My latest newsletter is all about my obsession with building book props, my patchy record on making them work, and how I have failed to learn any of the lessons. And also where you can see my newest one go live😎 open.substack.com/pub/thomasta...

Thomas Taylor -- Newsletter 011

In which I fail to learn my lesson about making ambitious book props.

open.substack.com

I’m excited to be appearing at the 2nd edition of the fabulous ✨Ipswich Book Festival✨ this October, bringing Eerie-on-Sea back to town, but also introducing my next book — The Lantern & the Labyrinth — by attempting to summon an actual fairy creature into being, right there, live in the library🧚🏽‍♂️😬😉

I wasn’t sure how to wrap my stepfather’s birthday present, so I dressed it in a hat and tie instead.

Latest newsletter, in which I share some actual news for a change. substack.com/@thomashtayl...

NEWSLETTER 008

In which I share some actual news for a change

substack.com

My marmalade sandwich and I helped dance up the sun on the clifftops in Hastings this morning, so now it’s summer. You’re welcome.

My latest newsletter, where I add my own mouse’s roar to the general angsting about AI in writing.

Thomas Taylor -- Newsletter 007

In which I have thoughts about AI, and get (for me) quite spiky.

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I usually start with Malamander but with moving to P5, I thought I was best waiting until Term 4. Started it today and as soon as I finished ‘oh, read a bit more!’ @thomastaylor.bsky.social

Thank you @fireflypress.bsky.social and Eloise Williams for this proof. I’m excited to head back to 1970s Wales, because I was actually there!

You know you are visiting a seaside school when there’s a free exhibition of seagull bottoms in the foyer.

“The Changeling Child is a great sequel, with heart, and marvels galore — moth magic! — which leaves more treasures to come as the series develops. This one body can’t wait.” Thank you @thomastaylor.bsky.social ! 💚🧚💙 Find out more: linktr.ee/hsnorup 🧚 @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social

I’ll be making a rare 2025 public appearance on the 3rd of October, as part of the Ipswich Book Festival. There will be scribbling, story creation, live drawing, and book signing if you like. Dancing optional. Maybe see you there!

Tamsin Rosewell is an British artist, historian and broadcaster with a background in politics. As an an illustrator she uses various techniques to tell stories in her work, such as mathematics and geometry for composition, and color and silhouette figures to convey emotions and stories.

119. The Seamaiden's Odyssey by @berliedoherty.bsky.social, illustrated by @hobslantern.bsky.social An enchanting tale of the deep sea with utterly gorgeous illustrations!

Always a joy to celebrate a new book by @pennychrimes.bsky.social - and what a lovely launch for Hero, The Highway Girl! New from @fireflypress.bsky.social - Hero is a fast-paced adventure in the wildnerness of C18th London. It has wolves, secret caves, gargoyles, chandeliers and great outfits.

I had a fun time at the launch of @pennychrimes.bsky.social ‘s fabulous new book last. And I even got to try on the hat! Congratulations Penny✨

Hurray! Thank you @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social for sending me The Poisoned King by Katharine Rundell. I loved ‘Impossible Creatures’ (of course!), so I can’t wait to go back to the Archipelago. I’m delighted to be getting there early😎 #poisonedking

Thank you, once again, for inviting me on your brilliant podcast.

The Failing Writers Podcast@failingwriters.bsky.social · last yr.

Ever stuck with your writing? Then reach out to us for a pep talk! It’s what we did in our 2 most recent eps… Thanks @thomastaylor.bsky.social & Samia Rida, you really helped! Click on the link in our bio 👆 And get yourself some of those juicy words o wisdom!

I loved this too. And the Joan Aiken comparison is well made.

Tamsin Rosewell@hobslantern.bsky.social · last yr.

I LOVED this wild and wonderful adventure by @pennychrimes.bsky.social. It reminded me of the joy and excitement of Joan Aiken's writing: wolves and hidden caves, secrets in old houses, inheritances to be found and claimed - and some splendid villains. Out in September from @fireflypress.bsky.social

This was was glorious. A heart-filled pistol-flash of an adventure, filled with daring deeds, odious villains, and amazing hats. A wronged girl with her vengeful wolf meets an outlaw boy with a stallion only he can ride? Yes please! Thank you @fireflypress.bsky.social and @pennychrimes.bsky.social

I had to disguise some boxed-in wiring in my new bookshelves. Eagle-eyed readers of my Eerie-on-Series might spot how I did that…😉✨

Another beautiful book from ⁦‪@ManderleyPress

Book post! Penny’s new book looks wonderful. I might wear my tricorn hat to read it. Out in September — definitely one to look out for. Thank you @fireflypress.bsky.social for the proof. @pennychrimes.bsky.social ✨

The vet appointment is in ten minutes😑

I’m delighted to have been sent an advance copy of ‘The Changeling Child’, sequel to the brilliant ‘Into the Faery Hill’ by ⁦‪H S Norup‬⁩. I only opened it to take a look and I’m on Chapter 8 already. Thank you ⁦‪@PushkinPress‬⁩ ✨🧚

Well, that was wonderful. My slow read thru of Joan Aiken’s brilliant ‘Wolves Chronicles’ has reached Book 3: ‘Nightbirds on Nantucket’. And now I know why Dido Twite is such a beloved character. A joy to read, and perfectly illustrated by Pat Marriott in these Jonathan Cape editions.

In which I make a new feline friend, and discover that his name is Bigfoot.

@thomastaylor.bsky.social Just wanted to share this with you! Since reading the fabulous Malamander to my Year 6 class, so many of them have got hold of their own copies of Gargantis! I count 9 copies and 3 Shadowghasts! I've got boys reading it in their lunch break! Thank you!! 😀🤜🤛

Thanks for including Malamander, Tom🧜🏻✨☺️

Mr Tom Slattery@slatterymr.bsky.social · last yr.

For #SundayMorningBookChat this week I have written a blog post about great Read Alouds for Key Stage 2 and a little about what I think make a great read aloud. What are your recommendations? tomsbookcorner.wordpress.com/2025/03/23/g...

A great evening at the Cartoon Museum yesterday, hearing Berlie Doherty and @hobslantern.bsky.social talk about their collaboration on ‘Seamaiden’s Odyssey’. It was wonderful to hear Berlie’s thoughts on the changes she’s seen in publishing. Makes me want to travel back and be a writer in the 80s!

It’s weird to reach my vast old age and discover a new favourite Diana Wynne Jones, but this book! ‘Fire and Hemlock’ is one of the most maddening and slippery stories I’ve read in a long time, but I loved every wonderful page of it, and will read it again this year, I think. Have you read it?