Jeevani Charika / Rhoda Baxter

I have another #buyastrangerabook offer.

After the very sad news about Sophie Kinsella earlier,
@clairedares.bsky.social is offering to buy someone a copy of one of her books.

I've put a selection together, but if there's one you'd like, get in touch.

UK only

This seems like a very valid point.

Author Sophie Kinsella dies aged 55 — BBC News The author of the Shopaholic series of novels had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Such a loss. Maddy/Sophie was a champion of her genre, generous to fellow writers and all around a good egg.

apple.news/A8YcuwrK1QjG...

It genuinely was a pleasure

Book review: Magic, Maps and Mischeif by David Green Greton is preoccupied with the question 'what is your heart's desire'. And, incidentally, he needs to flee the city (with no money or clothes or, well, anything). I really enjoyed the peek into Greton's thought processes and the way his obsessive attention to maps often led him to behave in a way that might look odd to other people. I liked the way he had to consider the social norm before he responded to people (which didn't always work).

Here's my review of Magic, Maps and Mischief by David Green.
Splendid cosy fantasy. Maps, owls, tea etc.

Winning!

Every streaming platform and studio WANTS a KPop Demon Hunters. Would KILL for a KPop Demon Hunters.

But 99% of them would have never funded the proposal in a million years.

That's the big issue now, IMO.

Join me TONIGHT with Gavin G Smith on the Creative Differences Livestream on TUESDAY 9TH DECEMBER, 8PM GMT. Gavin's latest novel is ALIEN CULT, set in the Aliens universe and we'll discuss that and his incredible career!
Join us on FB: fb.me/e/9aywRGDAi
Or on YT: www.youtube.com/live/kCuVPEZ...

Today I shall start the wrangling and hoop jumping required to active a jacqui Lawson advent calendar when my ipad won't talk to my email properly. (Yes, I know it should be easy. IN THEORY)

an illustration of a penguin with the words you got this below it ALT: an illustration of a penguin with the words you got this below it

You can do it!

I got an email with the header 'How to Ruin Your booksales'. I deleted it without reading, because I manage to ruin my booksales just fine by being myself, thanks.

That sounds like amazing fun.
PS. Your niece is very talented.

The chillies I put in my omelette were spicier than I thought. And now I have hiccups.

It's Sunday. It's a slow brain day.

Oooh. Look at my little book hanging out in cool company!

I'm taking some time off from writing. So I've spent today reading Wooing The Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis and it was excellent.

Ah, I seem to have reached the 'looking at the headlines and muttering swearwords' time of the evening.

On the latest Creative Differences, @jeevanicharika.bsky.social tells us about her book How Can I Resist You, how oversleeping once led to a breakthrough, and why she enjoys doing funky things in Canva and much more...

LISTEN: www.buzzsprout.com/2399041/epis...

WATCH: youtu.be/ls0PNQqMWX4

I don't understand why AI is considered "different". AI-generated content should be held accountable to all existing laws. The AI companies should be held accountable, too.

THIS, a thousand times THIS

This is Magnus. He just beat cancer. His family wrote the big news on their car and bought him balloons to celebrate. Magnus got so much love from strangers the whole way home. His human said, "I hope everyone has a Magnus in their lives, who shows them what determination and strength are." 14/10

This is inspiring

A painting of a curious squid by Paul Kidby

The Roundworld year for 2026 shall be known as [FX Drum Roll] : The Year of the Curious Squid. Artwork by Discworld artist Paul Kidby.

Join us for a festival signing session on Satuday in Crystal Palace! Preorders now closed but you can buy Lokis on the day too!

👇🏽

Good morning to all the human authors who write using their meat brains. A very happy em dash to you! 🥰

Losing Your Freedom of Speech So what does it mean to lose your freedom of speech? Let me tell you a story of what it means to me. I know that having your freedom of speech curtailed is not having people – no matter how m…

The following is a picture essay that reflects on a personal experience that informs my own understanding of what it means to lose your freedom of speech.

folukeafrica.com/losing-your-...

This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥

The proof cover of Hari Kumar: Ultimate Superstar. It shows a young boy with fabulous hair dancing in front of a star. Two other children are cheering him on in the background. There's a decorative border and the whole cover is in black and white and says colour me in.

Just finished a proof of @rashmiwriting.bsky.social's new book and it is a marvel! Witty, cleverly-observed, with a charming main character who is also a massive doofus. I love a massive doofus! (Don't tell Hari I think he's a doofus)

A graphic for CHRISTMAS AT THE CROW: Saturday 6th December at Bookseller Crow on the Hill, 50 Westow Street, Crystal Palace. Preorder online to avoid disappointment. The authors listed are David Nichols, 10.30am, Holly Jackson, 12.30pmm Lucy Mangan 1pm, me 2pm and Jessie Burton 3pm.

After the sudden death of Jonathan Main at @booksellercrow.bsky.social, some local authors decided to organise a Christmas signing to help the bookshop make some much-needed ££. If you'd like to help, come on down! And preorder books! booksellercrow.co.uk/shop-tag/lou... I'm on at 2pm!