Alex Reeve (storyjoy)
@alexreeve.bsky.social
Award-losing author of the Leo Stanhope series of historical crime novels published by Bloomsbury. Rep’d by Carrie Plitt at Felicity Bryan Associates. Otherwise, an absent-minded Professor. Tries to be a good egg. Also enjoys a good egg. He/him.
Hopefully, we can now go back to reading children's books by proper authors like Cat Deeley, Simon Cowell, Fearne Cotton, Dermot O'Leary, Meghan Markle and (checks notes) … (rechecks notes, adjusts spectacles and check notes again) … Keith Richards.
a cartoon of a girl carrying a stack of books with the website bibliotheca.com written below her
ALT: a cartoon of a girl carrying a stack of books with the website bibliotheca.com written below her
media.tenor.com
Huge commiserations to the HarperCollins PR team, who chose the last Friday afternoon before Christmas to hide, sorry ‘make’, their Walliams announcement. Didn’t work guys (I assume they were guys). Was never, ever gonna work.
I spent months on this investigation and gathered docs from the UK courts, Land Registry and a French local authority, to show that Raynor and Moth Winn's story is not as they claim. @tortoisemedia.bsky.social @observeruk.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The real Salt Path: how the couple behind a bestseller le...
Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal it was far from the truth
observer.co.uk
I haven't much to say and the world seems a bit grim, so … here's Bobbie. She doesn't care about that stuff as long as she gets to chill on the sofa.
I hear folks with big Twitter/X followings say they're reluctant to come to Bluesky because they'll have to start again. I get that. The problem is, those followers on X are either RW arseholes or the left-over zombie accounts of people who've come to Bluesky. Are they really worth staying for?
a soldier with a skull on his face and the words `` zombie apocalypse '' above him .
ALT: a soldier with a skull on his face and the words `` zombie apocalypse '' above him .
media.tenor.com
Thank you to the @societyofauthors.bsky.social & @samblakebooks.bsky.social for leading on this. Could we propose a code of practice for publishers to ensure transparency for stakeholders & customers, eg ghosts & illustrators must be named on the front cover? Smaller font perhaps, but present.
Alex Reeve (storyjoy)@alexreeve.bsky.social · 2y agoThis is good and correct. Well done to the SoA. societyofauthors.org/2024/12/09/c...
Other industries are required to give credit where it's due, eg movies and academia. Why not publishing?
This is good and correct. Well done to the SoA. societyofauthors.org/2024/12/09/c...
Call to acknowledge all writers behind celebrity books - The Society of Authors
The Society of Authors is calling for celebrities, publishers and agents to acknowledge the writers behind celebrity books, particularly for children
societyofauthors.org
Ryan Mason will be searching out his ‘Interim Head Coach’ business cards right now.
I'm really serious about this. We should start a movement and embarrass celebs into being honest. If it's 'co-written' (i.e. ghosted), at least put that person's name on the cover too. The @societyofauthors.bsky.social should get much more involved. What do you think?
Alex Reeve (storyjoy)@alexreeve.bsky.social · 2y agoWe need a campaign for real fiction. I have no problem with celebs who write books. I have no problem with ghosted memoirs, etc. But ghosted fiction novels with a celeb’s name on the cover are just plain wrong. It’s cynical, branded merch, nothing more.
We need a campaign for real fiction. I have no problem with celebs who write books. I have no problem with ghosted memoirs, etc. But ghosted fiction novels with a celeb’s name on the cover are just plain wrong. It’s cynical, branded merch, nothing more.
a man with gray hair and a green cloak is talking about merchandising
ALT: a man with gray hair and a green cloak is talking about merchandising
media.tenor.com
Just got followed by Mark Twain and Gabriel García Márquez. They're keen to know how I'm doing. Honestly, it feels pretty sweet to be mixing in such prestigious company.
I'm being forced to watch A Very British Christmas by @shelleyharris.bsky.social. It's set in the present day, and the American star has just travelled from the airport to the quaint English town by steam train.
I've written an AI novel to disrupt the industry. It's completely original, of course. Here's the beginning. I hope you like it, but it doesn't matter if you don't as I'll be producing another one this afternoon and a couple more tomorrow. Maybe you'll like them better. Or my cookbook. Or my album.
Laura's a brilliant author and a lovely person. Well worth listening to this podcast, especially if you love a bit of gothic.
Talking Scared Podcast@talkscaredpod.bsky.social · 2y agoFelt Gothic this week so disinterred an appropriate episode from the Vault It’s @spookypurcell.bsky.social talking me through her historical Gothic fiction, including the classic The Silent Companions and the cursed silhouettes of The Shape of Darkness. Enjoy (link below)
My new novel is currently 76k words long, but I don't seem to be getting any nearer to the end. Does it have to end? Can I just going on writing more and more, forever?
a poster that says it 's a never ending story on it
ALT: a poster that says it 's a never ending story on it
media.tenor.com
Reposting this Starter Pack for Historical Crime Authors. Please note it’s the crime that’s historical, not the author (allegedly). go.bsky.app/2oZd48F
Optimist: the cup is half full Pessimist: the cup is half empty Academic: first, we must define what we mean by ‘cup’
Margaret Adelle@margaretadelle.bsky.social · 2y agoOptimist: The cup is half full Pessimist: The cup is half empty. Historian: The cup is dyed with uranium, a process dating back to the 19th century to make green and yellow glassware.
My latest (free) Substack post tells the story of the creation of 'Doors of London' by Cath Harries @CathLondon & Melanie Backe-Hansen @HouseHistorian, pub @SheldrakePress on 21 November
Can I highly recommend this new book by wonderful @cathlondon.bsky.social and Melanie Backe-Hansen. It’s a book of photographs of doors in London, and it’s utterly beautiful and mesmerising. If you know a lover of all things London, this would make a perfect gift.
My debut novel was published when I was aged over 50. I don't feel so old, but my birth certificate doesn't lie. I’ve talked about this before, but not here, so here's a quick thread on why it's NEVER TOO LATE.
The BOOKS AND DOGS starter pack from @isabelashdown.bsky.social - what could be better?
Isabel Ashdown@isabelashdown.com · 2y agoOK, my BOOKS & DOGS Starter Pack is up and running for any readers and writers who also love dogs. To be added pls share and comment with a pic of your pooch! 🐾 go.bsky.app/Tpw1Zej
In the next half hour or so, Bluesky will hit 20 million users. Most of us joined in the last few weeks or days, so we're fairly engaged. Comparatively few dormant account, duplicates, bots and lurkers. Quite a thing we're building here.
As we're all getting to know each other, I propose we volunteer something about ourselves which will infuriate everyone else. But no politics, religion or other nastiness. we're looking for cheerful infuriation only. I'll start. I sleep amazingly. I've had maybe 10 bad nights of sleep in my life.
A reminder that the Historical Crime Authors Starter Pack exists and is growing, so maybe worth another look. If you'd like to be added, let me know. Also, a reminder that it's the crime that's historical, not (necessarily) the author! #historicalcrime #crimefiction go.bsky.app/2oZd48F
People are introducing themselves, so here goes. Writer of novels (new one almost complete), professor at a business school, married to amazing @shelleyharris.bsky.social, two kids (all grown up), two dogs (not grown up), lives in Oxfordshire, well meaning but introverted, socially inept, leftie.
