I'm just asking for a single day when I don't have to think about either AI or far-right politics in the news. Thank you for your attention.

Real love is my nine-year-old daughter pretending to be a candle so my older autistic teenage son can ‘blow her out’ - because he gets too pressured by blowing out real candles on his birthday cake.

I’ve listened to some fantastic audiobooks lately - The Paper Palace, London Falling - but The Castle by jonronson.bsky.social has been a complete binge listen for me. It’s as structurally beautiful as it is humane. So clever and revealing.

This might be the best collection of words ever.

Off to #TheakstonsCrime. Last year as a new agent (and old-hand ex-publisher) I arrived with just one author; this year it’s five who could make it. The family gets bigger! Can’t wait to see everyone.

#TheakstonsCrime

The Blair Partnership@tbpagency.bsky.social · 2mo ago

First time attending the Harrogate Crime Festival? 👀🕵️   Our latest The Not-So-Secret Agents Substack shares everything you need to know.   With special thanks to Charlotte Essex for sharing her festival insights and expertise.   Read here: thenotsosecretagents.substack.com/p/harrogate-...

That was extremely familiar. Like 40 years of Deja Vu all at once.

Toy Story 5 has a basic failure no one is discussing. The first films worked for all ages, including (especially) the very young. The new film is about social media - which under 13s are not meant to have access to - and has plot points that require you to be able to read. It cuts out young viewers.

4-2 55/35 What a great week for results.

Yesteryear really is a superb novel: clever, nuanced and deeply effective satire. The twist (no spoilers) also genuinely took me by surprise despite being RIGHT THERE. It felt completely earned. It takes elements of thriller, book club, literary, and even horror and makes them fresh.

What a wonderful thing to do. I’ve visited the UEA crime course a number of time, chaired its annual prize and now rep one of its incredible authors. It turns out superb writers at a high level every year. Good on Lee.

The Bookseller@thebookseller.com · 4mo ago

ICYMI: Bestselling author Lee Child has established a professorship in crime writing at the University of East Anglia (UAE). 👇

What NOT to do when you're submitting. My new Substack on easy mistakes to avoid when querying. thenotsosecretagents.substack.com?utm_source=n...

The Not-So-Secret Agents | Substack

Lifting the lid on the publishing industry, because open books are better than closed ones. Written by the expert team at The Blair Partnership literary agency. Click to read The Not-So-Secret Agents,...

thenotsosecretagents.substack.com

I'm judging a short story competition for @bmthwritingfest.bsky.social - deluge them with your masterpieces.

Bournemouth Writing Festival@bmthwritingfest.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Writing Competition NOW live. Accepting submissions for short stories and poems. Judges @edwoodagent.bsky.social and Matthew West from Artfulscribe, supporting charity Roots & Shoots. Early bird 20% discount ends on 31st May Find out more: www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/2027-writing...

One of my favourite places. Thrilled to be back and endangering my luggage weight limit with new books.

First marathon down. Would never have believed my PE-loathing self could have done something like this one day. Thank you @coachbennett.bsky.social, couldn't have done it without you in my ear.

This is excellent news, it was a terrible proposal that pretty much the entire publishing industry was against.

Ed Newton-Rex@ednewtonrex.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Fantastic news in the UK today - the government has apparently ditched its plan to force creatives to 'opt out' if they don't want AI companies training on their life's work. www.thetimes.com/uk/technolog... 🧵 1/4

I'm inordinately proud of my awesome colleague @hatteatime.bsky.social for being shortlisted as Literary Agent of the Year at this year's British Book Awards. She is one of the smartest agents in the whole industry, and any author would be lucky to have her represent them.

@ferguscraig.bsky.social Alert! The new series of Married at First Sight Australia is live.

Our latest Not-So-Secret Agents Substack, by me - 'What agents and editors REALLY mean in their rejection letters' open.substack.com/pub/thenotso...

What agents and editors REALLY mean in their rejection letters

by Ed Wood

open.substack.com

Really proud of this guy, one of the absolute finest UK crime writers around. I was his publisher for a decade and the books were unbelivably good right from the first draft every single time. Billingham is the best.

The Bookseller@thebookseller.com · 8mo ago

Mark Billingham has been awarded the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger, sponsored by Karen Baugh Menuhin 👇 #BookSky

Best possible result. I feel like we gazed into Stephen’s soul - and found nothing but goodness. #TheTraitors

What am I and other Blair Partnership agents looking for this year? Find out on our Substack! For me, it's all about mystery and emotion... thenotsosecretagents.substack.com/p/what-novel...

What novels are we looking for in 2026?

Three of our agents share the projects they'd love you to send them...

thenotsosecretagents.substack.com

Harriet giving it full Liam Neeson in Taken is everything. I knew she’d be good, but what a dream. #TheTraitors

It's my one year anniversary of starting as an agent at The Blair Partnership. I'm proud to have found fantastic authors and wonderful homes for them, and I have some AMAZING books going out on submission in the coming months. Roll on 2026.

By series nine of #TheTraitors it will be 20 spies all sitting round pretending to be estate agents.

Wait, Harriet Tyce is on The Traitors? Amazing! Watching someone you know on it will be such a different experience. Go Harriet!

I’ve now had the cold from hell for four days straight. Thanks to convelescing, I also finished another Lisa Jewell and can’t remember which others I’ve read…

When Harry Met Sally is possibly my favourite film (it's unchangable, perfect), and The Princess Bride well up there too. Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, Misery... So few directors can claim a purple patch as rich or varied.

I told our five-year-old that my wife and I are going on a date tonight and asked what he thinks we’ll be doing. “Um, doing crosswords? Sitting down doing crosswords and drinking tea and reading books. Boring books.” I so need to get out more.

Radiohead at the O2 last night. Jaw-dropping, hairs standing up on your arm music.