This is an all time record for me - sick within two hours of taking a break from all the craziness. It’s like my body doesn’t want me to be anything but constantly wiped.
Jan Carson
@jancarsonwrites.bsky.social
I’m not terrific but I’m competent All bookings via website www.jancarson.co.uk
How I think my working day is going to feel, vs how it actually feels
Dr. Peter Paul Rubens@peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 23h agoSaint Jerome contemplating the sorry state of the world. Know how he feels! By Pieter Coecke van Aelst, born OTD in 1504.
An interesting read from @stuhennigan.bsky.social
Stu Hennigan@stuhennigan.bsky.social · yesterdayScuse the clickbait headline which i didn't write, but the iPaper asked for some thoughts on the non-listing of Keshed despite huge public clamour. Actually a piece about diversity in publishing and advocating for small presses. This link sans paywall archive.is/QghKz inews.co.uk/culture/book...
The countdown is on. Eight weeks until #NoVacancy hits the shops. Preorders are open and I’ll be sharing some of the lovely things brilliant writers have been saying about these wee hotel stories. First up, the always astounding, Cathy Sweeney
Having finished @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social's latest, Few And Far Between (HARD recommend), Tom's book Everything Will Swallow You is next and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in. Tom's had an horrific time of it of late, so do investigate his brilliant writing at www.tom-cox.com
Tom Cox@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 2d agoTHREAD/ORIGINAL ART GIVEAWAY This hare linoprint is by my mum, Jo. I'll be sending an original of this to one randomly chosen person who reposts this link to my recently updated website & pops a reply below. www.tom-cox.com The offer is open worldwide. I also have some more art to give away...
First full week at home since March. Am fully intending to sit in this chair and read every single book that’s been published since then…
Do you think someone will let us know when we’ve officially entered the end times so I can stop stressing about things like pensions and the indoor slug invasion and trying to finish Infinite Jest and focus all my attention on growing potatoes and learning how to fight off marauding gangs?
Feeling vindicated by the fact that Hilary Mantel was just as opposed to on stage bar stools as I am #myyearwithhm
These are the best chips I’ve had in ages. They came from a place called Gareths in Portstewart. The dining experience would’ve been perfect if I hadn’t spent the entire duration fixating on the lack of an apostrophe S in Gareths Signage.
Another great reading month (especially for poetry) Here are my nine favourite reads from July
Had the chats about #FewAndFarBetween with the legendary Wendy Erskine at the John Hewitt Summer School this afternoon. It was, as anticipated, excellent.
I have a short essay on writing an alternative history up on Lit Hub today to celebrate the US publication of #FewAndFarBetween lithub.com/one-mans-cra...
One Man’s Crazy Scheme to Create a New County in Northern Ireland
Rarely am I able to pinpoint precisely where a novel comes from. Patricia Highsmith once wrote, “ideas come to me like birds in the corner of my eye.” Until very recently this felt like an apt syno…
lithub.com
21 years ago I made a bucket list and point 7 was “see one of my books on the shelves @powellsbooks” Mission well and truly accomplished #FewAndFarBetween
#FewAndFarBetween got a shout in the New Yorker’s pick of this week’s new releases and I am saving it here as it may well be the first and last time my name appears in the New Yorker.
My 37th stop on the indie bookstore world tour was @phloxbooks (London-based but also booksellers at Latitude) where bookseller, Sarah chose Alice Evelyn Yang’s A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing as a favourite recommended read #SaintsAndWarriors #IndieBooksellers
Hands up if you didn’t win the Booker again this year? (Focusing my attention on the Ryder Cup next year. First step- ascertain what sport I need to become exceptional at; I imagine riding something, maybe a bicycle or a horse)
Really glad to see @lukekennard.bsky.social on the Booker long list. That is all I have to say.
It’s US publication day for #FewAndFarBetween I’d like to say a huge thank you to Emily, Ellie and all @scribnerbooks.bsky.social who’ve done such a great job in bringing this book in the world. Dying to see snaps in the wild, if you’re in a US bookstore or library and spot it, fire a snap my way.
11th Mantel of 2026 and a controversial opinion. People love Beyond Black and I do like the way she uses narrative here, the overlapping voices and perspectives, also love the dark humour and genuine horror she evokes… (1/2)
Your first look at this week's 20% off new release book picks, four fiction, four nonfiction. You don't have to support Jeff Bezos to get discounts on hot new books. Come to us: theliteratelizard.com/front-page-b.... Titles/authors in alt-text. Authors and publishers on Bluesky in comment. #Booksky
I often wondered what I’d choose for my @theguardian.com Books of a lifetime… and then I found out… www.theguardian.com/books
Starting to feel a wee bit On the Calculation of Volume, having driven past the same man in the same hat painting the same fence and the same man in the same T-shirt cutting the same hedge on the way back from the gym three days in a row. Can someone confirm I’m not in a time loop?
I’m not a big one for the hard sell BUT I’d really urge you to grab a ticket for this beautiful exploration of Lough Neagh in music and word. Over 50 wonderful people have worked so hard on this project for months and I’d love to see Templemore Baths totally bunged. Tickets www.Eastsidearts.net
An absolute joy to celebrate the launch of Milena Williamson’s beautiful new Emma Press pamphlet at No Alibis this evening. A captivating reading from start to finish. Can’t wait to sit down with these poems.
On the off chance you’re at Latitude this weekend, I’ll be chatting all things island with Michael Pederson in the Listening Post on Sunday afternoon. This is the first and, I assume, last time I’ll be on the line up for a music festival. I will not be singing anything.
The Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize 2026-2027 is now open for submissions: www.galleybeggar.co.uk/prize
We have a limited number of PDF proof copies of #NoVacancy available for reviewers, event organisers, bloggers. If you’d like one please send me a private message which includes your email address and we’ll furnish you with a PDF and some key information about the book.
I’ll be having the chats with Andrew Cunning and @ruthmckee.bsky.social about their brilliant debut novels next Friday afternoon at the John Hewitt Society summer school. If you’re in the vicinity of Armagh you should probably join us.
