Isabel Waidner

Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment

I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.

Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise

bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...

The cover of the forthcoming (June 2026) New Directions edition of Dooneen, by Keith Ridgway. Design by O.O.P.S.

Dooneen will be published next June, by Fitzcarraldo Editions here, and New Directions there. And this is the New Directions cover, by Paul Sahre, and I love it.

@ndbooks.bsky.social

Paperback of the week: On the Calculation of Volume III by Solvej Balle | The Observer

My review of the third part of Solvej Balle’s On the Calculation of Volume - one of the most exciting things happening in fiction right now observer.co.uk/culture/book...

You can preorder As If the US version now. Out in June 2026 with FSG us.macmillan.com/books/978037...

it is my birthday today.

A hand holding up a stack of Cipher Press books against an olive green wall. The person holding them up has a tattoo of the word CIPHER on their wrist. From the bottom up, the books are: Nettleblack by Nat Reeve (a green spine with pink Victorian-style writing), Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt (a black spine with hot pink writing), The Woman in the Portrait by Juliet Jacques (a white spine with black writing), X by Davey Davis (a grey and black spine with gold writing), Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt (a black spine with bright yellow writing), Heaven by Emerson Whitney (a dark blue spine with bright light blue writing), Front Lines by Juliet Jacques (a yellow spine with black writing), Daddy Boy by Emerson Whitney (a pink and deep purple spine with the title in white and the author name in yellow), Never Was by H Gareth Gavin (a pale pink spine with black writing) and Terry Dactyl by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore (a white spine with black writing).

With Transgender Week of Awareness underway for 2025, we just wanted to make sure you are aware of us. We're here, we're trans, and we're ready to sling some books.

Completely 🦇🦇 that in two months this has gone from red pencil to actual book with French flaps! Happy / stupidly emotional launch day to the little book that for the longest time couldn't & then could.

May that be a shift to remember for us all. BAD LANGUAGE, Peninsula Press, out now.

Just as I am thinking of writers who play and change things, here:

❤️

Bound proofs have arrived. Coming 26 Feb 2026.

left to right, M John Harrison 2020 & CD Rose 2025, displaying their respective Goldsmiths trophies

Fitzcarraldo Editions edition of Claire-Louise Bennett's novel Big Kiss, Bye-Bye.

Enjoyed this immensely. Such a sensual, subtle book. Beautifully puzzling at times, and the language always up to something. I am embarrassed to say that I fell slightly in love with Xavier. Awful man.
From @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social of course, Peckham's finest.

NEW ON THE PODCAST 🎧

Lara Pawson and Jennifer Hodgson discuss Samuel Beckett’s fiction, in celebration of Faber’s new editions of 𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘺, 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘦𝘴 and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.

Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/j...

Open letter on the future of small press publishing in the UK

The industry must work together to ensure the longevity of the UK’s independent presses, independent publishers urge in a recent open letter 👇 #BookSky

We are delighted to announce the #GoldsmithsPrize2025 shortlist.

Congratulations to our six brilliant novelists!

Find out more about the shortlist: www.gold.ac.uk/goldsmiths-p...

Well spotted :) glad you like it!

Our '25 judges, @simonokotie.bsky.social Amy Sackville (Chair) & Mark Haddon together @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social to decide this year's shortlist! Megan Nolan joining virtually.

Announcement next Thursday, 2nd October around 9pm! 🔥

well spotted...

My new novel, AS IF, has a cover. Out from Hamish Hamilton on 26th Feb 2026, and later in the year from FSG in the US.

As of now you can preorder via your usual bookshop or your library—thank you! x

And to say once again: Maureen is co-responsible for the existence of both PLR & ALCS, so every writer in the UK & Ireland should give her 💐💐💐. And read her books!

😃🙏

Why did I wait so long to read this? So good. I can’t for the next book from @waidner.bsky.social : As If. Preordered.
#booksky

'The realest fiction I've read in a long time,' says Sterling Karat Gold author @waidner.bsky.social of Terry Dactyl, the propulsive new novel from @mbsycamore.bsky.social. Published by us in November 2025! www.cipherpress.co.uk/terry-dactyl

Launch: Amateurs!: How We Built Internet Culture and Why it Matters by Joanna Walsh w/ Natalie Olah Tuesday 23rd September 2025 6.30-9pm   Amateurs!: How We Built Internet Culture and Why it Matters  Since the nineties, platforms have invited users to create in return for connection. From blogs to v...

I’ll be at @burleyfisher.bsky.social on the 23rd Sept to discuss and launch ‘Amateurs!’ by @badaude.bsky.social. Expect discussions on art and labour, the legacy of postinternet art, platform decay and aesthetics in general. Tickets can be bought here: burleyfisherbooks.com/products/lau...

We are delighted to announce that Claire-Louise Bennett will be at the Bookshop for a special event on 17 September in advance of the publication of BIG KISS, BYE-BYE

Tickets now available! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/claire-lou...

Many thanks to @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social for their help with this

it'll happen quite naturally 😂

skip large parts

read some of it

New Isabel Waidner novel for Hamish Hamilton As If, coming next February, is 'surreal and slyly poignant, suffused with ironic melancholia, a parable for the twenty-first century everyman'

www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...

Nicola Barker & @waidner.bsky.social discussing TonyInterruptor tonight at @foylesforbooks.bsky.social. Wonderful event.