Very excited for this on Tuesday 3rd Feb. If you’re writing for young people, please do join us for a chat about all things Teen fiction. 😊

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Celebrating 10 years of #ukteenchat the fabulous 1st ever guests @ambercaraveo.bsky.social & @joannamoult.bsky.social of Skylark Literary will be joining me on Tues 3rd Feb 8-9pm GMT right here on BlueSky. Hope you see you there 🙂 #writingcommunity #writerslife #literaryagents #SkylarkLiterary

⏰📚 One week to go… If you’re a reviewer, librarian or educator, now’s the moment to request your copy of The Golden Monkey Mystery by @piudg.bsky.social, the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize shortlisted author of Secrets of the Snakestone. On NetGalley: buff.ly/ltGzoj9

it’s come to my attention that my tumblr post has been crossposted to bluesky, so I’m posting it on my account here #AntiAI #GenAI

I had the immense pleasure of discussing with children's author @clareharlow.bsky.social, author of the award-winning series "Tidemagic"! If you are looking for a book or a series for the young reader in your life, you can't go wrong with this one! ⁠💙📚 #booksky #childrenbooks

Here is a list of chapter books and middle grade by ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) authors who are not being added to many end of year lists. uk.bookshop.org/lists/chapte...

Chapter Books (5-7) and Middle Grade (8-12)

Most of these books are middle-grade U.S titles. I've included some chapter books too. 

uk.bookshop.org

UK+Ireland children's/YA authors, poets & illustrators: want more school bookings in 2026? We’re launching a free author visits directory next month. Email enquiries@schoolreadinglist.co.uk by Sun 14 Dec 2025 to be included - details in the poster below.

just incredibly thrilled to announce that after months and months of uncertainty over the future of the game, and several I have bought Zombies, Run!, the game I co-created and have been making for the past 12 years: zombiesrungame.com observer.co.uk/the-critics/...

I’m a novelist who’s just bought a video games company. Here’s why you should care about games writing | The Observer

observer.co.uk

Wow! So many amazing creative treats are available to bid for as part of the 'Creatives 4 Sudan' auction. And the money raised will be used to help people escaping the terrible situation in El-Fasher. See app.galabid.com/creatives4su... Thanks to @raafaye.bsky.social for the design.

Gladstone’s Library is thrilled to announce an exciting events programme for 2026 with award-winning writer Kit de Waal on! Writing Kit: Craft, Story and the Writer's Life offers a rare opportunity to learn from Kit in small, focused groups. Visit gladstoneslibrary.org/writing-kit 1/4

Hi! Did you know that you aren’t pronouncing axolotl correctly? Suppression of indigenous languages by the Spanish is one of the Four Wounds of Colonization. This is a small subversion of colonial power you can use! Axolotl is a Nahuatl word, and it sounds like this:

So... this happened. Still in shock

What Are My Top 5 Favourite Books This Year? At the Big Malarkey, author and illustrator Ramzee picks his best reads from 2025 so far. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/3nx7jkdn @hulllibraries.bsky.social @hullsls.bsky.social @clareharlow.bsky.social @ramzeereads.bsky.social

Peer inside the mind of author @clareharlow.bsky.social and help pupils understand how flashbacks can help to set up mystery stories with this free WAGOLL based on Tidemagic: Ista Flit and the Impossible Key…

Mystery stories – Learn how to write flashbacks with Tidemagic

Learn how flashbacks can help to set up mystery stories with this KS2 WAGOLL based on Tidemagic: Ista Flit and the Impossible Key...

teachwire.net

Apparently Guillermo Del Toro has ruined Frankenstein by… being relatively faithful to the source material. Oh my.

Hands Up who leaves entering competitions til the very last minute??!! Me! Me Me! When I entered this comp in 2023, I totally left it until the last couple of days - as always! But it was worth it! And now it's your chance. If you're a SCBWI member, you're eligible -and anyone can join SCBWI.

Such a relief

So excited about my upcoming chat with Tabrizia on the 10th. For anyone who wants to join live in the UK, it's at 8PM for you!

Tabrizia@cupofteawiththatbookplease.com · last yr.

Join me on Sunday, August 10 at 3 PM EDT where I will be interviewing children's author, @clareharlow.bsky.social where we'll be talking about her writing career and her latest two books, "Tidemagic: The Many Faces of Ista Flit" and "Tidemagic: Ista Flit and the Impossible Key"!⁠ #booksky 💙📚

Next #ukteenchat will be on Tues 1st July 8-9pm BST with the lovely @lisajallen.bsky.social - who will be chatting all about her #MG Undercover Angel Crash Landing. All welcome to come along and join in the chat 🙂 #UndercoverAngel #kidlit #writerslife @tinytreebooks.bsky.social

Ha, the longer I do this, the more convinced I am that there’s no advice that’ll suit everyone. For me, the things that work practically are setting deadlines and making sure to take breaks. #UKTeenChat [1/2]

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · last yr.

10. Do you have any writing advice or tips you’d like to share? @clareharlow.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TideMagic

I can tell you almost nothing (I’m so sorry!) except that it’s more magical middle grade, although not Tidemagic-related, and it’s out with Puffin (UK) and Knopf (North America) in May 2026. #UKTeenChat

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · last yr.

9. Can you tell us anything about what you’re currently working on? @clareharlow.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TideMagic

I’ll do a few days in one spot (sofa, desk, bed, kitchen table) then I need to move or my mind stagnates. If I have a ritual, it’s that I tell myself I’m just doing five minutes or just a hundred words. But once I’m in, I’m IN, and I’ve learnt that I need to set alarms to take breaks #UKTeenChat

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · last yr.

8. Do you have any writing rituals or a favourite place to write? @clareharlow.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TideMagic

Honestly, I’m so proud of it, and I just hope people feel it’s been a sequel worth waiting for, esp. after the aforementioned bk1 cliffhanger. I’m so grateful to all the readers, booksellers, librarians, teachers and bloggers who’ve taken Ista and Co. into their hearts and imaginations #UKTeenChat

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · last yr.

7. Without giving too much away, what do you hope readers take away from Tidemagic: Ista Flit and the Impossible Key? @clareharlow.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TideMagic

Ooh, I can never choose between characters. There are some great new arrivals in book 2, as well as pretty much the whole gang from book 1. I got to write some bits from different perspectives, and I loved that #UKTeenChat [1/2]

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · last yr.

6. Was there a particular scene in The Impossible Key that you especially loved writing, or a character who surprised you this time around? @clareharlow.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TideMagic

I had a much more detailed outline in place for this one before I wrote it, really just because I had to write to schedule, and I was doing an MA and working, so time was tight. #UKTeenChat [1/2]

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · last yr.

5. Do you think your approach to writing or editing has changed or evolved from book one to two? @clareharlow.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TideMagic

Ha, I’ve become greedier and can no longer choose, so what I really need now is Ista’s Tideblessing, because each time she copies someone’s appearance she gets to copy their Tideblessing too, although not for long. #UKTeenChat

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · last yr.

4. After writing two books in the Tidemagic world, has your choice of tide-blessing changed, or is there one you'd definitely want now? @clareharlow.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TideMagic

I actually didn’t do lots of new research for this because it’s full of echoes of the fairy tales and folk tales I loved when I was younger #ukteenchat

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · last yr.

3. Did you need to research anything new or unexpected while writing The Impossible Key? @clareharlow.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TideMagic

It picks up immediately after the events of book 1. So if anyone’s still furious about book 1’s cliffhanger ending, all the answers are now available! #UKTeenChat

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · last yr.

2. Does Tidemagic: Ista Flit and the Impossible Key pick up straight after the events of book one? @clareharlow.bsky.social #ukteenchat #tidemagic

So... the Tidemagic books are set in a world where magic rises and falls with the tide, and in book 2 we rejoin our central trio of Ista, Nat and Ruby as they try to outwit new foes called marsh spinners, who enchant people using the sinister power of their music. (Cue evil laughter.) #UKTeenChat

Emma Finlayson-Palmer@finlaysonpalmer.bsky.social · last yr.

1. Could you tell us a little bit about your second book, Tidemagic: Ista Flit and the Impossible Key, please? @clareharlow.bsky.social #ukteenchat #TideMagic

Submissions open NEXT WEEK for #UV26 - how's your manuscript looking? Our amazing co-founder, author and editing guru @authorsaragrant.bsky.social has put together this helpful checklist to help decide if you're submission ready 👇 undiscoveredvoices.com/news/checkli... @scbwi-bi.bsky.social

a checklist with three check marks and a pencil on it

ALT: a checklist with three check marks and a pencil on it

media.tenor.com