Jen Bowden

I have a group of ladies just like this in my novel MS and this picture is such a perfect representation of what I had in my head when I was writing them.

A photo of Dan from the waist up. He is standing in front of a rainbow-coloured shutter and is wearing a blue jacket and lighter blue jumper. He has a beard and a moustache and is wearing glasses. He has short sandy brown hair and is looking at the camera, smiling slightly.

The Tyne Bridge is pictured in the centre of the frame over a still, reflective River Tyne in Newcastle, UK. Either side of the bridge are buildings with a warmer glow as the sun rises. The words Northern Voices in white lettering feature in the bottom centre of the image.

'Being published isn't the end of the road and it can be rough on your mental health.'

Writer Dan Spencer @atlanticbooks.bsky.social joins me on Northern Voices today to discuss his novel, Cat Lover, the publishing process and feline intuition.

on.soundcloud.com/W7g9VDfmHuFa...

Thanks for a great conversation! #dialectnerdsunite!

I don't know what's happening here, but this book is phenomenal so it's bound to be good news. Very exciting.

Two Greggs branches granted licence to open 24 hours a day despite police fears Officers feared the new rules could make the stores a "focal point" for crime

This is the kind of news I live for. UK trip upcoming and high on the list is introducing Justin to a Greggs corned beef pasty.

shorturl.at/ttdtI

A photo of Jay from the shoulders up standing against a light beige stone wall. She has a centre-parted fringe and her dark hair is tied back. She has a small stud in the top pf her ear and is wearing red lipstick. She is wearing a black top and jacket and isn't smiling.

The Tyne Bridge is pictured in the centre of the frame over a still, reflective River Tyne in Newcastle, UK. Either side of the bridge are buildings with a warmer glow as the sun rises. The words Northern Voices in white lettering feature in the bottom centre of the image.

'Why is it a local history when it's about the North but when it's about London it's not a local history?'

Academic and writer E. Jay Gilbert @jaylikesthings.bsky.social on her book Haunted @manillapress.bsky.social, history and the linguistic ambiguity of Hagrid.

on.soundcloud.com/Xwb7WxWcnURO...

I'm in @thebookseller.com today talking about how we can get more young people interested in publishing and writing careers.

Featuring @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social and her wonderful, articulate and passionate students.

www.thebookseller.com/comment/wide...

Thanks for a great episode :)

A close up photo of Daisy showing her from the neck up. She is smiling at the camera and behind her is a wall of dark green leaves. She is wearing glasses, a black top and has short wavy brown hair.

The Tyne Bridge is pictured in the centre of the frame over a still, reflective River Tyne in Newcastle, UK. Either side of the bridge are buildings with a warmer glow as the sun rises. The words Northern Voices in white lettering feature in the bottom centre of the image.

'You have to turn that isolation around and say these are experiences I can bring to an industry that doesn't have them.'

The vibrant Daisy May Johnson @chaletfan.bsky.social on baking, books and being proactive in publishing. @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social

on.soundcloud.com/ua4HeJlkoXYX...

Inside Downing Street as the Hillsborough families made history The ECHO was privileged to watch on as four of the key Hillsborough family members met with the Prime Minister before heading to the House of Commons to watch the historic moment that the new law they...

It was one of the biggest honours of my career to be inside Downing Street and Parliament today to watch as the Hillsborough families made history

My write-up from an important and emotional day 👇

The Hillsborough Law, introduced by the government today, is a long-overdue step toward justice for the families of 97 people who tragically lost their lives.

The new law makes it a crime for public officials to lie about major disasters.

I've got this on my Kindle to go up next after a friend's book. Interested to see what it's like now you've said this. :)

Working on a new novel but it's 1 week to the state band contest and my brain won't think of words and just keeps humming test pieces. Love being a brass bander, but man contests don't half creatively zap you.

Ella Frances Tallon formally Sanderson "Unique, poetic voice” Huw Stephens I post videos with me performing my poetry and talking about autism. My twitter is @EllaSanderson18. Website https://ellasandy16.wixsite.com/aspie

You can also listen to her performing her poetry on her YouTube channel:

www.youtube.com/channel/UCeF...

Ella stands holding a mic with one hand and sheets of paper with the other. Behind her are blurred wooden bannisters and bookshelves. She has long straight blonde hair and glasses. In the photo she is speaking into the mic, performing her poetry. She is wearing a deep red blouse.

The Tyne Bridge is pictured in the centre of the frame over a still, reflective River Tyne in Newcastle, UK. Either side of the bridge are buildings with a warmer glow as the sun rises. The words Northern Voices in white lettering feature in the bottom centre of the image.

'I couldn't write about autism until I was old enough to look at myself from the outside.'

On Northern Voices this week, poet Ella Frances Sanderson talks about accessibility, her creative inspiration and why she loves performing her work.

on.soundcloud.com/rJozfVEo0VH5...

Thanks Anna! I guess there's no rush given how slow the publishing industry is to make changes 😅😉

A pinned thread about my new novel, Keshed, publishing on 12th Feb 2026 with @ortacpress.bsky.social. Pre-orders available now from all the usual bookshops/websites. See thread for some early pre-press takes from some AMAZING writers and links to other stuff.

www.ortacpress.com/product-page...

This is gorgeous and embodies the spirit of the North so well. So much for 'it's grim up North', eh? :)

This sounds amazing.

A photo of Helen from the chest up standing in front of a slatted wooden wall. She has brown eyes and long wavy dark hair and is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black, pink and white printed floral blouse.

The Tyne Bridge is pictured in the centre of the frame over a still, reflective River Tyne in Newcastle, UK. Either side of the bridge are buildings with a warmer glow as the sun rises. The words Northern Voices in white lettering feature in the bottom centre of the image.

'Writing became something just for me, for my own wellbeing.'

Novelist and Write on the Tyne director Helen Aitchison is on Northern Voices today discussing accessibility, writing as therapy and taking matters into your own hands.

on.soundcloud.com/OjqL1sjV81oR...

Episode 93: Susan (S.J.) Baker with Betsy, Imogen, Madi, Lily, Bella and Zofia This week's episode is something a little different, because as well as YA author Susan (S.J.) Baker, I'm also joined by six of her students – Betsy, Imogen, Madi, Lily, Bella and Zofia. We discuss ho

Honoured to have taken part in this Northern Voices podcast with 6 of my students, discussing 'Calm', Beta reading and how young people in Hull feel about stereotypes of northerners and access to writing and publishing opportunities. With @jenbowden12.bsky.social
soundcloud.com/northern_voi...

3/3 Publishers, writers, book industry professionals – if you won't listen to me and others, at least listen to the younger generation of Northern writers here. Many of them feel a creative future is not for them. That writing is not for them.

Are you ready to change that, yet?

2/ And it's not just publishing, but writing and the book industry in the UK in general that these students feel is just not accessible to them. And that's before we even get onto creativity in the curriculum.
If you do nothing else today, have a listen to this.

A photo of Susan standing in front of a brown/beige wall. She is visible from the chest up and is wearing a navy top and blood-red textured jacket. She has short, cropped white hair and is wearing dangly earrings. She is smiling at the camera.

The Tyne Bridge is pictured in the centre of the frame over a still, reflective River Tyne in Newcastle, UK. Either side of the bridge are buildings with a warmer glow as the sun rises. The words Northern Voices in white lettering feature in the bottom centre of the image.

'There's a real lack of guidance on where you can start out. Publishing is an industry behind closed doors.'

These are the words from one of @sjbakerauthor.bsky.social English students, six of whom feature on today's episode of Northern Voices alongside Susan. 1/

on.soundcloud.com/SVXzImbzMdF5...

Sad news in the last couple of weeks that Neem Tree Press has gone under. Like other NTP and Unbound authors, I'm now looking for new representation/publication - with the sequel to 'Calm' ready to go. #unbound #boundless #neemtreepress #yadystopia #authorlife

This is the first of two VERY important episodes this week. The usual Thursday slot will feature an author/teacher and six of her students, all discussing whether they feel they have a place in writing/publishing as young creatives.

A photo of Louise from the shoulders up with a white wall behind her. She is wearing a white t-shirt with pink writing on, pink lipstick and blusher. Her blonde hair is tied back and she is smiling at the camera. She has blue eyes.

The Tyne Bridge is pictured in the centre of the frame over a still, reflective River Tyne in Newcastle, UK. Either side of the bridge are buildings with a warmer glow as the sun rises. The words Northern Voices in white lettering feature in the bottom centre of the image.

'We shouldn't exclude creative, passionate, talented people just because they live in another part of the country.'

In a special episode, @canelobooks.bsky.social Executive Publisher Louise Cullen joins me on NV to talk publishing, bias, diversity and the North.

on.soundcloud.com/0SkLFU7d6v6G...

Here is to my old Kindle, having finally carked it after 14 years (14!!) of solid use.

Thanks for a fun conversation :)

Rober stands face-on to the camera, smiling slightly. He is visible from the chest up and is wearing a blue-and-white checked shirt and dark-rimmed glasses. He has a sandy blonde beard and moustache and sandy blonde short hair. Behind him is a beige brick wall.

The Tyne Bridge is pictured in the centre of the frame over a still, reflective River Tyne in Newcastle, UK. Either side of the bridge are buildings with a warmer glow as the sun rises. The words Northern Voices in white lettering feature in the bottom centre of the image.

'Millions of people living in towns and villages don't get represented because they're not in London.'

@srlpublishing.bsky.social novelist @robertwelbourn.bsky.social is on Northern Voices today talking gender inequity, romance and the scourge of social media.

on.soundcloud.com/d8iVGgWCEVu7...