Adele Ward

Jon Fosse, the Norwegian writer, is probably not everyone's cup of tea but I was really drawn into a short story (Elias)we read for a weekly fiction discussion group I go to. So I got a novella, Morning and Evening, from the library and it's equally weird and wonderful. Elias is available online

Toothsome is a great word

A pile of the following books: 1. MIGRAINE by Samuel Fisher⁣ 2. THE SAFEKEEP by Yael van derby Wouden⁣ 3. NO STRAIGHT ROAD TAKES YOU THERE by Rebecca Solnit⁣ 4. PARADE by Rachel Cusk⁣ 5. STATES OF THE BODY PRODUCED BY LOVE by Nisha Ramayya⁣ 6. HEART LAMP by Banu Mushtaq, tr. Deepa Bhasthi⁣ 7. A PHILOSOPHY OF WALKING by Frédéric Gros, tr. John Howe⁣ 8. ON THE CALCULATION OF VOLUME I by Solvej Balle, tr. Barbara J. Haveland⁣ 9. AN ARCHIVE by Edmund de Waal⁣ 10. PERFECTION by Vincenzo Latronico, tr. Sophie Hughes⁣

Our current bestsellers 🤯⁣ lrb.me/6jh

Cortisol makes us store fat

I had a poem shortlisted in the Cheshire Prize, judged by a panel of lecturers from the University of Chester where it's organised. It will go in their competition anthology. Another poem finds a home! I'll share it later.

That's what I've always thought. I don't know why this argument about the first decade has developed. They insist this whole century idea is new-fangled

Climate and Nature Bill Campaign Take action to support the Climate and Nature Bill

I've signed this open letter calling on the Prime Minister to give more time for the #CANBill debate—and deliver the #REALChange we need.
We need action for a greener, healthier, happier future—where people and nature can thrive.
Will you add your name too? action.zerohour.uk @zero-hour.bsky.social

Off topic but could you settle the social media argument about what 'the 1800s' means? Is it the whole century or only the first decade? People are surprisingly passionate about this

The Short List 'Can Spring be Far Behind?'

Very happy two of my poems have found a home in this competition anthology. Top 6 announced next Friday. dempseyandwindle.substack.com/p/the-short-...

Submissions Now Open! - Polari submissions OPEN for polari prizes 2025 How To Submit:For further information about submissions, please email polariprize@gmail.com including the title of the book and the name of the prize you wish t...

The Polari Prize is open www.polarisalon.com/submissions-...

‘AI will become very good at manipulating emotions’: Kazuo Ishiguro on the future of fiction and truth On the 20th anniversary of Never Let Me Go, the Nobel prize-winning novelist talks about the role of the author in a post-truth world – and why he’s ‘not a great writer of prose’

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...

Known as AI Fingers before AI was a thing

Probably the only thing that could fix my flat

The subheading saying Trump humiliated Zelensky etc also looks like a criticism of Zelensky. Mixed messages

Absolutely no respect for Zelensky. It was shocking

You wouldn't resubmit without sending a query letter/email first to ask if they'd reconsider it. Agents will usually show interest and suggest a rewrite if they feel it might suit them and can even suggest rewrites a couple of times and still not take it, so I'd move on unless they showed interest.

Barnet Council welcomes ‘exceptional’ £55m government support The local authority has been bailed out of a financial hole ahead of agreeing its 2025/26 budget next month

Barnet Council welcomes ‘exceptional’ £55m government support

The local authority has been bailed out of a financial hole ahead of agreeing its 2025/26 budget next month
barnetpost.co.uk/2025/02/21/b...

I'm putting together a list of publishers who take submissions direct from novelists without an agent and it's proving very interesting. I'll blog about it when I have more. All suggestions welcome and for novels only as there are plenty for poetry and short fiction.

Simon Armitage welcomes £5m government investment for National Poetry Centre The centre is set to open in 2028

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Submissions opening 14th February - We cannot wait to read your poetry! Delighted to be co-editing this anthology from the Wee Sparrow Poetry Press, with @marcellenewbold.bsky.social. Submission and theme info here - sites.google.com/view/wwwthew...

Just finished reading High Fidelity by Nick Hornby. Not a new book, I know, but he's a gap in my reading. Enjoyable and probably more nostalgic now than if I'd read it at the time. I'm not a music buff like the protagonist but his records and tapes are all familiar in the backtrack to my life.

Loads of #literary #magazines are coming to Bluesky, here is a great list to follow! PLEASE SHARE TO HELP THEM LEAVE TWITTER!

#litmags #writer #writingcommunity

go.bsky.app/7cWNC2j

Save The Prince Charles Cinema The iconic Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End future is under serious threat! We are beyond disappointed that our landlords Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital...

you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...

A green event poster with a slightly grainy background. The poster features the title 'Small Press Takeover' in bold capital letters, the visiting press 'If a leaf falls', alongside the date and time (18.02.2025/ 6.30PM - Stewart House Room 2, Senate House Library) from the left-hand side of the page you can see a black-and white hand holding a book reaching toward the title. Under the hand is a description of the event (a new series of launches, showcases, and experiments in UK independent press) and the names of performers (Elspeth Walker and Sarah Hesketh). At the bottom, my email address is listed (briony.hughes@rhul.ac.uk) please do get in touch if you have any questions or would like any additional information!

The Royal Holloway Small Press Takeover is back in February! Catch readings from If a Leaf Falls Press (Elspeth Walker & Sarah Hesketh) on Tuesday 18th at 6.30pm in Stewart House Room 1. The SPT is a new Bloomsbury event series of launches, showcases, and experiments in UK independent press 🍃

Hey we're nine followers off of that first hurdle of 10,000, send this post to your top nine friends who like independent books published with integrity, vision, drive and passion and I guess we'll be at the big funny number and maybe my boss will finally respect me

No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself. ~ Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf was born on this day in 1882 so I’m again sharing this…

Where was it?

I think it's one of the best documentaries ever about a poet and poetry

Michael Longley - Where Poems Come From A film profile of Belfast poet Michael Longley, offering insights into his work, friendships, working process, the places that have inspired him and his relationship with the natural world.

I could watch this many times. Michael Longley - Where Poems Come From: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001wdpy via @bbciplayer