We have three novellas coming out in the next two months! If you haven't pre-ordered already, please consider checking them out. THE SAINTS WE MAKE by @josiewrites.bsky.social THESE HOLLOW BODIES illustrated by @pegasusunder.bsky.social THE WOLF MAID FROM THE SEA by @ferretly.bsky.social

🌈Defending Freedom: LGBTQ+ Lives & Children’s/YA Literature🌈 Tix now open for @ibbyuk.bsky.social ‘s annual conference. 😃We’ll be chairing a panel with @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social @krahim.bsky.social Carol Thompson & Jodie Lancet-Grant. #KidLitUK #BookSky www.tickettailor.com/events/ibbyu...

Select tickets – The IBBY UK 2026 Conference – St Anne's Parish Hall

The IBBY UK 2026 Conference – St Anne's Parish Hall, Sat 7 Nov 2026 - Defending Freedom: LGBTQ+ Lives and Children’s and YA Literature The theme for this year’s IBBY UK conference is LGBTQ+ lives and ...

tickettailor.com

I DUNNO WHO NEEDS TO HEAR THIS BUT Your story is needed. Desperately. Please finish your book. .... No seriously, go finish it! #writerslife #authorlife #WritingCommunity #bookworms

🎈2 year Birthday for @sflayzell.northsky.social ‘s Cottonopolis Shortlisted for @littlerebsprize.bsky.social of course AND we’ve just put in an order to replenish our shelves!

Northodox Press 📖@northodoxpress.bsky.social · last mo.

This week was the second birthday of our queer historical, fantasy novel, Cottonopolis by the brilliant SF Layzell! This magical Midgrade book set in 1840s Manchester made the Little Rebels Prize shortlist last year and we can't recommend it enough 😍 www.northodox.co.uk/product-page...

finally getting around to hand-finishing off the remaining ones of these limited-edition happy peanut crows, so I don't have to do them as they get sold, feeling v proud of myself (but not as proud as the crows) #linoprint #artsky #crow shop.frankduffy.co.uk/product/joia... v grateful for shares!

A bakery crawl!? Heck yeah sign me up!

The Whimsical Muse@whimsicalmuse.bsky.social · 2d ago

I realize that pub crawls are all the rage, but I truly feel as though there could be an immense market for library crawls, bakery crawls, museum crawls, bookstore crawls, and greenhouse crawls.

On this day 1971, boxer Muhammad Ali visited Tesco at Stretford’s Arndale shopping precinct to promote Ovaltine.

#SpookySunday 🎃

SF Layzell@sflayzell.northsky.social · last wk.

Did you know will-o-the-wisp folktales exist in numerous cultures? There's a scientific explanation for why these lights are seen in bogs, fens and swamps: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o%...

My short story "The Lantern Man" tells of a terrifying encounter with a ghost who made a deal with the devil northerngravy.com/the-lantern-... #SpookySunday #Fens #KidLitUK

The Ghost Monk@theghostmonk.bsky.social · 2w ago

Please join us for some more phantom fun and frolics on #SpookySunday, the feed for all things ghostly. Any posts on ghosts will be welcome: #folklore, fiction, poetry, art, popular culture, info on haunted locations - etc etc. I look forward to your manifestations. #31DaysOfHalloween #ghost #ghosts

#kidlit #queerkidlit

Mombian@mombian.bsky.social · 2w ago

These LGBTQ-inclusive picture books aren’t “about” being LGBTQ, but feature LGBTQ people and families experiencing life. The LGBTQ inclusion isn’t always obvious from the covers, so make sure you don’t miss these beautifully told and illustrated tales. Reviews: mombian.com/2026/10/02/1... #BookSky

If you can, you should support everyone you know who makes music, art, literature whatever. It‘s easy to click a link, or to spend a tenner on a cd or book instead of a couple of shop bought coffees. I don’t understand people who don’t actually buy their mates‘ music / art / books etc.

Alom Shaha@alomshaha.bsky.social · 4d ago

Failed to go for a proper run this morning as I haven’t slept properly, instead got chatting to a bloke on the street and turns out he’s a musician and it would probably make him really happy if a few of you took the time to click on this and listened to it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QroR...

JUST SAYIN Go read Cottonopolis by @sflayzell.northsky.social

Jen@jentrem.bsky.social · 5d ago

Absolutely fantastic book, so much so that we're using it as a featured book for our education studies students at the Open University.

I last read this book when it came out and I still think about it periodically. I have an excerpt on my blog if you're curious: inquisitivenewt.com/2025/06/16/c... I can't recommend it enough. @sflayzell.northsky.social wrote an absolute classic <3

Cottonopolis by SF Layzell

A few weeks back, I took part in a Northodox Pride Party author panel, chaired by the lovely SF Layzell – which was absolutely brilliant for so many reasons. Not only did I get to chat to som…

inquisitivenewt.com

Northodox Press 📖@northodoxpress.bsky.social · last mo.

This week was the second birthday of our queer historical, fantasy novel, Cottonopolis by the brilliant SF Layzell! This magical Midgrade book set in 1840s Manchester made the Little Rebels Prize shortlist last year and we can't recommend it enough 😍 www.northodox.co.uk/product-page...

📣NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS! We’re excited to announce a new paid role with the Comics Cultural Impact Collective. We’re looking for SOMEONE to join us as a Non-Executive Director… Could that SOMEONE be YOU?? 🫵 Full info here: www.thecomicsculturalimpactcollective.org/Join-Us

at the start of the year, everyone should have to choose their outfits for the year in a big draft. you only get 9 shirts for the year, and if you don't like them that's not the department of shirts and associated arms' problem. Every year you submit all your clothes on naked day and draft again

A bookseller who has just realised Christmas Market Day and Light Switch On is a few weeks away and hasn't organised her annual visiting author/illustrator. Calling publishers! We're based in Retford and if you have any kidlit folks interested... Window opps also available!

We’re back Friday 9th October 2026! 6pm – 9pm details + free tickets below 🙂 Please book a ticket if you’re coming along it’s useful to know how many of us there are 😊 Please remember to cancel if you're no longer able to attend so others can grab your space! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1996075570...

Fruit Salad writing evening

Join us at Fruit Salad, a queer community writing group. We offer a friendly, low-pressure writing environment.

eventbrite.co.uk

Teenage life, Lancashire, 1957, photo by Bert Hardy.

Every day I scroll past @trueref.bsky.social thinking wouldn't it be great if I started drawing again? Cosy autumn guy finally got me drawing! 🍂🎃

TrueRef by Abbey Esparza@trueref.bsky.social · 2w ago

Though shout out to our pack with @gnomedic.bsky.social , the most autumn coded pack we have! 🧡🍂 TrueRef: Just the reference you were looking for

Am giving blood later this morning. A really easy way to do something good in the world

Home

Register to be a blood donor, give blood and save lives. Find out more about blood donation.

blood.co.uk

Goodnight stoneybatter see you again on tuesday at 10am!!! In the mean time you can still check out little deer's catalogue on the interweb.

My short story "The Lantern Man" tells of a terrifying encounter with a ghost who made a deal with the devil northerngravy.com/the-lantern-... #SpookySunday #Fens #KidLitUK

The Ghost Monk@theghostmonk.bsky.social · 2w ago

Please join us for some more phantom fun and frolics on #SpookySunday, the feed for all things ghostly. Any posts on ghosts will be welcome: #folklore, fiction, poetry, art, popular culture, info on haunted locations - etc etc. I look forward to your manifestations. #31DaysOfHalloween #ghost #ghosts

There's a new edition of THE HOBBIT & it's the one illustrated by Tove Jansson which has never been published in English before. (It was pub'd in Sweden where Astrid Lindgren picked her to do the illustrations!) Read more: tovejansson.com/hobbit-tolki... 📖 www.harpercollins.com/products/the...

Are you even really celebrating the good word of Skeletor if you’re not having your pumpkin juice out of a tentacle cup? Did Beetlejuice die for our sins for nought? www.roseschmits.com

Rose Schmits@roseschmits.bsky.social · 2w ago

Yknow its a shame halloween isn’t a gift giving holiday, i’d make bank in october selling Luxury Halloween Gifts™ By all means help me make this new tradition a reality. Gift your loved ones something spooky. To uhhh, ward of evil

Looks like today's responsible grownup behaviour is going to involve an impromptu trip to Brighton 🤩

R.E.M.@remhq.bsky.social · 2w ago

Peter’s band Drink The Sea has a brand new album out today, and they’re celebrating the release with a show in London. Catch them on tour this month. More info at drinktheseamusic.com

Pre-order post is the best post. Excited to get this, the following up of the acclaimed "Your body is not your body". This is for the benefit of the Trans Legal Services Network and Trans Doe Task Force, and i can't wait to read it. @tenebrouspress.bsky.social

It's not even funny what kind of loss I will absorb if I have to create an account to do business with you. I will walk away from a winning lottery ticket, I promise you.

#kidlituk

SF Layzell@sflayzell.northsky.social · 2w ago

Throwback Thursday! One year ago I had the joy of joining fellow Little Rebels shortlistees @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social @ellemcnicoll.bsky.social & Cathy Jenkins to talk radical children's fiction, chaired by @darrenchetty.bsky.social, hosted by @theclpe.bsky.social @littlerebsprize.bsky.social 💙📚🌈

We're chuffed to bits to announce our Best Small Fictions 2027 noms 🦝 Not easy choosing from months of amazing fiction, congrats to these five superb writers 💜 @cuylermeade.bsky.social @shiramusicant.bsky.social Clara Cooke @joycebingham.bsky.social Zoe Davis @meanerharker.bsky.social 1/2

From coming-of-age lit-fic to paranormal mysteries, queer history and a whole bunch of new trans fiction, here’s what’s new at Proud Geek this September: See something you like? Grab a copy from proud-geek.co.uk #queerbooks #booksky