a long time to unlearn the way a lawyer drafts a document…" reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2026/01/spec... #thriller #Genoa #DowerHouseBooks

My Books of the Year, 2025 My books of the year - fiction, non-fiction and a reminder that Writers Review Publishing launched this year!

My best reads of this year. What have you most enjoyed in 2025? www.lindanewbery.co.uk/2025/12/31/m...

Special feature: Q & A with garden designer Cleve West on THE GARDEN OF VEGAN

Top garden designer Cleve West is a great advocate for animals & #plantbased eating. He's currently featured in the #RHS magazine, The Garden. Find out more about his focus on compassion & sustainability here at @writersreview.bsky.social. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2020/06/lock...

BOOKS OF THE YEAR Part 3: chosen by our contributors

Here's the final and even bigger batch of Book of the Year choices by our reviewers - all authors or independent booksellers. Excellent and wide-ranging choices here! Thanks to ALL our contributors, all authors or independent booksellers. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/12/book...

Yes - they like to suggest that farriers, feed merchants etc will be out of business if hunting stops, as if no one will keep or ride horses for any purpose other than hunting and killing wild animals!

Same. I live in rural Oxfordshire and am certainly not alone in detesting hunting. 'Trailhunting' is the lie that goes on lying - there's evidence every week of the season.

BOOKS OF THE YEAR part 2 - chosen by our contributors

Here's Part 2 of our Books of the Year roundups - great recommendations here by authors & booksellers. What's your best read of the year? Please tell us in the comments! reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/12/book... #greatreads #BooksoftheYear #readingrecommendations @booky.bsky.social

This from the President of the United States. Horrifying that a person who could post this is in a position of such power.

Absolutely agree! It would be so easy to encourage this change of priority. What's needed is the awareness of how much it's needed and the will to make it happen.

BOOKS OF THE YEAR Part 1 - chosen by our contributors

Great recommendations here! In the first of three roundups, our contributors choose their Books of the Year (not necessarily published in 2025). What's your best read this year? Tell us in the comments! reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/12/book... #greatreads #BooksoftheYear #bestreads #whatsyours