Kieron Connolly
@kieronconnolly.bsky.social
Commissioning Editor, Old Street Publishing @oldstpublishing Previously Bloomsbury, Mail on Sunday, Amber Books Author of THE HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD and ABANDONED PLACES, among others. Editorial consultancy work at: kieronconnolly.com
JAKE ARNOTT: 'I think if I had taken some of the advice about writing I was given, I’d never have got anywhere! I remember someone saying: “write what you know” and realising that just wasn’t going to work for me.'
My Writing Life: Jake Arnott
“Success came quite late, and one of the best things about it was that it made my mother happy. My proudest moment was knowing that she was proud of me.”
royalliteraryfund.substack.com
Ten years ago today my book ABANDONED PLACES was published. After the Guardian trailed it on their front page, we quickly had to reprint. Translation rights were sold to Germany, France, Japan, Sweden, Iceland... And the updated edition is still selling well.
STEVE McQUEEN plays Matador on the East side Drive - New York while filming "Love With A Proper Stranger” in 1962.
It's Krzysztof Kieslowski's birthday. Here's an old piece I wrote about the films he was making that brought us to Decalogue, Veronique, Three Colours. film-makersinconversation.blogspot.com/2026/
Ah, the formula for the late Alan Coren's "Golfing for Cats."
New aftershave in Lidl: gives you the precise aroma of a widowed policeman investigating the murder of his daughter, drawn into a wide-ranging political conspiracy involving nuclear weapons.
In today's inbox: three requests to work for free. One would cost me £190 in rail fare, another would cost me at least 40 hours of work, and the last says "we don't have a budget for speakers, but we can promise a nice lunch." Folks, if you're paying the caterers, you can pay your speaker.
I was asked to pick my five favourite books on movie-making: Billy Wilder, William Goldman, Kieslowski, Sidney Lumet and Scott Fitzgerald @bookdna.bsky.social bookdna.com/best-books/m...
Kieron Connolly's favorite books on moviemaking
Kieron Connolly wrote Dark History of Hollywood. These are their favorite books on moviemaking.
bookdna.com
Nowadays, we get so much coverage of certain people trying to divide. Everything we’ve seen this week has been the antidote to that. It deserves the same attention in the mainstream — not bcz it’s abt Arsenal, but bcz it’s abt a community celebrating together. More people need to see this. 🔴⚪
Ian McEwan says that when he showed a draft of ATONEMENT to his editor, Dan Franklin, he was told it had three things guaranteed to shift copies - Second World War, country house, love affair. www.thetimes.com/culture/thea...
Ian McEwan on putting Atonement on stage: ‘My wife invented the green dress’
As an adaptation of his novel comes to Chichester, the author talks about the key to bestsellers, finding theatre embarrassing and his next novel
thetimes.com
“The whole Russian Empire collapsed in a couple of months in 1989 and if we don’t think the UK can go the same way, we’re in cloud cuckoo land.” James Hawes, author of The Shortest History of Ireland, on @bylinetimes.bsky.social @jameshawes.bsky.social www.bylinesupplement.com/p/is-the-uni...
Is the United Kingdom Heading for Divorce?
Bestselling author James Hawes talks to the Byline Podcast about why history suggests that the union will become ever more precarious
bylinesupplement.com
After 25 years, we have decided to bring the work of the Oli Bennett Charitable Trust to a close. Our final event, on Thursday 4 June at Westminster School, will celebrate the charity's work and remember Oli. Tickets are free, but spaces are limited: www.ticketsource.com/oli-bennett-...
After 25 years, we have decided to bring the work of the Oli Bennett Charitable Trust to a close. Our final event, on Thursday 4 June at Westminster School, will celebrate the charity's work and remember Oli. Tickets are free but spaces are limited. www.ticketsource.com/oli-bennett-...
ticketsource.com
A No.1 bestseller - John-Paul Stonard's book on German degenerate art THE WORST EXHIBITION IN THE WORLD.
I'm very pleased to have had an idea for a book where, two years later, the author is invited to discuss it on Start the Week. Live now.
Old Street Publishing@oldstpublishing.bsky.social · 4mo agoJohn-Paul Stonard is now live on Start the Week discussing his book on the German degenerate art exhibition The Worst Exhibition in the World. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I'm very pleased to see the idea that I had for a book on German degenerate art reach fruition with John-Paul Stonard's THE WORST EXHIBITION IN THE WORLD: Degenerate art, 1937, which is published today. 'Fascinating and timely' JOHN BANVILLE Vol.3 in Old Street's Great Events series
It’s time once more for one of my favourite things ever. Written by @quantick.bsky.social #StarWarsDay
Tom Reagan’s Hat@rufustsuperfly.bsky.social · 2y agoThe greatest description of Star Wars ever by a non-fan. Take it away, Malcolm Tucker
Behind the scenes on Walt Disney’s huge box office hit 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1954)
Wishing @smwwriting.bsky.social a happy publication day for MALC’S BOY! A bold, irreverent, funny, intellectually nimble debut novel exploring fathers and sons, northern working-class culture and masculinity. It’s our launch title & a novel like no other. From all good bookshops as of today 23.4.26
After 25 years, we have decided to bring the work of the Oli Bennett Charitable Trust to a close. Our final event, on 4 June, will celebrate the charity's work and remember Oli. Tickets are free, but places are limited: www.ticketsource.com/booking/sele...
‘If all of the people who hate Ishtar had seen it I’d be a rich woman today.’ Elaine May is 94.
Very good to have James Hawes's THE SHORTEST HISTORY OF IRELAND at no.7 in the UK hardback non-fiction charts. 'There isn't currently a written exam for Irish citizenship - but if there were, applicants could do a lot worse than employ Hawes's excellent guide' PAT CARTY, IRISH INDEPENDENT
Morning all. Photograph by Harry Gruyaert, Ireland, County Kerry, 1983.
I'm thrilled that a book I worked on - James Trapp's translation of the ancient Chinese Book of Songs - has been chosen on @fivebooks.com as one of the best oldest works of fiction. Published by Amber Books Ltd. fivebooks.com/best-books/o...
The World's Oldest Books
The oldest books known to us, from religious hymns and love poetry to the Epic of Gilgamesh and the quest of its hero for immortality
fivebooks.com
