Vikki Patis

We need this in Scotland. It’s not even wishful or fanciful thinking: it’s financially astute. Our creative industries are absolutely vital

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Fantastic news!

I know what you mean! My wife prefers the wee brush thingies, and we also have a water flosser which is 🤌

This, and FLOSS! My teeth have been the bane of my life. Genetics, upbringing, and coeliac disease really said 'fuck you' 🥲 I got veneers recently, genuinely life changing

WINTER HAUNTS returns for 2025 with a loaded line-up of interviews, panels and workshops - and here are just some of the awesome authors you'll be hearing from! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/winter-hau...

Anthropic didn't steal any of my books, and on the one hand that's very good, but on the other I am of course incensed

Ben Affleck Smoking or Ben Affleck Cigarette is an image macro of a paparazzi photograph of actor Ben Affleck smoking a cigarette with a distressed look on his face wearing a blue sweater.

'so I asked Chat GPT—'

Yes the individuals are amazing. The system, not so much!

Yeah I think that does influence buyers, though I'm not sure how much. Publishers truly do let their midlist authors down by doing absolutely nothing to try to promote them, then blame the bookshops. They can't order books they don't know exist!?

I feel like more authors (and agents) should be telling publishers that they don't care for their bad track nonsense. If the publisher fails to sell a book they've gambled on, that's their problem. The fact is that the celebrities and huge debuts get the lion's share of marketing money.

Christ, what poor timing from that agent. It doesn't make sense how they tell us that authors often can't move the needle on sales, but it's also our fault if sales are bad? I refuse to take responsibility for a multimillion pound company failing to sell my book 😂

So-called 'bad track' is complete and utter bollocks.

VPatis's September 2025 reads: CARELESS PEOPLE COME CLOSER 59 MINUTES BLUEBEARD'S EGG FLAT 401 BRIDGE JAMES WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER THE BLUE HOUR PALAVER

September reading wrap-up! A varied month packed with brilliant reads. I was glad to find Flat 401 on BorrowBox so I could finally read @kingsley-pearson.bsky.social's excellent debut!

I parted ways with my agent last year and put something like 'I'm seeking new representation after parting ways with my previous agent' in my query letter. Nobody really cared, and I only gave the details to the new agent I ended up signing with. It happens a lot in this industry!

It’s a mistake to be discussing drugs we know to be safe. Time after time we take the bait of their provocations - their wild claims. We need to stop accepting their terms of debate - stop wasting our time trying to win their arguments. Instead, make real connections within and across communities.

It's going about! I had it a few weeks ago 🫠 feel better soon!

when are the precedented times

The poster for Better Call Saul

Just finished my third (?) rewatch of Better Call Saul and man, it just gets better every time.

The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced. I spoke out against hatred and violence in America — and it cost me my job.

Some personal news:

I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.

Thread incoming.

substack.com/@karenattiah...

It's pissing it down just now, will have to get the dehumidifier out soon 😭

We've been ill this week and I actually put the heating on for an hour. Such a difference from the hot summer!

if you're reading this, you are gay, though. that much is true

It’s an absolute shame that DC fired Gretchen Felker- Martin for exercising free speech and then @bsky.app suspended her account. Every writer here should be decrying this because we have to stand up for each other! This is ridiculous.

i’m not going to be lectured about political violence by people whose politics is violence

post from Chris Pratt: Praying for Charlie Kirk right now, for his wife and young children, for our country. We need God’s grace. God help us.

Hollywood actor Chris Pratt who I have never once seen comment on any mass shooting in America has posted.

It's sooo good, I can't recommend it enough!

The book cover for 59 MINUTES by Holly Seddon shows an hourglass with yellow sand on a blue background and the tagline: an hour until the world ends. What would you do?

I don't think I took a single breath during the first half of this book. 59 Minutes is one of the best stories I've read in a while, with a twist that is SO perfectly executed, I never saw it coming. Out on the 25th from @holly.bsky.social

Iconic moment at the Downton Abbey premiere

Draw the line. Join the Green Party today ⤵️

join.greenparty.org.uk?utm_source=s...